The Air Fryer Is the Key to Quick Family Meals — and We've Got 20 Recipes to Prove It

If your house is anything like ours, family meals can be a bit of a struggle. We have a hunch these family-friendly air fryer recipes may be just the thing we both need to get food on the table that everyone will love. While you will find some tried-and-true staples, this handy roundup goes way beyond chicken fingers and fries. You'll also find seafood, veggies (Gotta eat those greens!), dessert, and even a few fun breakfast recipes. (We don't like to brag, but we even found homemade Pop-Tarts.)

Our best tip for getting your kids excited about mealtime? Get them involved! Let them browse this collection of recipes with you, and add a few of their favorites to the week's menu. We guarantee it's the quickest way to the clean plate club.

Air Fryer Fried Ravioli
Show Me the Yummy

Air Fryer Fried Ravioli

This recipe takes basic frozen ravioli and gives it a deliciously-crisp crust with breadcrumbs, plenty of seasoning, and a little time in the air fryer. Trust us, your family will never look at frozen ravioli the same way again.

Get the recipe: Fried ravioli

Cajun Breakfast Sausage
Cotter Crunch

Cajun Breakfast Sausage

This breakfast sausage makes more than enough to feed a (hungry) crowd, but it's also heavy on the chili flakes and cayenne pepper. If you know your family isn't into spice, cut back on those and up the other herbs a bit. You'll end up with a mild sausage that still has plenty of flavor.

Get the recipe: Cajun breakfast sausage

Chicken Taquitos
Show Me the Yummy

Chicken Taquitos

This recipe utilizes the slow cooker (for the chicken) and the air fryer for crunchy taquitos that'll please everyone at the table. We recommend making the chicken ahead of time to cut down on prep time when the week gets busy.

Get the recipe: Chicken taquitos

Zucchini Fritters
Food Faith Fitness

Zucchini Fritters

These fritters can be made in the oven, but they're pure perfection when you make them in the air fryer. Serve them with the included mayo-based dip at dinner or with scrambled eggs in the morning.

Get the recipe: Zucchini fritters

Sweet and Spicy Walnut Chicken Tenders
Show Me the Yummy

Sweet and Spicy Walnut Chicken Tenders

If your family is so over chicken tenders, spice things up a bit with this honey-Sriracha version. This recipe makes enough for four people, so you could always whip up a second batch for leftovers while you're devouring the first batch.

Get the recipe: Sweet and spicy walnut chicken tenders

Mozzarella Sticks
Show Me the Yummy

Mozzarella Sticks

We're just going to assume your children love mozzarella sticks as much as we did when we were kids (OK, we still do). Cooking these in the air fryer means much less oil than traditional mozzarella sticks, making them part of a healthy meal or snack for your whole family.

Get the recipe: Mozzarella sticks

Thai Salmon Patties
Sweet Peas and Saffron

Thai Salmon Patties

These salmon patties are perfect for busy nights because you can prep them ahead of time and cook them in the air fryer before anyone can yell, "Is dinner ready yet?" The red curry paste adds flavor and heat to this healthy meal, but feel free to dial it back or substitute your family's favorite spices instead.

Get the recipe: Thai salmon patties

Cajun Curly French Fries
Chili Pepper Madness

Cajun Curly French Fries

We still haven't figured out how to get our kids to eat their vegetables, but they don't seem to have any problem eating their potatoes. Especially when they're crispy, perfectly-seasoned, air-fried, spiral-cut potatoes. These cook in only 15 minutes and they won't last long, so you might as well make a double batch.

Get the recipe: Cajun curly French fries

Asian Roasted Broccoli
Food Faith Fitness

Asian Roasted Broccoli

If there's one way to get your kids to eat broccoli, it's adding lots of flavor and getting it nice and crispy in the air fryer. We're pretty sure this Asian-inspired recipe will do the trick.

Get the recipe: Asian roasted broccoli

Cheesecake Egg Rolls
SprinkleBakes

Cheesecake Egg Rolls

You didn't think we forgot about dessert, did you? These cheesecake egg rolls are made with a cream cheese and fig jam filling that your family will love.

Get the recipe: Cheesecake egg rolls

Strawberry Pop Tarts
Show Me the Yummy

Strawberry Pop Tarts

Breakfast is served! These air-fried pop tarts transform refrigerated pie crust into your favorite childhood breakfast (and after-school snack if you were anything like we were). The recipe calls for strawberry jam, but if you prefer another flavor it should work just fine.

Get the recipe: Strawberry pop tarts

Pepperoni and Peppers Stromboli
Spicy Southern Kitchen

Pepperoni and Peppers Stromboli

Stromboli is basically a pizza sandwich, which should help to contain any mess you have to clean up after dinner. This recipe is made with refrigerated pizza dough and cooks in only 15 minutes in the air fryer, saving you precious minutes when your kids are starving.

Get the recipe: Pepperoni and peppers stromboli

Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
BetsyLife

Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

These are not the mushy, tasteless green beans you grew up on. Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs turn humdrum green beans into a veggie your kids might actually enjoy.

Get the recipe: Garlic parmesan green beans

Beef and Bean Burritos
Spicy Southern Kitchen

Beef and Bean Burritos

Forget takeout – this burrito recipe serves six and comes together in only 20 minutes. What's even better is you can customize the topping to suit your family's tastes. We suggest a toppings bar with a few types of salsa, sour cream, avocado, and cilantro.

Get the recipe: Beef and bean burritos

Breakfast Potatoes
Self Proclaimed Foodie

Breakfast Potatoes

We know they're called breakfast potatoes, but this combo of potatoes, peppers, and onions would go just as well with chicken or steak as it would eggs and bacon. Better yet, serve them with breakfast and dinner!

Get the recipe: Breakfast potatoes

Tater Tots
40 Aprons

Tater Tots

We've yet to meet a kid who doesn't love tater tots and you'll love this healthier version. These tots taste deep-fried, but only need just a quick spray of oil thanks to the magical air fryer.

Get the recipe: Tater tots

Crispy Chicken Breast
Food Faith Fitness

Crispy Chicken Breast

If your family has a tendency to turn their noses up at chicken breast, you'll be happily surprised when they scarf down this panko-crusted version. Sure, they may cover it in ketchup, but at least they're eating something other than snacks.

Get the recipe: Crispy chicken breast

Blackened Salmon With Cucumber-Avocado Salsa
Cookin' Canuck

Blackened Salmon With Cucumber-Avocado Salsa

We're firm believers that seafood should be served at least once a week (hello, health benefits). This blackened salmon is seriously good, and the cucumber-avocado salsa adds a pop of fresh flavor (and color).

Get the recipe: Blackened salmon with cucumber-avocado salsa

French Fries
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

French Fries

You haven't truly experience homemade French fries until you've made them in the air fryer. Tender on this inside, crispy and golden on the outside – these fries will become a family staple after just one bite.

Get the recipe: French fries

Air Fryer Bacon
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Air Fryer Bacon

If you're going to make bacon, you might as well do it right. You (and your family) will be amazed by how this bacon is both tender and crispy after just a short spin in the air fryer.

Get the recipe: Air fryer bacon