Many aspects of parenting are a struggle, but an area that we feel doesn't get enough attention is mealtime. We slave away in the kitchen, only to emerge with a meal that only half the family will eat or not complain about. That's why the whole world is in love with the latest new kitchen appliance trend: the air fryer.
Air fryer dishes can often be made more quickly than their oven/stovetop counterparts and are often far tastier than the slow cooker version. Pair that with everyone's favorite protein, chicken, and we've got a dinnertime winner.
We've compiled 20 delicious air fryer recipes all using chicken as the main protein, which will bring that excitement back into mealtime.
Southern Fried Chicken
There's a reason Southern fried chicken is so popular — it's so good. Those looking to have a healthier alternative to the deep-fried, salty dish can try this awesome looking air fryer recipe from Divas Can Cook. It keeps that crispiness that we love but has less fat than deep-fried.
Chicken & Cheese Flautas
Flautas are one of the most delicious foods out of Mexico. The combination of chicken and cheese makes it super kid-friendly. Making these in the air fryer means we can cook up a lot in one go and serve on its own or with some rice, and it's the perfect meal.
Bombay Chicken
For families that love big flavors, there's a whole lot of punch in the flavor of this Bombay chicken. It can be made with peppers and onions, served on rice, and makes enough to feed the whole family. It's possible to adjust the spice levels if these flavors are new to the palate.
Sesame Chicken
Sesame chicken is so flavorful and it's a favorite takeout dish. Now, with the air fryer, this crispy and saucy chicken can be made at home for the entire family to enjoy. It only uses a few standard ingredients, but is super tasty.
Rotisserie Whole Chicken
There are all types of families on a variety of different diets or who have food restrictions. For anyone who needs to eat low-carb or when that's the family preference, this whole rotisserie chicken from Low Carb Recipes with Jennifer is perfect. It can be cooked in the air fryer, and there's enough to feed the whole family for days.
Chicken Taquitos
"Big in taste, small in effort" is a meal plan that we can get behind, and that's what makes the chicken taquitos so enjoyable. Add to that some homemade guacamole, and it's the ideal dinner for a family of all ages. It's simple enough to take on the road, if needed, too.
Chicken Tandoori
Tandoori is one of the great meals for a time crunch because the air fryer will cook this flavor-filled meal within 30 minutes. Add to that the ability to add vegetables, and a full, healthy, and full-of-life meal is on the table within a reasonable amount of time. It's a no-brainer good meal.
Chicken Tenders
Chicken tenders or chicken nuggets are notorious for being "kid food." As parents, we worry about the healthfulness of the food we're feeding our kiddos, and chicken nuggets or tenders don't usually fit that mold. That's not the case here — since they're made in the air fryer, it's healthy, and there are fewer worries.
Non-Breaded Chicken Thighs
We can all agree that breaded chicken is amazing and oh-so-hard to say no to, and best part of this non-breaded chicken from Kelly's Cookin' is all about the spices. It's the ideal mix of herbs and spices that everyone in the family will be excited about.
Chicken Breast
Sometimes, the best thing to eat for dinner is just a simple chicken breast. But there's nothing simple about this recipe, other than the ease of cooking it. This can be modified to try new flavors each time it's eaten and find a flavor combination the family loves.
Extra Crispy Chicken Wings
Yes, crispy chicken wings are good. We would eat them every day if we could. But the extra crispy wings are a whole new ballgame. Because these are made in the air fryer — which means they're not soaking up oil and making them super heavy‚ the wings are light, crispy, and perfect.
Chicken Fajitas
If tacos aren't something the family is too excited about, there are always fajitas. The chicken can be seasoned with cumin, chili, and onion powder, and then it can be paired with red and green bell peppers, onions, and it's a meal the kids will ask for again.
Indo Chinese Chili Chicken
For anyone looking for an intensely easy mealtime idea, this is the one that's going to win out every time. Skip deep-frying and get a feel for new combinations that will help the family fall in love with giant flavors and spices.
Chicken Tikka
What happens when there's a combination of yogurt, garam masala, cumin, chili, and chicken? A deliciously flavorful chicken tikka dinner, that's what! It's made in the air fryer, which means it's simple to cook, and it's going to help blend all these flavors for a dinner the kids will ask for again.
Chicken Tacos
Cooking chicken breasts with some taco seasoning in the air fryer means tasty, tender, juicy chicken with huge pops of flavor. For families who look forward to taco night, this is another level of taste, which means an extra night for tacos, if everyone votes for that.
Chicken Parmesan
There is nothing better than a chicken and cheese combination, and Parmesan is the perfect cheese choice here. This meal has everything we need to make everyone happy with dinner – crispy chicken, relatively healthy, and yes, the cheese.
Crispy Chicken Wings
There is something about chicken wings that just make us excited about dinnertime. The crispier, the better, and that's what we're able to get with the air fryer. That's right – crunchy wings without having to worry about the fat, and it can be customized with so many different sauce options.
Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich
Some fast-food restaurants are known for their delicious chicken sandwiches, and many parents will do nearly everything to get their hands on them. Now, we can make it ourselves at home, simply, and it's equally as good — if not better.
Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks
There is something special that happens when we add a barbecue sauce that's a great balance between spicy, tangy, and sweet to a chicken that's cooked perfectly. This is definitely a recipe that's going to have all the kids asking for seconds. Just make sure to have plenty of napkins on hand.
Chicken & Broccoli 'Stir Fry'
For families that want to add healthier meals to their menu but really don't have the time to make anything too complicated, this one is the recipe that everyone has been waiting for. It's fast and easy to make and has the right amount of flavor to go with the healthy protein and vegetable mix.
