20 Easy Air Fryer Meat Recipes With Chicken, Pork, Beef & Lamb (2024)

Time to share the best air fryer meat recipes. Air fryers were originally marketed as a low-fat way to make french fries. More adventurous owners soon discovered that these turbo-charged convection ovens are capable of more. Much more.

We’ve already shared what we think are the 30 best low-carb keto air fryer recipes, as well as vegan air fryer recipes, air fryer chicken recipes, omega-3 rich air fryer fish and even air fryer dessert ideas.

We’ve found you can do amazing things with eggplant and asparagus, even make a chocolate cake. Now we’ve gathered the best easy air fryer recipes, covering beef, chicken, lamb and pork.

How to make the most of your air fryer: Accessorize!

To make the most of your air fryer, buy an accessory kit. There are some truly great kits available now that convert any old air fryer into a multifunctional oven replacement. Think cake tins, pizza trays, muffin cups and meat skewers! Amazon is the best place to pick up the latest air fryer accessories set.

20 Easy Air Fryer Meat Recipes With Chicken, Pork, Beef & Lamb (1)

1. How to make bacon in the air fryer

Let’s cut to the chase… bacon is great in the air fryer. This is one of the easy air fryer recipes people look up first. Turn up the air fryer to a high temperature, lovingly lay out your bacon, wait for 10-12 minutes (depends how crispy you like it) and you’ll be rewarded with perfect results but without time spent cleaning bacon fat from your hob.

From: Simply Made Recipes

2. Cooking air fryer ham

It can take hours to bake a ham in the oven. It’ll be ready in more like thirty minutes in an air fryer!

From: Airfrying.net

3. Air fryer Char Sui pork

AKA Cantonese sweet and spicy barbecue pork. Five spice is the key ingredient and it goes well with crispy pork fat. Make enough of the sauce to dip the finished pork in after serving.

From: Two Sleevers

4. Air fryer pork chops

The creators of this recipe tested many different timings and temperatures so you don’t have to. Thick pork chops work best in the fryer.

From: Courtney Sweets

5. Air fryer crispy pork belly

If you love meat that is crispy on the outside, and juicy and tender on the inside, this recipe is everything you need. Crunchy, delicious, and something you will want to make over and over again. Pork belly was made for air fryers!

From:Two Sleevers

6. Air fryer bacon-wrapped hot dogs

AKA air fryer pigs in blankets. I had these for lunch yesterday. Cooking time may vary widely depending on how well you like them done, thickness of the bacon and calibre of the sausage.

From: Recipes that Crock

20 Easy Air Fryer Meat Recipes With Chicken, Pork, Beef & Lamb (2)

Roasted bone marrow & pecan-crusted chicken tenders

7. Roasted bone marrow

Once neglected, bone marrow has become a respected ingredient in recent years. The perfect example of nose-to-tail eating, it’s also supremely nutritious.

I read a recent report suggesting eating bone marrow was a habit that helped our ancestors develop bigger brains, brighter minds and ultimately civilisation.

From: Goodfood Australia

8. Pecan-crusted chicken tenders

A keto-friendly, low-carb chicken tender recipe that is deeply delicious and nutritious. Pecans are used in place of breadcrumbs for the savory coating.

From: Two Sleevers

9. Turkish chicken kebab shish tavuk

Another low-carb, keto recipe from the ever-brilliant Two Sleevers. Cooking time is short but you should leave the chicken to marinate overnight or up to about twenty-four hours. Serve with tzatziki and a salad.

From: Two Sleevers

10. Keto fried chicken in the air fryer

KFC without the wheat flour! This recipe uses that favorite low-carb standby, coconut flour with pork rinds and spices. A very well-conceived take on fried chicken that products great results, especially with an air fryer.

From: Wholesome Yum

11. Air fryer Nashville chicken

Cayenne pepper-spiced coated chicken, on top of a white slice with pickles. Spicy, filling, definitely not keto or low-carb! This hot chicken fresh out of the air fryer could become a family favorite outside of Tennessee…

From: Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons

20 Easy Air Fryer Meat Recipes With Chicken, Pork, Beef & Lamb (3)

Air fryer crispy wings & whole chicken

12. Extra crisp air fryer chicken wings

Almost worth buying an air fryer for, or at least a bigger one to make more of these wings! It’s what they’re so good at, getting everything extra browned & crispy, but without losing any juiciness, whatsoever. Air fryer chicken wings are the best.

From: I Food Blogger

13. Air fryer whole chicken

You can get by with a small air fryer but, if you own a larger one, why not let it do its stuff on a whole chicken? Breast side down seems to be the best way to do it according to Jennifer, flipping it over for the last ten minutes of crisping up.

From: Low Carb with Jennifer

12. Air fryer turkey breast with herb butter

Air frying a whole turkey could be a challenge. I just don’t think they make them that big. But a turkey breast? No problem.

From: Happyway

20 Easy Air Fryer Meat Recipes With Chicken, Pork, Beef & Lamb (4)

Air Fryer Roast Beef & Juicy Beef Kabobs

13. Roast beef in an air fryer

So you can roast a whole chicken, turkey breasts, pork chops… What else can you roast? Beef! The King of Roasts. This recipe seasons simply with salt and rosemary.

One great thing about the air fryer is how it collects all of the juices that ooze out during cooking – you can make incredible gravy with that stuff, don’t discard it!

From: Love Food not Cooking

14. Air fryer juicy beef kabobs

Oil-free but ever so juicy marinated beef kabobs. You can mix up the beef chunks with veg of your choice. I would add halloumi cheese and onion cubes with a spicy dipping sauce.

From: Berry Maple

15. The ultimate air fryer lamb burgers

I do like a lamb burger. If the recipe uses spices and mint, even better. Harissa paste is the secret ingredient here, in both the burgers and the dip. Wrap each pattie in a bun or low-carb alternative. Air fryer as indoor barbecue.

From: Recipe This

20 Easy Air Fryer Meat Recipes With Chicken, Pork, Beef & Lamb (5)

Air fried rack of lamb and Sichuan cumin lamb sirloins

16. Air fried rack of lamb

An elegant dish that impresses on the table. Delicate cuts of lamb cook very quickly in the fryer, so keep a close eye on this one!

From: Fork to Spoon

17. Sichuan cumin lamb

Rich and with the unique spicy heat that comes from Sichuan peppercorns. It’s actually pretty interesting how the sichuan sensation comes about – those aren’t heat receptors that are being lit up, they’re touch receptors!

They get activated over and over again by a molecule called hydroxy-alpha-sanshool. It happens so intensely that the touch receptors eventually give up and shut down, leaving a characteristic numb sensation. Cool. Go here for the science.

From: Two Sleevers

18. Spicy lamb sirloin steaks

A tandoori lamb recipe that doesn’t need a specially-built clay oven and hours of cooking. Fifteen minutes and juicy, spicy, aromatic lamb is yours to enjoy and share.

From: Two Sleevers

19. Classic homestyle air fryer meatloaf

Meatloaf loaded with chorizo, ground beef AND ground pork. Sounds good to me. Cut me a large slice, please! Many more chorizo recipes here

From: Recipes from the Pantry

20. Air fryer ribeye steak

I was thinking of leaving this recipe out. Some people have taken against cooking steak in an air fryer as it’s hard to get the sear that gives steak much of its flavor. But this recipe with blue cheese is a winner – the clever use of smoked salt solves much of the no-sear problem.

From: This Old Gal

If you found this air fryer meat recipes post useful, also check out our 30 best low-carb keto air fryer recipes, air fryer dessert recipes, air fryer fish and air fryer egg recipes

Or put the air fryer aside and cook your next steak sous vide

20 Easy Air Fryer Meat Recipes With Chicken, Pork, Beef & Lamb (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest meat to air fry? ›

Some meats that work well in an air fryer include:
  • Chicken: Air fryers are excellent for cooking chicken wings, drumsticks, thighs, and breast fillets. ...
  • Fish: Fish fillets, shrimp, and other seafood can be air-fried to perfection. ...
  • Pork: Pork chops, tenderloin, and even small roasts can be cooked in the air fryer.
Mar 23, 2020

What meat works well in air fryer? ›

You can also make your main dish IN the air fryer. It works magic with proteins like tofu, chicken drumsticks, meatballs, pork chops, fried chicken… even steak. Need a last-minute appetizer? Stick with your favorites, but make them in your air fryer.

Why can t you cook red meat in an air fryer? ›

In an air fryer, the temperature combined with the fast movement of air can cause the steak to be dry by the time it's cooked. This is especially a problem when you're dealing with leaner cuts, like sirloin.

What are the easiest meats to cook at home? ›

Tender cuts from the back (loin) region are quick-cooking cuts. These are cuts like ribeye, sirloin, strip steak, pork chops, and tenderloin. These cuts don't need much cooking to make them taste awesome.

What is the easiest thing to cook in an air fryer? ›

Here are all our favourite easy air fryer recipe ideas, from simple scones to the best crispy homemade potatoes.
  • 10Air fryer Caramello danish. ...
  • 11Crispy air fryer Italian frittole. ...
  • 12Air fryer Crunchy Nut French toast. ...
  • 13Air fryer chicken satay. ...
  • 14Air fryer coccoli. ...
  • 15Air fryer little potato pancakes.

How do you keep meat from drying out in an air fryer? ›

Using oil

Using oil in an air fryer is perfectly fine and helps the meat to remain moist and come out looking golden brown. However, a little oil in an air fryer does go a long way. With most cuts of pork, simply rubbing some oil into the meat will be all you need. You can use either regular olive oil or a spray oil.

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
  • Wet Batters. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

What are the top 10 foods to cook in an air fryer? ›

Start air frying these 13 foods and watch your cooking time drop and your satisfaction in healthy meals skyrocket!
  • Chicken Breasts. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Zoodles. ...
  • Cauliflower Gnocchi. ...
  • Salmon (chopped) ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Personal Pizzas. ...
  • Frozen Cauliflower.
Feb 18, 2020

Do you flip meat in an air fryer? ›

Even if your air fryer has top-notch air circulation from its fan, you need to give most larger pieces of food (such as pork chops, burgers, and chicken cutlets) a turn about halfway through cooking.

Is it safe to put raw chicken in an air fryer? ›

Yes, you put raw frozen chicken in the air fryer! You won't be able to brine it first or pound it to an even thickness (so the results are not *as* juicy) but if you forget to thaw your chicken, it's a great option to have on hand.

Why should you never cook bacon in your air fryer? ›

Bacon is a high-fat food and releases a lot of grease as it cooks, which can coat the bottom and inside of your air fryer (and isn't fun to scrub out). Too much grease can also start smoking in the fryer, which is never what you want to see when you're cooking.

What is the easiest meat to cook for beginners? ›

I would definitely say ground beef. There are so many things you can do with it. Meatballs, burgers, meatloaf, tacos, stuffed shells, etc. It's super easy to cook and very versatile.

What is the quickest meat to cook? ›

Things that respond well to hot-fast cooking include chicken breasts, pork loin, pork tenderloin, beef tenderloin, tri-tip, ribeye, and any steak-like cut. Most fish and many kinds of seafood also respond well to searing at high heat for short periods of time—tuna steak comes to mind.

What is the easiest cured meat to make at home? ›

What's great is lardo is the easiest of meats to cure in your home, not requiring a open-air, dark chamber with consistent temperature and humidity as most cured meats, such as prosciutto, salami, guanciale, coppa, lonza, and pancetta do.

What does not cook in an air fryer? ›

Uncooked Grains. Using the air fryer with grains that are already cooked is no problem, but steer clear of firing up the appliance for uncooked grains, including rice, quinoa, and pasta. Air fryers are designed to cook dry foods, and rice and other grains need to be cooked in water.

Does meat get tender in the air fryer? ›

Super quick and easy Air Fryer Steak Bites are perfectly tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and seasoned to perfection! Serve them as an appetizer for any occasion, or enjoy them as your main dish!

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Can you air fry hamburger meat? ›

Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Place the patties in the basket, leaving some space around each (cook in batches if needed). Air fry the burgers for 6 minutes, then flip and continue cooking until the internal temperature of the burger reaches 155 degrees F, about 2 to 4 minutes more.

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