Ok, so I don’t know about you guys… but whenever my grandmother gets me a gift, it is always hit or miss- I should also mention that she is 93 years old. I honestly never know what I may get from her. I have gotten everything from socks, makeup, a frying pan, and everything in between. The one thing I am sure about is that it will come from QVC (where she retired from). Well, this year she really out did herself! She got me an air fryer!!
There has been so much hype around these fryers and for a while now I have really wanted one. However, I am extremely cheap (and live in a tiny apartment) so never gave in and purchased one. To my surprise Christmas morning, wrapped the best she could… there it was, an air fryer! Mind you, I never told my grandmother I wanted one, so I’m not even sure how she nailed this one this year- but I was beyond excited! I could not wait to get home and use this bad boy!
I LOVE fried foods, but I try to be as health conscious as possible- so this is an amazing alternative to help get that “fried” craving. I absolutely love cooking and enjoy trying out new gadgets in the kitchen. This air fryer has proven (so far) to be quite delicious and user friendly! In the short time that I have had it, I have made all kinds of chicken (breast, thighs, and tenders), different types of veggies (green beans, broccoli, and brussels sprouts), and even took a shot at making potato “chips”. Since I do try and stay as healthy as possible, I have not tried anything with breading… but don’t you worry, I will!
What I have noticed with this machine is that there is a lot of trial and error, and personal preference involved. If you do want to try one out, I of course recommend it, but would also recommend you starting with small batches. I was nervous the first time I made chicken, so I started with about 2 thighs to see how it worked. I did the same with my veggies, if the first batch was too well done for my liking, I shortened the time for my second batch. The world is your oyster, just keep trying new things until you find something you really like.
Now, with all that being said… I thought I would share 2 of my favorite recipes so far 😊 I should preface that I do not typically measure when I am cooking, but I tried my best on these recipes for you guys!
First, Chicken! Well really just the seasoning, but still.
So far, I think I liked the chicken thighs the best in the air fryer. Also, after cooking, I did notice that some of the fat from the thighs was actually in the bottom below the basket. This actually made me feel pretty good, like the excess fat was removed? However, chicken breasts were on sale and that is all I had on hand… so that is what will be used in this recipe. But of course, this could be used on anything! Chicken, fish, pork, you could even use it to season up your veggies- the options are endless!
What I used:
- 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breast (depending on size)
- ¼ tsp salt- give or take depending on your preference (I don’t really use much salt)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano, or Italian seasoning (whichever you prefer or have on hand)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp pepper (again depending on preference, I honestly give a few turns of the grinder)
- 2 tsp brown sugar
If you’re like me and like a kick, feel free to throw in some cayenne pepper or chili flakes (my husband would kill me, so I did not use those here).
Directions:
+ Pre-heat air fryer to 350°F
+ Mix together seasonings and sprinkle on the top and bottom of the chicken breast
+ Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray and place in chicken- should fit 2-3 depending on size of chicken breast and fryer
+ Place is air fryer for 10 minutes at 350°F and then flip and cook for an additional 10 minutes (thickest part of the chicken should reach 165°
< After flip 
< Final Product 🙂
That’s it, you’re done! Prepare for some delicious, crispy and juicy chicken.
Next up, brussels sprouts!
Ok, so I am seriously addicted to brussels sprouts, I have to order them EVERYWHERE we go… it’s a problem. This is especially funny because I truly used to HATE them, now I just can’t get enough! I have tried a bunch of different veggies in the air fryer so far, but these are by far my favorite!
What I used:
- 1 lb brussels sprouts, cleaned and halved
- 2 tbs olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste (I actually used no salt)
- 1-2 tbs honey- depending on your preference
- 2 tbs balsamic vinegar
- (optional) 2-3 slices of bacon
Directions:
+ Pre-heat air fryer to 400° F
+ Mix brussels sprouts, olive oil, and salt and pepper together in a bowl
+ Once combined, place brussels sprouts into air fryer basket
< I did 2 batches
+ Cook at 400° F for 8-10 minutes, shaking basket halfway through (again this is going to be based on preference)
+ When done, place back into a bowl and combine brussels sprouts with the balsamic vinegar and honey
+ If you decided to be bold and use the bacon, chop that up and toss it in
\
< I prefer to bake my bacon… 
< Final delicious product!!
Bam! Delicious, heavenly, easy brussels sprouts side dish! The hardest part of this recipe is actually the cleaning and halving of the brussels sprouts… so if you’re lazy (like I usually am) or just short on time, a lot of stores (Trader Joe’s for example) sell brussels sprouts already cleaned and halved for you. Talk about convenience!
Albeit, this is obviously not the healthiest side dish, but it could always be worse! Right?? Plus, they are delicious and are sure to be a crowd pleaser 😊
Both of these recipes could also be done in the oven if you do not have an air fryer. For the chicken, place in a 350° F oven for 15-20 minutes per side. The brussels sprouts, I would recommend a 400° F oven for 30-40 minutes tossing halfway through- or until desired doneness (I like mine nice and crispy).
Hope you guys enjoy!! Let me know what you think.
Xo
