Knowing how to cook delicious, speedy, and nutritional meals can be a challenge, especially when your schedule is already jam-packed. Many people struggle to feel inspired to make healthy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, so you’re definitely not alone!
Tasty dishes don’t have to be time-consuming, thanks to the invention of the air fryer. It’s a convenient and super healthy method of cooking which is now hugely popular. Having an air fryer in your kitchen is about to make meal prep much more enjoyable, not to mention high in nutritional value too. So, if you find yourself regularly stuck for inspiration for meals from morning to night, here are seven smart air fryer meal prep recipes for you to try!
Benefits of Using an Air Fryer for Meal Prep
Meal prepping with an air fryer couldn’t be simpler, especially with fun, delicious and speedy recipe inspiration at your fingertips. As well as being a super simple method of cooking, which requires little to no experience in the kitchen, it’s also incredibly healthy for you.
If you’re hoping to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce saturated fats in your diet, air fryer meal prep is a brilliant solution. An air fryer uses less oil than cooking on the stove or in the oven, which means there are more retained nutrients in your food. This means that you’re not losing out on valuable sustenance from nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables and meat.
With an air fryer there is also more flexibility to try foods that would normally be considered unhealthy. Air fryers make it simpler than ever to try healthier versions of your favorite treats, as they come out super crispy without the need for excess oil.
Air frying will also save you a tonne of time if you have a busy lifestyle. An air fryer preheats very quickly and cooks food in a flash. Not only can you create tasty meals in just a few minutes, but the cleanup afterwards is much easier than other cooking methods. After you have used your air fryer, you will only have one or two baskets or containers to wash up rather than multiple pots and pans.
Now that you understand the benefits of cooking with an air fryer, here are some simple and sumptuous recipes for you to try out for yourself!
7 Healthy Meal Prep Ideas Using an Air Fryer
When it comes to healthy air fryer meal prep, there are so many delicious recipes for you to explore, from brilliant breakfasts to divine dinners. Here are seven smart ideas to help you produce healthy meals in next to no time.
1. Banana Pancake Sticks

If you’ve got a sweet tooth in the mornings, this is the ideal way to satisfy your craving whilst adding the nutritional value of fruit into your diet. Banana pancake sticks in the air fryer are a quick and easy breakfast or morning snack idea that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
Ingredients:
- Bananas
- Butter
- Homemade Pancake Batter
- Honey or dark chocolate for dipping
Once you have lined your air fryer basket with parchment paper and sprayed with cooking spray, you can add all of your pancake batter ingredients into a mixing bowl. Whisk together wholemeal flour, a pinch of baking powder, milk, eggs and a hint of vanilla extract to make your batter.
Slice your bananas into finger shapes and roll them into the pancake batter. Once your banana sticks are full coated, place them onto the parchment in the air fryer. Cook for 12 minutes at 350 degrees and flip them halfway. Once they’re done they should be a gorgeous golden brown!
For speedy meal prep with air fryer, you can prepare your homemade pancake batter in advance and store it in the fridge for as long as five days in an airtight container. You can also swap out the bananas for different fruits depending on what you have at home; apple rings, strawberries and pineapple will always work just as well.
2. Breakfast Egg Basket

Why settle for regular eggs in the morning, when you can house yours in a deliciously edible bread basket? With just four simple ingredients you can whip this up in the air fryer even when you’re in a hurry in the mornings.
Ingredients:
- Wholemeal or sourdough bread
- Two large eggs
- Salt
- Pepper
Use a cutter to create a hole in the middle of your slice of bread, then place it into your pre-sprayed paper in your air fryer basket. Carefully crack your egg into the hole and close the basket. Set a timer for 4 minutes, then flip your eggy bread and cook for a further 4 minutes on the other side. With a spatula, remove your cooked breakfast from the air fryer and sprinkle a touch of salt and pepper to finish. If you’re a fan of spice, you can also add a pinch of chili flakes for an extra kick!
3. High-Protein Breakfast Oat Cookie

This type of air fryer meal prep is perfect for those looking to add extra protein into their diet. A high-protein breakfast oat cookie is unique, delicious and can be prepped ahead of time for those busy mornings.
Ingredients:
- Oats
- Your choice of protein powder
- Cinnamon
- Banana
- Coconut oil
- Milk or milk alternative
- Dark choc chips/blueberries/raisins/almond flakes, or any other additions you like!
Mix together the dry ingredients (oats, protein powder and cinnamon). Then add in a small drizzle of melted coconut oil, one mashed banana and a cup of milk. Keep mixing until a wet dough is formed. Roll the dough into a ball, place onto your parchment paper and use your hands to press into a round cookie shape.
Sprinkle on the toppings of your choice such as nuts or dried fruit and cook for 8 minutes. If you don’t use all of your dough in one go, seal it up with cling film and keep it in the fridge for up to three days.
4. Super Speedy Pizza Bagel

Pizza bagels are the perfect speedy lunch option when you’re looking to satisfy a craving for fast food. They’re easily prepped and can be cooked in just over five minutes!
Ingredients:
- A bagel or bagel thin
- Tomato puree or tomato pizza sauce
- Italian dried herbs
- Grated cheese
- Pepperoni/pineapple/your toppings of choice
Add a few spoons of tomato pizza sauce or tomato puree to your bagels. Sprinkle on your Italian herbs, cheese and choice of toppings and cook in your air fryer for around six to seven minutes. Once the cheese is bubbly your pizza bagel is ready to eat!
5. The Best Baked Potatoes

If you’re feeding a crowd at lunchtime, but you’re looking for a non-messy and healthy option, why not use your air fryer to make the best baked potatoes? With indulgent, crispy skins and soft, fluffy centres the result will always be delicious, especially during those autumnal and wintery afternoons!
Prepare the potatoes by cleaning them and drying them with kitchen paper. Coat the skin with a drizzle of oil and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Lay the potatoes in your air fryer basket and cook for around 40 minutes, and turn over halfway through. Serve with a salad, cottage cheese, lean bacon or baked beans for a healthy and satisfying lunch. You can batch cook baked potatoes in advance in the air fryer so that you have a whole week of lunches prepared right away!
6. Healthy Honey and Soy Salmon

When it comes to air fryer meal prep recipes, this one is the cream of the crop. After a busy day, this honey glazed salmon is your ideal go-to for a quick and healthy meal for dinner. You can also cook more salmon fillets than needed to eat in a salad the following day or for dinner again tomorrow!
Ingredients:
- Salmon fillets
- Honey
- Soy sauce
- Salt
- Pepper
Sesame seeds - Chilli flakes
Mix together your glaze ingredients firstly, which is the honey, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Then pour the mixture over your salmon fillets giving it a gentle rub into the top. Place your salmon fillets into a preheated air fryer for around ten minutes. Top with chilli flakes (to your taste) and serve with a baked potato or brown rice.
7. Rotisserie Chicken

This is the showstopper of healthy air fryer meal prep that is sure to please a crowd for dinner! It may take slightly longer to cook, but a rotisserie chicken in the air fryer gives you plenty of meat to use for other dishes throughout the week.
Coat your chicken in herbs, a squeeze of lemon, salt and pepper, and add into the air fryer for around 50 minutes, turning once halfway through the cooking process. You can also buy a cooked roast chicken and use the air fryer to crisp it up and add extra flavor in just 10 minutes! Slice up your crispy roast chicken into a salad, or serve alongside green vegetables for a delicious and healthy dinner.
Tips for Efficient Meal Prep Using an Air Fryer
Prepping your food and ingredients for the air fryer should be a quick and simple process. It’s important to wash your vegetables thoroughly and use a spray oil to lightly coat them for extra crispiness. You may also want to add an extra spritz of oil onto the parchment paper in your air fryer basket if it’s required. When using the air fryer for meat make sure it’s cooked thoroughly before consuming and use a meat thermometer if you’re unsure.
Batch cooking with an air fryer is also extremely simple, just add in a couple of extra portions to save for another time. Once your meals are fully cooked, allow them to cool down fully before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge.
Final Words
As you can see, using an air fryer for meal prep is quick, simple and healthy. If you haven’t tried your air fryer yet, or you’re looking for new inspiration why not try out some of the recipes mentioned here? Get creative, experiment with new dishes and make the most of a healthier and most efficient way of cooking.
FAQs
What are some essential air fryer accessories for meal prep?
Stock up on parchment paper for your air fryer baskets and look for a handy oil spray bottle to make your dishes delicious and crispy. A pair of silicone tongs and a spatula is also very useful for taking out and turning your food.
How long can air fryer-prepared meals be stored safely?
Once cooked you can safely store your air fryer prepared meals for up to 3-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Pre-prepared and doughs can also be cling filmed in a bowl for extra freshness.
Are air fryer meals actually healthier than traditional frying methods?
Meals prepped in an air fryer are considerably healthier because less oil is needed to cook them. You also get the added benefit of retained nutrients when cooking in an air fryer.