If you're looking for the best Ninja air fryer recipes, you've come to the right place. A Ninja air fryer uses superheated circulating air to cook food up to 65% faster than a conventional oven, with little to no oil. It handles everything from crispy pork belly and juicy chicken thighs to stuffed salmon and homemade hash browns. This guide brings together all of my best Ninja air fryer recipes, plus a cooking times reference table, my top tips, and everything you need to get perfect results every time.
I'm Emily Roz — food content creator, recipe developer, and cookbook author behind Myriad Recipes. My Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer is genuinely one of my most-used appliances. I use it almost every day, and over the years I've tested and perfected recipes across every category, from quick weeknight dinners to weekend showstoppers. Every single recipe in this guide is one I've made myself, tested multiple times, and absolutely love. I hope you find something that becomes a new favourite!
Jump to:
- Why I Love My Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
- My Top Tips for Perfect Ninja Air Fryer Results
- Ninja Air Fryer Cooking Times & Temperatures
- Ninja Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
- Ninja Air Fryer Snacks & Starters
- Ninja Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Ninja Air Fryer Pork Recipes
- Ninja Air Fryer Fish Recipes
- Ninja Air Fryer Meatball Recipes
- Ninja Air Fryer Sides & Light Meals
- Ninja Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes
- What NOT to Cook in Your Ninja Air Fryer
- More Ninja Air Fryer Recipes Coming Soon!
- Ninja Air Fryer FAQs
- Other Dishes You Might Enjoy
- Ninja Air Fryer Recipes — The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need
Why I Love My Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
My go-to is the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone, because it has two separate compartments and a brilliant Sync function that means both zones finish cooking at the same time. So while zone 1 is doing my crispy pork belly, zone 2 can be doing roasted vegetables.
The other thing I love about my Ninja is that it's incredibly consistent (I genuinely get the same result every time) and it's just built to last. I've had mine for years now and it's still going strong.
The good news is that every recipe in this guide will work in any Ninja model, whether you've got the classic AF100, the Dual Zone AF300/400, or the Ninja Foodi Max. You may just need to adjust cooking times slightly if you have a smaller or larger basket than mine.
My Top Tips for Perfect Ninja Air Fryer Results
Don't overcrowd the basket. This is the number one mistake people make. The Ninja air fryer works by circulating hot air around your food and if you pack it in too tight, the air can't flow properly and you'll end up with uneven, soggy results. If I need to cook a lot of food I make sure I do it in batches.
Shake or flip halfway through. For most ninja air fryer recipes, giving the basket a shake or flipping your food halfway through cooking ensures even crispiness all over. I mention this in every recipe where it matters.
Pat your food dry before cooking. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness! Before cooking proteins like chicken or fish, pat them dry with a piece of kitchen roll. This makes a huge difference to the final texture.
A light spritz of oil goes a long way. The Ninja air fryer needs very little oil, but for foods I want to make extra crispy — like hash browns or rice paper rolls — I'll add a light spray of oil on the surface. It makes all the difference.
You don't always need to preheat. Unlike an oven, most Ninja air fryer recipes don't require preheating. It heats up so quickly that by the time your food is in there, it's pretty much already at temperature. I'll always note in my recipes when preheating does help.
Ninja Air Fryer Cooking Times & Temperatures
Em's top tip: reduce your usual oven temperature by about 10–15°C and cut the cooking time by around 20%. The table below is based on my own testing in my Ninja Foodi but please use it as a guide and always check your food as cooking times can vary slightly depending on thickness and your specific model.
| Food | Temp | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoked back bacon | 390°F / 200°C | 6-8 min | No flip needed. 390°F for crispy; 355°F for less crispy |
| Streaky bacon | 355°F-390°F / 180-200°C | 6 min | Check at 6 min |
| Hash browns (homemade) | 460°F / 240°C, then 320°F / 160°C | 5–10 min, then 25 min | Two-stage cook; flip halfway through second stage |
| Chicken thighs | 340°F / 170°C | 28–30 min | Flip after 20 mins |
| Chicken drumsticks | 430°F / 220°C, then 300°F / 150°C | 8 min, then 30 min | Two-stage cook, reduce temp after 8 mins |
| Chicken breast | 375°F / 190°C | 18–20 min | Flip at 10 min |
| Turkey meatballs | 355°F / 180°C | 10 min | Shake halfway |
| Pork belly (joint) | 320°F / 160°C, then 460°F / 240°C | 30 min, then 10 min | 30 mins on air fryer mode, next 10 mins on max crispy |
| Salmon fillet (stuffed) | 375°F / 190°C | 10 min | No flip needed |
| Salmon fillet (plain) | 370°F / 190°C | 10 min | No flip needed |
| Jacket potato | 230°C / 445°F | 1 hr, then 15–20 min | Wrap in foil for first stage; remove foil for second stage to crisp the skin |
| Frozen hash browns | 390°F / 200°C | 12–15 min | Flip halfway |
| Empanadas | 360°F / 180°C | 12–15 min | Brush with egg wash |
| Rice paper rolls | 390°F / 200°C | 8–10 min | Shake halfway |
| Ciabatta croutons | 375°F / 190°C | 5–7 min | Shake halfway |
| Beet Wellington | 355°F / 180°C | 20 min | Set Fryer to Roast |
| Bread Bites | 355°F / 180°C | 8 min | Shake halfway |
Ninja Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
Honestly, the air fryer has completely changed how I do breakfast. No more greasy splatter on the hob, no hovering over a pan. Just pop it in and go.
Bacon in Air Fryer Ninja (8 Minutes)
This is my tried-and-tested method for cooking bacon in the Ninja air fryer, and it comes out perfectly every single time. I've included instructions for both smoked back bacon and streaky bacon, with cooking times ranging from 6 to 10 minutes depending on how crispy you like it. No mess, no splatter, and honestly better than anything you'd get from a frying pan. Serve it in a bagel, alongside eggs, or with my air fryer hash browns below!
Crispy Air Fryer Hash Browns
These homemade air fryer hash browns are crispy on the outside and soft and light on the inside. They only take 10 minutes to prepare and are one of my favourite breakfast dishes to make. If you're using frozen hash browns, the same principle applies: keep the temperature the same as the oven instructions (or slightly higher), but cook for roughly half the time. They're incredible served alongside my air fryer bacon!
Ninja Air Fryer Snacks & Starters
The air fryer is absolutely brilliant for snacks and starters! You get that deep-fried crunch with a fraction of the oil and none of the faff. These are some of my most-made recipes when I'm entertaining.
The BEST Air Fryer Rice Paper Rolls
I used to work at a Vietnamese restaurant, so rice paper rolls hold a special place in my heart! These are a gorgeous mashup of Vietnamese summer rolls and Chinese spring rolls — we're using rice paper wrappers (like summer rolls) but with a cooked ground meat filling (like spring rolls), then air frying them instead of deep frying. The result is crispy on the outside, juicy and flavourful inside. Served with sweet chilli sauce, they're the perfect appetiser. I promise once you’ve mastered the rice paper technique (which I walk you through step by step), these will be on repeat. If you love Vietnamese flavours, my Vietnamese Cabbage Rolls are another must-try.
Air Fryer Empanadas
These air fryer empanadas take less than 30 minutes from start to finish and are packed with a gorgeous chipotle beef mince and cheese filling. They're the perfect lunchtime snack... crispy, golden, and incredibly satisfying. The air fryer makes them so much easier and lighter than the deep-fried version, without sacrificing any of that delicious crunch.
Easy Homemade Ciabatta Croutons (Oven or Air Fryer)
These ciabatta croutons are dangerously addictive. Made in the air fryer in just 5–7 minutes, they're golden, crunchy, and so much better than anything you'd buy in a bag. Toss them through a Caesar salad, float them on top of a soup, or honestly just eat them as a snack like my partner — I won't judge, promise!
Ninja Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Chicken is probably the ingredient I cook most often in my Ninja Foodi. The fryer makes sure it comes out juicy on the inside with gorgeous colour on the outside. Here are my absolute favourites.
Greek Yogurt Chicken in Air Fryer
This is one of my most popular recipes and for good reason... it's incredibly juicy, full of flavour, and so simple to make. The chicken thighs are marinated in a 6-ingredient Greek yogurt sauce (Greek yogurt, chilli flakes, paprika, garlic, mixed herbs, lemon, and olive oil) and then air fried for 30 minutes. You can marinate for as little as half an hour or leave it overnight (the longer the better). It's brilliant for meal prep, too.
Phenomenal Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
I use the word "phenomenal" because my partner devoured about 1kg of these drumsticks in one day... so I think that says it all! We coat them in a buffalo and flour mixture to get them as crispy as possible, then finish them with a hot honey buffalo glaze and serve alongside a homemade blue cheese dipping sauce. They're sweet, spicy, crispy, and seriously addictive.
Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs (10 Minutes)
These are one of my all-time favourite ninja air fryer recipes. Made from ground chicken, carrot, celery, red onion, garlic, and parsley, then air fried for just 10 minutes, they come out juicy inside with a slightly crispy exterior. Coated in buffalo sauce and served on top of homemade blue cheese sauce, topped with jalapeños, chives, and lime... they're SO good. Great for meal prep, serve them with pasta, in a pita, or just straight from the basket!!
The BEST Volcano Chicken (20 Minutes)
If you've never had Volcano Chicken, this is your sign to make it. It's crispy air fryer chicken tossed in a sweet and savoury sauce made with just 6 ingredients. This recipe uses no oil for the chicken itself, making it a much healthier version than the typical deep-fried take. It’s one of my absolute favourite chicken recipes and perfect served over rice with a drizzle of extra sauce. If you love sticky, sweet-and-savoury chicken, my Honey Ginger Chicken is another one the whole table will love.
Greek Chicken Gyros
These Greek chicken gyros are one of those recipes that feel like a proper treat but come together incredibly quickly in the air fryer. Moist, well-seasoned chicken wrapped in warm flatbread with fresh toppings and tzatziki — it's the kind of dinner that makes everyone at the table very happy. Great for a fun Friday night fakeaway!
Quick Cheesy Baked Chicken with Cream of Chicken Soup
This one is pure comfort food and one of my most viral recipes. The cream of chicken soup creates the most gorgeous, creamy sauce that coats the chicken as it cooks, and the melted cheese on top takes it completely over the edge. It's quick, satisfying, and the kind of recipe you'll turn to again and again on a busy weeknight. Find the recipe under the "recipe variation" section on the blog.
Chicken Katsu Ramen
This is the recipe that truly shows off what the Ninja air fryer can do. The chicken katsu is made in the air fryer — crispy, golden panko coating on the outside, tender chicken inside — and then served in a rich, warming ramen broth. It's a proper restaurant-worthy bowl of noodles that you can make at home on a weeknight. Honestly one of the most impressive things to come out of my air fryer. If you love a proper ramen bowl, my marry me chicken ramen is another one to bookmark.
Ninja Air Fryer Pork Recipes
I've found the Ninja air fryer makes the most incredible pork. The powerful circulating heat renders the fat and crisps the skin in a way that is honestly quite hard to replicate in the oven... oh, and in a fraction of the time!
Air Fryer Pork Belly (The CRISPIEST Version)
This is the recipe I'm most proud of on my entire blog. Super juicy pork, extra crispy skin, and ready in under 40 minutes — it's the best crispy pork belly I have ever made, and I've made a lot. Seasoned with Chinese five spice and garlic powder, it comes with a 4-ingredient dipping sauce (hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine vinegar) that is absolutely essential. I've found that the technique of wrapping the meat in foil while leaving the skin exposed is the key to getting that unbeatable crackling. You're going to love it!
20-Min Pork Belly Fried Rice
This is the perfect follow-up recipe if you've made the air fryer pork belly and have leftovers (if there are any!). This 20-minute pork belly fried rice is simple, flavourful, and deeply satisfying... the kind of thing you'll make on a lazy midweek evening when you want something delicious without much effort. It’s become a real regular in our household. And if you’re a serious pork belly fan, make sure you also check out my Asian Braised Pork Belly and my viral Cheat Bao Buns.
Ninja Air Fryer Fish Recipes
Fish in the air fryer is one of those things that once you've tried it, you'll struggle go back to the oven or skillet. It's faster, the texture is better, and there's far less smell lingering in the kitchen afterwards!
Stuffed Salmon in Air Fryer (10 Mins)
This stuffed salmon is one of my favourite easy air fryer recipes ever. It only requires 4 ingredients — salmon, ricotta, spinach, and harissa paste — and the whole dish is ready in less than 15 minutes. The salmon comes out so soft and flaky that it practically falls apart on the plate, and the melty ricotta filling that infuses into the fish is spicy, creamy, and completely delicious. It's great for meal prep too, and if you want to mix it up, I give variations in the post including a gorgeous crab meat and cream cheese filling.
Ninja Air Fryer Meatball Recipes
I am absolutely obsessed with making meatballs in the air fryer. They cook in 10–12 minutes, come out juicy and slightly crispy, and work with so many different sauces and serving suggestions. Here is my favourite recipe.
The BEST Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
These air fryer turkey meatballs are so juicy and delicious — turkey mince is leaner than beef or pork, which makes these a brilliant lighter option without sacrificing any flavour. They're incredibly versatile too: serve them tossed through pasta, stuffed into a sandwich, or with a big bowl of creamy mashed potato. They cook in just 10–12 minutes in the Ninja and are a brilliant addition to your weekly meal prep rotation.
Ninja Air Fryer Sides & Light Meals
The Ninja is my go-to for jacket potatoes and sides that need a blast of dry heat to get properly crispy and fluffy at the same time.
Easy Jacket Potato with Cheesy Beans
A proper British classic, made even better in the air fryer. The skin gets perfectly crispy while the inside stays fluffy and soft... something that's genuinely hard to achieve in a microwave or even the oven without a long wait. Topped with cheesy beans, it's the ultimate comfort food lunch or easy dinner. If you haven't tried doing jacket potatoes in the air fryer yet, this is your moment.
If you're looking for topping ideas beyond cheesy beans, my baked potato bar toppings guide has everything from classic loaded combos to viral hacks.
Ninja Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes
The Ninja Air Fryer is genuinely brilliant for vegetarian dishes too! I tend to use one zone for my main and the other for roasted vegetables, and everything finishes at exactly the same time. Here are two of my favourites.
The Ultimate Beet Wellington
This is a proper showstopper, and the fact that it's made entirely in the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone makes it even more special. One compartment roasts the sweet potato, beetroot, onion, and garlic filling; the other cooks the Wellington itself — and the Sync function means both finish at the same time. It's the vegetarian centrepiece I try to make every Christmas, and I genuinely think it's one of the most impressive things to come out of my air fryer. Ninja even partnered with me on this one, which tells you everything you need to know!
2 Ingredient Bread Bites
These little bread bites are one of those recipes that feel like a magic trick. All you need is self-raising flour and Greek yogurt, and the air fryer has them done in just 8 minutes at 180°C. They come out light and fluffy inside with a gorgeous golden exterior — I like to coat mine in a spicy garlic powder for extra flavour, but they're completely delicious on their own too. Perfect as a snack, a side, or stuffed with whatever you fancy.
What NOT to Cook in Your Ninja Air Fryer
Okay, so the Ninja air fryer is pretty incredible, but it's not magic. There are a few things that just don't work well in it, and I'd rather save you the mess!
Wet batters. Classic beer batter or tempura batter will drip straight through the basket and create smoke. Stick to dry coatings like breadcrumbs, panko, or a light flour dusting if you want a crispy coating.
Leafy greens on their own. The fan is powerful, and light ingredients like spinach leaves will just blow around the basket. If you want to crispy up some kale chips, toss them in a little oil and keep the temperature lower.
Loose cheese. Cheese on its own will melt through the basket holes. If you're adding cheese to a dish (like my cream of chicken soup chicken), it should be on top of the food, not sitting directly in the basket.
Very large roasting joints. A small-to-medium pork belly joint works brilliantly (as in my pork belly recipe!), but an enormous leg of lamb or a very thick joint may cook unevenly. Stick to smaller portions or cut large pieces down.
More Ninja Air Fryer Recipes Coming Soon!
I'm always testing new recipes in my Ninja Foodi and adding them to this guide, so make sure to bookmark this page and come back! If you give any of these recipes a go, I'd love to hear how you get on — drop me a comment on the individual recipe posts or come and say hi on Instagram or TikTok. Happy cooking! 🧡
Ninja Air Fryer FAQs
A few questions I get asked a lot - hopefully this helps!
Almost always, this comes down to two things: overcrowding the basket, or excess moisture on the food. Make sure you're not packing the basket too tightly, and always pat proteins dry before cooking. If you're cooking something with a marinade (like my Greek yogurt chicken), shake off the excess before it goes in.
The temperature is too high. Reduce it by 10–15°C, add a few extra minutes to the cook time, and check with a meat thermometer (chicken should reach 75°C / 165°F internally). This is especially common with thick chicken breasts.
A light spritz of oil on the surface of your food before cooking makes a big difference. Also make sure you're shaking or flipping halfway through — the side that's sitting against the basket won't crisp up without airflow. And as always: don't overcrowd!
Pretty much everything! A Ninja air fryer can cook chicken, fish, pork, beef, vegetables, eggs, and even desserts. It's especially brilliant for anything you want crispy - think pork belly, chicken drumsticks, hash browns, and meatballs. It also reheats leftovers far better than a microwave, giving you back that just-cooked crunch.
For most recipes, no. The Ninja heats up so quickly that you don't need to preheat. I cook the vast majority of my recipes without preheating and they come out perfectly. I'll always mention it in a recipe if preheating does help.
Yes! Both work well...I use tin foil in my pork belly recipe to protect the meat while the skin crisps up. The key rule is never to cover the entire base of the basket, as this blocks airflow and stops the food cooking properly. Use it to line the sides or wrap individual items, not as a full cover.
Absolutely! This is one of the best things about it! Add around 3–5 minutes to the recommended cook time for frozen food, shake or flip more frequently, and check as you go.
After every use, let the basket cool and then wash it with warm soapy water. Most Ninja baskets have a ceramic coating that is dishwasher-safe - but please check your specific model's instructions to confirm. For the main unit, a quick wipe down with a damp cloth is all you need.
The Ninja Foodi is a multi-cooker that combines several functions - pressure cooking, slow cooking, and air frying - in a single pot. A Ninja Air Fryer is a dedicated appliance focused primarily on air frying, roasting, and dehydrating. I use the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone, which is designed specifically for air frying and gives you two independent cooking zones; it's my absolute favourite.
Other Dishes You Might Enjoy
Ninja Air Fryer Recipes — The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need
Ingredients
- 19 Ninja Air Fryer Recipes
Instructions
- Browse all of the Ninja Air Fryer Recipes further up in the blog and pick any you'd like to make.
- Follow the recipe and add ingredients to the air fryer.
- Serve up with any sides you like and enjoy!
Katie P
Such a great guide, so helpful, thank you! I made the stuffed salmon recipe last night for the family and they loved it!
BeckyEdwards
Honestly so helpful to have all of this ai fryer recipes already on your site, thank you!
Emily Roz
So glad you like them Becky! Em xx