The Best Summer Air Fryer Recipes | Clean Plates (2024)

There are so many reasons you should cook with your air fryer this summer. For starters, it doesn’t heat up your entire home like the oven does. It’s also faster, it makes less of a mess in the kitchen, and, of course, it’s healthier than more traditional methods of frying. Do you need us to go on? I didn’t think so. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the very best summer air fryer recipes to make when it’s hot outside — lots of vegetables, lean proteins, and low-carb options that will make you feel great, but are still ultra-delicious.

1. Air Fryer Fried Shrimp Sandwich with Tartar Sauce from Skinnytaste

Is there anything better than a seafood roll during the summer? Lobster, shrimp, crab, I’ll take it all! Right now I have my sights on this air fryer shrimp sandwich. It takes all of two minutes for the breaded shrimp to crisp up. Then, you load them up into a potato roll with some lettuce and tartar sauce. You’ll catch me at the beach eating this recipe on repeat.

2. Air Fryer Zucchini Corn Fritters from Diethood

The two vegetables that immediately come to my mind when I think of summer are fresh corn and zucchini. I could eat both of them in some form every single day for the next few months and probably wouldn’t get bored. So, when I saw this recipe for zucchini and corn fritters, I knew I’d have to make them. The fritters are loaded with spices, and the hint of grated Parmesan adds a ton of flavor.

3. Air Fryer Hot Dogs from The Recipe Critic

You don’t need a grill to make perfect hot dogs this summer — just grab your air fryer! The circulating air makes the inside of the hot dogs perfectly tender, while the outside has the ideal texture. Smart tip: A minute before the hot dogs are ready to eat, add the buns to the air fryer so they also get nice and toasty.

4. Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas from Little Sunny Kitchen

Don’t you dare turn on that oven during this summer! You can make a whole, satisfying meal in your air fryer without heating up your home — and these chicken fajitas are proof. You only need a handful of ingredients and it takes just 15 minutes to cook.

5. Healthy Eggplant Parmesan from Pinch Me Good

I love eggplant Parmesan, but most of the recipes I’ve tried leave me feeling heavy (not ideal during the summer). That’s why I was immediately drawn to this air fryer version. There’s very little oil involved, and it takes just 20 minutes to make. Slice the eggplant into rounds, dredge it in a Parmesan and bread crumb mixture, and it’s ready to cook. When the eggplant is close to being done, add some tomato sauce and mozzarella on top and continue cooking. Top with freshly chopped basil, and you’re ready to eat!

6. Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Skins from Skinnytaste

Potato skins are a top five appetizer in my opinion, and I love this summery low-carb take that uses zucchini as a base. To make, you scoop out the pulp of a zucchini and cook the skins in the air fryer. When you have about two minute left to cook, you add your buffalo chicken mixture and some crumbled blue cheese to the zucchini so everything gets hot and melty. How dreamy does that sound?

7. Air Fryer Avocado Fries from Simply Recipes

Anything can be turned into French fries if you dream big — including avocados. These couldn’t be easier to make. You just take a ripe avocado, bread it, and then put it in the air fryer for six minutes. You can sprinkle the fries with a little salt and lime, or dip them in your favorite sauce.

8. Air Fryer Beef Kabobs from Gimme Delicious

Kabobs are one of my favorite healthy dinners during the summer, but I don’t eat them enough because I don’t have a grill. Problem solved! You can make totally delicious kabobs in the air fryer. This recipe uses marinated steak, bell peppers, and onion, but you can switch things up and use zucchini, mushrooms, or even fruit.