What Does an Air Fryer Make the Best Version of? 

Let’s be honest: Air-fryer fried chicken is very good . . . but nothing beats fried chicken cooked in hot oil. No argument there.

But there are actually dishes where cooking in an air fryer produces the best version of that dish (not to mention the convenience and time saved).

Let’s get into it.

As Cook’s Country Deputy Food Editor Nicole Konstantinakos said, “I LOVE AIR FRYER BROCCOLI.” This easy 20-minute recipe gives you perfectly tender broccoli with that crisp char you’d ordinarily get in double the oven time.  

“Chicken wings are really, really good in the air fryer. Plus, you don’t need to add any extra fat in order to get super crispy results!” says Cook’s Country Senior Photo Editor Lawman Johnson.

Associate Editor of ATK Reviews Chase Brightwell is an air fryer french fry convert. The key is to follow a few important steps, seen here. “These fries are crispy, fluffy, and salty in the best way, and they taste just like they came out of a deep fryer.”

Cook’s Country Test Cook Amanda Luchtel swears by this recipe. These little cabbages taste just as decadent as (if not better than) their deep-fried counterparts. Just a tablespoon of oil is enough to fully crisp up the exterior without masking the sprouts’ sweet and nutty flavor.

Books team Senior Editor Camila Chaparro found the air fryer to be the best method for roasted red peppers. “They peeled so much more easily and evenly than when you do them on the grill (or over a gas flame) and they had a good, meaty texture too.”

If this doesn’t give you enough reasons to buy an air fryer, I don’t know what else would.