If you find yourself with the Monday blues and wondering what to do about dinner, don’t stress. With these 21 easy air fryer dinner recipes, your Monday is going to end up being much better than you expected. Bonus: if the weather is unbearably hot, the air fryer won’t heat up your kitchen as it cooks your dinner.
![A cooked steak with grilled asparagus and lemon wedges is served on a white plate. A wedge of steak and some parsley are on top of the main steak.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ribeye-steak-with-asparagus-in-air-fryer-featured-image-1024x683.jpeg)
Air Fryer Brats
![Air fryer brats on buns with potato chips on the side.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/air-fryer-brats-1.jpg)
When you think about cooking brats, you probably think about firing up your grill. But guess what? Your air fryer can make tender and juicy brats that are ready in under 15 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Brats
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
![A closeup side view is shown of an air fryer turkey burger on a light blue plate.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/10.jpg)
These air fryer turkey burgers are the perfect antidote to a lousy Monday. This is a quick, easy, and flavorful recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
![Close-up of a stack of seasoned, grilled chicken drumsticks, with one drumstick partially eaten, revealing moist, cooked meat inside. A lemon wedge and herbs are visible in the background.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/bite-into-drumstick-cropped-closeup-horizontal.jpeg)
You can get the taste of fried chicken without oil or the mess when you make these chicken drumsticks in the air fryer. Prep and cooking time is 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Barbecue Sauce Chicken Drumsticks in Air Fryer
![A close-up of chopsticks holding a piece of glazed, grilled chicken. The chicken appears juicy and well-cooked.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/closeup-of-bbq-chicken-drumstick-in-air-fryer.jpeg)
There are a couple of reasons you’re going to love learning about how to make barbecue drumsticks in the air fryer. Besides being fast and easy, it is much neater than cooking them on the grill.
Get the Recipe: Barbecue Sauce Chicken Drumsticks in Air Fryer
Salmon in the Air Fryer
![A fork holding a piece of cooked salmon, with more salmon fillets, lemon slices, and seasoning shakers in the background.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/fork-of-salmon-cooked-in-air-fryer.jpeg)
One of the beauties of cooking salmon or any seafood in the air fryer is that it is pretty difficult to do it wrong. Many air fryers have a seafood setting that you can select, so your salmon comes out perfectly.
Get the Recipe: Salmon in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks
![Close-up of a stack of medium-rare, seasoned steak slices, showcasing a pink and juicy interior with a seared crust.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/sliced-ribeye-steak-close-up.jpeg)
One of the reasons we love the idea of cooking ribeye steak in the air fryer is how fast you can get it done. With only four ingredients, plus the steak, prep time is about 10 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks
Copycat Supermarket Chicken Rotisserie
![Close-up of a roasted chicken with crispy, golden-brown skin seasoned with herbs and coarse salt, on a wooden cutting board.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/close-up-of-cooked-air-fryer-chicken.jpeg)
This recipe for how to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer will change your mind about supermarket rotisserie chicken forever. It is far cheaper and much more delicious. Use leftovers in tomorrow’s chicken dinner.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Supermarket Chicken Rotisserie
Steak in the Air Fryer
![Close-up of a fork holding a piece of medium-rare cooked beef steak, with visible seasonings and a slice of lemon in the background.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/steak-doneness-guide-hero-picture.jpeg)
Using your air fryer to cook steak is a great option when you want a grilled flavor without having to fire up the grill. Bonus: you can control the doneness so you get the right cook you want.
Get the Recipe: Steak in the Air Fryer
Chicken Nuggets
![Air fryer chicken nuggets on plate with ketchup.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/chicken-nuggets.jpg)
Kids will love these crunchy, delicious homemade air fryer chicken nuggets from this recipe. They’ll think they came out of a box. You’ll love that they’ll be reading in under a half hour.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Nuggets
Copycat Bonefish Grill Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
![A person dipping fried shrimp into a bowl of dip.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/green-lakes-state-park-8-1-edited.jpg)
Air fryer Bang Bang Shrimp is supposed to be an appetizer but with enough prawns, you have enough for a meal. This is an awesome copycat of the Bonefish Grill recipe.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
![Maple mustard air fryer frozen salmon filet with broccolini on a plate.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/air-fryer-maple-mustard-salmon-1.jpg)
When you cook frozen salmon — or any meat — in an air fryer, there’s no need to defrost. You can cook right from the freezer. Pair with this simple maple mustard sauce for added flavor.
Get the Recipe: Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
Air Fryer Calzones
![Glass plate with a calzone, marinara in a bowl, and zucchini.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Air-Fryer-Calzones.jpeg)
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Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Calzones
Air Fryer Street Tacos
![White plate with one taco.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Air-Fryer-Street-Tacos.jpg)
OK, so it’s Monday so a day early to talk about Taco Tuesday. But you’ll love these delicious air fryer steak tacos that your family won’t mind if you make them a day earlier in the week.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Street Tacos
Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
![Air Fryer chicken cordon bleu on a plate.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/finished-4H.jpg)
When you make chicken cordon bleu in the air fryer, you’re kind of making an inside out version of this classic dish. The end result is crispy, cheesy and loaded with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
Air Fryer Caprese Chicken
![Chicken Caprese with tomato and basil on a blue plate.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Air-Fryer-Caprese-Chicken.jpg)
Normally, we think of Caprese as being a salad of tomato and mozzarella. This air fryer Caprese chicken recipe adds a mouthwatering juicy chicken breast for dinner in no time!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Caprese Chicken
Easy Air Fryer Shake n Bake Chicken Breast
![Easy Air Fryer Shake n Bake Chicken Breast on a white plate with a salad topped with bell peppers and parmesan.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/air-fryer-shake-n-bake-chicken-breast.jpg)
If you’re looking for a throwback, vintage dinner idea, this Air Fryer Shake N Bake Chicken Breast is it. The chicken comes out nice and crispy every single time.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Shake n Bake Chicken Breast
Air Fryer Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Chicken Breast
![Air Fryer Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Chicken Breast on a white plate with parsley and a fork.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Sweet-Baby-Rays-Bbq-Chicken-Breast-33.jpg)
You’ve got options when you make this Air Fryer Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Chicken Breast. You can serve the barbecue chicken by itself with sides or fold it into a sandwich for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Chicken Breast
Easy Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Breast
![Easy Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Breast in a white bowl with sesame seeds, carrots, and broccoli.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/teriyaki-chicken-breast-1.jpg)
When you make this Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Breast and serve with rice and teriyaki vegetables, you’ve got an easy weeknight dinner that your whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Breast
Hoisin Pork Tenderloin in the Air Fryer
![Hoisin Pork Tenderloin on skewers in a pan.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Hoisin-Pork-Tenderloin.jpg)
This Hoisin Pork Tenderloin in the air fryer recipe is just so flavorful. It’s got hoisin sauce, naturally, plus the warmth of allspice. It finishes with a kick of garlic and pepper to create a mouthwatering dish.
Get the Recipe: Hoisin Pork Tenderloin
Air Fryer Grilled Shrimp Skewers
![Shrimp skewers on a plate with lemon wedges.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/shrimp-skewers-l.jpg)
If you’re in the mood for grilled shrimp but don’t want to bother firing up the grill, guess what? You can use your indoor air fryer to get the same delicious results — and faster, too.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Air Fried Marinated Tofu
![A bowl of soup with a spoon in it.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/air-fryer-tofu.jpg)
For a meat-free dinner, try air fried marinated tofu. Then, use it in tacos, salad or grain bowls. Or make rice in your Instant Pot and serve them together for an Asian-inspired meal.
Get the Recipe: Fried Marinated Tofu