21 Best Air Fryer Appetizers for a Crispy Golden Snack
Surprise: they're healthier, too.
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Some of the best finger foods and easy appetizers that exist are the ones that are fried. Whether it's for a game day snack or a holiday party get-together, you can't deny the crispy, golden goodness of fried appetizers. But standing over a hot pot of oil and cleaning up that inevitable oil splatter isn’t always fun (or even easy). Luckily, that's when your air fryer can save the day! One of the best ways to use the kitchen appliance is to make crowd-pleasing bites and air fryer appetizers. In fact, there's an air fried variation for just about all of your favorite munchies—taquitos, jalapeño poppers, mozzarella sticks, and even egg rolls.
All air fryer recipes yield that same golden crunch on crispy salty snacks including chicken wings, fried pickles, and homemade onion rings. Best of all, since deep frying isn't required, these recipes can double as healthy appetizers! You can feel good about serving up air fryer falafel or air fried buffalo cauliflower to your friends and family. Speaking of buffalo sauce, did you know that you can even make chicken wings using an air fryer? Consider this your go-to guide for healthy football snacks.
Air Fryer Taquitos
Rolled up corn tortillas are stuffed with shredded beef and crisped until golden. But you don't need to heat up a pot of oil to make 'em! The air fryer makes this popular snack incredibly easy and ready for dipping in salsa or guacamole!
Get the Air Fryer Taquitos recipe.
Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
This easy twist on the classic bar snack will be ready to serve in just 20 minutes! Don't worry, it still has the cream cheese filling, smoky bacon, and crunchy golden coating.
Get the Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers recipe.
Air Fryer Falafel
Looking for a healthy snack that's both vegetarian friendly and packed with protein? These crispy falafel will do the trick! They're made with good-for-you chickpeas and served up with a creamy tahini and yogurt dip.
Get the Air Fryer Falafel recipe.
Air Fryer Egg Rolls
If you thought the only way to enjoy egg rolls was to deep fry them, think again! This variation tastes just like the original with it's deeply crunchy wrapper and pork-veggie filling.
Get the Air Fryer Egg Rolls recipe.
Air Fryer Fried Pickles
You'll often find this snack at restaurants, bars, or even state fairs. But it's just as easy to make at home, too! The tangy, crunchy bites are best served hot with ranch dressing for dipping.
Get the Air Fryer Fried Pickles recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
It wouldn't be game day without these finger-licking wings! You can eat them plain or toss them in your favorite sauce, like spicy buffalo or sweet barbecue.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe.
Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
After biting into the initial crunch of these air fryer mozzarella sticks, you'll be greeted by the ultimate melty cheese pull. It's a sensational contrast of textures that your family will love!
Get the Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks recipe.
Air Fryer Okra
This Southern favorite takes almost no time to cook! And by slicing the okra pods lengthwise, you'll get the most out of the crunchy cornmeal breading.
Get the Air Fryer Okra recipe.
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Making onion rings at home will impress all your friends and family! Ree says "they turn out nice and crispy." Serve them up with Sriracha mayo or your favorite dipping sauce.
Get the Air Fryer Onion Rings recipe.
Air Fryer Snap Peas
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this crunchy, snappy snack! They're coated in grated parmesan cheese and fresh oregano for a burst of flavor.
Get the Air Fryer Snap Peas recipe.
Air Fryer French Fries
A basket of these fries is always a good idea. You can even dress them up by turning them into cheese fries with your favorite toppings for a fun party starter.
Get the Air Fryer French Fries recipe.
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Satisfy your craving for spicy buffalo flavored foods while getting a dose of veggies, too! Here, the cauliflower takes the place of chicken for a vegetarian twist on a classic game day snack.
Get the Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower recipe at Preppy Kitchen.
Air Fryer Fried Shrimp
These panko-crusted shrimp only take 10 minutes to cook using your handy air fryer. It's one of the quickest recipes on the list!
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Twists
This appetizer looks impressive but it's really simple thanks to store-bought puff pastry! The flaky twists are swirled with a buttery mixture of parmesan, garlic, and chili flakes.
Get the Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Twists recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.
Air Fryer Ravioli
This crispy, breaded pasta is so much fun to eat! You can use ravioli with different fillings or stick to the classic stuffed with cheese.
Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
This recipe uses a supermarket hack to make pretzel bites at home. Here's a hint: Grab a package of store-bought pizza dough and your handy air fryer to get to work!
Air Fryer Meatballs
These juicy, tender beef meatballs can be used in so many ways! You can serve them up with marinara for dipping or pile them onto mini slider rolls. Either way, they're sure to be a hit.
Get the Air Fryer Meatballs recipe at Julie's Eats and Treats.
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls
This fun appetizer mash-up combines spicy buffalo chicken with crispy egg rolls. Not to mention, there's plenty of melty cheese!
Get the Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls recipe at Yellow Bliss Road.
Air Fryer Zucchini
These crunchy zucchini sticks are a healthy alternative to your classic fries. But even picky eaters will love to dunk them in the side of marinara sauce!
Air Fryer Pizzas
These mini pizza pies are made out of refrigerated biscuits so they couldn't be easier! You can get as creative as you want with the toppings, like pepperoni slices, olives, veggies, or even BBQ chicken!
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