5 Mouth-Watering Air Fryer Keto Recipes

It’s never too late to start eating healthily, right? Today we’re introducing you to 5 mouth-watering air fryer keto recipes. An air fryer makes it easier to meet your nutritional goals. The best part about it is that you don’t need any cooking experience under your belt. 

All you need is to get an air fryer and try these protein-packed, low-carb dishes. These air fryer keto recipes for beginners will show you that healthy foods can be delicious and satiating and that everyone, even the most picky foodie, can relish every single bite. 

What Is a Keto Air Fryer Recipe?

Healthy air fryer keto recipes are prepared with special air fryers that use hot air instead of oil. This means they add less fat than deep-fat fryers and are more energy efficient, so you can cook smaller quantities than you would in the oven. 

Is an Air Fryer Good for Keto?

Yes, air fryers are absolutely great for keto for several reasons: 

1. They use hot air to cook food, which eliminates the need to use excess oils
2. Their versatility makes it easy to switch from one dish to another
3. They offer faster cooking times

As oils aren’t used or may be used in very small amounts during air frying, this perfectly aligns with a desire to lose weight by eating fewer calories, which is a primary reason for many people to go on a keto diet.   

What Is the Best Dish to Cook in an Air Fryer?

The foods that turn incredibly tasty in an air fryer include vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms, onions, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and zucchini. Therefore, many air fryer vegetarian keto recipes even taste delicious to meat lovers. 

Broccoli In Air Fryer and other vegetables become tender, crispy, and crunchy at the same time. So the best dish in an air fryer should include lots of vegetables. Soon, you’ll uncover the best keto recipes for beginners and advanced cooks who love to experiment with interesting new tastes. 

5 Healthy Keto Air Fryer Recipes

If you’re looking for something that’s light, healthy, and delicious, you’ve come to the right place. Grab these 5 easy air fryer keto recipes to use in your home cooking routine. Thanks to circulating hot air, using an air fryer makes your dishes crispy with a delicious crunch. 

1. Air fryer zucchini
2. Air fryer crab cakes
3. Air fryer salmon
4. Air fryer Buffalo wings
5. Air fryer mushrooms

Air Fryer Zucchini

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
• large sliced zucchini, ¼-inch thick

Directions: 

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. 
2. Mix the parmesan, oregano, oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed red pepper in a medium bowl. Add the zucchini and toss to coat.
3. Arrange the thin slices of zucchini in a single layer in the fryer basket. 
4. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown, flipping them once. 
5. Sprinkle the zucchini with lemon juice.

Nutritional value per serving (⅓ cup)

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Air Fryer Crab Cakes

Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons lower-sodium Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
• 2 tablespoons unsalted melted butter 
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh divided chives
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus lemon wedges for serving
• 1 teaspoon reduced-sodium Old Bay seasoning
• ½ cup light divided sour cream
• ½ cup whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs
• 1 pound fresh lump drained crabmeat 

• Cooking spray
• 6 large butter lettuce leaves

Directions: 

1. Preheat a 6 1/2-quart air fryer to 390°F. 
2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and mix in basil, butter, tarragon, lemon zest, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, 1/3 cup sour cream, and 1 tablespoon chives. Add the crabmeat and panko and stir.
3. Shape the mixture evenly into 6 crab cakes (⅓ cup each) using clean hands.
4. Coat the fry basket with cooking spray and add 3 crab cakes to the basket, then coat the crab cakes with cooking spray. 
5. Cook for 15 to 18 minutes until deeply browned and crispy on both sides, flipping once. 
6. When cooked, transfer the cakes to a plate and cover them to keep them warm. Repeat with the remaining 3 crab cakes.
7. Place the crab cakes on a plate and top each lettuce leaf with 1 crab cake. Top each of them with sour cream and chives. 
8. Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.

Nutritional value per serving (1 crab cake)

Air Fryer Salmon

Ingredients:

• 3 medium cloves garlic
• 2 (6-ounce) skin-on salmon filets
• ½ teaspoon divided Aleppo pepper or chili powder
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• Lemon wedges for serving

Directions: 

1. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, finely chop the garlic and add salt to it; chop and mash the mixture together. Transfer to a small bowl.
3. Add the lemon juice, coriander, oil, and chili powder (or ¼ teaspoon Aleppo pepper) to the garlic mixture; whisk to combine. 
4. Pat the salmon dry and spoon the mixture over the tops of the filets.
5. Generously coat the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray and arrange the salmon in the basket. Cook for 12 minutes until browned and just cooked through. Remove from the air fryer.
6. Top the salmon with lemon zest, parsley, and the remaining chili powder. 
7. Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.

Nutritional value per serving (1 filet)

Read more: Super Easy Air Fryer Peaches Recipe (+5 Topping Ideas)

Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

Ingredients:

• 3 ½ to 4 pounds chicken wings
• 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
• ½ cups carrots, cut into sticks
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup Buffalo-style hot sauce
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon ranch dressing
• 1 stalk celery, cut into sticks

Directions: 

1. Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F. 
2. In a large bowl, combine the paprika, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add the wings and toss to coat. Allow to stand for 10 minutes.
3. Add half the wings to the air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes. 
4. Turn the wings; continue to cook for about 5 minutes until they’re crispy. 
5. In a small saucepan, cook the hot sauce and butter over medium-high heat, whisking for 2 minutes until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth.
6. Transfer the wings to a large bowl and coat with butter sauce. 
7. Serve alongside ranch dressing, carrots, and celery.

Nutritional value per serving (6 wing pieces)

Air Fryer Mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 4 portobello mushroom caps, sliced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs

Directions: 

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. 
2. In a large bowl, stir the lemon juice, oil, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add the mushroom slices and toss to coat.
3. Arrange the mushroom slices in a single layer in the fryer basket. 
4. Cook for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown, flipping once.
5. Sprinkle with herbs before serving.

Nutritional value per serving (⅓ cup)

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Can an Air Fryer Help You Lose Weight?

Yes, using air fryers for cooking may promote weight loss. Deep-fried foods are high in fat and calories, which can increase overall calorie intake and promote weight gain. Swapping deep-fried foods for air fried foods and reducing the intake of unhealthy fats can help with weight loss goals (6).

Is It Okay to Eat Air Fried Food Every Day?

Overall, eating fried foods frequently isn’t good for your health. As referenced in a January 2021 meta-analysis in ‌BMJ Heart‌, regularly consuming fried food may be associated with heart disease and early death (7).

Air frying is a more nutritious and healthier way to prepare food. However, the ingredients you’ll be using also matter. It’s important to remember that an air fryer can produce unhealthy foods, particularly if you use ultra-processed packaged foods.  

Other risks can occur if you don’t clean your air-fryer properly or if you reuse old oils. Therefore, eating healthy air fried food every day is dependent on the types of food you eat. For example, if we compare potato chips and air-fried broccoli, the latter is better for daily consumption, while air fried potato chips should be a less frequent source of pleasure. 

What Are the Disadvantages of Air Fryer Food?

There are several disadvantages to air fryer cooking. For example, if you’re cooking food at high temperatures for a long time, this can make food burnt or charred, which in the case of meats may increase the health risks of chemicals linked to cancer (8).

Many people also don’t clean their air fryers properly and reusing old cooking oil may pose additional health risks. 

Therefore, you need to follow all the manufacturer’s instructions properly to avoid burning your food and make sure you clean your air fryer thoroughly to eliminate potential health risks. 

Read more: Smashed Potatoes Air Fryer: A Flavorful Twist to the Classic

FAQs

• Is frying good for keto?

Deep-frying isn’t good for keto or any healthy diet, but air frying is a great alternative for those who like crispy pleasure from time to time. Air fryers are great for reducing added oils while cooking. 

• What cannot be fried in an air fryer?

Foods you can’t or shouldn’t fry in your air-fryer include those with wet batters, cheesy items, large bony meats, some greens such as spinach, collard, or chard leaves, baked goods, raw rice and other grains, popcorn, and toast. 

• Can I eat KFC on keto?

KFC food is not advised for the keto diet as it’s high in carbs from the breading. It’s usually best to reduce your intake of any fast foods when following a keto diet. 

• Does air fried chicken have carbs?

Yes, air fried chicken has carbs, especially if it’s breaded or coated in flour. For example, 4 air-fried chicken drumsticks may include approximately 5 grams of carbs. 

The Bottom Line

In this article, you’ve learned 5 mouth-watering air fryer keto recipes. An air fryer allows foods to stay crispy and juicy while reducing the use of added oils. 

Eating air fried foods daily can be a healthy choice, but it depends on the ingredients you use in your recipes. Remember that the proper use of the air fryer matters to ensure a reduction of health risks. Air fryer cleaning and following the manufacturer’s cooking instructions are essential for getting properly cooked high-nutritious meals.