Eating a good, hearty meal in the morning is so important as it sets the tone for the day, and the right ingredients will provide the energy fuel to keep you going.
But bowls of cereal can get boring after a while, and who has the time to make a full English or continental breakfast every morning, there just isn’t time.
What you need is a collection of the best breakfast air fryer recipes to fuel your day so you can start the day off on the right foot, and have the endurance to get to the end of the day. Besides, a delicious meal in the morning is great for mood-boosting too and will make you feel good and ready to tackle the day, and there are so many options to choose from it would be a shame not to try them.
#1. Bacon and Egg Toast
The classic bacon and egg combo will stand the test of time I would say and for good reason too, it is delicious. If you want a meal that is quick and simple then these air fryer breakfast recipes are right up your alley and will save you time when you are rushing around in the mornings.
This is by far the easiest dish I have come across and the family is all for it. It takes all of 30 seconds to put together, and only 10 minutes of cooking time, brilliant. And what my kids love is that they can choose the bread option to put the toppings onto.
My eldest loves brioche bread (to be honest so do I because it has a slightly sweet taste to it), but the little one is going through a seed phase (of all things, why couldn’t it be a veggie phase) so he eats bread packed with seeds and grains or roasts seeds to have as a snack bag. It is all happening.
So they choose their choice of base and the toppings and this way I know they are getting a decent meal to start the day. You can also sprinkle grated cheese on top or spring onion-like my husband enjoys for a bit of tang.
This is one of those healthy convection oven breakfast recipes that seems too good to be true. How can something so sweet, delicious, and simple be a breakfast meal, well, it can, and once you try it your kids will forget about cereal altogether.
A basic custard mix using yogurt makes this ultra-healthy as the bacteria and probiotics in the yogurt are so good for the immune system and health, in general, and then a good amount of protein from the egg too.
Spreading this mix onto the bread and frying till set but not hard, topped with your berries of choice or even an assortment for a pop of color and taste, and the day is all set.
When the kids have friends staying over they always request to have this for breakfast the next morning and the friends rave about it to their parents, it is safe to say it is a huge hit in our house. And because it is so light, it doesn’t leave you feeling bloated or lethargic for the day ahead and is particularly great in the summer when the mornings are cool and crisp but you know it is going to be a scorcher.
We all know that when you make bacon in the pan or even deep fry (terrible and I don’t know why people would do that) there is so much grease and oil splatters everywhere that we would rather skip it for breakfast, but then it tastes so good so what to do?
Well, we have the best solution and when you try these easy breakfast air fryer recipes you won’t want to cook a morning bite to eat any other way. The rapid air circulation ensures the strips are cooked from all sides and the edges get nice and crispy (is there any other way to eat bacon), and the best part, the grease, if any, is at a minimum. Win-win.
You could make a big batch and have it as a snack to nibble on throughout the day or break it into pieces to add to salads or in scrambled eggs, there is an option for everyone.
And once cooked the bacon strips can freeze just as well so you could make a large batch, portion it out, and freeze it down for later in the month.
When I know we have an early morning football match to go to or are going on a day trip but leaving at the crack of dawn I always like to make a big batch of these to have in the car for the kids and the hubby to munch on. And they are so quick to make (and they look cute too, if that was a factor, ha).
You can make different flavors so everyone has a choice rather than all the ingredients melded together, and then keep them separated in air-tight containers.
I enjoy breakfast air fryer recipes that are customizable to your family’s needs and or allergies if any, and this is the perfect recipe to prove that. The shape of the silicone mold is also something that could play a factor because there are so many fun choices, but a regular dome or rectangle mold is just fine too.
Fill the molds with your toppings choice which can be anything from peppers and onions to ham and mushrooms, and then top the ingredients with the egg mix and pop into the air fryer for 15 minutes. Give them a check around the 10-12 minute mark, you want the egg fully cooked through with no runny bits but not stiff and dry.
A perfect on-the-go snack that is packed with flavor and super healthy. The kids love it and it is an easy way to get veggies into them without them realizing it.
Ever since I was a kid I have been having French toast for breakfast at least once a month if not more so I knew I would make it part of our family’s menu rotation, and not just for a morning treat, I can eat it any time of the day, and now so can the kids.
It is one of those easy air fryer breakfast recipes that is filling yet not overbearing and has a good amount of protein in from the egg to help build muscles and provide the energy for the daily adventures the kids get up to.
And the best part, there are toppings for days to choose from and it tastes equally great with a simple icing sugar sprinkle, so you can let your imagination run wild (or more so the kids who have had their fair share of creativity I will say).
Simply mix the ingredients and dip the bread slices or sticks into it and in the air fryer. And let cook for 10 minutes. My kids particularly enjoy the stick version because they can dip and eat rather than use a knife and fork (and how dare I make them).
The kids enjoy getting the toppings together while you make the toasts, this way the whole family can get involved and it makes for a perfect family bonding moment.
Convection oven breakfast recipes that are so versatile work perfectly in our house because everyone has a preference and this way everyone can get what they want. Making these slices of bread filled with cooked eggs is the easy part, and the fun part comes when it is time to eat. You could choose to sprinkle cheese on top in the last minute of the cooking process or like my family has come to love and will now only eat it this way, is to make breakfast sandwiches.
They take the egg-filled bread slices and fill them with salad, bacon or sausage slices, and cheese, and voila, the ultimate feel-good meal to kick start the day the best way you know-how.
And because the egg is already cooked, you could make these sandwiches for lunch boxes and the bread won’t go soggy.
My hubby loves having these in his hunting snack box to enjoy while out in the woods for the day, quick to make but so deliciously tasty.
When the hubby sees and tastes these as part of the morning set up he will fall in love with them, and will certainly request them as a staple on the menu rotation. They are filled with flavor, have a beautifully crisp exterior yet retain that delicate fluffy inside texture, and are seasoned to perfection.
I like to use thyme or even rosemary (although this is quite an intense flavor for some people) for the herb option, Italian seasoning works just as great, and with onions in the mix, you have an unbeatable flavor profile.
While this is a breakfast treat, you could just as easily have it for lunch or a dinner BBQ, but mouthfuls of golden potatoes first thing in the morning, for me, just sets the good mood for the day, and you know it will go according to plan from there on out.
Who knew that the humble potato had so much to offer, and they are inexpensive too which makes this a tasty and budget-friendly dish.
All the goodness you could want from breakfast air fryer recipes combined for the perfect bite.
My kids could eat chicken nuggets for every meal if they were allowed (they are not allowed), and then on top of that tator tots which is everyone’s favorite potato treat, how could you not have this recipe in your chef collection.
Once the chicken and the tots have finished cooking take them out of the fryer and chop roughly into good bite-sized chunks. Pour them into the egg mix you have made on the side while the chicken was cooking, and put everything into a tray or spring form, something that will fit into the air fryer. Cook till the egg mix is set, and then give the mix a quick scramble with a fork to break up the mix and pop on high for a couple more minutes to crisp the edges for a nice texture element.
Serve with your favorite sauce, a slice of buttered bread for the men in the family who need that little something extra to fill the gap, and if you make a few batches they can easily be used for meal prep for the week stored in an air tight container, or with sausages for a pre-dinner bite.
Who wouldn’t want to start the day with a potato and chicken combo, yes, please?
My husband eats boiled eggs every single day of our lives, yes we go through an obsessive amount of eggs, and his favorite way to eat them is boiled. Usually, we would boil water, stick in an egg timer, and wait for it to change to the correct color so we know that the eggs are done to the firmness he likes, but who has the time?
So, when I found these breakfast air fryer recipes that mentioned you could make boiled eggs I was all for it. And I can make double the portion I normally would and in less time, so it is a winning recipe all around.
Once the time on the fryer has finished taking the eggs out and straight into cold water to cool down and stop the cooking process, else they end up being dry and stiff, and you need a glass of water with them just to be able to swallow.
And, this is the ultimate method, using rapid air circulation, to make ample eggs for meal preps for the week.
I have had a similar version of these while on holiday and the whole family loved them so I decided to see if we could make them at home but without all the fuss. They are great because they can easily be wrapped for on-the-go snacks for the kids to grab as we head to football or gymnastics practices early in the morning.
We make a few batches because they finish quickly (because they taste so delicious) but there are a few steps involved. If you want to speed up the process you can sauté the veggies in a hot skillet and put them to the side while the eggs are cooking in the fryer, this way both will be done at the same for you to mix.
Then all you need to do is fill the wraps with the filling, you can even add in some extra cheese to bulk up the wraps and then roll tightly before placing them in the fryer basket or dish. Top with salsa (or leave it out if the kids don’t like it) and grated cheese along the top of the wraps and pop in the fryer for 2-3 minutes till the cheese is melted.
Leave to cool on the side while you add in the next batch, or wrap them in foil to take with you in the car.
I’ll be honest, this is not a recipe I thought I would be making let alone be able to create success in an air fryer, but here we are, and they have never let us down.
These are fruity-filled pockets of goodness, and unlike the store-bought versions, don’t have all the additives and preservatives in them which are not great to put into our bodies and certainly not for the kids.
Using my children’s favorite jam or marmalade and ready-made pastry I always try to get the kids involved in making these because it is so fun and interactive. And they enjoy it too.
They can mix the jam and corn starch, spoon the mix onto the pastry, and even help to pinch the edges with a fork which they particularly enjoy.
And once they are done frying, I spread the yogurt-based icing on top and then they have a great time sprinkling hundreds and thousands onto the topping, or strawberry slices, and we have even had chocolate chips.
Beautifully colorful and a nice way to eat some fruit in the morning and a filling alternative to bread.
These do take a little more effort than the traditional bacon sandwich (that we also love) but it is well worth it because these half-moon crescents melt in your mouth with the creamy filling, but are crispy on the outside so you can hold them while eating and not have them fall apart.
A dish that ticks all the boxes.
You can pre-make the egg and cheese mix in the microwave or on the stovetop, and leave it to the side to cool down. Then lay out the wrappers (store-bought is the only way I recommend unless you have time on your hands to make the pastry) and brush them with egg wash.
Fill them with the cheesy-egg mix and fold closed pinching the edges so the filling doesn’t run out when frying. Spray them with frying oil and place them in the air fryer to cook till golden, flipping halfway if you like to get an even cooking.
Take out and leave to cool. I like to eat them with sweet chili sauce for a nice bite to start the day. We like to dedicate a day to making hundreds (or close to it) of these to freeze down so we have some for later in the month rather than making them each time which can be an effort but not impossible.
They freeze well and can be cooked from frozen in the air fryer.
There is nothing more satisfying than a recipe that says you don’t need to precook anything and you can add all the ingredients in raw, this casserole dish is the perfect way to get a filling meal in before you head to work and is done in under 30 minutes, what a pleasure.
It also allows for using up bits of veggies you may have in the fridge from other dishes and rather than going to the store specifically for ingredients, you can use up what you have, and save money in the process.
The 2 steps in the cooking process are quick and easy, and you can leave it to fry while making your coffee or getting your lunch box ready. And once you pour in the eggs for the final stage you have a ready meal in no time, and it is so filling.
You could serve it with a slice of toast but the hash brown is already so filling and bulks up the dish. Enjoy it with some hot sauce, or I enjoy a sweet jam because I love the combination of sweet and savory.
These mini breakfast spring rolls will change your life. I could thousands of these (if they were already made) and they are the perfect dish to pile into a lunch box with some dipping sauce, and head to the crack of dawn football match.
Try to get the whole family involved when making these so you have plenty for everyone to stuff themselves with, and they will want a lot once they taste them, and you can freeze them down for whenever you need a quick morning snack and you don’t have the time to make a full-blown breakfast.
Filled initially with sausage and egg with peppers, but the filling options are endless and could be whatever you have available in the fridge that needs using up, or your preferences. You can add as little or as many flavors as you like, and even a sweet banana and chocolate version is delicious for a change.
Simple to make (though the preparations, if you want a lot, are a little more time-consuming than other recipes) and the time taken is worth every second when you bite into these rolls. They are great for meat and vegetarian options, and could even be used as appetizers if the team is meeting at your house before heading off to the match.
A good breakfast is never quite complete until you have a decent sausage on the plate, and with the air fryer, you can have a big batch made in no time at all.
There is nothing to it.
Choose your favorite sausages, layer them in a single layer in the fryer, and away you go. My husband likes the herb and garlic version, and sometimes we try the smoked chili kind too which is amazing, but any flavor is tasty.
What you want are fully cooked sausages that are slightly crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and completely covered in a gold, caramel hue. The aesthetical alone makes you want to dive right in, but the smell is what will see you. Meaty goodness and the quickest protein to enjoy sandwiched between two pieces of fresh brioche with ketchup or HP sauce, the mornings could not get any better.
I love sweet potato for any course, but knowing I can enjoy it in the morning and have a healthy yet sweet breakfast dish makes my heart jump for joy. Sweet potato is so versatile and has great nutritional value making it the perfect filling option for kids who need to concentrate at school all day and have the energy to play in between.
Essentially, only the final stages of this dish are done in the air fryer but it is the most crucial stage if you want those crispy edges to the potato skins (and we love a crispy potato skin, don’t we?).
Making the scrambled eggs and the fillings in a hot skillet is the trickiest part if you could even call it tricky, and when I sauté everything I love to use a homemade garlic butter and olive oil combination to add flavor and richness to the meal (optional, but gorgeous).
The potatoes are pre-cooked in the microwave or oven whichever you prefer and cut in half once soft, the flesh scooped out to the side leaving some left in the skin to hold the filling. Add in the egg, top with grated cheese, and pop in the air fryer to crisp the skin and melt the cheese and that’s all there is to it.
Freeze the sweet potato flesh you took out for a rainy day or save it for dinner as a side dish, nothing needs to go to waste.
When we used to live in the U.K. we had friends who would always make these on the days we got together for hikes and day trips, and they went down such a treat with the kids that I knew I had to make these at home.
They loved seeing the runny yolk flow out when you slice into the outer coating and while I think this is the best way to eat them, you could opt for a firmer middle but it is not as impressive. Because it is usually served with other foods, the runny eggs coat the other ingredients so you have a well-balanced dish.
There are 3 steps to the dish and it is so simple.
Layout the pork minced meat flat like a patty but wide enough to cover the egg when you fold it closed, pop the egg inside the minced meat and cover completely and roll it in the crumbs or rinds, and fry.
There is nothing better than starting the day with a freshly fried donut that has been smothered in a rich butter and rolled in a light sugar-cinnamon mix, oh if it was only so easy, well, it is.
This recipe is so simple that even the older kids can put the ingredients together, and pop them into the air fryer.
I like to make a big batch of these on the weekends because the kids are doing their sports which use a lot of energy, the week has been long and something sugary can take all the stress away and set you in the right mood to relax and enjoy a coffee before tackling the day.
You could also omit the cinnamon if someone is not a fan and simply enjoy a buttery sugar donut, still as light and fluffy, and still divine.
If you are heading to friends why not take a dozen of these to make their day, you can smaller ones which would look cute too.
If you want to surprise the kids with pizza in the morning then this is the way forward, a healthier, much quicker version, and they can pop the ingredients they love the most on pizza and for breakfast and into the fryer for the cheese on top to melt.
English muffins work well in these recipes because they are firm enough to hold shape and all the toppings, but soft enough to bite into without needing to use a knife and a fork. Try it with bagels, but you may have to do one at a time depending on the size, or muffins with fruit pieces.
Great for on-the-road snacks to tuck into, and everyone loves them. A must-try dish the kids will ask fr again and again.
We have all heard the old tale that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but as life gets more hectic no one has time to cook in the mornings anymore, but with the air fryer, you can go back to great tasting home-cooked breakfasts.
These breakfast air fryer recipes to fuel your day are going to be a game-changer to not only your life, but your family, and your health and nutrition. You can make better food choices and swap alternative ingredients for more wholesome less processed ones.
If you love these dishes then check out our blog for more collections for every course throughout the day and on any occasion.
Born and raised in South Africa and being immersed in the rich culture, Candace soon found a passion for all things food related. Exploring and experiencing new flavors and taste profiles she pursued her career as a qualified chef in silver service specialized in fine dining.
