We know how tiring days and schedules can get with life being busier than ever which is why you need these air fryer meat recipes to fuel your days’ adventures. Not only can you create delicious meals and snack foods to take with you, but give your body and muscles the energy to keep on going.
Protein is essential for muscle growth and development, and when you feel good and energetic, your brain wakes up, it knows you are in a great mood, and you can tackle anything the day throws at you. Too often we rely on coffee or a chocolate bar to boost our moods and energy, but good food will do so much more for you, and it’s healthier too.
Pack those muesli bars away and rather opt for a stir-fried beef salad with veggies or something simple to pop into your lunch box for work, let’s see some great creations you can enjoy from now on.
#1. Air Fryer Juicy Steak Bites recipe
The rich, dark color of the meat once it is cooked is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to flavor and goodness. Smothered in soy sauce and seasoning, you can have a delicious batch of tender steak bites in less than 20 minutes.
If you ever wanted to try out easy air fryer meat recipes then this is the perfect one for beginners, there is the minimal effort required, and you can make a double or triple batch to freeze some down for later. These cubes of meaty goodness are great to snack on and dip in a BBQ or sweet chili mayo sauce (my husband’s favorite) when you need that pick me up in the middle of the day.
Add a fresh green salad to keep the meal light, especially in the hot summer months, and you won’t have that decline in morale like usual if you choose a sugar-filled treat. You want something packed with flavor and nutrition.
A quick and simple dish that can be ready before you head to work in the morning.
I love a good chop, and even more so when it’s pork, my favorite protein. It is filling and fatty and perfect for an energy spike at lunchtime to get me to the end of the day.
This dish is so simple even beginner kitchen enthusiasts could give it a go, and that’s exactly what you want when looking for convection oven meat recipes. Effortlessness. All you need to do is oil the meat, and season with your favorite flavors, Italian seasoning is a classic and you can’t go wrong, but smoky paprika is just as gorgeous and got a thumbs up from the kids too.
Pop them in the fryer for around 10 minutes, give them a flip over at the halfway mark, and when they are golden and tender, they’re done. To be sure, you can always double-check with a thermometer, and the rapid air circulation helps to keep them evenly cooked.
This recipe does call for boneless pork chops but you could just as easily use bone-in chops, they taste equally fantastic but take a little longer to get ready so keep an eye on them.
In my house these are a staple, they are the easiest finger food you can make and I can guarantee they will not last long because they are divine. I always look for meat air fryer recipes that don’t take long, not because I don’t like being in the kitchen, but because I just don’t have the time.
With kids in the house, and getting household chores done, I need something filling, and quick to make, and this ticked all the boxes.
And I love this recipe in particular because it uses butter rather than an egg for the coating, my youngest has a funny reaction to eggs, so this was perfect. And the butter only adds extra flavor and depth to the chicken pieces which turned out so juicy and fork-tender, you wouldn’t believe it was so easy.
I always make a huge batch of these because the kids and the hubby love them in lunch boxes with a dip, but they are great to use for wraps with some cucumber sticks for on-the-go snacks to munch on in the car as we rush to football practice.
A must-have recipe in your collection, even more so if you have children and a hectic schedule but if you want a healthy bite to eat that is done in minimal time, this is for you.
This is one of those feel-good comfort foods that can put you in a great mood for the rest of the day. Ribs seemingly always take forever to cook, and life is busy, so we don’t have time to sit in front of the oven and cook ribs for 5 hours, no thank you.
Now, with these easy meat convection oven recipes, you don’t have to. This dish is quick and simple, a few steps along the way to turn the ribs and baste again, but that’s all there is to it, effortless tasty ribs for finger-licking goodness.
Basting these twice helps to give the ribs that deep flavor as the sauce melts into the meat, smothering it in deliciousness. And although you can trim the fat from the ribs, I like to keep it on, it adds moisture and juiciness, and it is considered a good fat so you have added fuel. Win-win.
The kids loved these, I let them eat them with fingers and saucy faces (this is what life is all about is it not), and we had a great time discussing when we were going to have them again, which turned out to be the weekend. Ha.
I love making these healthy air fryer meat recipes for lunch box preparations, they are so easy to put together. And chicken is a reasonably cheap protein which makes it budget-friendly and easy on the wallet, something we could all use when the end of the month seems miles away.
Seasoning is what makes this humble protein to the next level and it is customizable for all the family members’ preferences which is great. We make simple herb and butter for the kids, and then a smoky or cayenne pepper version for the hubby who likes a bit of a bite to his food. And it is so effortless, simply have all the seasoning bowls on the side, and the batch of chicken you want to cook is then seasoned with that particular spicing, and for the next batch you can change it up.
Perfect for meal preps, the chicken freezes and reheats well so you can store some in the freezer for later in the month, and goes great as a main course too with rice and veggies or creamy mash. A winning dish all around.
Is there anyone in the world that doesn’t love bacon, for me it is the best ingredient ever? I love finding convection oven meat recipes that show me how to make something I love in half the time it would normally take in the oven or a pan, and this air fryer version is just that.
The bacon is crispy but not brittle, it is still full of flavor and hasn’t lost all its juiciness, and it goes perfectly with so many dishes (although as a snack on its own it is just as delicious).
You can make a big batch and portion it for various meals, or chopped up into salads or wraps, or even on top of baked potato, the options are endless and bacon is so kid-friendly (at least it is in our house). The children love to hear the crunch of the strips and dip them into the sauce while relaxing outside when the weather is hot and you just want something simple to fill the gap.
Who wouldn’t want a loaf of goodness, shaped to perfection and packed with flavor from start to finish? What I love about this dish is that you can add as much seasoning (within flavor moderation, of course) as you like which only intensifies as it cooks and what makes these meat air fryer recipes so worth it.
I like to add the classic combo of garlic and onion powder, more chopped onion (you can use red for color and a subtle touch of sweetness), and fresh herbs to burst pops of color throughout. As the meat cooks you can get the glazing ready and once done give the load a generous brushing with the basting sauce and pop it back in for5 minutes.
The basting glaze becomes sticky and tangy and sweet all at once and takes the dish to a new level. Slice to serve. It goes great with a simple salad so that the loaf is the star of the show and makes for a lighter meal.
You can sprinkle with chopped jalapenos at the basting stage for added heat to the meal if serving to adults.
Simple, easy-to-make healthy meat convection oven recipes on hand make life that much easier, and when you need to hit the ground running you know you can have sustenance to fuel your upcoming activities ready in under 20 minutes. What more could you ask for?
This dish is a breeze to make in the air fryer, and it is so quick you could do it even when you are running late or forgot to take something out for dinner.
All you need to do is pop the seasoned breasts in the fryer basket in a single, non-overlapping, layer, and fry for around 7 minutes, turn them and finish cooking for another 7 minutes. I love it because the rapid air circulation covers the whole area of the chicken for an even internal temperature and which is why it is so quick.
Then brush with the BBQ sauce, store-bought or homemade all taste great, and fry for the final 2mins to crisp the edges, heat the sauce, and singe for added texture and color. An effortless dish that can be turned into strips for salad, halved for sandwiches or served whole with creamy mashed potato or sweet potato fries which my kids prefer.
Football season is the time of year I like to try out new recipes and dishes (my husband and his buddies being the guinea pigs, ha), and some we win, others we lose, but this way I know what can be done quickly, is tasty, and approved by men who we all know can eat anything and everything.
And these easy air fryer meat recipes have ticked the boxes and are now on standard rotation for game day season.
My husband loves wings when they are super crispy and in the air fryer they do get reasonably crispy, but I recently discovered that if you pat the chicken wings as dry as possible, and then coat them in baking powder or even corn starch will work, it gives it that crispy boost you could be looking for when you want more texture and crunch.
You can season before the extra coating or simply mix the seasoning in with the corn starch, layer them in and fry for several minutes.
They taste gorgeous by themselves served in a big bowl with a handful of napkins (finger-licking goodness) with a dipping sauce to enjoy as you go along, or even with rice and steamed veggies for a full dinner meal.
How do you get the seal and singe on a good piece of meat while maintaining its moisture, and preventing it from being a leather shoe at the end? With my newfound love, the air fryer, and it is perfectly done every time.
Usually, we cook steaks and all meats on the BBQ during the summer months because we love the smokiness it adds to the meat while cooking, but when it is snowing outside this is not ideal so the air fryer comes to save the day.
You can use it year-round, it doesn’t make the house hot like the oven and you can have ready food within a half-hour and not slaving in the kitchen the whole day, this is how life is meant to be, easy and relaxed.
Make your steaks great every time, using a thermometer to check internal temperatures for varying readiness levels, and you can take them out as they are done and leave some in for longer to cook more.
Use the steaks for a sandwich with caramelized onions or with fries and a salad, the whole family can enjoy it the way that they like without too much fuss because it is so quick to pull together.
Oh yes, you read that right, pizza in the air fryer, and it is done in 10 minutes, win-win.
This is the easiest dish I have found that the kids can do by themselves (once the base is ready) to add toppings and fry for a couple of minutes.
No need to make dough from scratch and wait for it to rise and then roll out and all the mission that we know, air frying a tortilla wrap has taken the fuss out of pizza prep and is a healthier option too with the gluten-free versions and eve kale and spinach wraps have been used.
The only tricky thing is to put the wrap into the fryer with a knife on top because the fryer will be blowing hot air, and then taking it out using gloves or tongs and putting it far away from where anyone can touch it accidentally because it will be piping hot.
Top with your marinara sauce and the kids can choose their ingredients (I like to have a mini buffet of topping bowls for them to dig from) and place in the fryer to cook, it will be done in no time and is a fraction of the cost of regular takeout pizzas, so the kids can eat to their heart’s content.
Ground beef is a delicious filling topping, with sliced jalapenos, and strong cheese, this is heaven in the fryer. If you have kids or a significant other who loves pizza then this is the recipe for you.
Lean meat has been a great testament for staying reasonably fit and active, but too often it can become dry and chewy because you have to cook it for a long time, not anymore. The air fryer locks in the moisture, and once sealed the rapid air circulation cooks it quickly and evenly.
Now you can enjoy lean turkey salads, and turkey wraps and keep up with your nutritional eating plan and fitness schedule. The only thing you need to be careful of is to check the internal temperatures of the breast because turkey breasts tend to be big and thick and you don’t want the inside to be raw when the outside is golden and brown.
This is an impressive-looking dish without the fuss and is a crowd-pleasing meal to give you that edge with the in-laws (something we could all use from time to time).
Rub with oil and sprinkle with salt, pink Himalayan has a great flavoring, lemon pepper and you are good to go. Cook for about 40-50 minutes, flipping it over halfway and probing at the end.
You will see when you slice it the meat will be juicy and moist and pairs perfectly with a good, homemade gravy and rice. Sunday lunch is easier than ever to do and takes half the time if not less than where you cook a whole turkey bird in the oven.
A little bit of spicy, juicy, moist meat seasoned well, all wrapped up in a crusty, golden pastry, this is the ultimate feel-good snack food that is quick and easy to make. The pastry is store-bought (because who has the time to make pastry from scratch let’s be honest) and the ready (uncooked) pies can be frozen down to have on hand for a later date.
You can also cook these from frozen which is brilliant because it means with the added 5 minutes of cooking time needed for frozen pies you have a moment’s break to make a well-deserved cup of coffee.
Ground beef with spicy seasoning makes these great for game days and pairs perfectly with cold beers, but you could opt for hundreds of filling choices. My kids have been requesting a lot lately the creamy chicken and mushroom pie version which is divine. Who doesn’t love meat air fryer recipes that are versatile and more importantly, kid-friendly?
This simple recipe is a winner in our home, it will be in yours, and is perfect for all members of the family.
Crispy wontons have always been a firm favorite in our house and finding these meat convection oven recipes made us relive great foodie moments we experienced while traveling abroad, and they are simple to make.
All the ingredients are mixed in a bowl, the Worcestershire sauce brings out the crab flavor albeit subtle, and a nice tang from the spring onions elevates the overall flavor profile.
And what I liked about this dish was that you don’t need to have the egg to seal the pastry, only a brush of water, pop a dollop of filling in the center of the wrapper (not too much) and squeeze closed taking out the air as you do so.
Fry for a few minutes till golden and gorgeous and serve as appetizers to impress guests when they arrive, perfect with sweet chili sauce or even a hot sauce if you enjoy a bite and a bit of heat. The kids love to be part of the squeezing process so getting them involved too, is a great moment to bond and show them that great-tasting food doesn’t need to be complicated.
We love this dish. We have eaten it for dinner piled on top of creamy mashed potato, in wraps for lunch boxes, and simply piled into a bowl with toothpicks to nibble on while relaxing outside in the summer evenings with a few drinks.
When convection oven meat recipes are as effortless as this one there is no excuse not to make it all the time, and that is exactly what we have done. The whole family enjoys eating these, even the parmesan didn’t faze the kids who can be particularly picky when it comes to meals and using simple ingredients made it easy to afford.
You do need to ensure though that the chicken pieces are cut evenly so that they all cook at the same rate, and I like to be generous with the seasonings and garlic or onion powders to infuse as much flavor into the meat as possible.
A simple and classic dish that is to everyone’s taste.
Too often when you eat cakes whether it be these crab cakes or fish cakes or others there is too much bready filling which can cause them to be dry and unpleasant, so when I found these air fryer meat recipes version I was skeptical.
Since making them we have not looked back, they are packed with flavor, full of meat chunks, and moist with a crispy outer coating. Everything you want in the perfect crab cake.
The hardest part about making these cakes is the waiting but it does help keep the shape when they fry, and when they hold their shape it is so much easier to dip in the sauce and pick up. I like to make a full platter of these lined up in rows when we have people over, they are filling and simple to pull together, and served with a squeeze of lime helps keep the whole dish light and fresh.
Taking them to a friend’s house with a jar of homemade sauce is the best way to make them feel good and is great for those catch-up moments to sit around and snack on. Add some chopped chili into the mix and spring onion for a great Asian influence.
The quickest and easiest way to cook brats is evenly and perfectly browned on all sides. Finding easy meat air fryer recipes is simple when you know what to look for, and for our family, it is easy and convenient and this ticks all the boxes.
Brats traditionally come pre-seasoned so all you need to do is pop them into the air fryer and flip them halfway through the cooking time to brown on all sides. We make a big bowl of these to put on the table at family BBQs for everyone to dig into, served with homemade coleslaw and you have everything you need.
You could slice them lengthways to fill into fresh brioche buns for an on-the-go snack, cut them into thick circles to have as picky appetizer nibbles, or lay them on top of mashed potato with a gravy sauce for a filling lunch to get you to the end of the day.
They are also great for kid’s parties, you can cook a lot at one time and have another ready to put into the fryer once they are done. Kids love them, and they have essentially zero calories so are perfect for all nutritional eating plans to keep you on your fitness track.
Sunday lunch in our house has been a tradition since I can remember, we would always go to someone’s house for lunch or the family would come to ours and it was something I wanted to carry on with my family and children as they grow up.
I love making roasts using all meats, but as the family grows and more and more members flock in the more food we need to make (I love it and don’t mind, but time is the key), so I wanted a way to cut down on cooking and preparation.
The air fryer saved the day and discovering healthy convection oven meat recipes that significantly saved me time in the kitchen was just what I needed, and has been a breeze to use. The beef is simply oiled and seasoned and sealed in the fryer, and I cook it just as the family arrives so that it is perfectly medium-rare when it is time to serve (a thermometer made life so much easier and I highly recommend it).
Then once it is done I leave it to rest (don’t leave out this step as it helps the meat fibers to relax and offer the ultimate tender cut of meat) and set the table with the sides and drinks. Slice the meat and serve with steamed veggies and salads, keto-friendly (we have a keto lifestyle), and enjoy, potatoes are also great for those who love a good roast potato like my husband from time to time.
An easy meal ready in less than 20 minutes is my kind of dish. I have always known ham to come in a big joint or cut and cooked whole and never considered a sliced version, until now.
This was almost too easy to be true, and yet it tasted perfect.
When I see a big piece of ham on sale at the grocery store I always buy 2 or 3 and freeze them down for later, and now I have been slicing a whole one up for a variation of a ham meal that the hubby has raved about since first trying it.
Simple and quick, and the buttery sugary basting balances the saltiness of the meat beautifully, I love a sweet and savory combination for any meal.
While it’s cooking, pop some veg into the steamer, and they will be ready at the same time, it is so quick. Plate everything with a generous dollop of butter on the vegetables and a sprinkle of pink Himalayan salt and you have a healthy dinner that took half an hour to prepare and serve. Win-win.
I love the fatty richness of pork belly. I have always made it in the oven and while it is a lengthy process the taste is divine, but since having kids who are now more involved in extra-curricular activities than ever I just don’t have time.
So trying these meat convection oven recipes that allowed me to cook the pork belly in the air fryer caught my attention. And thankfully so.
I loved these bite-sized options, they have a sugary infusion that caramelizes and crisps the outside which melts in your mouth and is mouthwateringly delicious. I like to let the meat sit in the marinade of sorts (this is an optional step) but I like to think it helps the flavors absorb into the meat for a full flavor immersion.
They cook in no time at all, be sure to lay them in a single layer so the rapid air circulation gets to all sides of each piece and flips halfway through.
Serve with garlic mayo or toss with sliced peppers in the wok for an Asian-inspired dish. The fat is a great source of natural energy and will keep you going throughout the day rather than the ups and downs of a sugar rush.
The days seem to be filled with adventures and experiences which can take a toll on our mental and physical well-being, which is why it is essential to eat well. But being busy often leaves us looking for something quick to snack on and in most cases is a takeaway or unhealthy treat, but it doesn’t have to be.
Trying these air fryer meat recipes to fuel your day’s adventures is a healthier alternative to convenience vending machine options, and they taste 100 times better. Easy-to-follow meals, quick to pull together, and you can find even more on our blog so be sure to have a look.
A quick meal can still taste amazing, and these recipes are a testament to that.
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.
