20 Air Fryer Appetizers
Starters and finger food you can cook while guests arrive.
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
Times and temperatures come from our reviewed cooking database. Explanatory text on each page is generated from that entry so the numbers stay consistent.
Illustration generated to show a typical finished result. It is not a photograph of a specific batch we cooked.
Appetizers have a timing problem: they need to be hot when people are standing around, not forty minutes earlier. An air fryer solves that because it preheats in two minutes and turns out a tray in under ten, so you can cook to the room instead of ahead of it.
All 20 air fryer appetizers
Air Fryer Arancini
190°C · 10-13 min
Golden Italian risotto balls with a molten mozzarella centre and crisp breadcrumb shell. The air fryer gives that irresistible crunch with only a light spray of oil, ideal for using up leftover risotto. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 10-13 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
200°C · 8-10 min
Tender asparagus spears bundled in crisp bacon make an elegant, low-effort starter or side. The air fryer crisps the bacon while steaming the asparagus to just-tender in under ten minutes. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 8-10 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
190°C · 10-13 min
Wrapping hot dogs in bacon takes them from simple to spectacular, and the air fryer crisps the bacon all the way around. These street-food style dogs are smoky, crunchy and perfect for a crowd. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 10-13 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Calamari
200°C · 8-10 min
Crispy golden squid rings with a light, crunchy coating and none of the deep-fried oiliness. The air fryer gives you tender calamari and a shatteringly crisp crust in minutes. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 8-10 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Cheese Curds
200°C · 6-8 min
Wisconsin-style fried cheese curds with a crisp golden coating and gooey, squeaky centre. The air fryer gives that pub-favourite crunch with a fraction of the oil, ready in minutes. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 6-8 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
180°C · 8-10 min
Crispy wonton parcels filled with creamy crab and cream cheese, a takeaway favourite made lighter. The air fryer crisps the wrappers to a golden crunch without deep-frying. Cooks at 180°C / 360°F for 8-10 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Deviled Eggs
130°C · 15-17 min
Classic deviled eggs made easy by hard-cooking the eggs in the air fryer, no boiling required. The shells peel cleanly and the creamy, tangy filling comes together in minutes for a retro party favourite. Cooks at 130°C / 265°F for 15-17 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Egg Rolls
190°C · 8-10 min
Crunchy Chinese-takeaway egg rolls without the deep-frying mess. The air fryer crisps the wrappers to a shattering, golden shell while the pork-and-cabbage filling stays juicy inside, using barely a brush of oil. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 8-10 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes
200°C · 8-12 min
Crisp, cornmeal-crusted fried green tomatoes with a tangy, tender centre, a Southern classic made light. The air fryer gives them a golden crunch using a fraction of the oil, so they never turn greasy. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 8-12 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Fried Pickles
200°C · 8-10 min
Tangy dill pickle chips in a crunchy seasoned crumb, a classic bar snack made lighter. The air fryer crisps the coating golden while the pickle inside stays juicy and sharp. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 8-10 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Gyoza
180°C · 8-10 min
Japanese pork gyoza with delicate pleats and a golden, crisp crust. The air fryer delivers that pan-fried texture with almost no oil, making these dumplings a fast, moreish starter. Cooks at 180°C / 360°F for 8-10 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Hush Puppies
190°C · 8-10 min
Southern cornmeal hush puppies with a crisp golden crust and fluffy, slightly sweet centre. The air fryer gives these little fritters their signature crunch without a deep fryer. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 8-10 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Onion Bhaji
190°C · 12-15 min
Crispy, spiced onion bhajis with sweet, softened onions in a golden gram-flour batter. The air fryer gives them a light crunch without the deep-frying, a healthier take on the classic Indian starter. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 12-15 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket
190°C · 8-10 min
Cocktail sausages hugged in flaky, buttery pastry and baked until golden. The air fryer puffs the dough beautifully and crisps the base, making these the fastest crowd-pleaser at any gathering. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 8-10 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Potato Skins
200°C · 10-12 min
Loaded potato skins with crisp shells, melting cheese and smoky bacon. The air fryer crisps the edges faster than a grill and melts the topping perfectly, making a crowd-pleasing appetiser or game-day snack. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 10-12 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Potstickers
180°C · 8-10 min
Juicy pork potstickers with crisp, blistered bottoms straight from the air fryer. A quick spritz of oil crisps the pleated dumplings while keeping the savoury filling tender and steamy inside. Cooks at 180°C / 360°F for 8-10 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Sausage Balls
180°C · 12-14 min
Cheesy sausage balls with a tender, savoury crumb, a Southern party staple made effortless. The air fryer browns them evenly and keeps the pork juicy, perfect for breakfast spreads or game day. Cooks at 180°C / 360°F for 12-14 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Shishito Peppers
200°C · 6-8 min
Blistered shishito peppers with charred, smoky skins and a sprinkle of flaky salt, a moreish two-bite snack. The air fryer blisters them fast and evenly, delivering that tapas-bar char at home. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 6-8 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli
190°C · 7-9 min
Breaded ravioli air fried into crunchy golden pillows, a St Louis classic made light and crisp. Dunked in marinara, they are an irresistible starter or party snack. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 7-9 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Wontons
180°C · 7-9 min
Crispy pork wontons that crackle at first bite with a savoury, gingery centre. The air fryer crisps the little parcels evenly without a pan of hot oil, perfect for parties. Cooks at 180°C / 360°F for 7-9 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
Read moreCooking in waves, not all at once
Pick two or three things that share a temperature - most starters sit happily at 190-200°C / 375-400°F - and run them back to back. Each batch takes eight to twelve minutes and the basket stays hot between them, so later rounds cook slightly faster.
Prep everything on a tray first. The cooking is the fast part; assembling stuffed jalapenos while a basket is running is what makes it feel chaotic.
Keeping the first batch warm
Hold cooked batches in a low oven at 90°C / 200°F on a wire rack, not on a plate. A rack lets air underneath so the bottoms stay crisp; a plate traps steam and softens them within minutes.
Alternatively, give everything a 2-minute blast at 200°C / 400°F just before serving. Re-crisping in an air fryer works remarkably well and takes less time than plating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What appetizers can you make in an air fryer?
Bacon-wrapped jalapenos, mozzarella sticks, spring rolls, stuffed mushrooms, meatballs, halloumi fries and anything breaded. Small, high-surface-area food is what an air fryer does best.
Can you make appetizers ahead in an air fryer?
Assemble ahead, cook to order. If you must cook early, hold them on a wire rack in a 90°C / 200°F oven, then re-crisp for 2 minutes at 200°C / 400°F before serving.
How many appetizers fit in an air fryer?
Enough for four to six people per batch in a standard 4-5L basket, as long as you keep a single layer. Plan on two or three batches for a party rather than one crowded one.
What temperature for air fryer appetizers?
Most work at 190-200°C / 375-400°F for 8-12 minutes. Anything with cheese that might burst - mozzarella sticks especially - does better at 190°C / 375°F.