8 Air Fryer Holiday Recipes
Christmas and Thanksgiving dishes when the oven is already full.
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.
The holiday cooking problem is never skill, it is oven space. One bird occupies the whole thing for hours while eight side dishes queue behind it. An air fryer is effectively a second oven that needs no preheat, and that is worth more on Christmas Day than any other day of the year.
All 8 air fryer holiday recipes
Air Fryer Beef Tenderloin
190°C · 25-35 min
A whole beef tenderloin roast feels celebratory, and the air fryer roasts it to a rosy, tender centre with a burnished herb crust. It frees up the oven for sides, making it a smart centrepiece for a special dinner. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 25-35 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Corned Beef
175°C · 35-45 min
Air fryer corned beef develops a sweet, mustardy glaze and tender, sliceable texture. After a gentle simmer to soften, a short blast in the air fryer sets a sticky crust, making it a standout for St Patrick's Day or a hearty family dinner. Cooks at 175°C / 350°F for 35-45 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Rack Of Lamb
190°C · 16-22 min
A herb-crusted rack of lamb is an elegant centrepiece, and the air fryer roasts it to a rosy, tender finish. The garlic and rosemary crust turns golden while the meat stays pink and juicy, ideal for a dinner party without the stress. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 16-22 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Roast Beef
180°C · 30-45 min
A proper roast beef with a crusty seasoned exterior and blushing pink slices is easy in the air fryer. It roasts faster than a conventional oven and stays wonderfully moist, perfect for Sunday lunch or piling into sandwiches. Cooks at 180°C / 360°F for 30-45 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Stuffing Balls
180°C · 12-15 min
Golden, herby sage and onion stuffing balls with a crisp outside and a soft, fluffy centre. A festive side that cooks quickly in the air fryer while the oven is busy with the roast. Cooks at 180°C / 360°F for 12-15 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Turkey Breast
175°C · 45-55 min
A boneless turkey breast turns out juicy and golden in the air fryer, perfect for a small festive dinner or meal prep. It frees up the oven and delivers crisp herby skin with tender, sliceable meat. Cooks at 175°C / 350°F for 45-55 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Turkey Legs
180°C · 30-40 min
Big, juicy turkey legs with crisp seasoned skin, just like the ones from the fairground. The air fryer renders the skin golden while keeping the dark meat moist and tender, a fun festive treat any time of year. Cooks at 180°C / 360°F for 30-40 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Gammon in the Air Fryer
170°C · 45-55 min
Cook a gammon joint in an air fryer at 170°C / 340°F for 45-55 minutes, flipping halfway, until the centre reaches 71°C / 160°F. Ingredients, method and starting times for a domestic air fryer.
Read moreUse it as your second oven
Give the air fryer the things that want high heat and a short time - sprouts, pigs in blankets, parsnips, stuffing balls, roast potatoes for the last 20 minutes. Leave the main oven to the roast, which needs the space and the long slow heat.
Because it preheats in two minutes, you can also cook to the timetable rather than ahead of it. That single fact removes most of the stress from serving everything hot at once.
Reheating on the day and after
Roast potatoes, parsnips, pigs in blankets and stuffing all re-crisp in 3-5 minutes at 180°C / 360°F. A microwave makes all four of those things worse; an air fryer makes them close to fresh.
Leftover turkey is the exception - it dries out badly under dry heat. Add a splash of stock and cover it with foil, or slice it thin and warm it through for two minutes only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cook a turkey crown in an air fryer?
A crown up to about 2kg fits most 5L baskets. Cook at 180°C / 360°F for roughly 40-50 minutes, until the thickest part reaches 74°C / 165°F, then rest 20 minutes. A whole turkey will not fit.
What holiday dishes work best in an air fryer?
Brussels sprouts, pigs in blankets, parsnips, stuffing balls, roast potatoes and glazed carrots. Anything that wants high heat for a short time and would otherwise compete for oven space.
How do you reheat Christmas leftovers in an air fryer?
Roast potatoes, parsnips and pigs in blankets: 3-5 minutes at 180°C / 360°F. Turkey needs a splash of stock and foil over the top, or it dries out.
Can you cook pigs in blankets in an air fryer?
Yes - 12-15 minutes at 190°C / 375°F, shaking once. The bacon crisps far more evenly than on a crowded oven tray.