Last weekend my stove broke down. ???? At first we looked into repairing it, but in the end it made more sense to buy a new one. So, with a new range on order and delivery a week out, the Air Fryer became the star of my kitchen. With supporting roles from the Rice Cooker and microwave, we were in no danger of going hungry!
These meals are so easy, that I decided to make a little collage of what we had for dinner each night. Some require a bit of prep, while others need no more than a light brush of oil and sprinkle of seasoning. All meals are for 2 servings.
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Night #1 Pork Tenderloin, rice and broccoli
First up, an easy pork tenderloin, done in the air fryer using the rotisserie spit. I brushed a 12 oz. piece of pork tenderloin with olive oil and sprinkled with seasoning. I air fried it for 20 minutes at 370º. While the meat was cooking, I made a side of rice and steamed broccoli in my Rice Cooker. If you like pork tenderloin check out some of these recipes!
Night #2 Chicken Thighs with green beans, and leftover rice
For night 2, I coated 2 chicken thighs with tapioca starch and seasoning, gave it a light spray of oil and air fried for 30 minutes at 400º. I added green beans to the air fryer during the last 8 minutes. The rice was left over from the previous meal. If you liked this meal idea, check out this detailed post on how to make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
Night #3 Salmon with Red Potatoes and Broccoli
For night 3, I tossed diced red bliss potatoes with olive oil and seasoning. I started them in the air fryer at 400º for 20 minutes. I brushed the salmon with olive and maple seasoning, and added it to the air fryer during the last 10 minutes of cooking. The broccoli went in for the last 5 minutes.
Night #4 Ribeye Steak with Potatoes and Carrots
For this magnificent ribeye, I’ll admit I spent a bit more time on prep. I started with a 2-hour marinade, then air fried it for 21 minutes at 400º. I also cooked potato wedges and carrots in the air fryer at the same time. Read more about it here.
Night #5 Breaded Pork Chops with Brown Rice and Mixed Veggies
For our final meal, I cooked 2 pork chops in a traditional flour-egg-breadcrumb combination (yes, they were big!). I dredged the pork chops in rice flour, dipped them in egg then coated them with gluten free seasoned breadcrumbs. I let them rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, then air fried them for 20 minutes at 400º. While the pork chops cooked, I made brown rice in the rice cooker and microwaved frozen mixed veggies.
I hope you got some meal ideas for your air fryer, in case your oven malfunctions like mine did. Or for when it’s just too hot to light the oven! These are easy weeknight meals that are perfect for two. I’m excited to say my new range has since been delivered and I can’t wait to try it out!
Notes ♪♫ Air fryer best practices. Always preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes before adding the food. Don’t crowd the air fryer, the air needs to circulate around the food as it cooks. Turn the food halfway through the cook time for even cooking. For browning, a light brush or a few sprays of oil will give you that delicious crispy crust.
