20 Quick and Healthy Air Fryer Snacks You Can Make in a Snap

By Rachael Link, MS, RD, Aly Walansky, and Jess Novak

September 24, 2024

Image credit: Running to the Kitchen

In the past couple of years, air fryers have gone from “trendy kitchen appliances” to “basically essential” for a whole lot of home cooks — and we’re on board. Air fryers not only help us achieve that golden, crispy texture we crave from fried foods without a ton of added oil, they also slash cooking time. Talk about a win/win. With the help of an air fryer, you can transform many traditionally fried foods like chips, fries, and wings into totally healthy snacks that retain their crunch while preserving nutrients. Whether you’ve just gotten on board the air fryer train or you’re an air fryer pro looking for exciting new recipes, we’ve found 20 excellent healthy air fryer snacks you’ll love.

1. Air Fryer Parsnip Fries

Healthy Air Fryer Snacks: Air Fryer Parsnip Fries

Parsnips’ firm texture makes an excellent imitation of a French fry: Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. In terms of flavor, they boast a carrot-like sweetness combined with a nutty earthiness, and they work with a wide variety of dipping sauces. For a healthier version of this recipe’s recommended sauce, simply swap Greek yogurt for the recommended mayo.

Try the recipe from The Devil Wears Salad.

2. Air Fryer Korean Chicken Wings

As recipe author Sue notes, Korean chicken wings are typically not just fried, but twice-fried to get them extra crispy. The classic version is delicious, but it’s not exactly the most healthful appetizer out there. However, this air fryer version makes the wings exquisitely crisp with hardly any added oil. This recipe calls for some brown sugar in the sauce; swap in coconut sugar or a little more honey to keep the sweetener unrefined, if you like.

Try the recipe from My Korean Kitchen.

3. Coconut Flour Air Fryer Calamari

We love sharing a plate of fried calamari as an appetizer. But we also know that deep-frying negates the health value of eating squid, which is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and calcium. Grab a bag of frozen calamari rings (or opt for fresh from your local fishmonger, if you can get it) and make your own version — it’s easy and delicious.

Try the recipe from Diethood.

4. “Everything Bagel” Air Fryer Butternut Squash Cubes

One of our favorite healthy air fryer snacks, these air fryer butternut squash cubes are ready in under 30 minutes, and just involve a bit of olive oil and seasoning. The recipe calls for ready-made “Everything but the Bagel seasoning,” which also makes this a really fast snack.

Try the recipe from Pinch of Wellness.

5. Air Fryer Oyster Mushroom Jerky

Vegan jerkies are popular, and with good reason — made well, they’re incredibly nutrient-dense, satisfying, and great for when you’re on the go. For a really excellent DIY option, consider this oyster mushroom jerky recipe. Compared to many other common mushrooms, oyster mushrooms are especially rich in beta-glucans, which have been shown to lower blood pressure.

Try the recipe from SummerYule.

6. Crispy Air Fryer Tamari Tofu

Healthy Air Fryer Recipes: Crispy Air Fryer Tamari Tofu

Tofu is a complete protein source known for its ability to soak up any flavors you add to it, so feel free to adjust this recipe to add any flavors you like (some orange juice would be great here). At its most basic, this crispy air fryer tamari tofu has just four ingredients: Just toss it in the tamari, a bit of nutritional yeast, and cornstarch for crispiness, and then air fry for about 15 minutes. Finish off with some sesame seeds and scallion, and this will be a perfectly golden, crispy snack. We love that this recipe is gluten free and uses almost no oil.

Try the recipe from The Cheeky Chickpea.

7. Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds

Air Fryer Healthy Snacks: Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted pumpkin seeds are very versatile, and can be used as a finishing touch on salads, dips, and all sorts of entrees, or on their own as a quick, tasty snack. You can save time and clean up energy by simply making them in the air fryer: They take just 20 minutes from start to finish. For an extra little kick, toss with chili powder, or for a pumpkin spice vibe, combine with dried cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove before air frying.

Try the recipe from Clean Eating Kitchen.

8. Balsamic Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

There are a million ways to enjoy Brussels sprouts — from frying to roasting — but they come out especially delicious in the air fryer. These Brussels sprouts are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Slice and trim the sprouts, toss them in a bowl with some olive oil and your seasoning of choice, and heat them in the air fryer for 15 minutes. While this recipe calls for pairing with a balsamic dressing, the possibilities are truly endless (and honestly, they taste fantastic with no dressing at all).

Try the recipe from The Forked Spoon.

9. Keto Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

For anyone on a keto diet, this one’s for you. It’s a healthier, unbreaded, unfried version of the classic bar snack. And for those of us who aren’t on keto — or can’t even look at that much bacon — consider some stuffing alternatives. One great choice: this healthier crab dip, which would be delicious stuffed inside a jalapeño.

Try the recipe from Key to my Lime.

10. Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Buffalo cauliflower bites are a delicious plant-based variation on wings. This recipe calls for butter — which is a traditional component of buffalo sauce — but feel free to swap it out for avocado oil if you want a fully plant-based snack. Just toss all the ingredients in a bowl and air fry for 15 minutes — it doesn’t get much simpler than that.

Try the recipe from Kelsey and Cooper’s Kitchen.

11. Garlic-Turmeric Air Fryer Okra

Okra gets a bad rap for having an unappealing, slimy texture. However, when you pickle or fry this lantern-shaped little vegetable, you’ve got a magically different experience on your hands: It’s crispy and crunchy, with a mild, grassy flavor reminiscent of green bell pepper. Okra is naturally full of antioxidants that can help you fight inflammation, and this recipe boosts that inflammation-fighting power further by incorporating turmeric.

Try the recipe from Running to the Kitchen.

12. Air Fryer Cinnamon Apple Chips

Sweet, crunchy, and full of fiber and polyphenols, apples are a fantastically healthy sweet treat — and in turn, apple chips are among our favorite air fryer snacks. This recipe is beyond simple: the only ingredients are thinly sliced apples, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Bonus: It all comes together in just 10 minutes.

Try the recipe from BaumAss Foods.

13. Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

Chickpeas are a healthy, satisfying snack, and also portable — whether you’re on your way to work or you’re taking a long flight. This crispy air-fried version is simple to make and rich in fiber and protein. They’ll cook in the air fryer in just about 15 minutes, but you’ll want to check midway through and shake the basket so all those chickpeas get cooked evenly. We like to sprinkle them with nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and cumin, but they’d also be great with a Cajun blend.

Try the recipe from Cooking It Real Good.

14. Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

If you’re trying to avoid traditional French fries but really want to hit that craving, the absolute best substitute is also one of the most popular healthy air fryer snacks: sweet potato fries. Air-frying sweet potatoes avoids using tons of oil and upgrades white potatoes to more nutrient-dense sweet potatoes. Just slice, season, and start air-frying for an easy snack that’s ready in less than 20 minutes.

Try the recipe from Well Plated.

15. Air Fryer Roasted Almonds

This roasted almond recipe is a simple, vegan, low-carb snack. At its simplest, this healthy recipe requires just one ingredient — almonds — and you can prepare it in less than 10 minutes, but it also lends itself to a ton of different flavor combinations. Consider tossing with Tajin seasoning, or rosemary and sea salt, or furikake.

Try the recipe from Recipes from a Pantry.

16. Air Fryer Shishito Peppers

Shishito peppers are one of our favorite appetizers, striking just the right balance between smoky and sweet — and every once in a while, you get a spicy one that really kicks things up. Just pop some shishito peppers into the air fryer with a bit of olive oil and sea salt, serve with a spritz of lemon, and enjoy. For a flavor twist, shake a little everything bagel seasoning over the top, or drizzle with some Indonesian sambal.

Try the recipe from Skinny Taste.

17. Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs have long been a favorite option for a quick, high-protein snack. However, they can be rather time-consuming to prepare, and when you’re relying on the traditional method, it’s easy to have them turn out less-than-perfect. Air frying is a simple solution to making hard-boiled eggs quickly and without fuss. If you want to change up the flavor profile, swap out classic salt and pepper for za’atar or smoked sea salt.

Try the recipe from Recipe Diaries.

18. Air Fryer Beet Chips

If you’re craving a flavorful, crunchy chip, potatoes are not the only game in town: It’s time to break out beets for a colorful chip that has the same crisp and crunch, but with more nutrition. Beets boast a long list of important micronutrients, including vitamin C, folate, fiber, and potassium. Slice the beets thin, and mix with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper. After 20 minutes in the air fryer, you’ll have a batch of beet chips ready to dip in guac or hummus.

Try the recipe from Life’s Little Sweets.

19. Air Fryer Roasted Edamame

Whether you want to enjoy edamame as a tasty appetizer or as a simple snack, roasting it is seriously easy in the air fryer: Just spray with some oil and toss with a bit of sea salt, then air fry for 8 to 10 minutes. You can even do this with frozen edamame without defrosting — just add a few minutes to the cooking time. To elevate the flavor a bit, you can toss them with a little soy sauce and some sesame seeds, and if you’re craving a bit of spice, add a touch of sriracha or gochujang, too.

Try the recipe from Tasty Air Fryer Recipes.

20. Air Fryer Kale Chips

Kale chips are another crunchy, tasty chip that’s easy to prepare and very satisfying. Kale is low-carb, low-calorie, and brimming with important nutrients like vitamins A and K. All you need is a few cups of rinsed, loosely-packed kale, a few teaspoons of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and whatever seasoning you most enjoy — we’re fans of garlic powder and nutritional yeast.

Try the recipe from Glue and Glitter.