The air fryer has become a must-have kitchen appliance due to its ability to cook food with less oil, making it a healthier alternative to traditional frying methods. When combined with the ketogenic diet, which focuses on high fat, moderate protein, and very low carbohydrate intake, the air fryer becomes an indispensable tool for creating delicious and guilt-free meals. If you're on a keto diet, you'll be pleased to know that you don't have to give up your favorite fried foods. By using keto-friendly breading options, such as nuts and seeds, you can enjoy crispy and flavorful dishes while staying within your macros.
Why Air Fryer and Keto are a Perfect Match
The ketogenic diet is based on the principle of shifting the body's primary fuel source from carbohydrates to fats, inducing a metabolic state called ketosis. Air fryers help reduce the amount of unhealthy oils needed to cook food, aligning with the health-conscious goals of the keto diet. This combination allows you to enjoy traditionally high-carb fried foods by using keto-approved breading alternatives.
Keto Air Fryer Recipes
Here are some amazing keto air fryer recipes that will satisfy your cravings without compromising your diet:
Beef
Keto Mongolian Beef
Craving Chinese takeout? This air fryer Mongolian Beef recipe is a fantastic keto-friendly alternative to satisfy your cravings. With only 4 net carbs per serving, this recipe is a simple swap from traditional versions.
Ingredients:
- Steak
- Green beans
- Olive oil
- Sesame oil
- Soy sauce
- Water
- Brown sugar substitute
- Ginger paste
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Toss the steak and green beans in olive oil and sesame oil.
- Place the steak and green beans in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- While the steak and green beans are cooking, heat the soy sauce, water, brown sugar substitute, ginger paste, garlic, salt, and pepper in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until thickened.
Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Crispy air fryer chicken wings are always a crowd-pleaser. A simple spice rub with a kick from cayenne seasoning makes these wings irresistible.
Read also: Guilt-Free Keto Snack: Cheese Curds
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Bites
This three-ingredient recipe is incredibly easy and contains less than one gram of carbs per serving. Season diced boneless, skinless chicken thighs with salt and air fry at 390°F for 10 to 12 minutes. Toss in your favorite hot sauce after cooking.
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
These wings taste just like the ones you'd find at your favorite bar. Combine keto-friendly hot sauce and ghee/grass-fed butter in a saucepan, then coat the wings and air fry at 400°F for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Give chicken a flavorful twist by stuffing it with jalapeno popper filling. This recipe is quick, easy, and packed with flavor.
Air Fryer Fajita-Stuffed Chicken
Stuff chicken breasts with fajita ingredients and cook them in the air fryer for a quick and delicious meal.
Air Fryer Blackened Chicken
Blackening chicken with keto-friendly spices, herbs, and mustard gives it a unique spicy touch and complex flavor layer. The air fryer simplifies the process and gives you a high-quality dish in just 30 minutes.
Read also: Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
This keto fried chicken is incredibly crispy, thanks to a grain-free breading made with pork rinds, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and thyme.
Air Fryer Chicken Salad
Season chicken with Italian seasoning, black pepper, salt, paprika, and garlic powder, then air-fry and serve alongside veggies and dried cranberries. The bright, zesty dressing made from lemon juice, olive oil, and Italian seasoning ties everything together.
Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Secure the chicken breasts with toothpicks for a mess-free stuffed chicken breast, ensuring the filling stays inside while cooking.
Seafood
Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
Bacon-wrapped scallops are decadent, fancy, and surprisingly easy to prepare in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Salmon
Preparing salmon in the air fryer is one of the easiest ways to cook it. Air-fryer salmon stays succulent, but still gets lightly browned on the outside. Use this simple salmon recipe as a starting point for different flavors and styles of salmon. The possibilities are endless!
Read also: Low-Carb Green Beans Recipe
Air Fryer Sesame-Crusted Fish
Sesame seeds offer nice crunch for a more fried texture. Brush fillets of salmon or cod with reduced sodium soy sauce mixed with honey, and then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Air fry for 7 to 9 minutes at 360°F.
Air Fryer Coconut-Crusted Shrimp
Create a breading station with coconut flour and shredded coconut, then air fry the shrimp until crisp.
Air Fryer Shrimp With Mayo Sauce
Season the shrimp and air fry them. While the shrimp are cooking, whisk up a sweet and tangy dipping sauce using only mayonnaise and ketchup.
Air Fryer Fish Sticks
Use crushed pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs for a keto-friendly version of this classic dish.
Air Fryer Mahi-Mahi
Made with only three ingredients and gets a healthy dinner on the table in under 15 minutes.
Pork
Air Fryer Pork Chops
These air fryer pork chops get their rich flavor from Creole seasoning and Parmesan cheese.
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
This air-fryer pork tenderloin recipe to cook on the stove and finish in the oven, but you can make it even quicker in an air fryer-and it’s just as tasty.
Air Fryer Bacon
Cook bacon in the air fryer for a quick and easy breakfast without the mess of stovetop cooking.
Air Fryer Sausage Bacon Bites
Surprise your family with these delicious bites made without sugar to keep the recipe keto-friendly.
Air Fryer Pork Rind Pickles
Dredge pickle slices in almond flour, egg wash, and crushed pork rinds, then air fry until crispy.
Vegetables
Air Fryer Roasted Green Beans
Replace half the amount of onion to reduce the carbs and keep this recipe keto-friendly.
Air Fryer Asparagus
Thanks to the lemon-garlic dressing that the spears are tossed in before roasting. It’s a simple, quick side that goes with almost anything.
Air-Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs
This is a wonderful alternative to boiling eggs on the stovetop. These air-fryer hard-boiled eggs are just as easy and super quick-a perfect way to put your air fryer to use!
Air-Fried Radishes
These fried radishes make a colorful side for any meal. Plus, they’re quick to make in your air fryer.
Air Fryer Herb and Lemon Cauliflower
A standout cauliflower side is easy to prepare with just a few ingredients. Crushed red pepper flakes add a touch of heat.
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
The result is a vegan, gluten-free, keto-friendly snack you’ll want to munch on every day.
Air Fryer Stuffed Zucchini
Filled with ground beef and cheese, this quick-to-prepare meal is a delicious way to enjoy summer’s bounty.
Air Fryer Broccoli
It gets tender and still has a nice crunch. And it only gets better with a touch of lemon!
Garlic-Herb Fried Patty Pan Squash
This fried patty pan squash recipe is a creative twist.
Air Fryer Okra with Smoked Paprika
Roast it with lemon juice for a lighter version. The smoked paprika gives it even more roasty oomph. It is!
Air Fryer Kale Chips
Spray both sides of 1/2 pound kale leaves (any variety will do) with cooking spray. In a small bowl, mix 1/3 teaspoon toasted ground cumin, 1/3 teaspoon paprika, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne (add 1/8 teaspoon for spicier chips), 1/8 teaspoon salt. Air fry at 250°F for 12 minutes.
Air Fryer Green Beans
This simple four ingredient recipe makes the crispiest green beans imaginable. Flavored with oil, lemon, and salt, they're so easy and budget-friendly, too.
Air Fryer Cherry Tomato Poppers
Just pop a handful or two stemmed cherry tomatoes into a 400°F air fryer for 4 minutes. Allow to cool and then scatter the oven-sweetened flavor bombs over salads or eat as is for a naturally sweet snack.
Air Fryer Fennel Crisps
Trim the dense bottom and green stalks from a fennel bulb and slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Coat lightly with cooking spray, season with salt and pepper, and air fry for 15 minutes at 350°F.
Air Fryer Zucchini
Crispy, delicious, vegan, gluten-free, and keto! It's healthy and so easy to make, especially when you're up to your ears in zucchini during their peak season.
Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
This recipe combines the smoky and savory flavor of bacon with the tender and nutty flavor of Brussels sprouts.
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Learning how to make onion rings in the air fryer is the key to keto onion rings that are just as crispy as real ones.
Air Fryer Spicy Fried Broccoli Bites
Fry until crispy, about 8 minutes, and toss about halfway through. Transfer to a plate, season with salt, pepper, and a little cayenne.
Air Fryer Garlicky-Lemony Fried Cauliflower Bites
Use garlic salt and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Other
Air Fryer Keto Meatballs
With this recipe for air-fryer keto meatballs, you won’t miss the breadcrumbs at all! I like to eat these saucy meatballs on their own, but they’re also great over zucchini noodles.
Air Fryer Bacon Egg Cups
These adorable bacon egg cups are a fresh take on the classic breakfast combo. I originally baked these, but they’re amazing in the air fryer-no need to heat up the oven!
Air Fryer Eggs Lorraine
Whenever I’m looking to impress overnight guests, this is the recipe I serve for breakfast. It’s easy to assemble and it cooks quickly in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Kale and Feta Frittatas
Scramble up 4 eggs, 1 cup chopped kale, and 3 tablespoons of crumbled feta cheese with some salt and pepper. Air fry at 360°F in a baking pan or egg cups.
Air Fryer Cheese Crackers
You don't need any fancy ingredients for this either.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
Uses some original cinnamon rolls ingredients while just swapping the sweetener and the flour.
Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
These jalapeño peppers are stuffed with both cream cheese and cheddar cheese, sprinkled with Ranch seasoning, and then wrapped in bacon.