I am wild about my air fryer, and I think if you give it a try you will be to! To get you started, here are 25 of the VERY BEST Keto Air Fryer Recipes. With everything from crispy Keto Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, to Chicken Parmesan, and perfect wings, there is something for every occasion.
These Keto Air Fryer Recipes Make Your Low Carb Diet a Breeze!
I have loved fried food as long as I can remember. I have vivid memories of standing by both my mother and grandmother as they cooked everything from fried cornbread to southern fried chicken.
While my love of fried food has never changed, I have never fried much in my kitchen.
First, I am not a fan of how it makes my house smell. Even more importantly, I detest standing over hot oil for what always feels like hours. And don’t even get me started on the cost of deep frying in keto-friendly oils.
Enter the air fryer.
I will be the first to admit that I was skeptical when I first tried it. To say that I was blown away is an understatement. It was love at first use, and these days, my air fryer is my most used kitchen appliance.
Keto and air frying are a match made in heaven because you can enjoy crispy keto-friendly food without worrying about smoke-points of oils, or stressing over the need to use $25 in avocado oil to cook dinner. Plus, clean up is a breeze, and the only smell in your home will be the smell of delicious food!
Choosing an Air Fryer
Best Large Capacity Drawer Style and Best All Around
I have had about four air fryers at this point, and if I had to pick one, I would say that the Phillips XXL is my favorite. It has a large capacity, which is perfect for our family of five. I also think that it outshines other brands in terms of getting things nice and crispy AND not blowing off breading. Cleanup is a breeze since all of the parts go in the dishwasher. It doesn’t have a small profile, but my kitchen is quite large, so it works for me. If you have a smaller kitchen and want a basket style air fryer, I’d recommend looking at one of the other Phillips models.
Best for a Smaller Kitchen
My parents have a small kitchen, and they adore their Ninja Foodi. I have not had one myself, but I have used many Ninja products through the years, and I have always found them to be quality products at great prices.
Best Toaster Oven Style
If you are looking for a toaster oven-style model, and have some space, I adore the Breville Smart Oven Air Fry. It is so much more than an air fryer, with baking, dehydrating, and warming functions (to name a few), and has an enormous capacity. I don’t think it crisps up quite as well as my Phillips, but it still does an excellent job. It is a great option for a big family, but the drawback is that clean up isn’t quite as easy, and you have to put something underneath the basket to avoid a big mess. Still, a worthy purchase - we use it over our big oven every day. (It sits on my counter right next to my Phillips air fryer.)
Frequently Asked Questions on Keto Air Frying
Are air fryers keto-friendly?
Absolutely! They are one of the best EASY ways that I know to enjoy crispy “breaded” food.
What can you cook in an air fryer keto?
- Most any keto-friendly vegetables will do beautifully in the air fryer!
- Meat
- Fish
- Poultry
- Pork (Bacon!!!)
What shouldn’t I cook in an air fryer?
Anything that is primarily liquid, like soups and sauces. (They are just going to spatter and cause a big mess.)
Wet batters - there will spatter.
Does an air fryer reduce carbs?
Nope, sorry! It is just a countertop super convection oven, and it doesn’t change the nutritional value of the food that you put in it.
What are the benefits of air frying?
There are so many! Here are just a few.
- It is fast and easy. You can expect to be able to reduce your total cooking time by about 25%.
- Clean up is a breeze with most models because you can but all the parts into your dishwasher. (But make sure you read your manual.)
- It is economical because you use less oil.
- It is excellent for small-batch cooking. (I hope I am not the only one on keto that sometimes cooks one meal for myself and one for the rest of the family.)
- You don’t have to worry about oil safety - either from injury or smoke points.
Keto Air Fryer Recipes
These Cauliflower Buffalo Wings are crispy and flavor-packed. They work equally well as an appetizer as they do a side dish. I like to serve them with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
When you are looking for a fun way to mix up your appetizer game, these fried pickles are sheer perfection! Serve them with you favorite dipping sauce and get prepared to become addicted.
There is a LOT to love about these Crispy Zucchini Chips! They are perfect for game day, or any time you are serving dips and need a low carb chip replacement.
Jalapeño Poppers are a classic appetizer that are wildly popular! These are wrapped in bacon and crisped to perfection in the Air Fryer.
Earthy mushrooms in a rich buttery sauce are the best way I know to add a pop of flavor to steak or chicken. Or, skip the butter sauce and serve them on pizza.
Do you ever have those days when you don't feel like meat? Zucchini Fritters to the rescue. They are one of my favorite main course keto vegetarian recipes. I like to top them with a dollop of sour cream.
When you need a super-quick side, this simple asparagus recipe comes to the rescue. This is one I make time and again.
Brussels Sprouts dipped in a tangy sauce never get old. Tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, this recipe will convert even the biggest Brussels Sprout skeptic.
An air fryer makes a healthy version of this South Italian favourite, with the same great taste. Serve as a side or main course.
Chicken Cordon Blue is one of my favorite weekend dinners, and is a fabulous low-carb option for entertaining. Perfectly crispy and juicy, no one will suspect that it is part of your diet plan.
This simple air fryer chicken is so ridiculously moist and flavor-packed. I make this most every week for meal prep.
Simple combination of salt and vinegar would make a delicious chicken appetizer. Great tasting when baked in the oven but turns out easy and perfect when made in an Air Fryer.
This Air Fryer Fried Chicken is crispy fried chicken perfection that the whole family is going to love!
Think you don't like ground turkey? These BBQ Turkey Meatballs are some of the most tender and flavor-packed meatballs I have ever had.
Caramelized Onion Meatballs are delicious little nibbles that work well as an appetizer. I also love to toss them with marinara and serve them over zucchini noodles.
This crispy Buffalo Chicken is my idea of dinner perfection. They make and amazing salad and are equally delicious on their own!
Buffalo Wings don't get any better than this delicious air fried version. Crispy and moist, they are everything wings should be.
These juicy and flavorful baked chicken turns out perfectly crispy when made in the air fryer. A big hit with adults and kids alike!
A crispy coating seals in the juices when you make air fryer pork chops. But don't worry, this coating is nearly carb free!
These Sausage Balls are so delicious, my non-keto boys ask for them again and again. While I think of sausage balls as an appetizer, these are among the most requested meals at our house.
Once you make bacon in an air fryer, you will never turn back!
Fish Sticks are a childhood favorite than never get old!
This Chicken Parmesan is easy enough for a family meal, but tasty enough for company.
When you want to mix things up a bit, try these Chicken Wings with Asian-inspired flavors. You won't believe how tasty they are.
This classic low carb Air Fryer meatloaf is the perfect comfort food dinner that everyone loves. Super easy to make and you can choose to make your low carb meatloaf in the Air Fryer or oven!
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