🎄 Easy Air Fryer Holiday Recipes Anyone Can Make
Fast, festive & delicious — without the stress!
Holidays are busy. Like… why are there suddenly 18 family members in your house and why does everyone need snacks right now busy. 😅
Here’s the good news:
🍟 Your air fryer is basically Santa’s little helper.
🍗 It cooks faster.
🔥 Uses less oil.
🎁 Makes everything crispy & magical.
Whether you're cooking for a feast, a tiny gathering, or just yourself + Netflix, these easy air fryer holiday recipes will save your sanity — and still impress the pickiest guests (looking at you, Uncle Bob 👀).
Let’s get festive!
🌟 Why Use an Air Fryer for the Holidays?
Holidays = oven traffic jams.
Turkey's in the oven. Cookies are waiting. Veggies feeling neglected.
That’s where the air fryer swoops in like a crispy superhero:
✔ Faster cooking = stress-free hosting
✔ Less oil = healthier holiday vibes
✔ Easy cleanup = more time to enjoy eggnog
✔ Turns leftovers into ✨ new ✨ meals
Pro tip: If you don’t have a big enough air fryer yet…
👉 Support the show & upgrade your fryer game: Ninja Foodi 8 Quart
🎁 12 EASY AIR FRYER HOLIDAY RECIPES ANYONE CAN MAKE
Each one takes minimal effort but maximum deliciousness.
1️⃣ Brown Sugar Holiday Ham Slices
Perfect for: Small gatherings or quick lunches
Ingredients
-
Sliced ham
-
2 tbsp brown sugar
-
1 tbsp honey
-
Pinch cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
-
Preheat to 380°F
-
Brush ham with honey + brown sugar
-
Cook 5–7 minutes until caramelized
✨ Mouthwatering AND makes the house smell like Christmas.
2️⃣ Crispy Air Fryer Stuffing Balls
Perfect for: Using up leftover stuffing
Ingredients
-
1 egg (binder)
-
Spray oil
Instructions
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Roll leftover stuffing into balls
-
Freeze 10 minutes to hold shape
-
Air fry 390°F for 8–10 mins
Serve with gravy for dunking 👌
3️⃣ Creamy Holiday Brussels Sprouts
Perfect for: Side dish superstar
Ingredients
-
Brussels sprouts (halved)
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Olive oil, salt, pepper
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Garlic powder
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Parmesan cheese
Instructions
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Toss sprouts + seasonings
-
Air fry 375°F for 10–12 mins
-
Sprinkle with Parmesan
-
Cook 2 more mins
🌱 Suddenly everyone loves Brussels sprouts.
4️⃣ Air Fryer Sausage Balls
Perfect for: Appetizers & holiday parties
Ingredients
-
Shredded cheddar
Instructions
-
Mix everything
-
Roll into balls
-
Air fry 390°F for 10–12 mins
Serve with honey mustard dipping sauce!
5️⃣ Gooey Mozzarella Snowball Bites
Perfect for: Kid crowd-pleaser
Use mozzarella sticks cut into chunks + crescent dough wrapped around them.
400°F — 7–8 mins
Dust with garlic butter + parsley ❄️
6️⃣ Apple Pie Roll-Ups
Perfect for: Sweet treats without baking all day
Ingredients
-
Cinnamon + sugar
Instructions
-
Fill + roll like churros
-
Spray lightly
-
380°F — 7–9 mins
Serve warm with caramel dip 😍
7️⃣ Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Perfect for: Instagram-worthy sides
Bundle green beans, wrap with bacon, drizzle with maple syrup.
400°F — 10–12 mins
Fancy. Festive. Foolproof. 🎄
8️⃣ Holiday Meat & Cheese Nachos
Perfect for: Football + snack breaks
Ingredients
-
Leftover turkey or ham
-
Shredded cheese
-
Green onions
Instructions
-
Layer it up!
-
350°F — 4–5 mins
Top with cranberry salsa for holiday flair 💃
9️⃣ Crispy Mashed Potato Bites
Perfect for: Leftover glow-up
Stir in cheese + seasoning → roll into balls → air fry 390°F — 10 mins
Dip in gravy or ranch. Thank me later.
🔟 Gingerbread Biscuit Donuts
Perfect for: Holiday breakfast magic ✨
Use canned biscuit dough — cut hole — dip in ginger sugar after cooking.
350°F — 5–6 mins
Add icing if you’re feeling extra 😎
1️⃣1️⃣ Chocolate Peppermint Air Fryer Cookies
Perfect for: The cookie platter upgrade
Form dough balls → flatten → sprinkle crushed peppermint.
350°F — 6–7 mins
Eat immediately. Santa approved. 🎅
1️⃣2️⃣ Candy Cane Crescent Rolls
Perfect for: Last-minute “Oh crap guests are here” snacks
Fill crescent rolls with chocolate or cream cheese → shape like candy canes → bake in air fryer.
350°F — 5–8 mins
Festive & fast.
🔥 Holiday Entertaining Without Losing Your Mind
Here are a few hosting hacks the air fryer makes stupidly easy:
🌟 Batch Cook Appetizers
Keep your first batch warm in the oven while the next cooks.
🌟 Reheat Leftovers — Don't Microwave!
Air fryer = crispy magic > soggy sadness
🌟 Dessert in Minutes
Cookies, turnovers, donuts — YES.
📣 Must-Have Air Fryer Gear for the Holidays
These tools make everything faster + easier:
🔥 Dual-basket air fryer
Because cooking apps + sides at the same time = genius
🔥 Silicone liners
Goodbye scrubbing 🤝
🔥 Food thermometer
No more guessing on poultry 👀
🔥 Snack racks
Cook more at once — especially wings + bites
🧊 Bonus: Holiday Leftovers — Air Fryer Remix!
Don’t toss the good stuff. Transform it:
| Leftover | Air Fryer Idea | Temp | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Turkey sliders or taquitos | 380°F | 6–8 mins |
| Stuffing | Stuffing waffles or balls | 390°F | 8–10 mins |
| Mashed potatoes | Potato cakes | 390°F | 10 mins |
| Pie slices | Warm & revive crust | 350°F | 3–5 mins |
| Veggies | Frittata cups | 375°F | 8–10 mins |
♻️ Zero food waste — all food delicious.
🧑🍳 Quick Air Fryer Holiday Cooking Tips
✨ Preheat for the crispiest results
✨ Don’t overcrowd the basket — air needs to circulate!
✨ Flip halfway for even cooking
✨ Use foil or liners for saucy foods
✨ Taste + adjust seasonings at the end
Small changes = chef-level food.
🎅 Holiday Hosting Checklist
Before the chaos begins…
✔ Check your air fryer size
✔ Stock up on liners + spray oil
✔ Plan the menu with sides the air fryer can handle
✔ Create a “snack lane” — guests can serve themselves
✔ Have backup frozen apps ready (air fryer saves the day!)
👉 Holiday air fryer essentials you’ll actually use
🎉 Final Thoughts
Cooking for the holidays shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. Your air fryer is here to keep things:
🔥 Easy
🎄 Festive
🤤 Delicious
🕒 Quick
Try a few of these recipes and watch your guests ask:
“How’d you make this so fast?”
Just wink and say:
“Holiday magic.” ✨😉