The stress of preparing a Thanksgiving dinner can overwhelm even the most experienced home cooks. If you’ve felt the rush and know that sentiment of looking for oven space to add those finishing touches, turning to your air fryer is something we highly recommend.
That compact appliance is your ultimate Thanksgiving secret weapon. While you obviously can’t fit the turkey in there (don’t even try), the air fryer’s knack for crisping food quickly makes it perfect for tackling all the sides that are fighting for oven time, whether it’s a casserole orstuffing. Even food lovers on Reddit love the idea of using one for preparing quick and easy appetizers for the table.
I’ve realised using the air fryer for just one or two dishes can make a massive difference in any holiday workflow. Here are five classic Thanksgiving sides that I’ve personally perfected in the air fryer, and they’ll work great for your feast this year.
Candied yams
With only a handful of ingredient’s and a few easy steps, you can free up space in your kitchen with candied sweet potatoes.
Craving candied yams without the hassle? Try making them in the air fryer this Thanksgiving. Here’s how:
- Peel a few orange sweet potatoes and cut them into 1-inch rounds or cubes
- Toss the sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 2 tablespoons maple syrup or brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and a pinch of salt.
- Preheat the air fryer, line it with foil, and air fry at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes or until tender, stirring halfway through.
I love using my air fryer to cook up root veggies quickly, and this sweetly spiced recipe is no exception.
Want that classic marshmallow topping? Adapt the air fryer s’mores method to toast up some molten marshmallows, then spoon over the sweet potatoes just before serving.
Crispy stuffing
I’m one of those people who love sides even more than I enjoy Thanksgiving turkey, and since stuffing is so closely associated with the holiday, it’s always the first dish I heap on my plate.
It’s super easy to make stuffing in the air fryer. Here’s how I do it:
You’ll need:
- A bag of seasoned bread cubes (about 3 cups)
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 4 tablespoons of melted butter
- 1 medium onion
- 2 sticks of celery
- A little oil
Dice the onion and celery into half-inch pieces, toss them with oil, and cook in a preheated air fryer for 10 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, tossing the basket halfway through cooking time.
Meanwhile, combine the bread cubes, broth and melted butter and stir to combine. When they’re ready, add in the celery and onion. Wipe out the air fryer with a paper towel, preheat it to 375, and line the basket with foil. Add the stuffing mixture and air fry for about 15 minutes. The result is savory, crunchy-topped stuffing in about 30 minutes, no stove burners or oven space needed.
Easy stuffing recipe ingredients for the air fryer.
Free up oven space by making your stuffing in the air fryer this year.
Read more: Keep These 9 Foods Out of Your Air Fryer
Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts have gone from a bitter-tasting punchline to one of the hottest veggies around in the space of a few decades. That’s thanks in no small part to the roasty, toasty flavors and crisp outer leaves that high-heat convection cooking methods like air frying can create.
For a super simple Thanksgiving side, simply toss halved sprouts with olive oil and salt, air fry and dress with your favorite seasonings. Consider tossing them with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, a splash of maple syrup and a handful of dried cranberries for a festive, autumnal side.
Dense Brussels sprouts make perfect air fryer food.
A perfectly simple side that takes almost no effort in the air fryer.
Read more: Best Turkey Alternatives to Serve for Thanksgiving
Baked potatoes
In my house, potatoes in some form are essential on Thanksgiving, whether they’re mashed, baked, scalloped or au gratin. Air fryer baked potatoes are a delicious, crowd-pleasing and low-maintenance side to include in your Turkey Day toolkit.
Start with big, starchy potatoes like russets, then poke each one all over with a fork. Now, you have two options for getting your spuds to hot, fluffy, starchy glory:
1. Pop them in the microwave for about 10 minutes, then crisp them up in the air fryer for a few minutes on each side to finish.
2. You can also cook them entirely in the air fryer for 40 to 50 minutes; no microwave needed.
Once your air fryer potatoes are cooked, dress ’em up with butter, gravy, sour cream, bacon bits, shredded cheese… whatever your heart desires. Individual baked potatoes are a great option when feeding little kids or picky eaters, as everyone can customize with their own favorite toppings.
The fastest crispiest baked potato of your life is one trip to the air fryer away.
Roast chicken
If your Thanksgiving gathering is more intimate — think two to four people — you can swap out that big, expensive turkey for poultry that’s easier to handle, more affordable and just as delicious as the traditional bird. When cooking for just a few friends on Thanksgiving, I’ve found it’s a great way to keep what can be a stressful holiday meal a little easier. Plus, turkey is easy to screw up, but most cooks feel pretty comfortable preparing chicken.
A roast chicken prepared in the air fryer looks beautiful, tastes great and offers that crispy, golden-brown skin air frying is known for. This air fryer roast chicken recipe is ready to eat in a fraction of the time it takes to roast a turkey, and you can still save those delicious pan drippings to make classic gravy.
The roasted bird in all its glory.
