It's easy to make single serving recipes in the air fryer. Here are a lot of ideas for cooking air fryer recipes for one person along with some tips!
Why cook single serving recipes in the air fryer
Quick - The air fryer cooks up food quickly! Cooking times can be reduced a lot when cooking in the air fryer.
Doesn't require heating up a whole oven - If you're cooking for one, it can seem like a waste to heat up a whole oven to make a single serving. The air fryer lets you cook using a smaller appliance with delicious results.
Easier cleanup - If you're not having to cook on the stove or in multiple dishes, cooking in the air fryer can be an easier cleanup, depending on what you're making!
What type of air fryer is best for one person?
Honestly, it depends on you and what you're looking for. Some people may choose a smaller air fryer to reduce the amount of counter space needed or to choose an air fryer that is lighter and easier to move.
However, I love a larger air fryer, even when just cooking for myself. This means I can often cook a main course (like a salmon fillet) and a vegetable at the same time.
Delicious air fryer recipes for one person
Salmon
- Air fryer salmon
- Air fryer lemon garlic salmon
- Air fryer honey mustard salmon
- Air fryer pesto salmon
- Air fryer garlic butter salmon
- Air fryer salmon bites
- Air fryer sesame salmon
- Air fryer panko salmon
- Air fryer Mediterranean salmon
- Air fryer maple dijon salmon
- Air fryer miso salmon
- Air fryer honey sriracha salmon
- Air fryer brown sugar salmon
Other seafood
Other main courses
- Air fryer pork chop bites (serves 1 as a large main)
- Air fryer bbq chicken pizza
Vegetables and side dishes
Desserts
- Air fryer whole banana
- Air fryer banana split
- Air fryer pears
- Air fryer cinnamon peaches
- Air fryer caramelized pineapple
Tips for cooking recipes for one in the air fryer
Cooking a main and side at the same time
Making recipes for one in the air fryer is easy. If adding a vegetable while cooking a main course, always check the timing and temperature to make sure you can add both to the air fryer at the same time.
If cooking salmon in the air fryer, many times you may need to start cooking the vegetable sooner, as salmon cooks quickly in the air fryer.
If cooking chicken thighs (especially bone-in chicken thighs), many times you will need to start cooking the chicken thighs prior to a vegetables, as chicken thighs can take 20-25 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
Dividing a recipe that serves 2 in half to serve only 1
Dividing a recipe that serves 2 is relatively easy. Due to how the air fryer cooks, you should not have to adjust cooking times when diving a recipe in half.
Simply keep the cook time the same, but halve the ingredients. This should help you make a delicious air fryer single serving meal.
Leftovers
Many foods that you can cook in the air fryer can be saved as leftovers for a few days in the refrigerator. Depending on what you have made, you can usually add back to the air fryer for several minutes to reheat the leftovers.
Note that this does not work with all types of food, and some food should be eaten immediately and not saved as leftovers.
Jay Mashburn
I am a single male. 75 years old. I need to know. what would be a really good. air fryer for me. Just me that I'm cooking for. and I do understand. it would only be your opinion. but I need help from somewhere.
Aimee
Any of the ones around 2 qts are good options! Amazon, Chefman, or Cosori would be my picks. You also can't go wrong if you still want to get a larger one. This will allow you to cook a main and a side easily. I cook lunches a lot just for myself in my air fryer, and in those times the larger option still works well!