7 Game Day Meals I Make in the Fryer That Aren’t Wings

Chicken wings are labeled as football food, especially this time of year. I’m not saying that those sparkly flats and drumettes aren’t appropriate for a watch party, but there are other crafts you can do in your airlock this Sunday.

I use my own air fryer every day, but it is especially useful when planning a menu for a watch party. Food comes out quickly, even if you have to do it in batches, and it’s hard to summarize.

We’ll never try to talk you into making a batch of crisp, soft-inside wings. In fact, here are our tips to make perfect air fryer wings. But we’d like to throw in a few more suggestions to diversify your menu.

Below you’ll find seven tried-and-true bangers that work just as well in the air fryer as in any other cooking device we’ve found.

For a healthy twist, try this dietitian-approved air fryer game day snacks.

1. Small burgers

You might think that it’s impossible to get a medium or rare burger in an air fryer, but you’d be wrong. We did an experiment to prove it. Instead of making full-sized burgers for your guests, consider a dozen or more small burgers cooked in batches.

It will only take about 10 minutes on high to fill these beef sliders to perfection, and you can fill them with cheese right in the air fryer basket. Just don’t forget the slider rolls and the chopped onions.

Here’s how to do a A perfect cheeseburger in the air fryer.

2. Fried potatoes

We did some extensive research and found the best french fries you can make in the air fryer. You can see our full range here. We also have tips for making those potato wedges as crispy as possible. As a bonus, french fries go with everything. Like, everything.

Here is our list of best fries fries to make in the air fryer.

3. Chicken tenders

Instead of wings, which can be a pain to eat and a waste to clean up, try a bunch of keto-coated chicken tenders for the game. These puppies aren’t dripping in fat, and the thin coating means you can eat and eat without feeling tired.

While you can’t make dipping sauce in an air fryer, whole buffalo or honey mustard will take your tendies to new heights.

Here is the recipe Air fryer Keto chicken tenders.

4. Hot dogs and sausages

If you haven’t made a hot dog or sausage joint in the air fryer, it’s time to learn this year-round hack. They cook quickly, require almost no attention or cleaning, and the resulting joints have as much char as when cooked on the grill. Try making hot dogs on the stove, and you’ll get grease splatter for days.

Serve up quality sausage links with fried onions and peppers, and your guests will be singing your praises.

Here’s how to do it hot dogs in the air fryer in minutes.

5. Loaded baked potatoes

Baked potatoes are usually off the table for busy meal prep as they take a long time, but that’s not the case when you use the hot air fryer. Start them in the microwave for a few minutes, cut them open, load them with your favorite toppings like cheese, chili, or bacon, and finish them in the air fryer for the crispiest baked potatoes in 12 minutes.

Here’s how to do it potatoes are baked in less than 15 minutes in the air cell.

6. Also

Nachos come out great when baked in the oven, but it takes a long time to preheat and melt the cheese. If your air fryer is empty, use it to thaw nachos at your Sunday party. We recommend placing foil under the chips for easy lifting when the nachos are done.

7. All frozen foods

This is a broad category that includes anything that strikes your fancy as you walk down the frozen food aisle, such as empanadas, mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers or stuffed mushrooms. Any of these become crispy in about 15 minutes in the air fryer basket.