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Chefs share the 10 best appetizers to make in an air fryer

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Chefs share the 10 best appetizers to make in an air fryer

A white rectangular plate filled with golden brown vegetable spring rolls cut in half
According to chefs, spring rolls are one of the best appetizers to make in an air fryer.

Iridenta Florescu/Getty Images

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  • Business Insider asked three chefs about their favorite appetizers to make in an air fryer.
  • Game-day classics like nachos and jalapeño poppers come perfectly crispy in the air fryer.
  • Stuffed mushrooms maintain their flavor without becoming too soggy.

Thanks to air fryers, preparing crispy, easy-to-snack-on appetizers is simpler than ever.

Although the appliance is a staple for most home cooks, it's also beloved by many professional chefs.

To help narrow down the best appetizers to make in an air fryer, Business Insider asked three chefs for their favorites. Here's what they said.

Jalapeño poppers are a game-day staple.
A tray with a white napkin filled with jalapeño poppers around a metal cup with a white dip in the center

LauriPatterson/Getty Images

According to Olivia Roszkowski, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, the air fryer is great for making jalapeño poppers.

She said the appliance allows the exterior breading or batter to stay crunchy and golden while the cheesy center becomes "molten" without getting too stringy.

Homemade spring rolls are easy to prep ahead and make when cravings strike.
A white rectangular plate filled with golden brown vegetable spring rolls cut in half

Iridenta Florescu/Getty Images

Chef Maricel Gentile, owner at Maricel's Kitchen, recommends making homemade vegetable or pork spring rolls as an impressive appetizer.

She said these are easy to make and can be prepped and frozen ahead of time.

According to Gentile, the air fryer makes the spring rolls light and crispy and prevents them from getting overbaked, soggy, or greasy.

Air fried stuffed mushrooms are a tasty appetizer with a distinct flavor.
Mushrooms heads stuffed with tomato sauce, herbs, and cheese on a wire rack

ClarkandCompany/Getty Images

When it comes to appetizers, mushrooms are often skipped over because they can lose water and become too soggy.

However, both Christopher Lindsay — a chef-instructor at the University of Nevada — and Roszkowski love making stuffed mushrooms in the air fryer.

"Stuffed mushrooms are delicious when made in the air fryer because the mushrooms themselves do not lose too much volume, which often happens in a conventional or convection oven," Roszkowski told BI.

Lindsay recommends thoroughly cleaning and drying the mushrooms and lightly spraying the bottom of the air-fryer basket to prevent sticking.

Then, the chef places the stuffed mushrooms inside, being careful to avoid overcrowding, and cooks the dish at 390 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheesy stuffing is golden and bubbly.

Spinach-artichoke dip comes together quickly in the air fryer.
A white oval shaped dish holding a white ramekin filled with spinach-artichoke dip and and pita chips

Photo by Cathy Scola/Getty Images

Roszkowski told BI it's a good idea to make a dish like spinach-artichoke dip in the air fryer. She said this method takes about one-third of the time it would in the oven and still turns out golden and gooey.

To make the dip, Roszkowski suggests prepping it in an oven-safe ceramic dish. Then, cook the dip in the air fryer until golden and bubbling, and pair it with warm bread, pita chips, or sliced veggies.

Impress guests with a Filipino dish like veggie- and shrimp-loaded ukoy.
Bird's eye view of a white plate with fried shrimp and rice fritters and a sprig of cilantro on top

sri widyowati/Getty Images

Ukoy is a crispy, comforting, fried Filipino fritter made with unpeeled shrimp, shredded vegetables, and a simple batter of cornstarch, flour, and water.

Gentile likes to make these fritters in the air fryer to skip the time it takes to deep-fry them. The chef said this dish could also be made without shrimp for a vegetarian alternative.

Bacon-wrapped dates are perfect for elegant dinner parties.
A gray ceramic plate filled with bacon wrapped dates speared with toothpicks

bhofack2/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Bacon-wrapped dates, a popular go-to appetizer for dinner parties and potlucks, are another great option for the air fryer. The appliance quickly crisps up the bacon while letting the cheese filling (if used) soften without burning.

"I've been perfecting bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with gorgonzola and a smoked almond in my convection oven for years, typically baking them for 25 to 30 minutes," Lindsay said.

However, if you want to make the appetizer in a slightly shorter timeframe, the chef recommends preheating the air fryer for five minutes and baking the dates for 15 to 20 minutes.

Nachos can reach ultimate crispiness in the air fryer.
A white and red tray serving dish filled with nachos covered in cheese, onions, tomatoes, and guacamole at a table

Fotografía de eLuVe/Getty Images

Roszkowski is all for going big on game day with freshly made nachos served with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream on the side.

"The tortilla chips don't get soggy because of the hot, dry circulating air and the quicker cooking time," Roszkowski said. "This allows you to be generous with your toppings."

The chef also recommends lining the air fryer tray with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Chorizo-and-pepper-stuffed puff pastry could really wow guests.
A blue and white plate with an appetizer made with puff pastry covering the surface

Isabel Pavia/Getty Images

Store-bought puff pastry is arguably one of the most popular appetizer ingredients, especially for wrapped or rolled air-fryer dishes.

Lindsay likes to stuff puff pastry with chorizo, corn, red bell peppers, jalapeños, cotija cheese, and seasonings. Then, he folds the pastry and air-fries the dish until golden.

He serves the appetizer with fresh guacamole and salsa for a crowd-pleasing dish.

Go for a sweet and savory combination of ham, Brie, and pears or apples.
A wooden cutting board with ham slices wrapped around a wheel of Brie and cheese oozing out an opening

LauriPatterson/Getty Images

If you want an elevated appetizer that requires little prep time, Lindsay recommends covering a slab of Brie with pears or Cosmic Crisp apples cut batonnet style (into straight strips) and fresh thyme.

Then, the chef rolls the ingredients into ham slices cut off the bone, places the dish seam-side down in the air fryer, and heats it up.

Consider upgrading pizza or pasta night with air fried garlic bread.
A gray serving dish with four small pieces of garlic bread with herbs on top

Chettarin/Getty Images

Level up game night or family dinner with hot, fresh garlic bread.

"Garlic bread is the perfect appetizer to make in an air fryer because the generous blast of hot air simultaneously toasts the bread, melts the Parmesan cheese, and cooks the garlic without getting too brown and crusty," Roszkowski said. 

The chef suggests finishing the dish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley to really wow dinner guests.

This story was originally published on February 8, 2025, and most recently updated on November 11, 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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