Hungry now? These air fryer recipes take 5 minutes or less of actual cooking, and most need under 5 minutes of prep too. They’re perfect for after school, late-night cravings or a quick tea-time plate.
At a glance
| Recipe | Setting | Cook time |
|---|---|---|
| Masala papad | 180 °C | 1–2 min |
| Garlic toast | 180 °C | 3–4 min |
| Chilli cheese toast | 180 °C | 4–5 min |
| Bread pizza | 180 °C | 5–6 min |
| Re-crisped leftover samosa or pakoda | 170 °C | 4–5 min |
| Toasted sesame or cashews | 150 °C | 4–5 min |
| Crispy khakhra from leftover roti | 180 °C | 3–4 min |
1. Masala papad (2 minutes)
Place a papad in the basket with a rack on top to stop it flying. Air fry at 180 °C for 1–2 minutes until blistered. Top with onion, tomato, coriander, chaat masala and lemon.
2. Garlic toast (4 minutes)
Mix 2 tbsp soft butter with 1 grated garlic clove, chopped coriander and chilli flakes. Spread on bread and air fry at 180 °C for 3–4 minutes until golden at the edges.
3. Chilli cheese toast (5 minutes)
Top buttered bread with grated cheese, chopped green chilli, capsicum and onion. Air fry at 180 °C for 4–5 minutes. More quick ideas in our viral air fryer recipes.
4. Bread pizza (6 minutes)
Sauce, veggies, cheese, 180 °C for 5–6 minutes. Full method: air fryer bread pizza.
5. Leftover roti khakhra (4 minutes)
Brush leftover rotis with a few drops of ghee, sprinkle with chaat masala or jeera, and air fry at 180 °C for 3–4 minutes, flipping once, until crisp. Break into pieces and serve with tea.
6. Revive yesterday’s snacks (5 minutes)
Samosas, pakodas, cutlets and fries come back crisp in 4–5 minutes at 170 °C, far better than the microwave. See air fryer vs microwave.
7. Quick toasted nuts and seeds (5 minutes)
Cashews, almonds or sesame at 150 °C for 4–5 minutes, shaking every minute. Great for topping raita, salads and poha.
Make it faster
- Skip the preheat for toast-type recipes; add 1 minute instead.
- Keep a freezer stash of homemade cutlets and samosas.
- Frozen snacks like cheese nuggets are ready in 8–10 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What can I make in an air fryer in 5 minutes?
Masala papad, garlic toast, chilli cheese toast, roti khakhra, toasted nuts, and reheated snacks like samosas and pizza.
More: breakfast recipes · snacks · cooking time chart