27 Best Air Fryer Appetizers

Whether it’s chicken nuggets or tater tots, keep this list of best air fryer appetizers handy for party inspiration!

The air fryer is a perfect way to get an easy side dish on the table with all your favorite flavors, and still end up enjoying the real thing with just a tiny bit of oil. 

And, it’s fast. Delicious air fryer appetizers are a great way to reduce your cook time. Pizza rolls? Here we come! Here is our list of the best air fryer appetizers that you can use for party inspiration or everyday meals!

1. Bacon

Bacon should always be the first item on your appetizer menu. People love crispy bacon.  Every single time that we throw a party, people fully expect air fryer bacon. If we don’t serve it there are questions and sad faces.

The good news is that you can cook up extra crispy bacon in the air fryer. The bad news is that it does make for a messy air fryer basket.

2. Air Fryer Pasta Chips

Ok so first, let’s discuss what the heck is air fryer pasta chips? It is exactly what it sounds like.

It is pasta that has been boiled and then fried in the air fryer. Then it is seasoned with the seasonings of your choice.

Then you dip this pasta in a marinara sauce of your choice. Dipping is what makes finger foods so darn fun. 

Of course, your dipping sauce options are endless but spaghetti sauce is the general consensus of choices.

What kind of pasta you use is your choice but I believe that bowtie pasta is a fantastic option.

You can easily grab one side of the bow and dip the other side.

3. Air Fryer Salmon Cakes

Salmon cakes make for a really delicious appetizer. They can be a bit of work but honestly they are easier than you think.

People tend to get intimidated by the patty concept but you put in 30 minutes of prep and have an impressive appetizer.

Once you put them together they need some chill time in the fridge, for best results. 

This means that you can prep these in advance. Then when you are ready you can turn on the air fryer and cook up these bad boys.

4. Air Fryer Artichoke Hearts

Air fryers really have helped make cooking easier and this is a perfect example of that.

In the past, frying up an artichoke was a lot of work. Now, with an air fryer you can do it with much less of a mess and much less time.

To make life even easier it is recommended that you buy canned artichoke hearts in water. 

So there is no need to struggle with cutting up a whole artichoke heart when other folks have already done the bulk of the work for you.

I do highly recommend that you make a fantastic lemon aioli sauce to dip these crunchy artichoke appetizers in.

5. Smashed Red Potatoes

These are one of those air fryer recipes that we just can’t stop talking about. 

We will be sitting around chilling and one of us will randomly say “Do you remember those smashed red potatoes? They were amazing.”

Smashed potatoes are basically small potatoes that you bake fully. Then after they are baked, you smash them and fry them in the air fryer. 

Then when they are nice and crispy, you dip them in a delicious sauce and eat the heck out of them.

Sauce is optional but preferred!

6. Air Fryer Ravioli

Crunchy bread ravioli is a fantastic appetizer. When I go to an Italian restaurant and they offer this, I always want it.

Thankfully this is an easy to make air fryer appetizer recipe. All that you need is a package of pre-made ravioli, an egg, breadcrumbs and some seasoning.

First, you cook the ravioli like normal by boiling it. Then you bread it and fry it up in the air fryer.

The next question is how creative will you get with your dipping sauce? Will you go with a standard marinara sauce or will you get creative and do a cheese sauce or garlic sauce?

7. Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Crispy potato wedges are one of those appetizers that we all love to eat. 

They easy to pick up and dip. I personally love a nice ketchup to eat with these.

I believe the key to delicious potato wedges rely on two specific things. 

First, the spices used are important. If they are plain without nice herbs and seasonings, I never like them.

Second, they need to be crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. If that outside texture isn’t right they are just boring.

Thankfully, cooking potato wedges in the air fryer really helps with the crispiness.

8. Air Fryer Shrimp

Shrimp make a fantastic appetizer. I think it is because the tail serves as a perfect handle for dipping.

This recipe offers a Southwest flair and you can make this air fryer appetizer in just 10 minutes.

The key is that you need thawed and deveined shrimp. If you are like me, you just buy it that way and frozen. It is just easier.

So plan ahead a bit with this one and allow your shrimp time to defrost. 

As far as the seasoning goes you can go with that Southwestern flair or you can get creative and do a chili lime seasoning or even a Tajin based seasoning.

Get creative and air fry that shrimp today.

9. Air Fryer Carrot Fries

I am not sure how I missed it but for years, I didn’t know people made fries out of carrots.

When I first heard about this, I was skeptical. Then I made some!

Now, I am a major fan. 

Carrots are cheap and they are colorful. They make a nice looking appetizer. 

So if you are looking for a fun and delicious air fryer snack, these should be on your list.

You can season this to have a savory flavor your can go the other direction and give them a sweet flair.

10. Jalapeno Poppers

Jalapeno poppers are jalapeños filled with cream cheese, bacon, cheddar cheese and fried. 

They are easy to pop in your mouth but if you feel dainty, you can take small bites. That is up to you.

What I find fascinating about these lovely appetizers is that even though they are made from jalapeños they aren’t too darn spicy for me.

You can prep these in advance and then throw them in the air fryer right as the party is getting started. 

They cook up fast and you can just keep cooking them in rounds.

11. Pizza Rolls

We love pizza rolls. Now, it depends on the party but these are really fun to eat appetizers. 

You can make homemade pizza rolls or you can be like us and buy the frozen ones.

Regardless, of what kind of pizza rolls that you buy you can make these easy appetizers in the air fryer.

12. Air Fryer Potato Chips

Homemade potato chips are a delicious option. Make your own potato chips instead of buying a bag at the store.

These are so yummy and we love making them here at our house. 

I like to make a homemade ranch dip for them. 

These are awesome right out of the air fryer but you can also make batches of them in advance.

13. Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Chicken wings with some delicious blue cheese dip is a party food that I love time and time again.

Seriously, it is one of my favorite appetizers.

This recipe is for hot honey butter chicken wings. Trying new flavors is always a blast.

What makes this chicken wing recipe stand apart is that you make this appetizer in the air fryer. You only need 20 minutes. 

Now the sauce for these calls for butter, hot sauce, honey and salt. I am a wimp so I always go easy with hot sauce.

But if you like the fire in your mouth you load up on that hot sauce.

The choice is yours. Regardless of what you choose, give this crispy air fryer chicken wings recipe a real go.

14. Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Everything is better wrapped in bacon and that includes asparagus. 

When asparagus is baked like this in the air fryer it comes out with that little bit of char and it is oh so good.

You may not normally think about asparagus as an appetizer but when it is put together and served like this, it quickly turns into one.

This is a fantastical air fryer appetizer and you should add it to your must make list.

15. Air Fryer Bang Bang Brussel Sprouts

Bang bang sauce is a sweet and spicy creamy sauce. It is the perfect sauce to dip these fried brussel sprouts in.

The brussels are coated in a small bit of panko and then air fried. This is a great way to sneak in a vegetable appetizer but still have a ton of flavor.

These are a great appetizer for game day. Keep in mind that if you have a smaller air fryer you may have to cook these in rounds but that all depends on the size of your air fryer basket.

16. Air Fryer Onion Rings

Onions rings are a fun to eat crunchy appetizer. I didn’t make these at home in the past because I don’t like deep frying things.

The popping grease freaks me out. Using an air fryer means that you get to use so much less oil.

But now, with an air fryer on hand I feel free to make all kinds of yummy things such as golden brown perfectly cooked onion rings.

17. Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites

This an appetizer that just about everyone can get behind. 

Even if you aren’t generally a fan of cauliflower you should give this one a try.

They are bite size and crispy. These bad boys are seasoned with Italian seasoning, butter, Parmesan cheese and coated in panko. 

Whatever you don’t forget to make a delicious dipping sauce for these. 

They are fun to dip!

18. Sweet Potato Fries

Our sweet potato air fryers recipe only requires three ingredients. Of course, you can spice them up beyond that anyway that you like.

If you have extra sweet potatoes in the pantry, these are such a great use and one of those easy recipes. 

These fries turn out so much crispier because they are cooked in the air fryer. 

If you are looking for a fun appetizer for your next dinner party, consider these. 

They are always such a big hit and the bright color makes them fun. They are such a different treat than traditional french fries.

19. Air Fryer Avocado Fries

I always think of avocado fries as a fancy state fair snack. It is because frying avocados feels a bit fancy to me.

I love the creaminess of an avocado. Not only do they taste so darn good but they are rich too.

So slicing up an avocado and battering and frying it just sounds like a fun finger food appetizer to me.

Now when you make these don’t forget that they are perfect for dipping. I like them with a garlic aioli dipping sauce.

20. Bacon Wrapped Pineapple

Ok you seriously guys! This may be one of the all time best air fryer appetizers. 

Chunks of brown sugar seasoned pineapple wrapped in bacon with a hint of pepper?

OH MY GOSH! 

It is official. This is why toothpicks were invented. All of those years sitting in the back of your cabinet, they now have an official good use at your next party.

21. Cheeseburger Egg Rolls

This is an egg roll that is stuffed with ground beef, dill relish and cheese. 

Now that we can find egg roll wrappers in a lot of grocery stores fairly easily, appetizers like these are easier to make at home.

If you are looking for an air fryer egg rolls appetizer that is crispy and hearty, give this one a try.

You could put together a sampling of dips for this treat. Consider offering spicy ketchup, brown mustard and some ranch dressing. 

If I get to choose a dip, I want queso.

22. Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies

Little smokies are such a classic appetizer, especially for a super bowl party. However, it is rare to see these little beauties wrapped in bacon and then fried.

This is another one of those appetizers that you can prepare in advance. You get them all put together and then cook them right as the party is starting.

These are sweet, sticky and delicious. The brown sugar really brings together the little smokies and the bacon.

23. Sweet Chili Meatballs

These are chicken meatballs that are flavored with a sweet chili sauce, Panko an a few common spices.

They have that perfect mixture of sweet and spicy with a hint of twang. 

The flavor makes for a perfect appetizer at a party or even right before a dinner.

Honestly, you could also make a meal out of these by serving them over rice.

But meatballs are far more fun to eat with a toothpick. That way you can dip them in a fun spicy sauce.

24. Apple Cranberry Brie Bites

Wrap just about anything in puff pastry and I will eat it. I love the flaky dough. It is yummy and oddly fun to eat.

So when I saw this delicious looking recipe and realized that it didn’t have too many ingredients I got excited.

Then to realize that this is an easy to make air fryer appetizer to boot, just got my taste buds going.

For this you only need brie, apples, cranberry sauce, rosemary, an egg and puff pastry.

25. Mozzarella Sticks

I don’t think that most people consider making their own air fryer mozzarella sticks. It actually isn’t all that challenging to do and they are so good.

Hot stringy breaded cheese is a total blast to eat. I love when I am at a party and someone is in the middle of a conversation and they pause and take a bite.

The cheese strings out and we all kinda laugh. 

You can buy a block of Mozzarella cheese and cut it or you can buy string cheese and coat it. 

For sure, you have options here but the best part is that you can fry these in the air fryer.

It is refreshing to know that you don’t need a deep fryer to have crispy food.

26. Air Fryer Peaches

Roasted peaches that are soaked in a mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon and butter sounds incredible.

But with this recipe we aren’t done yet. We then drizzle that soaked peach with fresh honey and top that with whipped cream.

That is an incredible appetizer for any meal!

Then you add on the fact that you can make this appetizer in an air fryer and you have one heck of an idea for your next meal. 

People will think that you are some kind of magician in the kitchen after you serve them this.

27. Air Fryer Cheese Curds

Some folks turn their nose up at cheese curds but that is just because they don’t know what they are. 

They are delicious hunks of cheese. We eat them here on our lunch plates multiple times a week.

When you batter them and fry them in the air fryer they turn into something different and fantastical.

When you make this air fryer appetizer, I highly recommend that you make some homemade ranch dip to go with it.

These batter fried cheese curds are totally dip worthy.

The bottom line

Hope you enjoyed this list of 27 best air fryer appetizers. We have been loving on these easy apps as often as we can. 

Let us know which ones you like the best and if you have others we should know about!