Breakfast, often hailed as the most important meal of the day, has found an innovative partner in the air fryer. The modern kitchen marvel is not just for your dinner delights, it is also rapidly reshaping the landscape of morning meals, offering a myriad of mouth-watering possibilities. So, if you have been on the lookout for some captivating air fryer breakfast recipes and ideas, you are in for a treat.
If you are new to air frying, you may want to read our guide on how to use an air fryer or check out our air fryer recipes for beginners to get you started.
Cook a full classic English breakfast in an air fryer
Steeped in tradition, the English breakfast has long been celebrated for its hearty combination of sausages, bacon, eggs, beans, mushrooms, and more. In the past, preparing this feast meant a balancing act of multiple pans and proper timing. But with an air fryer, you retain the iconic appeal of this breakfast with less fuss and mess in the kitchen. Each ingredient gets individual attention, with less oil and more flavour retention. It also makes it easier to prepare a breakfast feast for the whole family.
Can you cook bacon in an air fryer?
Cooking bacon in an air fryer is not just feasible, it is also a revelation. If you are used to pan-frying bacon, you are familiar with the occasional inconsistency – some parts are too crispy and almost burnt, while other parts are a tad too chewy. Then of course there is the aftermath: the oily splatters on your stove and sometimes even on you.
But the air fryer completely transforms the bacon-cooking process. Firstly, the convenience factor is undeniable. Just arrange the bacon strips in the air fryer basket, avoiding any overlapping, and set the timer. The bacon crisps up with an evenly golden hue. Each strip boasts a balance between the crunch of well-cooked bacon and the slight chewiness where every bite offers salty, smoky, and meaty goodness.
Can you air-fry eggs?
Yes, you can air-fry eggs. If you are curious about the range of an air fryer, eggs are an excellent way to put the popular kitchen tool to the test – the possibilities are almost limitless. Perhaps you fancy scrambled eggs? Simply whisk eggs, pour them into a heat-proof dish in the air fryer, and wait for a fluffy and soft result to emerge. Or maybe you dream of a poached egg? Delicately submerge an egg in a bit of water inside a ramekin or container and enjoy the easy achievement of a golden runniness once the egg is air-fried. Even boiled eggs, prepared in the air fryer basket, emerge with a consistent texture, whether you prefer them soft-boiled or hard-boiled.
Combine these eggy delights with crispy bacon, and you have the iconic breakfast duo of bacon and eggs but with a modern twist thanks to the smart kitchen tool. And for a more filling breakfast, you might even want to add air fryer hash browns to your plate; they go perfectly with eggs and bacon.
End breakfast with air fryer pancakes, waffles, or French toast
There is something utterly delightful about rounding off a savoury breakfast with a sweet treat. And what better way to do so than with pancakes, waffles, and French toast? They have been breakfast darlings for ages, and for good reason. But when these traditional delights meet the modern magic of the air fryer, they undergo a transformation that is nothing short of amazing.
When cooked on a pan, pancakes usually require a vigilant eye to prevent over-browning. But in the air fryer, they emerge with a consistent, lustrous golden-brown hue. Their edges have a slight crunch, providing a delightful contrast to the fluffy, pillowy centre. With a hint of sweetness, every bite makes you yearn for another.
Then come the air fryer waffles – a breakfast revelation. When you imagine the ideal waffle, it is probably golden brown with deep pockets filled with syrup or butter and a crispy shell that gives way to an interior so soft it is like biting into a cloud. Traditional methods sometimes struggle to get this balance right – either over-crisping the waffle or leaving it undercooked and soggy. The air fryer, with its even circulation of hot air, perfects this balance, resulting in waffles that are a testament to what waffles should be.
And let us not forget the French toast, traditionally soaked in a mixture of milk, eggs, and spices and then pan-fried. When air-fried, however, the exterior achieves a crispness reminiscent of caramelised sugar. It is crunchy, sweet, and oh-so-inviting. Beneath the delectable crust of the air fryer French toast lies a centre that is moist and custardy with hints of, for example, vanilla and cinnamon, depending on what spices you add.
Air-fry other classic breakfast favourites
The wonders of the air fryer do not just end here. Venture a bit further, and you will discover new breakfast champions. Consider air fryer baked oats, for instance, where the air fryer bestows a tempting crust atop, contrasting beautifully with the moist, warm oats beneath.
Now, envision air fryer breakfast muffins. The batter, dotted with berries or perhaps chocolate chips, is scooped into muffin cups. As they bake, the muffins rise majestically, their tops achieving a coveted golden-brown hue, indicative of a surface that is slightly crunchy. Yet, their insides remain soft, moist, and satisfying.
Then there is the air fryer breakfast burrito, a hearty and versatile breakfast stable. While burritos are traditionally pan-seared to get a crispy exterior, the air fryer offers a method that is both efficient and easy. Imagine wrapping scrambled eggs, sautéed vegetables, cheese, and maybe seasoned meat or beans in a tortilla. The roll then goes into the air fryer. As it cooks, the tortilla turns irresistibly crispy, ensuring the insides are heated perfectly while the flavours meld together.
Whether you are steeped in tradition with the classics or eager to venture into new breakfast territories, the air fryer promises a morning meal that is memorable every single time.
