If there’s one thing I’d recommend every student get for uni, it’s an airfryer. Seriously, it saves time, money, and it makes your food taste 10x better than it would coming out of the oven or microwave. I didn’t realise how many different things you can actually make in one until I started experimenting.
Here are some of my go-to recipes that are cheap, quick, and actually taste amazing:
Crispy Homemade Chips
Everyone does frozen chips in the airfryer, but making your own is not just healthier but also cheaper and they taste better.
I just chop up potatoes into wedges, spray a bit of oil, chuck on salt, pepper, paprika (or honestly whatever spice you’ve got), and airfry for about 20 minutes. Shake them halfway through so they crisp evenly. Add some cheese on top and you’ve basically made pub-style loaded fries at home.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
This one feels fancy but it’s ridiculously easy. Cut up chicken breast into small chunks, season with garlic powder, paprika, a bit of oil, then stick it in the airfryer for about 12–15 minutes. Melt some butter with garlic (or garlic powder if you’re lazy, like me) and toss the chicken in it once it’s done. It’s perfect for meal prep with rice or you can just throw it in a wrap.
Lazy Quesadillas
When you can’t be bothered to cook but you also don’t want to order food: quesadillas. I usually just throw cheese and whatever veg I’ve got left (mushrooms, peppers, sweetcorn) into a tortilla, fold it over, and airfry for 5 minutes. It’s one of those recipes that always feels like more effort than it actually is.
Pizza Toast
Honestly, this one has saved me on so many broke-student evenings. Grab bread, spread on tomato puree (or even ketchup if that’s all you’ve got), top with cheese and literally any topping you want. Airfry for 5–7 minutes and you got yourself a pizza toast. It’s like a cheat Domino’s, but for just £2 instead of £20.
Fajita Mix
The airfryer is so good for one-pan meals, except of course it’s not a pan. I just chop chicken, onions, and peppers, add fajita seasoning, and put it in for 15 minutes. You can use it for wraps, with rice, or just on its own. It feels like proper cooking but with zero effort.
Sweet Snack: Apple Chips
If you’ve got a sweet tooth like me, this one’s a lifesaver. Slice apples thin, sprinkle cinnamon (and sugar if you want), then airfry at a lower heat (around 160°C) for 10–15 minutes. They come out crunchy and sweet, and it feels like a snack you’d pay money for in a café.
Final Thoughts
The airfryer is basically a cheat code for student cooking. It’s quick, healthier than deep-frying, and it means you don’t have to wait ages for the oven to preheat. These are just a few of my staples, but honestly, once you start experimenting, you’ll realise you can throw almost anything in there and it’ll come out good.
Pro tip: don’t be afraid to chuck in leftovers, reheated pizza in the airfryer tastes like it’s fresh from the oven.
