Air fryers have exploded in popularity in recent years, and for good reason! One of the best things about air fryers is their versatility – you can use them to make all kinds of dishes, and they especially excel at making appetizers!
An air fryer is perfect for whipping up quick and tasty appetizers because it cooks food quickly and evenly, using just a small amount of oil. There is no need to worry about heating up a big deep fryer or standing over the stove while you flip and rotate your appetizers.
With an air fryer, you can just set it and forget it (well, mostly). And your appetizers will come out perfectly crispy and delicious every time. So if you want to spend more time socializing on New Year’s Eve and less time cooking, try an air fryer!
Keep reading for a list of the 10 best air fryer appetizers for New Year’s Eve and plan the ultimate party! Or check out my bonus recipe for Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks at the end of the post. These mozzarella sticks are perfect for parties because they need to freeze for at least an hour, so you can prep them before hand and just air fry them when it is party time!
Air fryer ranch chicken wings are the perfect combination of savory and crispy, maing them an irresistible treat for any party. They are coated in Ranch seasoning and then quickly air fried. Dip them in Buffalo sauce for a reverse take on classic Buffalo Wings.
Jalapeno poppers are a spicy and delicious appetizer that is perfect for adding some heat to your New Year's Eve party. These bite-sized hot peppers are filled with creamy cheese, topped with bacon, and then fried to crispy perfection in the air fryer.
These air fryer fried pickles are a fun combination of salty, tangy and crunchy! These are coated in a light batter and air fried for a crispy appetizer. Dip them in a creamy sauce for the perfect combination of flavors.
Bite sized crab rangoon are a classic appetizer that is a must-have for any seafood lover! Wonton wrappers are filled with a creamy mixture of crab meat (or fake crab meat!) and cream cheese and air fried til crispy.
If you don't feel like cooking buy a bag of frozen meatballs and heat them in the air fryer! Provide BBQ sauce for dipping and your have a delicious appetizer you can serve with almost no effort. You can focus on enjoying the party instead of slaving away in the kitchen.
Succulent and juicy shrimp are perfectly cooked in the air fryer. Serve them with butter or cocktail sauce for a delicious and healthy snack that your guest will love.
Bacon wrapped water chestnuts are a classic New Year's appetizer. Water chestnuts are marinated in soy sauce, wrapped with bacon and coated in a sticky sweet sauce. They are an idea sweet and salty appetizer.
Fried mini pearl onions are a unique appetizer will be the hit of your New Year's Eve gathering. They are easy to make and require only a few simple ingredients. And the the mini fried onions are super cute and perfect for dipping.
Potato skins are a great make-ahead appetizer. Bake potatoes, hollow them out, and fill them with cheese, bacon and green onions. Then refrigerate them until you are ready to air fry!
Fill egg roll wrappers with a mixture of spicy southwestern flavors, including black beans, corn and cheese. Then air fry them until they are crispy, for an appetizer that is hearty enough to be a meal!
Most appetizers cook more evenly when you preheat the air fryer.
Use a little bit of cooking spray so your food doesn’t stick to the basket. Commerical spray oils can damage the finish on the air fryer basket, so use an inexpensive spray bottle filled with oil.
Avoid overcrowding the appetizers in the air fryer. The air needs to be able to circulate for the most even cooking.
Pay attention to the food in the air fryer so it doesn’t burn or overcook. You don’t have to stand over the air fryer, but don’t completely ignore it either.
Combine breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese & salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Beat the eggs in a second bowl. Add the flour to a third bowl.
2 large eggs, 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, Pinch salt & pepper
Dip mozzarella stick in flour, then eggs, then breadcrumb mixture.
Dip mozzarella stick back into the eggs, then breadcrumb again to really coat the mozzarella stick and lay on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Freeze prepared sticks for at least an hour (very important!).
Place the sticks into air fryer in a single layer and spray mozzarella sticks lightly with vegetable spray.
Spray oil
Cook 6 minutes and let sit for a few minutes to cool.
Dip in marinara and enjoy!
Marinara sauce for dipping
Notes
Do not skip the freezing step!Don’t crowd the air fryer, cook the cheese sticks in batches if necessary.Use a spray bottle with oil, not a commercial spray oil.
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I love to cook and I want to share my recipes with you. I believe cooking should be approachable and fun, not a chore. I want to make simple recipes using everyday ingredients that you can make again and again, whether it is for a busy weeknight, a summer cookout or a special dessert. Read more...
