
List Of 5 Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids Made Using an Air fryer

List of Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids using an Air Fryer
An Air Fryer, for those who areΒ unfamiliar, is a countertop kitchen appliance designed to crisp food without the use of oil or frying, making it the perfect choice for making healthy lunches (and dinners) for the kids.Β Β
How does an Air Fryer work?Β
Hot air is pushed down from the top of the unit which then circulates inside the device, cooking fresh or frozen items to a satisfyingly crunchy finish in minutes. Not using oil to either pan-fryΒ or deep–fry means healthier results! A traditional oven, gas or electric, takes time,Β as the element inside heats then bakes or roasts food.Β Β
Quick cooking time, easy clean-up, more convenient than an outdoor grill, and not heating up the whole kitchen, are a few other reasons people love using an Air Fryer.Β Β
Crispy Classics
Formerly forbidden lunch fare, those items found on the board of the localΒ fast-foodΒ joint, can be reworked to be healthy while keeping the crispness and flavor kids crave.Β Β
Veggie Nuggets
What is the very first thing that comes to mind when you think about making lunch for your child? Nuggets!Β Many parents feelΒ good baking nuggetsΒ in the oven rather than buying the fast-food option from the drive-thru window. The Air Fryer is the perfect healthy upgrade for store–bought frozen nuggets,Β eitherΒ chicken orΒ plant–based.Β Or,Β consider making your ownΒ veggie nuggets.Β
Ingredients:Β
- 1/2Β cup each boiled orΒ steamedΒ tender carrots, broccoliΒ andΒ cauliflower,Β cooledΒ
- 1/4Β cup of breadcrumbs for filling, plusΒ extra for dipping formed nuggets inΒ prior toΒ cookingΒ
- 1 large eggΒ
- Salt and pepper,Β to tasteΒ
Directions:Β
- Preheat Air Fryer to 400 F.Β
- CombineΒ vegetables,Β ΒΌ cupΒ breadcrumbs, saltΒ and pepper.Β
- Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoopΒ to portion out the veggie mixture into a ball,Β then flatten into a nugget shape.Β
- Coat nuggets with additional breadcrumbs.Β
- PlaceΒ in an Air Fryer basket in a single layerΒ and cookΒ for about 4 minutes per side.Β
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.Β
Super Simple Sliders
Whether a full-size hamburger is simply too much food, or the idea of a mini burger is more appealing, Super Simple Sliders are the answer.Β Β
Ingredients:Β
- 1 pound of ground beef, chicken, turkeyΒ or porkΒ
- Sliced American, Cheddar or SwissΒ cheese, if desiredΒ
- Salt and pepper,Β to tasteΒ
- Slider rolls:Β Hawaiian style, dinner rolls, potato rolls, or briocheΒ
Directions:Β
- Preheat Air Fryer to 400 F.Β
- Combine meat with salt and pepper.Β Β
- Scoop out approximatelyΒ 1/4Β Β cupΒ and shape intoΒ aΒ small patty.Β
- Place burgers in the Air Fryer (useΒ theΒ grill plate,Β if available) and cook approximatelyΒ fourΒ minutes on the first side.Β Β
- Once flipped,Β cook for an additionalΒ fourΒ minutes.Β Β
- Add cheese if desired and cook for one more minute or until the cheese melts.Β
Quick Quesadilla
Whether itβs filled with last nightβs chicken, shredded into bite sized pieces, or hot, stretchy, cheesy goodness,Β a Quick QuesadillaΒ sounds like a great healthy lunch for the kiddos (and the grown-ups). Remember, the Air Fryer cooks by using forced air which can cause light foods like the top tortilla shell to blow off. Try cooking under a wire rack to hold the quesadilla together.Β
Ingredients:Β
- Two tortilla shells for each quesadillaΒ
- 1/2Β cup of shredded chicken (or beef, turkey, pork)Β
- 1/4Β to 1/2Β cup shredded cheeseΒ
- Guacamole, sour creamΒ and/or salsa for dippingΒ
Directions:Β
- Preheat Air Fryer to 350 F.Β
- Assemble a quesadilla by placing filling on top of one tortilla shell then complete by placing a second shell on top.Β
- Cook quesadilla in Air Fryer for 4 minutes per side.Β
- Serve with guacamole, sour creamΒ and/or salsa.Β
Classic Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:Β
- 2 slices of bread per sandwich (try heartier brown bread for texture or multigrain for added nutrients)Β
- 2 slices of cheese,Β such as classic American, Provolone, MozzarellaΒ or SwissΒ
- Consider an extra filling,Β like sliced tomatoes, crispy baconΒ orΒ hamΒ
- A bit of butter to spread on the outside of theΒ breadΒ
Directions:Β
- Assemble each individual cheese sandwich by placing cheese and any optional fillings between the slices of bread.Β
- Lightly butterΒ the outside of the breadΒ slices.Β
- Place the sandwiches in the Air Fryer set at 350 degrees for 2 Β½ minutes, flip, then continue cooking for 2 Β½Β minutes.Β Β
All these kid–friendly lunch ideas are just crying out for a fun and crispy side dish.Β Β
WantΒ Fries withΒ That?
The Air Fryer really came into its own as families hunkered down during the pandemic and ordered tons of takeout with sides of French fries. It was quickly discovered, the best way to heatΒ upΒ or reheatΒ fried potatoes is in an Air Fryer.Β
In addition to simply heating up frozen French fries as a healthy side dish for any of the Crispy Classic lunch items, here are a few other ideas to try.Β
Cinnamon–Sugar Sweet Potato Fries
Cinnamon Sugar Sweet Potato Fries are the perfect balance between healthy and decadent. These Air Fryer treats can be served as a snack or a side dish for savory lunches.Β Β
Ingredients:Β
- One bag of frozen sweet potato friesΒ
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugarΒ
- 1 teaspoon cinnamonΒ
Directions:Β
- Preheat Air Fryer to 400 F.Β
- Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set it aside.Β
- Spread a single layer of fries on the basket and cook for about 7 minutes per side.Β
- Remove sweet potato fries to a large bowlΒ and toss with cinnamon sugar mixture to coat before serving.Β
For a truly over-the-top condiment, consider this glaze–turned–dip recipeΒ byΒ combining 2 cups of confectionerβsΒ sugar with a splash of milk or half-and-half, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla to make a cinnamon–bun style dipΒ or glazeΒ for the fries.Β
Making a crispy, healthy lunch in minutes for the kids would have been a challenge just a few years ago. Today, with an Air Fryer, and a little bit of creativity, you can carve out some time to haveΒ a funΒ lunch with the kids at your own kitchen table.Β Have a blast!Β


