Main Course

June 15, 2021 Dairy-Free

Instant Pot Carne Asada

Instant Pot carne asada is one of my favorite ways to prepare a perfect flank steak. Easy and quick, this recipe is full of simple ingredients that give you incredible flavors. Use it as the protein in tacos, nachos, or carne asada fries, or enjoy it on its own with a few complementing sides.

What Makes This Instant Pot Carne Asada So Good

Carne asada is actually grilled meat, and true, if you’re cooking in the Instant Pot you’re not really grilling. Sometimes you want a carne-asada-style dinner, though, and don’t have the time (or equipment) to grill a flank steak. That’s where this recipe comes in! It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s not weather-dependent.
Carne asada is super versatile! You can change up the spices and liquids you use to get different flavors, no problem. It’s perfect for tacos, nachos, and carne asada fries. It’s also delicious with just a side of cilantro lime cauliflower rice, refried black beans, or guacamole salad.
The Instant Pot keeps the flank steak super juicy and makes it perfectly tender. Everything cooks quickly and clean-up is a snap. If you’re on the fence about getting an Instant Pot, let this be your sign!
This recipe is a wonderful option for all you meal-preppers! Instant Pot carne asada is a great make-ahead recipe. Store any uneaten carne asada in an airtight container in the fridge and it’ll keep up to 7 days. You can freeze it, too! Just let it cool completely, pack it in an airtight container, freeze it, and eat it within 3 months.

Key Ingredients for Instant Pot Carne Asada

Flank Steak – Flank steak is a lean cut of meat that’s really versatile and easy to work with. Since it’s leaner, it can be tough if you overcook it. That’s what’s great about cooking it in the Instant Pot with a lot of liquid, though – it reduces the odds of overcooking and drying out the meat. You can use a skirt steak instead of flank steak if you prefer it or just can’t find flank steak.

Orange Juice – Unexpected? Maybe. Delicious? Definitely. The acid in orange juice (and in the lime juice) helps tenderize the flank steak, so long as you don’t use too much. Too much acidity can actually make the steak tougher. The OJ is also citrusy and just a tiny bit sweet, which adds another great level of flavor to the marinade and keeps it from tasting too acidic.

Chef’s Tips

If you’d like your flank steak less done, lower the cook time by about 5-10 minutes. Your exact cook time will depend on how rare/done you like your steak. As always, internal temperature is the best test of doneness. For medium steak, you’ll want an internal temperature of 140°-145° Fahrenheit. Medium rare, 130°-135° Fahrenheit. Medium well, 150°-155° Fahrenheit. Since you can’t really pause the Instant Pot and open the lid to check the temperature of the meat, you might try a test run with a small amount of flank steak before you cook the whole 2 pounds. The test run won’t be exact since it’s a smaller amount, but it’ll give you a ballpark cook time to try!
This part isn’t super necessary, BUT if you have time, I recommend letting the flank steak sit with the spice mixture on it for 15-30 minutes. After 15-30 minutes, move on to step 3 of the instructions below. This just gives the spice mixture more time to mingle with the steak and lets those flavors really develop.
To really lock in the flavors and juices of your Instant Pot carne asada, let the flank steak rest on a cutting board for 5ish minutes after you take it out of the Instant Pot, before you slice it. Again, not necessary, but a simple step that can have an impact!

Zoomed out photo of sliced Instant Pot carne asada on a white plate sitting on a white table

Other Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love

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Print Recipe

Instant Pot Carne Asada

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Latin, Mexican

Keyword: game day, pressure cooker, taco tuesday

Servings:

Calories: 263kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Small bowl
Instant Pot
Tongs
Cutting board
Sharp knife

Ingredients

1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cumin
2 pounds flank steak
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup beef broth
¼ cup lime juice
¼ cup orange juice see Notes
3 cloves garlic minced
½ cup cilantro chopped, plus more for serving if desired
½ of one small onion sliced

Instructions

In small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, chili powder, onion powder, and cumin.
Generously season both sides of flank steak with spice mixture, making sure to rub spices into steak very well.
Add olive oil to Instant Pot and turn on Sauté function. Add flank steak to Instant Pot. If needed, cut flank steak (against the grain) into two large pieces to fit in Instant Pot. Brown flank steak on both sides for approximately 6 minutes total (2-3 minutes per side).
After browning flank steak, add beef broth, lime juice, orange juice, and garlic to Instant Pot.
Place cilantro and onion on top of flank steak. Secure lid on Instant Pot and set to Manual High Pressure for 20 minutes (for well done steak – see Notes). After 20 minute cook time is up, let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.
Vent to release any remaining pressure and carefully remove lid. Transfer flank steak to cutting board. Slice into thin strips, always cutting against the grain.
Top sliced flank steak with additional chopped cilantro if desired and serve.

Notes

Cook Time: Cook times vary from one Instant Pot to another, so you may need to adjust the cook time based on your pressure cooker and on the size and thickness of your flank steak. For less well-done steak, lower the cook time by 5-10 minutes depending on desired doneness. Check temperature with internal meat thermometer before cutting steak.
To Cut the Flank Steak: Using a sharp knife, slice against the grain of the meat, slicing at a diagonal angle. What does against the grain mean? Look for the lines of muscle running through the meat, and slice perpendicularly to those. You may have to adjust the way you’re slicing on different sections of meat depending on the direction the fibers run.
Make it Gluten Free: Make sure your broth is gluten free.
Make it Keto: The orange juice and onion are the only non-keto ingredients in this recipe. Some keto-eaters don’t worry about onions, but you can skip them altogether if you want. Depending on your keto style, you can try an organic orange juice with no added sugar – since you’re only using ¼ cup here, the OJ will only add about 6 carbs total to the entire recipe, or 1 carb per serving. If you’re strict keto, you can skip the orange juice altogether and use more beef broth and lemon juice or more lime juice in its place. You’ll end up with a slightly different flavor but it’ll still be great!

Recipe yields approximately 6 servings. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by 6. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

June 10, 2021 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

These air fryer turkey burgers are simple, juicy, and delicious! Throw this easy meal together on a busy weeknight or whenever you’re craving something quick, yet healthy. A perfectly seasoned turkey burger patty is cooked in the air fryer in no time!

What Makes This Air Fryer Turkey Burgers Recipe So Good

Ground turkey, a few very simple ingredients, and an air fryer is all you’ll need to make these air fryer turkey burgers! Lightly seasoned, then cooked to perfection and you’re free to serve them however you’d like.
This recipe includes three different turkey burger options, allowing you to pick the one you like best! Choose from either making the patties yourself, buying them pre-made from the store or cooking up that box of frozen turkey burger patties in your freezer. Each method is equally as simple and delicious!
The air fryer takes all the guesswork out of cooking these air fryer turkey burgers. Simply add the patties to the air fryer, cook for 15 minutes, pause to flip halfway through, and then you’re done! I love cooking up a double batch of these turkey burgers at the start of a busy week for an easy grab-and-go lunch or dinner.

Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

Ground Turkey – This ground meat has less calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium than ground beef. I use and recommend 90%-95% lean ground turkey for this recipe. However, if you can’t find ground turkey you can easily substitute it for ground chicken instead.

Egg – The egg in this recipe helps to bind the air fryer turkey burger patties together during and after cooking. Without the egg, you’ll have a more crumbly turkey burger that risks falling apart when eaten. If you want to go without the egg, you can, though I do not recommend it for this recipe.

Worcestershire Sauce – Just a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce packs so much flavor into these air fryer turkey burgers! Often found in beef burgers and a variety of other grilled recipes, the Worcestershire sauce helps these burgers mimic that delicious, slightly tangy flavor.

Chef’s Tips

Ground turkey is stickier and slightly more challenging to handle than ground beef. Lightly coat your hands with oil before forming patties, in order to avoid sticking. It’s also useful to keep in mind that the less you mix and handle the ground turkey, the less sticky it will be!
Leave the turkey burger patties in the freezer for no more than 10 minutes before transferring to the air fryer. The goal here is to get the patties solid enough to handle, but not too frozen to cook all the way through.
Feel free to serve these air fryer turkey burgers however you’d like! I kept things simple with a toasted bun, a thick layer of mashed avocado, as well as some lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Fresh cucumber, pickles, or a slice of cheese would also make a great addition to these burgers!

air fryer turkey burgers place on one half of a bun

More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

Print Recipe

Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

These air fryer turkey burgers are simple, juicy, and delicious! Throw this easy meal together on a busy weeknight or whenever you're craving something quick, yet healthy. A perfectly seasoned turkey burger patty is cooked in the air fryer in no time!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Servings: servings

Calories: 148kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Large bowl
Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey
1 egg
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, then divide and shape into four patties. Place the turkey burger patties in the freezer for 5-10 minutes, or until firm enough to handle.
Add patties to the air fryer and cook at 360° Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Pre-made Turkey Burger Patties:

If not already seasoned, evenly season both sides of pre-made turkey burger patties with salt and black pepper.
Add to air fryer basket and cook at 360° Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Frozen Turkey Burger Patties:

Add frozen turkey burger patties to air fryer basket and cook at 375° Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Notes

Depending on the thickness of your patties and the intensity of your air fryer, these turkey burgers may take a few more or a few less minutes to cook. When pausing the air fryer to flip the burgers, take a moment to evaluate how slowly or quickly they’re cooking and adjust the time from there.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines, and reflect information for one turkey burger patty, not including a bun or any toppings. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific types and brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition

June 1, 2021 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Falafel

This air fryer falafel is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and incredibly flavorful throughout! Chickpeas and a variety of fresh herbs are what make this plant-based recipe delicious. This air fryer falafel is a healthier take on a much-loved classic!

What Makes This Air Fryer Falafel So Good

It packs all of the traditional falafel flavors, without the extra oil. The air fryer replaces deep-frying in this recipe, making it all the more light and healthy!
It’s packed, and I mean packed, with flavor! Fresh parsley, fresh cilantro, and fresh dill are just a few of the incredible flavors you can expect from this recipe. It’s almost hard to believe that something so healthy, could taste so good!
The air fryer doesn’t only make this recipe healthier, but it makes it easier too! Simply transfer your falafel to an air fryer basket, then leave them to cook and return to perfectly crispy falafel every time.

Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Falafel

Chickpeas – This bean is the base to every traditional falafel recipe. I made this recipe extra easy for you, by using canned, instead of dried, chickpeas. Start by draining the liquid from two cans of chickpeas, then give them a rinse before they’re ready to use in this air fryer falafel recipe. Chickpeas are high in vitamins and rich in plant-based protein, making them a super healthy and nutritious ingredient!

Baking Powder – This may seem like a strange ingredient in this recipe, but trust me when I tell you that it is key to the best falafel ever. Baking powder makes the interior of this falafel super light and airy! Without it, this falafel would be far too dense and less enjoyable.

Spray Cooking Oil – Since we eliminate the need to deep-fry in this recipe, we do need to add just a bit of oil to keep things from sticking. Start by coating the bottom of your air fryer basket or baking sheet with spray cooking oil, and finish by also lightly spritzing the top of each falafel before cooking. I use and recommend spray avocado oil in this recipe, but really any spray cooking oil will work.

Chef’s Tips

Whatever you do, do not skip refrigerating the falafel mixture in step 2. Refrigeration gives the mixture time to set and will aid in binding the falafel together while it cooks!
There is no limit to how you can serve this falafel! It’d be delicious in a pita, over a salad, or simply dipped in hummus. Sometimes I even find myself eating this falafel entirely on its own, it’s that good!
This air fryer falafel can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. To preheat, transfer back to the air fryer set to 375° Fahrenheit for 5-8 minutes or until heated through.

What Do We Mean By Healthy?

Our recipes focus on real ingredients and homemade elements. We try to avoid processed flour and sugar, like white flour or white sugar. Our recipes often swap less healthy options (like a commercial, deep-fried tostada) for an easy homemade version.

Our recipes are not necessarily low fat or low calorie, and we aren’t afraid of fat or carbs! Some of our recipes will be “skinny,” low carb, keto, paleo, dairy free, grain free, gluten free, Whole30, or vegan, and they will be labeled when they qualify for any of these diets. All our recipes are easy and family friendly!

air fryer falafel on a plate with hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes, fresh parsley, and dill

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

Print Recipe

Air Fryer Falafel

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keyword: air fryer, easy vegan, plant based

Servings: servings

Calories: 326kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Food processor
Air Fryer

Ingredients

2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas drained and rinsed
1 cup parsley chopped
1 cup cilantro chopped
½ cup fresh dill chopped
5 garlic cloves minced
1 small yellow onion chopped
4 tablespoons all purpose flour see Notes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional

For air frying:

spray cooking oil

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until very finely chopped, but not pureed.
Refrigerate falafel mixture for at least one hour.
Remove from fridge and scoop two tablespoons of falafel mixture into your hands then roll into a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture.
Coat the basket of your air fryer with spray cooking oil and transfer falafel to the basket. Lightly spray falafel with cooking oil and set the air fryer to 15 minutes at 375° Fahrenheit.
Flip each falafel and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

Notes

Make it Gluten-Free: Use 1:1 gluten-free flour instead of all purpose flour in this recipe.

Recipe yields approximately 12 falafel. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect the information for four falafel out of 12. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

May 20, 2021 Appetizer

Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa

This spicy tomatillo red chili salsa is a perfect homemade version of everyone’s favorite hot Chipotle salsa. Charred tomatillos, spicy red chile powder, lime juice, and a little Tabasco create a delightfully flavorful side perfect for tortilla chips, taco salads, or burrito bowls.

What Makes This Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa So Good

Tomatillo red chili salsa is a thin, liquidy salsa, as opposed to a thick, chunky one. It’s perfect for chips and salsa, or use it on tacos, burrito bowls, nachos, or even on a Mexican salad. If you really want the Chipotle experience at home, try this salsa with these Chipotle copycat carnitas bowls!
It’s incredibly easy to make! Aside from roasting the tomatillos in the oven, there’s no cooking involved – just toss the salsa ingredients in the food processor and blend until smooth!
Roasting the tomatillos adds so much depth and complexity to this salsa. If you’ve been making this without roasting the tomatillos first, we’re about to change your life!
You can easily double or triple the recipe for salsa all week long! Refrigerate any leftover salsa in an airtight container and it’ll keep up to 7 days. You can also freeze it in an airtight container up to 3 months.

Key Ingredients for Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa

Tomatillos – These small, green (or yellow, or purple) Mexican husk tomatoes are a little tart naturally, but roasting them like we do in this recipe brings out a little sweetness. They have a little more kick than classic red tomatoes, but they don’t add any heat. They’re a member of the nightshade family, so be aware of that if you or someone in your dining party has a nightshade allergy or intolerance!

New Mexico Red Chile Powder – Made from New Mexico red chiles, this spice has an earthy, deep flavor with notes similar to cherry and tomato. It has a medium heat that won’t necessarily set your mouth on fire but is definitely noticeable. If you’re very sensitive, start out with just 1 tablespoon of chile powder and taste the salsa before adding more.

Tabasco – Classic Tabasco gives your tomatillo red chili salsa another layer of sweet & spicy flavor. How much you use is up to you! The more you use, the hotter your salsa will be. Sriracha or Crystal hot sauce would also work here!

Chef’s Tips

For a hotter salsa, add a guajillo pepper or two, or add a chile de arbol.
Make your own New Mexico red chile powder if you want! Just pick up a few New Mexico chili pods, cut the stems off, and remove the seeds. Grind the pods with a mortar and pestle, a spice grinder, or a blender. You could also buy fresh New Mexico chilis and dehydrate them yourself, then grind them into a powder.
Never crushed garlic before? It’s easy! Place a clove of garlic (peeled or unpeeled) on a cutting board or another flat surface. Lay the blade a large kitchen knife on top of the clove, then quickly & firmly hit or “smash” the flat side of the blade with the heel of your hand. Press down with the heel of your hand and use a rocking motion back-and-forth if needed to crush the garlic more.

What Do We Mean By Healthy?

Tomatillo red chili salsa drizzling off a spoon into a white bowl of salsa surrounded by corn tortilla chips

Other Dips and Salsas You’ll Love

Print Recipe

Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa

This spicy tomatillo red chili salsa is a perfect homemade version of everyone's favorite hot Chipotle salsa. Charred tomatillos, spicy red chile powder, lime juice, and a little Tabasco create a delightfully flavorful side perfect for tortilla chips, taco salads, or burrito bowls.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Appetizer, condiment, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Mexican, Southwestern, TexMex

Keyword: dip, spicy, taco tuesday

Servings:

Calories: 101kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Oven
Baking sheet
Food processor or blender

Ingredients

2 pounds tomatillos
5 cloves garlic peeled, crushed
2-3 tablespoons New Mexico red chile powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons lime juice
Tabasco to taste
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit.
Place whole tomatillos and crushed garlic on baking sheet. Set in oven and bake 25 to 30 minutes, until charred.
Transfer tomatillos and garlic to food processor bowl or blender and add red chile powder, ground cumin, and lime juice. Process until smooth.
Add Tabasco to taste and process again. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve immediately or chill in refrigerator until ready to eat.

Notes

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect the information for one serving. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire finished recipe. Divide the total weight of the recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by 4. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

May 4, 2021 Air Fryer

Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer

Cooking frozen chicken breast in the air fryer will be your new favorite hack! Frozen chicken breast is thawed and fully cooked in no-time using this air fryer method.

Close-up image of sliced chicken breast.

What Makes This Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer Recipe So Good

You can add this chicken to whatever dish you’d like! We kept the seasoning simple and light, making this a versatile addition to any meal.
It totally eliminates the time and energy it takes to defrost frozen chicken! This method does everything from defrost to fully cook the chicken in three easy steps.
You can customize this recipe however you’d like! Add garlic powder and smoked paprika for Mexican-inspired chicken or dried oregano and lemon juice for Mediterranean-inspired chicken. There really is no wrong way to season this recipe, so have fun with it!

Key Ingredients for Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer

Frozen Chicken Breast – This method eliminates the dreaded task of having to defrost that frozen chicken breast that’s been sitting in your freezer! Simply remove it from the package then place it straight into the air fryer basket.

Olive Oil – Really any cooking oil will work in this recipe! If you’re looking to make this recipe even easier, then use spray cooking oil and simply give the chicken a quick spritz of oil before cooking.

Chef’s Tips

It’s important to remember that not all air fryers are created equal. When you pause to flip the chicken breast halfway through cooking, evaluate how quickly it’s cooked and adjust the total cook time as needed.
Allow the cooked chicken to sit for at least 5 minutes before slicing. If you go straight into slicing the chicken as soon as you remove it from the air fryer, all of its delicious juices will pour out – resulting in less flavorful chicken.
Store this chicken in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 4 days. You can then reheat it in your air fryer set to 360° Fahrenheit for 5 minutes or until warm throughout!

What Do We Mean By Healthy?

Sliced chicken breast arranged on a plate with fresh parsley and a lemon wedge.

Ways To Use This Chicken Breast

Print Recipe

Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer

Cooking frozen chicken breast in the air fryer will be your new favorite hack! Frozen chicken breast is thawed and fully cooked in no-time using this air fryer method.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cooking hack, four ingredients, meal prep

Servings: servings

Calories: 277kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 pound frozen chicken breast
1 teaspoon olive oil see Notes
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 360° Fahrenheit.
Place chicken breast in air fryer basket, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with salt and black pepper.
Cook for 35 minutes, pausing to flip chicken halfway through.

Notes

Olive Oil: You can use any kind of cooking oil you’d like in this recipe.

Recipe yields approximately 2 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect information for one serving of shrimp. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition

April 27, 2021 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Empanadas

You’ll love these incredible air fryer empanadas! Delicious, seasoned ground beef filling wrapped in empanada dough, then air fried until golden brown and crispy. Perfect for snacks or lunches or just anytime you’re in the mood for something hearty.

What Makes These Air Fryer Empanadas So Good

The air fryer gives you a beautifully light crust that has all the crunch and texture of a deep fried dough without any of the work or unhealthy aspects of actual deep frying.
They’re super easy to make! There’s a little effort needed to create the filling, but no more than your average taco meat or sloppy Joe filling. Once your empanadas are formed, it’s just another 8 minutes or so in the air fryer!
Air fryer empanadas are a perfect freezer recipe! You can actually do it two ways. 1) Mix up the ground beef filling and freeze that until you’re ready to make empanadas, or 2) mix up the filling and actually form the empanadas, then freeze them, formed but uncooked. Option number 2 is my favorite because I can just grab an empanada or two out of the freezer and pop them right in the air fryer! They’ll keep in the freezer up to 6 months.

Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Empanadas

Empanada Dough – Keep things simple by using store-bought empanada discs! You can make your own dough if you’d rather, or if you have trouble finding empanada discs, you can use pie dough that’s been rolled thin and cut into discs. Pie dough won’t have quite the same texture, but it’ll work.

Ground Beef – Since we’re making beef empanadas, you’ll need ground beef! Use an 85/15 ground beef to keep things juicy since you’ll cook it on the stovetop and then air fry it. You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey if you’d rather. Just aim for that 15% fat content!

Chef’s Tips

You can use any kind of spray oil you like, but as always, make sure it’s air-fryer-safe! Avoid aerosols as they’ll damage the non-stick coating on the air fryer basket. If you’re cooking multiple batches of empanadas, give the basket a light spray between each batch.
Make sure the empanadas don’t touch or overlap in the air fryer basket. The air has to circulate fully to cook the food evenly, so any spot the air can’t reach is a spot that won’t be cooked and crisp.
All appliances are different, and that includes air fryers. What works for me and my Chefman air fryer may not work for you and your Chefman air fryer – or whatever brand you have! Keep an eye on your empanadas the first time or two you cook them and adjust the cook time and temperature as needed.

What Do We Mean By Healthy?

Other Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Enjoy

Print Recipe

Air Fryer Empanadas

You'll love these incredible air fryer empanadas! Delicious, seasoned ground beef filling wrapped in empanada dough, then air fried until golden brown and crispy. Perfect for snacks or lunches or just anytime you're in the mood for something hearty.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Latin, Spanish

Keyword: cinco de mayo, fun food, vegetarian option

Servings: empanadas

Calories: 248kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Large skillet
Medium bowl
Small bowl
Fork (optional)
Brush (for egg wash)
Air Fryer
Air-Fryer-Safe Cooking Spray

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 pound ground beef
2 cloves garlic minced
½ of one yellow onion chopped
½ of one red bell pepper chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
¾ cup beef broth
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
10 empanada dough discs

Instructions

In large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add ground beef and cook until browned, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Remove ground beef from skillet and drain fat.
Add garlic, onion, and bell pepper to skillet. Cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add in cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
Pour in beef broth, then return ground beef to skillet. Simmer approximately 10 minutes or until liquid has evaporated.
Transfer mixture to bowl and let cool.
In separate small bowl, mix egg and water together until combined.
Lay empanada discs on flat surface. Work in batches if needed.
Form Empanadas: Place approximately 3 tablespoons of filling mixture in center of each empanada disc. Fold dough in half, bringing one edge over dough filling to meet other edge. Pinch edges with fingers or press with tines of fork to seal. Lightly brush egg wash on outside of dough. Repeat until all empanadas are formed.
Preheat air fryer to 330° Fahrenheit.
Spray air fryer basket with air-fryer-safe cooking spray. Place empanadas in basket in one even layer, not touching or overlapping. Work in batches as needed.
Cook empanadas at 330° Fahrenheit for 8 to 9 minutes, until golden brown and warmed through. Repeat until all empanadas are cooked. Serve hot.

Notes

Make it Vegetarian: Use a plant-based ground beef substitute and vegetable broth.

Recipe yields 10 empanadas. Nutritional values shown reflect information for one empanada, using 85/15 ground beef and Goya brand empanada discs. Macros may vary slightly based on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

April 22, 2021 Air Fryer

Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer

This frozen shrimp in the air fryer is the quickest and easiest method to cooking frozen shrimp! Simply toss frozen shrimp straight into your air fryer, cook, and then it’s ready to eat. Enjoy this shrimp in whatever recipe you’d like, or simply on its own!

Close up image of a pile of cooked shrimp.

What Makes This Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer Recipe So Good

It’s ridiculously simple! Three ingredients and 10 minutes is all you’ll need to both defrost and fully cook your shrimp.
You can use it in a variety of different ways! Add this shrimp to your favorite pasta recipe, on top of a salad, or serve it with some cocktail sauce for an easy appetizer.
It completely removes the long and sometimes complicated step of having to defrost frozen shrimp before cooking with it. This frozen shrimp in the air fryer will be ready to eat before you have time to set the table!

Key Ingredients for Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer

Frozen Shrimp – Either raw or cooked frozen shrimp will work, just follow the recommended cook times in the recipe below! Use whatever size, shell-on, shell-off, etc. shrimp you’d like.

Spray Cooking Oil – I used avocado oil spray on my frozen shrimp, though any spray cooking oil will work in this recipe. You will also only need just a quick spritz of oil for this frozen shrimp.

Chef’s Tips

When you pause the air fryer to flip the shrimp halfway through, you don’t actually have to flip each individual shrimp – you can really just give the whole basket a quick shake. The point of flipping the shrimp is to make sure every shrimp is evenly cooked on each side, so a simple toss of the shrimp will do.
It’s important to remember that not all air fryers are created equal. Therefore, keep an eye on how quickly, or maybe slowly, your shrimp is cooking and adjust the cook time as needed!
Use as much or as little salt and pepper as you’d like! You can even get creative with this recipe and add whatever seasoning you’d like to this shrimp.

What Do We Mean By Healthy?

Close-up image of cooked shrimp with a lemon wedge.

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Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer

This frozen shrimp in the air fryer is the quickest and easiest method to cooking frozen shrimp! Simply toss frozen shrimp straight into your air fryer, cook, and then it's ready to eat. Enjoy this frozen shrimp in the air fryer in whatever recipe you'd like, or simply on its own!

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time10 mins

Course: Basics

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 3 ingredients, easy recipe, quick recipe

Servings: servings

Calories: 113kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 pound frozen shrimp raw or cooked
spray cooking oil see Notes
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For raw shrimp:

Add frozen shrimp to air fryer basket, evenly coat with spray cooking oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Cook at 400° Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, pausing to flip shrimp halfway through.

For cooked shrimp:

Add frozen shrimp to air fryer basket, evenly coat with spray cooking oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Cook at 400° Fahrenheit for 5 minutes, pausing to flip shrimp halfway through.

Notes

Spray Cooking Oil: Any spray cooking oil will work in this recipe, I used avocado oil spray and had amazing results!

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect information for one serving of shrimp. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition

April 20, 2021 Family Friendly

Keto Sloppy Joes

These keto sloppy Joes are a spot-on, low-carb take on a classic family-favorite. With lots of flavor and only 3g net carbs per serving, this is a perfect, easy meal to add to your dinner rotation.

Close up of a keto sloppy joe on a keto hamburger bun

What Makes These Keto Sloppy Joes So Good

This recipe has all the flavor of traditional sloppy Joes without any of the added sugar or high fructose corn syrup that’s in the canned versions. Seriously, it’s so spot-on that even non-keto eaters will love it. They probably wouldn’t even know it was keto unless you told them!
They’re really easy to make! The actual cook time is next-to-nothing, so you’ll be ready to eat in less than 30 minutes.
You can easily double the recipe for large groups, or just to prep some make-ahead meals. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days, or freeze them up to 3 months!

Key Ingredients for Keto Sloppy Joes

Ground Beef – We used ground beef with a 85% lean, 15% fat ratio this time around, but you could go with an 80/20 ground beef if you’d like a little more fat in your keto sloppy Joes! 85/15 has a tendency to dry out if you overcook it. Keep that in mind while it’s on the stove.

Tomato Paste – A lot of canned tomato products have unnecessary added sugars, so be sure to read the label! The very, very small amount of sugar you’ll actually consume should come from the tomatoes, not any added sugars or any sugar substitutes that aren’t keto-friendly.

Ketchup – Like with tomato paste, you’ll want to choose the lowest carb, lowest sugar ketchup you can find. For store-bought, Primal Kitchen makes a great keto-certified ketchup with no added sugar (or sugar substitutes) and only 2g of carbs per tablespoon. If you’d like to make your own, check out this keto ketchup recipe from 40 Aprons.

Chef’s Tips

Classic sloppy Joes are served on hamburger buns, but traditional buns don’t fit in a keto way of eating. Instead, use keto-friendly hamburger buns, like Sola Golden Wheat buns or Thin Slim Foods Zero Net Carb buns. You could also skip the buns and serve your keto sloppy Joes in hollowed-out green bell peppers, in lettuce cups, or on mashed cauliflower.
We didn’t use any this time, but cheese is a great addition to keto sloppy Joes! Top them with some shredded cheese or a little keto cheddar cheese sauce.
You can make your keto sloppy Joes in the Crockpot if you’d prefer a more hands-off method! You’ll still start out on the stove – melt the butter in a skillet, then add the ground beef. Break it up and brown it, then add the onion. Cook the ground beef and onion for 3-5 minutes, then transfer that mixture and all your sauce ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook everything on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours.

What Do We Mean By Healthy?

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Keto Sloppy Joes

These keto sloppy Joes are a spot-on, low-carb take on a classic family-favorite. With lots of flavor and only 3g net carbs per serving, this is a perfect, easy meal to add to your dinner rotation.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Keto

Keyword: LCHF, low glycemic, no sugar added

Servings:

Calories: 298kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Large skillet with lid
Wooden spoon
Bowl

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 pound ground beef
½ of one yellow onion see Notes
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon no-sugar-added tomato paste
½ cup sugar-free ketchup
⅓ cup beef broth
1 tablespoon Brown Swerve optional
½ teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire see Notes
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add ground beef and crumble into pieces with back of wooden spoon. Cook until brown, approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
Remove ground beef from skillet. Do not drain. Add onions and garlic to skillet and cook until fragrant, approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
Return ground beef to skillet. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. If mixture seems dry, add more beef broth, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Stir and remove from heat. Divide into portions. Serve hot.

Notes

Onion is recommended, but some keto-eaters try to avoid them. If you’d like to save a carb, you can skip them.
Be sure to use a tomato paste and a ketchup with no added sugar.
There’s usually a little sugar in Worcestershire, but we’re only using 1 teaspoon of the sauce here so it shouldn’t be enough to cause concern. Check the label, though, and choose a brand with the fewest carbs and sugars. You could also use soy sauce or tamari, though the flavor will be a little different.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect the information for 1 serving using 85/15 ground beef with onions and Brown Swerve. Nutritional values shown do not include information for keto buns or any other serving methods. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire finished recipe. Divide the total weight of the recipe (not including the weight of the bowl, pot, or plate the food is in) by 4. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

April 15, 2021 Gluten-Free

Keto Spaghetti

This keto spaghetti is comfort food made healthy! Traditional Italian meatballs are made low-carb with extra cheese and a touch of heavy cream. Palmini noodles are tossed in a simple, yet delicious sauce for an easy keto meal.

What Makes This Keto Spaghetti So Good

The meatballs are incredibly tender and flavorful! We removed the breadcrumbs and added in both parmesan and mozzarella cheese for keto meatballs that are totally irresistible.
The sauce is just four ingredients! There’s no need to complicate things when it comes to spaghetti sauce. Just diced tomatoes, garlic, and a couple spices make for an easy and delicious sauce.
Palmini noodles closely resemble spaghetti and offer a nice texture to this dish. This plant-based keto spaghetti alternative is super satisfying but a whole lot healthier!

Key Ingredients For Keto Spaghetti

Ground Beef – I kept things simple in this recipe by using just ground beef in my meatballs, but you can use half ground pork instead. If you want to use ground pork, mix together 1/2 a pound of ground pork with 1/2 a pound of ground beef.

Diced Tomatoes – Feel free to use whole or crushed canned tomatoes in place of the diced tomatoes in this recipe. I find diced tomatoes break down just enough in this keto spaghetti sauce, though you can use whichever version of canned tomatoes you prefer. Make sure they’re low in carbs and sugar! And if you can’t find sugar-free canned tomatoes, you can use 2 cups of chopped fresh tomatoes instead, though they will yield less flavor than the canned kind.

Palmini Noodles – Made from hearts of palm, this unique keto spaghetti is surprisingly delicious. Hearts of palm is a keto-friendly low carb vegetable, making Palmini noodles the ideal spaghetti substitute in this recipe. You can find Palmini noodles in a can or a sealed bag at most grocery stores. Be sure to drain and rinse your Palmini noodles well before using in this recipe.

Chef’s Tips

If your pot isn’t large enough to sear all meatballs at once, sear them in two or three batches instead. It took me two batches to sear all of my meatballs in this recipe. It is very important that you don’t overcrowd your pot, otherwise your meatballs will get stuck together.
This keto spaghetti recipe does not require cooking the Palmini noodles before adding them to the sauce and meatballs. However, if you prefer softer noodles, you can cook the Palmini noodles in boiling water for 5-10 minutes before using in this recipe.
I highly recommend finishing off this keto spaghetti with some extra parmesan cheese and fresh parsley or basil! The additional cheese makes the macros even better for the keto diet and fresh herbs add a bit of brightness to the overall dish.

Keto Spaghetti and Meatballs

What Do We Mean By Healthy?

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Keto Spaghetti

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: comfort food, family friendly, tomato sauce

Servings: servings

Calories: 459kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Large bowl
Large pot

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

1 pound ground beef see Notes
1 garlic clove minced
2 tablespoons heavy cream
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese see Notes
¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

For the Sauce

2 garlic cloves minced
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes no sugar added
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt

For the Spaghetti

24 ounces Palmini noodles see Notes

Instructions

Mix together the ground beef, garlic, egg, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, measure out 2 tablespoon of meat per meatball and roll into a ball using the palms of your hands.
Once all meatballs are prepped, add olive oil to a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Working in batches, sear meatballs for 2-3 minutes per side.
Sauté the garlic in the same pot you cooked your meatballs in over medium-low heat for 2 minutes. Add all other sauce ingredients and stir to combine.
Gently add your meatballs back into the pot. Cover pot with lid, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 15-20 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through.
Drain and rinse the Palmini noodles, then remove pot from heat and stir the noodles in. Divide into 4 portions and serve.

Notes

Ground Beef: You can use anywhere from 70% to 95% lean ground beef.
Parmesan Cheese: For keto-friendly grated parmesan cheese, we recommend buying a block of parmesan cheese and grating it yourself. Pre-grated cheeses often times contain fillers which add unnecessary carbs.
Palmini Noodles: Feel free to use your favorite keto pasta in this recipe. Zucchini noodles would taste great!

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect the information for 1 serving out of 4. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire finished recipe. Divide the total weight of the recipe (not including the weight of the bowl, pot, or plate the food is in) by 4. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

April 13, 2021 Asian

Japanese Curry in the Instant Pot

Japanese curry in the Instant Pot is a fast-but-delicious dinner option for busy evenings when you don’t really feel like cooking. With juicy chicken thighs and lots of veggies, you can serve it on its own or with a side of rice for a total meal.

What Makes This Instant Pot Japanese Curry So Good

There’s not a lot of hands-on, active cooking with pressure cooker Japanese curry, which makes it a perfect dinner idea when you don’t feel like cooking or just don’t have a ton of time on your hands.
The overall flavor of this recipe is a little spicy but also a little sweet. Serve it with a side of rice (like our Instant Pot Sushi Rice) to balance out the flavors even more.
If you have leftovers, refrigerate them in an airtight container. They’ll be good for 2 to 3 days. You could freeze them in an airtight container, too!

Key Ingredients for Japanese Curry in the Instant Pot

Japanese Curry Roux – Definitely don’t skip this ingredient! The roux thickens up the liquid so it’s not as soup-like. You can use store-bought curry roux (or curry sauce mix) in this recipe if you want, but I actually recommend making your own! My favorite homemade Japanese curry roux is this easy 5-ingredient recipe from Just One Cookbook.

Chicken Thighs – We’re making a Japanese chicken curry here, so we’re using chicken thighs! Chicken thighs are a little fattier than chicken breasts, which means they’re also juicier and more flavorful. They’re typically less expensive, too. If you’d rather use another protein (beef, pork, etc.) or even just chicken breasts instead of thighs, you totally can, but you may need to adjust your cook time.

Japanese Curry in the Instant Pot

Chef’s Tips

The curry will thicken as it stands, so don’t worry if it seems a little thin or liquidy at first.
If you’re used to making Indian curry, pay attention to the instruction card below. With Indian curry, the spices are added at the beginning. For Japanese curry, though, you’ll add the curry roux at the end!
Adding a little milk gives your mixture an extra creaminess, but it’s totally optional. If you’re dairy free or just don’t want to use it, don’t! You can skip it altogether or try a little coconut milk or coconut cream.

What Do We Mean By Healthy?

An angled view of a bowl of Instant Pot Japanese curry

Other Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love

A bowl of Instant Pot Japanese curry with a spoon

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Japanese Curry in the Instant Pot

Japanese curry in the Instant Pot is a fast-but-delicious dinner option for busy evenings when you don't really feel like cooking. With juicy chicken thighs and lots of veggies, you can serve it on its own or with a side of rice for a total meal.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Japanese

Keyword: easy dinner, one pot meal, pressure cooker

Servings:

Calories: 410kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Instant Pot

Ingredients

2 tablespoons neutral oil avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, etc.
1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized chunks
1 1-inch piece ginger grated
3 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 carrots sliced
1 onion sliced
2 Yukon gold potatoes cubed
2 cups water
2 cups chicken stock
2 bay leaves
⅓ cup Japanese curry roux see Notes
3 tablespoons milk optional, see Notes
salt and pepper to taste
vinegar optional, to taste
tamari or soy sauce optional, to taste

Instructions

Set Instant Pot to Sauté. Once hot, add oil then chicken thighs. Brown chicken thighs on each side, then remove from Instant Pot.
Add ginger and garlic to Instant Pot. Sauté until fragrant, then add tomato paste and mix until combined.
Add chicken thighs, carrots, onions, potatoes, water, chicken stock, and bay leaves to Instant Pot. Cover with lid and cook 10 minutes on Manual High Pressure.
When timer is up, Quick Release pressure. Remove bay leaves. Stir in curry roux and milk (optional) until liquid has thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, stir in vinegar and tamari or soy sauce to taste.
Divide into portions and serve hot.

Notes

The milk adds an extra creaminess to the mixture, but it’s totally optional, so feel free to skip it if you want or need to.
Highly recommend using the Japanese Curry Roux recipe from Just One Cookbook for this recipe! It’s super easy to make, with only 5 ingredients.
Make it Dairy Free: Skip the milk completely, or use a little coconut milk or coconut cream.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect information for one serving out of 4, not including any optional ingredients or additional sides. Macros may vary slightly based on specific brands or types of ingredients used.

To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire recipe when finished. Divide the total weight (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by 4. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition