Side Dish

April 1, 2021 Dairy-Free

Steamed Cauliflower

Steamed cauliflower is an easy way to get perfectly tender cauliflower florets in no time at all. A drizzle of olive oil and a little herbs and lemon zest take it to another level. Low calorie, low carb, and full of fiber and antioxidants.

What Makes This Steamed Cauliflower So Good

A drizzle of olive oil and a little salt, fresh herbs, and lemon zest take this cauliflower from bland to delectable in no time at all.
Cauliflower is naturally low calorie, low in carbs, and high in fiber, which is great if you’re following a specifically low carb or ketogenic way of eating, or if you’re just watching what you eat in general!
It’s super easy to make, which is great for busy nights when you don’t really feel like cooking, or busy meal prep days when you have a lot on your plate (literally!)
Speaking of meal prep, you can refrigerate steamed cauliflower in an airtight container up to 5 days, so it’s a great make-ahead option!

Steamed Cauliflower

Key Ingredients for Steamed Cauliflower

Cauliflower – This not-too-distant cousin of cabbage and broccoli is full of fiber and antioxidants that your body will love. It’s blown up in popularity in the last few years because it’s a great, carb-friendly alternative to starchy foods like potatoes and rice. You’ve probably heard of cauliflower rice, mashed cauliflower, or even cauliflower pizza crust. Does cauliflower taste like rice or potatoes? Not really, no. But for a lot of people, it’s a workable alternative!

Olive Oil – Olive oil compliments the natural flavor of the cauliflower, herbs, and lemon zest without detracting or overpowering. Plus it’s a great source of healthy fats, and it’s got a solid amount of antioxidants, too.

Chef’s Tips

Fresh cauliflower will you give you the best flavor and texture! I definitely recommend it here over frozen!
You can use a metal or silicone steaming basket for this recipe.
What’s the best way to cut a head of cauliflower into florets? Easy! Remove the leaves from the head, then cut around the large stem to remove it. The cauliflower will break apart, and from there you can keep breaking or cutting it into smaller florets. Cut off any large stems from the florets
For a twist, stop after step 4 of this recipe and use your steamed cauliflower to make our Cauliflower Chips.
Looking for a hands-off way to steam cauliflower? Check out our post on Instant Pot Cauliflower.

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!

Olive oil poured onto a bowl of steamed cauliflower

More Basics You’ll Be Glad You Know

We hope you loved this recipe as much as we did! We’d love for you to give us a star ★ rating below, and follow us on Instagram! For more delicious, healthy recipes, be sure to check out 40 Aprons.

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Steamed Cauliflower

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Basics, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dairy-free, gluten-free, low carb

Servings:

Calories: 198kcal

Equipment

Saucepan
Steamer basket
Fork
Large bowl

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower
½ cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt
3-4 tablespoons fresh herbs chopped, optional
1 teaspoon lemon zest optional

Instructions

Chop cauliflower into florets.
Add water to saucepan, then place steamer basket in saucepan and bring water to boil over high heat. Note: The surface of the water should be just under the bottom of your steamer basket.
Once water starts boiling, add cauliflower to steamer basket. Reduce heat to medium.
Steam 10 minutes or until tender and can be easily pierced with fork.
Remove cauliflower from steamer basket and transfer to large bowl. Drizzle olive oil onto cauliflower, then add salt, herbs, and lemon zest. Toss to coat, then serve.

Notes

We used fresh parsley for the herbs this time around, but you can use any herbs you like, or skip them altogether!
Cook times will vary slightly based on the size and thickness of your florets, and how fresh your cauliflower is. The fork method is the best test of tenderness.

Recipe yields approximately 2 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect information for one serving of chicken cordon bleu casserole. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands 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 sauce is in) by 6. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

March 23, 2021 Appetizer

Vegan Cottage Cheese

This vegan cottage cheese is a convincing, dairy-free alternative to traditional cottage cheese. Made from tofu and cashews, with a little nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor.

What Makes This Vegan Cottage Cheese So Good

It’s super quick and easy to make! The most time consuming part of this recipe is soaking the cashews – but you can read some ways to speed things up a little in the “Chef’s Tips” section below!
It’s got that perfect cottage cheese texture – not too smooth, not too chunky.

Key Ingredients for Vegan Cottage Cheese

Silken Tofu – The softest, creamiest member of the tofu family. Silken tofu will give you that crumbly, chunky vegan cottage cheese texture you’re looking for.

Nutritional Yeast – If you make a lot of vegan recipes, you’re probably super familiar with nutritional yeast, or the nooch. We use a little here for extra nuttiness and cheesiness.

Vegan Cottage Cheese

Chef’s Tips

The easiest way to soak cashews is the method on the recipe card below. Fill a bowl with hot water, add in the cashews, and let them hang out for an hour or so. If you’re in a rush, though, you can speed this process up a little! Instead of the bowl, put the raw cashews in a pot with just enough water to cover them completely. Bring the water to a boil, then cover the pot and let the cashews boil for 10 minutes or so. Drain them, rinse them, then whip up some vegan cottage cheese!
It absolutely is possible to over-soak your cashews. The water will get slimy, and the cashews will develop an off smell and taste. If that happens, just throw them out and start over – trust me. You shouldn’t have to worry about over-soaking here, though. It’s usually only a concern if you’re soaking overnight or longer.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

A bowl of vegan cottage cheese with a fork on a white background with a napkin

More Delicious Vegan Recipes

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Vegan Cottage Cheese

This vegan cottage cheese is a convincing, dairy-free alternative to traditional cottage cheese. Made from tofu and cashews, with a little nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time0 mins

Soak Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 10 mins

Course: Basics

Cuisine: Vegan

Keyword: lactose-free, meatless, non-dairy

Servings: servings

Calories: 189kcal

Equipment

Medium bowl
Fork
Food processor or immersion blender

Ingredients

3 tablespoons raw cashews
10 ounces silken tofu
1 ½ tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Soak cashews in hot water for one hour.
In medium bowl, crumble tofu with fork. Set aside.
In food processor, blend soaked cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, almond milk, and vinegar until smooth. Pour cashew mixture into bowl with tofu.
Season with salt and pepper. Mix until combined.
Serve with crackers, bread, or veggies.

Notes

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days.

Recipe yields approximately 2 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect the information for 1 serving out of 2. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands 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 2. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

March 9, 2021 Air Fryer

Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer

Cooking frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer is the easiest way to get perfectly crispy mozzarella sticks full of hot, gooey cheese in just 10 minutes.

Frozen mozzarella sticks cooked in the air fryer then placed a on a white plate with a small bowl of marinara

What Makes Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer So Good

This method gives you perfectly crispy mozzarella sticks without the mess (and calories) of deep frying. They come out way crispier than baking them in the oven, too!
It’s so quick! 7 minutes in the air fryer is all you need to put together a tasty snack even the kids will love. Definitely keep this one in your back pocket!
If your air fryer is large enough, you can cook a ton of mozzarella sticks all at once! That means you can easily feed a big group without any extra effort.

Key Ingredients for Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer

Frozen Mozzarella Sticks – You can use any brand of frozen cheese sticks you like for this method! The cook times may vary slightly with larger or thicker cheese sticks, so keep an eye on them and adjust as needed.

Chef’s Tips

Marinara sauce is the traditional dipping-sauce-of-choice when it comes to mozzarella sticks, but I personally like to dip mine in ranch dressing. You could really use anything, though – ketchup, BBQ sauce, blue cheese dressing, the sky’s the limit!
Don’t overlap the frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer. To cook evenly, the air has to be able to circulate freely. If the mozzarella sticks touch anywhere, that’ll be a spot where the air can’t reach!
If the cheese starts to ooze out of the mozzarella sticks, that means they’re overcooked. You can try lowering the temperature on your air fryer, or shortening the cook time. You’ll know the mozzarella sticks are ready when they’re crispy but a little squishy when you squeeze them. If they’re still firm, they’re not done yet.
It’s not necessary, but you can spray a little air-fryer-safe oil in the basket first, to keep your mozzarella sticks from sticking. Another spritz of oil on the sticks themselves will give them an even crispier coating!

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Frozen mozzarella sticks cooked in the air fryer then placed on a white plate with a small cup of marinara sauce

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Frozen mozzarella sticks cooked in the air fryer then placed on a white plate with a small bowl of marinara

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Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer

Cooking frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer is the easiest way to get perfectly crispy mozzarella sticks full of hot, gooey cheese in just 10 minutes.

Prep Time3 mins

Cook Time7 mins

Total Time10 mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy to make, kid friendly, less than 10 minutes

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

air-fryer-safe spray oil optional
frozen mozzarella sticks
marinara sauce optional, for serving

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit. Lightly spray basket with spray oil (optional).
Arrange frozen mozzarella sticks in air fryer basket in one even layer.
Cook mozzarella sticks for 7 minutes. Flip sticks over halfway through cook time.

Notes

This method will work for any brand and quantity of frozen mozzarella sticks. If you’re cooking a lot of them, you may need to work in multiple batches.

Cook times will vary from one air fryer to another. The thickness of your mozzarella sticks and your preferred crispiness will also affect the cook time. Keep an eye on them as they’re cooking and watch for signs of oozing!

February 23, 2021 Appetizer

Amish Broccoli Salad

This easy Amish broccoli salad recipe (complete with a creamy dressing) is a simple and delicious side dish that’s perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, and summer cookouts. Crisp broccoli, cauliflower, and red onion, tangy mayo and sour cream, a little bacon, and shredded cheese create an incredibly flavorful salad everyone will love!

What Makes This Amish Broccoli Salad Recipe So Good

It’s great for reunions, holidays, potlucks, summer cookouts, or any time you just need to feed a lot of people. You can easily double or triple the recipe without much extra effort.
This recipe uses raw vegetables, so there’s absolutely no cooking involved! Just a little chopping, then some mixing, followed by some chilling – and that last step’s optional.
Any leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 4 days, which makes this a terrific make-ahead or meal prep option!

Key Ingredients for Amish Broccoli Salad

Bacon – A lot of people are in the “bacon doesn’t need to be in everything” camp, and I hear you! BUT, I promise, it really adds an extra layer of flavor in this salad! The savory bacon is especially delicious with the tangy and slightly sweet dressing.

Shredded Cheese – We’re using cheddar cheese in this recipe, but you can use any kind of shredded cheese you like! Cheddar jack and parmesan are both solid options that go well with the other flavors in this Amish broccoli salad. Feta and goat cheese would also be great!

Amish Broccoli Salad

Chef’s Tips

This recipe is fully customizable. If you like really creamy vegetables, feel free to add more mayo and sour cream. Likewise, you can cut back on the dressing ingredients and the raw veggies will shine through. Use any kind of cheese you like. Add nuts, seeds, raisins, bell pepper, or cranberries.
If you’re making this more than a few hours in advance, store the bacon separately from the rest of the salad and fold it in just before serving.
Not big on sour cream? Try the same amount of full-fat Greek yogurt instead. The flavor will be a little different but still great!
Use fresh broccoli and cauliflower – not frozen – to get the brightest flavors and the crispest textures. Frozen vegetables just won’t work the same.
As amazing as it is right away, Amish broccoli salad gets even better after a little time in the refrigerator. If you can, factor in 2 hours of chill time before serving, to let the veggies really soak up the dressing.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Overhead photo of a white bowl of Amish broccoli salad, with wooden serving utensils

Other Salad Recipes We Love

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Amish Broccoli Salad

This easy Amish broccoli salad recipe (complete with a creamy dressing) is a simple and delicious side dish that's perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, and summer cookouts.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy to make, no cooking, veggies

Servings: servings

Calories: 476kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Skillet
Small bowl
Large bowl
Silicone spatula

Ingredients

½ pound bacon
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt plus more as needed
1 head broccoli chopped
1 head cauliflower chopped
½ cup red onion chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Dice bacon into small pieces. Fry until crispy, then drain and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, and salt. Taste and add more salt if needed.
In a large bowl, combine broccoli and cauliflower. Add mayonnaise mixture and stir all until veggies are well coated.
Fold in red onion, cheese, and bacon.
Serve immediately, or chill until cold.

Notes

Make it Keto: Instead of sugar, use your favorite granulated sugar substitute, like Swerve. You can also leave out the red onion to shave off an additional 1-2 carbs per serving.
Make it Vegetarian: Leave out the bacon completely, or use a vegan bacon.
Make it Vegan: Use vegan versions of bacon, mayo, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.

Recipe yields approximately 8 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect the information for 1 serving out of 8. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands of ingredients.

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 8. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

February 16, 2021 Instant Pot

Instant Pot Sushi Rice

Instant Pot sushi rice is the easiest way to get consistently fluffy, flavorful rice anytime you’re in the mood for homemade sushi rolls or bowls. It’s a little sweet, a little sour, and a lotta delicious.

White sushi rice in a small silver bowl, taken from the side

What Makes This Instant Pot Sushi Rice Recipe So Good

Using the Instant Pot is a total game-changer, especially when it comes to rice. It’s so much faster than a stove-top method, and it gives you consistently perfect rice every time.
It’s fluffy, sticky, and a little firm – everything you want in sushi rice.
Flavored with a light rice-vinegar-mixture, it has just enough flavor to compliment any of your other sushi ingredients without overpowering.

Key Ingredients for Instant Pot Sushi Rice

Sushi Rice – Japanese-style short-grain white rice is the ideal sushi rice because it’s a little sticky and plumps up beautifully. Jasmine or basmati rice are similar, but not quite the same, so stick to anything short-grain or specifically labelled “sushi rice”.

Rice Vinegar – Don’t sleep on this! Rice vinegar gives the sushi rice that slightly sour, tangy flavor that we all know and love. If you leave this out, your rice will taste pretty bland. Use an unseasoned rice vinegar, which doesn’t contain added salt or sugar, since we’re adding our own in this recipe.

Instant Pot Sushi Rice

Chef’s Tips

Don’t skip the pre-cook rinse to remove any dirt and starches on the outside of the rice. Be sure to rinse until the water runs completely clear. Don’t over-rinse, though, as oversaturating the rice may change the texture.
The sugar and salt need to fully dissolve in the oil & vinegar mixture. If you need to, you can heat the mixture a little to make sure everything incorporates fully.
If you can, avoid using metal bowls or utensils when you’re mixing the liquids or letting the rice cool before serving. Some metals can react with the vinegar, giving your rice a funky taste. Metal bowls also heat up very quickly, so if you’re letting your rice cool in a metal bowl, you may be inadvertently warming it longer, which can change the consistency of your rice. Metal spoons can damage the rice, too.
Don’t stir the liquid into the rice, as the stirring motion can damage the rice and make it mushy. Instead, just gently fold the liquid in until it’s well incorporated.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Overhead photo of white sushi rice in a small silver bowl

More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love

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Instant Pot Sushi Rice

Instant Pot sushi rice is the easiest way to get consistently fluffy, flavorful rice anytime you're in the mood for homemade sushi rolls or bowls. It's a little sweet, a little sour, and a lotta delicious.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Basics, Side Dish

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: easy recipe, pressure cooker, sticky rice

Servings: servings

Calories: 216kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Instant Pot
Small glass bowl
Wooden mixing spoon
Damp towel

Ingredients

1 cup Japanese sushi rice
1 ¼ cups water
3 tablespoons rice vinegar unseasoned
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon avocado oil

Instructions

Rinse rice for approximately 3 minutes, until water runs clear. Add rinsed rice and 1 ¼ cups water to Instant Pot. Stir to combine.
Place lid on Instant Pot and set valve to Sealing position. Cook on Manual High pressure for 10 minutes, then Natural Release for 10 minutes. Remove lid. Fluff rice with fork.
In small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, salt, white sugar, and oil. Gently fold liquid mixture into rice. Let rice come to room temperature before using. Keep rice covered with damp towel if not using immediately.

Notes

We used a 6-quart Instant Pot for this recipe.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect information for 1 serving. Macros may vary slightly depending on the specific brands 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

December 29, 2020 Dairy-Free

Sweet Potato Rice

Easy-to-make sweet potato rice is a wonderfully versatile side dish or base for a variety of bowl-meals. Paleo, Whole30, gluten- and dairy-free, this recipe is perfect for many dietary needs.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

It’s super versatile. Serve it on its own with chicken, or use it as a replacement for rice in a Mexican dish with black beans. Mix it in with eggs or turn it into fried rice. Anything you might use rice or cauliflower rice for, use sweet potato rice instead!
Uncooked sweet potato rice can be kept in the refrigerator up to 5 days before you intend to cook it, so it’s great to make ahead and keep on hand! You can freeze the uncooked rice, too.
The cooking process slightly caramelizes the sweet potato, making them slightly sweet and crunchy, but at the same time soft. They’re delicious.
It’s perfect for weekly meal prepping. Prepared sweet potato rice will keep in the refrigerator up to 6 days, if stored in an airtight container.

Sweet Potato Rice Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes – These starchy veggies are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They’re thought to have amazing health benefits (like better gut health and enhanced brain function) thanks to the antioxidants they contain. Sweet potatoes are a fantastic source of complex carbohydrates, and they’re naturally gluten- and grain-free.

How to Make Sweet Potato Rice

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

In a food processor, shred peeled sweet potatoes until they form tiny rice-like pieces. Cook the riced sweet potato with olive oil or avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally for 20 to 25 minutes until the sweet potato reduces in size and caramelizes lightly. Serve hot and enjoy!

Chef’s Tips

Using a food processor makes this recipe super quick and easy, but if you don’t have one, you can chop the sweet potatoes into rice by hand. Work in batches with a sharp knife, or use a cheese grater.
Fresh sweet potatoes will give you the most flavor and nutrients, but you can use frozen sweet potatoes if you prefer. Let them thaw completely before running them through the food processor.
If your sweet potato rice sticks to the skillet, you can slowly add in a little water to help loosen it up. Don’t add too much as you don’t want the sweet potato to be mushy.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

White bowl of bright orange sweet potato rice

More Sweet Potato Recipes

Print Recipe

Sweet Potato Rice

Easy-to-make sweet potato rice is a wonderfully versatile side dish or base for a variety of bowl-meals. Paleo, Whole30, gluten- and dairy-free, this recipe is perfect for many dietary needs.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: paleo, vegetarian, whole30

Servings: servings

Calories: 113kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Food processor

Ingredients

2 pounds sweet potatoes approximately 4
3 teaspoons olive or avocado oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Peel sweet potatoes. Chop and place in food processor.
Shred sweet potato chunks in food processor until potatoes resemble tiny pieces of rice.
Heat large skillet over medium heat. Add oil, sweet potato rice, salt, and black pepper.
Cook 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes have shrunken considerably and start to caramelize. Add water if necessary to prevent sticking.

Nutrition

December 21, 2020 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Garlic Bread

This super simple recipe for air fryer garlic bread produces perfect crispy, buttery garlic bread each and every time. Ready in less than 10 minutes, it’s great as a side for pasta dinners (like this Baked Feta Pasta) or to dip into pizza sauce for a quick snack or appetizer.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

This garlic bread is hot and table-ready in less than 10 minutes, so it’s perfect for easy weeknight spaghetti dinners.
It’s automatically better than store-bought garlic bread because it’s fresh and because you control the ingredients! Love extra garlicky garlic bread? Want it to be cheesier? Prefer a lighter bake for softer bread? You can make that happen!
If you’ve got older bread that needs to be eaten ASAP, this is a perfect recipe for it. Older bread will end up crispier, and really fresh bread will be a little softer.
Frozen garlic bread can go straight from the freezer to the air fryer with no thawing, so make a batch to keep on hand! Spread the butter mixture on slices of French bread and freeze them in a single layer. Once they’re fully frozen, you can transfer them to a zippered freezer bag and store them up to 6 months. When you’re ready to eat, cook them in the air fryer at 340°F for 5-7 minutes.

Air Fryer Garlic Bread Ingredients

Bread – I love bread. I said it. I love bread. I used French bread for this recipe because it’s soft inside with a perfect crispy outer layer. You can also use Italian loaf or ciabatta.

Cheese – There’s just nothing like a great cheese. You can use any kind of grated parmesan for this recipe, but the mass-produced U.S. brands are usually imitation parmesan made with fillers. For the best flavor, buy a wedge of genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano and grate it yourself. If you’re a big cheese person, consider adding a little mozzarella or an Italian blend to your bread.

How to Make Air Fryer Garlic Bread

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

Once you know how to make air fryer garlic bread, you’ll never make garlic bread any other way!

Mix softened butter, parmesan cheese, parsley, and crushed garlic together in a bowl and spread the mixture on slices of French bread. Place the slices of bread in the air fryer and cook for 3-5 minutes until they’re golden and crispy. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Chef’s Tips

To cook properly, the air in your air fryer has to be able to circulate around the bread completely. Place your slices of bread in one flat layer without any overlap or touching, otherwise you’ll end up with unevenly fried garlic bread.
Preheating the air fryer is not necessary, but for the quickest cook, make sure your fryer is preheated to 360°F before you put in your bread.
If you’re using an air fryer with racks instead of a basket, be sure to rotate the racks halfway through the cook time. The food closest to the heating element will cook faster, and rotating the racks ensures everything cooks evenly!
The butter can sometimes cause a little smoke in the air fryer as it melts. If you run into this issue, adding a little water to the bottom of the air fryer basket may help.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

More Great Air Fryer Recipes

Slices of air fryer garlic bread arranged on a wooden cutting board

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5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Garlic Bread

This super simple recipe for air fryer garlic bread produces perfect crispy, buttery garlic bread each and every time. Ready in just 10 minutes, it's great as a side for pasta dinners or to dip into marinara for a quick snack or appetizer.

Prep Time3 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time8 mins

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: freezer meal, pasta, pizza

Servings: servings

Calories: 255kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Cost: $5

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

8 slices fresh French bread
4 tablespoons salted butter
4 cloves garlic crushed
¼ teaspoon fresh parsley
⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan

Instructions

Place butter in a small bowl. Microwave 10 seconds until soft. Mix in garlic, parsley, and parmesan.
Spread butter on bread. Arrange 4 slices at a time in air fryer tray.
Cook at 360°F for 3 minutes. Bread should be golden and crispy. Cook for another 1-2 minutes if necessary.

Nutrition

November 19, 2020 Air Fryer

Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

These delicious frozen sweet potato fries are a little sweet and a little salty. They crisp to perfection in the air fryer, making them a perfect snack or side when you want something quick, easy, and healthy.

Why Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer Are So Good

Because air fryers use air instead of oil to fry food, you save calories but still get that great deep-fried flavor and crunch.
Oven-baked fries can be soggy (or worse, burnt), especially if you’re reheating leftovers. Air fryer fries are perfectly crisp every time – plus you can cook them from frozen, no need to thaw!
Sweet potato fries specifically are best in the air fryer. Because of their lower starch content, it’s almost impossible to get the perfect fry texture when you cook sweet potatoes in the oven.
Air fryers generally cook faster than a conventional oven, and the clean up is usually easier, too!

New to air fryers and trying to decide which one to get? Visit our sister site, 40 Aprons, to read about the 5 Air Fryers We Love.

Frozen Sweet Potato Fries Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes – This root veggie is a traditional Thanksgiving staple, but I love them all year long! When it comes to macros, they’re comparable to white potatoes, but they’re a much better source of antioxidants and vitamins A, B, C, and D.

Cinnamon – Everyone knows cinnamon is a little spicy and a little sweet – but did you know cinnamon is believed to have some wonderful health properties? It has essentially no protein or fat, but it does have small amounts of beta carotene and Vitamin A, which are both great for eye health!

How to Make Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

This recipe honestly could not be any easier! Toss your frozen sweet potatoes in oil, then coat them evenly in salt and cinnamon. Pop them in the air fryer for 7 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, flip them, and fry for another 7 minutes. If you like your fries a little crispier, add another 2-3 minutes in the air fryer.

Serve these hot with your favorite dipping sauce – they’re great with ketchup, honey mustard, spicy sriracha-mayo, or comeback sauce! If you’re Whole30, be sure your condiments are compliant!

Chef’s Tips

Bags of frozen sweet potato fries are super quick and easy, but I recommend making your own fries from scratch! Start with a sweet potato and cut it into fries by hand or with a french fry cutter. Plan ahead – you want all of your fries to be roughly the same size so that they cook consistently. Spread the unseasoned fries evenly on a parchment-paper-lined sheet pan and stick them in the freezer. Freeze them for a couple of hours or until they’re hard. Toss them in a baggie or airtight container and keep them in your freezer until you’re ready for them. They’ll keep like this for a few months!
Be sure to spread the fries in a flat layer in the air fryer basket, and don’t let them touch or overlap. If the air can’t flow around them easily, they won’t cook evenly!
If you have any leftovers, you can totally reheat them in the air fryer! A few minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit will make them nice and crispy again.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy”?

Close up of sweet potato fries in a white bowl

More Air Fryer Recipes

Sweet potato fries with salt in a white bowl

Print Recipe

Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: comfort food, family friendly, healthy snack

Servings: servings

Calories: 218kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Cost: $4

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 15-ounce bag frozen sweet potato fries
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
big pinch cinnamon
Kosher salt

Instructions

In a large bowl, toss frozen sweet potato fries with oil and season evenly with kosher salt and cinnamon.
Working in small batches, spread an even layer of sweet potato fries in the fryer basket. Cook at 375° for 7 minutes. Flip fries, then cook 7 minutes more, adding 2-3 minutes if necessary. Fries are done when crispy and golden brown.

Nutrition

November 5, 2020 Condiment

Keto Cranberry Sauce

This ridiculously easy keto cranberry sauce is the perfect holiday side. Made with fresh tart and sweet cranberries and no added sugar, it’s perfect if you’re trying to stay in ketosis this holiday season.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

One cup of cranberries has about 7 grams of net carbs, so you can easily add this dish into your keto Thanksgiving plan!
This keto cranberry sauce only takes about 10 minutes to cook, so it’s a great easy side that doesn’t take a lot of work or ingredients.

Fresh cranberries – Use fresh cranberries for a lightly tart, sweet burst of flavor
Orange zest – A little zest from an orange is optional, but it gives your cranberry sauce a bit of citrus of flavor and scent
Swerve – A great sugar substitute that fits in great with the keto diet, or if you’re watching your blood sugar. It also doesn’t have the artificial, chemical taste some other sugar subs have.

How To Make Keto Cranberry Sauce

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

Whisk the Swerve into a saucepan of water on the stove. Add the cranberries and let them cook until they start to pop and form a sauce.

Place the sauce in a bowl and pop in the fridge for a couple hours prior to serving.

Top Tips For Making

You can also use powdered or granulated erythritol instead of Swerve. If you’re not on a keto diet, you can use regular granulated sugar or maple syrup.
If you’d like to make this recipe ahead of time or you have leftovers, you can keep it in the freezer in an airtight container up to 3 months.

More Keto Holiday Recipes

Print Recipe

Keto Cranberry Sauce

This easy cranberry sauce is the perfect holiday side

Cook Time10 mins

Chilling Time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 10 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy side dish, fewer than 5 ingredients, thanksgiving

Servings: servings

Calories: 16kcal

Cost: $2

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 cup Swerve granulated
12 ounces fresh cranberries whole
1 teaspoon orange zest optional

Instructions

In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, whisk swerve into water. Stir in the orange zest and cranberries and cook until they start to pop, about 10-12 minutes. You can smash the cranberries a bit if you like.
Remove from heat and place in a bowl, then chill for at least 2 hours.

Notes

Swerve substitutes: Can also use powdered or granulated erythritol to taste. If not on a keto diet, you can use regular granulated sugar or maple syrup to taste.
Freezing: Keep in freezer in an airtight container up to 3 months.

Nutrition

November 3, 2020 Dairy-Free

Keto Green Beans

These easy keto green beans are the perfect low carb dinner veggie, whether you eat them alone or add them to other dishes. Simply, yet perfectly seasoned, they are bright, crisp, and full of green flavor.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

This recipe only takes about 12 minutes to make, so it’s great for whipping up for a quick side dish.
Made with only 5 ingredients, these keto green beans are perfect for when you want to bulk up your meal without spending a lot of money!
Each serving of these green beans is about 6g net carbs, so it’s easy to fit into your low carb or keto diet.

Ingredients for keto green beans in bowls

How To Make Keto Green Beans

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

Add the green beans to a large skillet and cook until they are bright and shiny.

Add the seasonings and cook while stirring constantly until the garlic is fragrant.

Keto green beans in a skillet being stirred with a wooden spoon

Top Tips For Making

You can fancy up this dish by adding a squeeze of lemon juice or some lemon zest, a little butter (great if you need some more of your daily fat while on keto), fresh parmesan cheese, bacon, or slivered almonds.

More Veggie Recipes

Print Recipe

Keto Green Beans

These bright and fresh green beans are the perfect low carb side

Prep Time2 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time12 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: low carb, under 30 minutes, vegetables

Servings: servings

Calories: 101kcal

Cost: $2

Ingredients

16 ounces fresh green beans
2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add trimmed green beans and cook, stirring often, until beans are shiny, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and seasoned with salt and pepper. Cook while stirring constantly about 3 minutes until garlic is fragrant and beans are bright and tender.

Notes

Variations: Try adding a squeeze of lemon juice or some lemon zest, a little butter (great if you need some more of your daily fat while on keto), fresh parmesan cheese, bacon, or slivered almonds.

Nutrition