Sure, feeding a family is no joke, but have you tried cooking for yourself lately? It can be just as challenging (and daunting) to cook up a fast, easy and, most important, delicious dinner for one or two.

Cue the air fryer.

Think of it as a space-efficient convection oven that slashes the cooking time for comforting dishes like pork chops, roasted vegetables and even cheesecake. Fans already understand its appeal, as illustrated by the legions of Facebook groups dedicated to exchanging tips, tricks and recipes.

Below is a selection of our best air-fryer recipes that require very little prep time and result in a tasty meal for one or two. And, not only are they perfect for air-fryer newbies and power users alike, they will, perhaps, convert even the biggest skeptics.

1. Air-Fryer Salmon

Credit...David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

This recipe is an entry point to cooking salmon, or really any fish, in your air fryer. It calls for a restrained lineup of salt, pepper and olive oil, but it’s generous enough that you could use any seasoning. (Try Mark Bittman’s combination of brown sugar and mustard.) And you can even use salmon straight from the freezer. Just be sure to extend the cooking time as directed.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Salmon

2. Air-Fryer Pork Chops

Credit...Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Though they’re cooked in an air fryer, which runs at very high heat, these boneless pork chops stay moist through and through. But even better is the crackly crust from a brown sugar, salt and spice blend that seasons the chops ahead of time. Air fryers work wonders with dry spices, so feel free to experiment beyond the cumin and coriander here. A pinch of crushed fennel or red-pepper flakes are welcome additions.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Pork Chops

3. Air-Fryer Grilled Cheese

Credit...David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Cooking a grilled cheese moves quickly, and nailing that perfectly toasted exterior may require more attention than you can give. But did you know you can make one in the air fryer? This recipe is fantastic on its own, simply slathered with butter or mayo, but you could go a step further by adding sauerkraut, caramelized onions or kimchi.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Grilled Cheese

4. Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Garlic, Balsamic and Soy

Credit...David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Nearly 2,000 five-star ratings don’t lie: Readers love this Melissa Clark dish, in which balsamic vinegar reduces and combines with soy sauce and lime juice for a gorgeous, glossy sauce that drapes over crisp brussels sprouts.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Garlic, Balsamic and Soy

5. Air-Fryer Tofu

Credit...David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Maybe you didn’t realize that you needed bite-size nuggets of crispy tofu in your life, or maybe you’ve always been searching for them. Here, drained tofu is cloaked with potato starch and salt, then tossed in the air fryer, where it puffs until crackling outside. A quick glaze of soy sauce, rice vinegar and brown sugar finishes the tofu. But feel free to use the condiment of your choice, whether barbecue sauce, honey mustard or yum yum sauce.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Tofu

6. Easy Air-Fryer Asparagus

Credit...Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Five minutes is all you need to produce bright, still crunchy stalks of asparagus in the air fryer. If there’s room in your basket, you can make this at the same time as steak or chicken (both of which are on this list) for a complete meal in no time.

Recipe: Easy Air-Fryer Asparagus

7. Air-Fryer Chicken Breast

Credit...Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Could this be the easiest chicken breast recipe on New York Times Cooking? Possibly! It draws from Eric Kim’s near-scholarly knowledge on the topic of chicken breasts, and uses brown sugar and salt to draw out moisture. Cook any of the vegetable recipes on this list while the breast rests, and you’ll have a complete meal in under 30 minutes.

Recipe:** **Air-Fryer Chicken Breast

8. Air-Fryer Cheesecake

Credit...Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

Did the words “air-fryer cheesecake” just give you pause? It may not immediately make sense, but it is possible, thanks to this recipe from Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West (and adapted by Christina Morales). Just make sure to use a smaller springform pan or cake insert that fits into the device’s basket.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Cheesecake

9. Air-Fryer Chicken Thighs

Credit...Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Smothered in sour cream and rice vinegar before they cook, these chicken thighs brown beautifully and crisp up in record time. You can, of course, make a single thigh for a quick, easy dinner. But you can also cook as many thighs as will fit in the basket: They make excellent leftovers.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Chicken Thighs

10. Air-Fryer Bacon

Credit...Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

Is this the platonic ideal of bacon? It comes close, at the very least. Whether you’re cooking bacon for one or two, or just over making it in a fat-filled skillet, this recipe takes advantage of how the air fryer seamlessly drains fat and even works with frozen bacon — no thawing required.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Bacon

11. Air-Fryer French Fries

Credit...David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

French fries have been attributed with catapulting the air fryer’s popularity: Compared with traditional frying, the machine uses significantly less oil and reduces the cooking time (and mess), so it’s especially ideal for cooking fries. This Melissa Clark recipe is flexible enough that it can be easily doubled, but, depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to cook the fries in batches.

Recipe: Air-Fryer French Fries

12. Air-Fryer Chicken Wings

Credit...David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Homemade chicken wings have big crowd-pleasing potential, but they come with their fair share of hurdles (a large fry setup, a long time in the oven). Melissa Clark has you covered with these air-fryer spicy chicken wings, which get a jolt from a chile-based sauce. The recipe borrows a tip from Ben Mims’s cookbook “Air Fry Every Day”: tossing the wings in baking powder before frying results in perfectly puffed, crunchy and browned pieces.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Chicken Wings

13. Air-Fryer Green Beans

Credit...Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.

For some recipes, the only rules are that there are no rules. Take the notes left on this endlessly flexible one, for example: One reader added a dollop of Dijon, while another tossed the green beans with honey and dried thyme. And guess what? Both worked. Cook this recipe to your taste, or with whatever reflects your mood.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Green Beans

14. Air-Fryer Potatoes

Credit...David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

These crispy potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to any main dish and can easily be executed in the time it takes to rest, say, your air-fryer pork chop or chicken breast (see above). Even without any parboiling, the centers turn wonderfully creamy. And, if you don’t have dried or fresh parsley on hand, any chopped fresh herb or spicy seasoning like cayenne could work deliciously here.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Potatoes

15. Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Credit...Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Lighter than their deep-fried counterparts, sweet potato fries made in an air fryer lean toward the creamier side while staying crispy and charred in each bite. Swap out the paprika for any other spice that’s singing to you: Chaat masala, sumac or any sort of fresh-cut herbs would work beautifully.

Recipe: **Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Frie**s

16. Air-Fryer Chicken Tenders

Credit...Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell.

If you have little ones clamoring for chicken tenders, this recipe ensures that you can feed them (and yourself) the most flavorful tenders in 40 minutes. Simply dredge in egg and panko, then air fry at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Chicken Tenders

17. Air-Fryer Broccoli

Credit...Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.

Here’s another choose-your-own-adventure recipe. Broccoli is tossed with olive oil and soy sauce, but you can go in any direction from there: Add a whisper of fish sauce for some umami, or some chile crisp for heat and flavor. Or make a double batch of this recipe for those times when your body craves greens. (You know those times.)

Recipe: Air-Fryer Broccoli

18. Air-Fryer Steak With Garlic-Herb Butter

Credit...Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Steak dinner becomes splatter free and weeknight easy with an air fryer. Just make sure to rest the steak before and after cooking for maximum juiciness. One commenter wrote: “I never cooked steak before. Thank you for this SUPER easy recipe. I made it for Valentine’s Day and it turned out great! Yes, even I can cook steak now!”

Recipe: Air-Fryer Steak with Garlic-Herb Butter

19. Air-Fryer Chicken Parmesan

Credit...Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

This crispy, comforting chicken Parmesan only needs 7 to 8 minutes to form a crisp shell in the air fryer. Serve Christina Morales’s recipe, adapted from Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West of the blog Air Frying Foodie, over a tangle of spaghetti.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Chicken Parmesan

20. Air-Fryer Zucchini

Credit...Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Zucchini’s high water content often makes it soggy when roasted. But Tara Holland’s genius recipe is crispy and light, with no need to salt the zucchini beforehand. The key is to coat the pieces in mayonnaise, then toss with panko and a dusting of cornstarch before air frying.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Zucchini

21. Air-Fryer Baked Potatoes

Credit...Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Sometimes you need a baked potato, and sometimes you need it in just about an hour. These spuds come out with a perfectly crispy skin and fluffy interior, and offer endless meal options. Top them with a pat of butter and serve as a side, or top with whatever leftovers you have.

Recipe: Air-Fryer Baked Potatoes

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