From the turkey to your cauliflower cheese – how to cook an ENTIRE Christmas dinner in the air fryer, saving time & cash
GET ready to revolutionise your festive feast.
This Christmas, we are embracing the magic of the air fryer to craft a sumptuous dinner with all the trimmings.
From mouthwatering pigs in blankets to succulent turkey, discover how this nifty gadget can make your cooking easier and more delicious than ever.
Chef, best-selling author and air-fryer guru Clare Andrews has the perfect Christmas Day recipes to make your festive family showpiece as stress-free and tasty as possible.
The 44-year-old, who has a teenage son and lives in Oxfordshire with her partner Will, says: “Using an air fryer to cook your meal can be a game-changer in terms of saving time and money.
“It offers a faster, more energy-efficient way to prepare your festive meals.
“Unlike traditional ovens, which take longer to heat up and cook, an air fryer reduces cooking times by up to 30 per cent.
“They’re perfect for juggling multiple dishes all at once.
“You can streamline your festive meal preparation without sacrificing taste or quality, all while keeping costs in check.
“Even if you don’t cook the family’s entire Christmas meal in the air fryer, it is a wonderful added tool to your kitchen arsenal, especially at this time of year.
“And they are also great for crisping-up your dishes quickly.”
- Clare Andrews’ The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook: One Basket Meals is available now from Amazon.
Breaded prawn cocktail
Serves 4
YOU NEED:
- 160g of fresh prawns (not frozen)
- 3 tbsp plain flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 5 tbsp of stale breadcrumbs (or ready done panko breadcrumbs)
- Vegetable oil spray
- Salt and pepper to season
- To serve
- ½ iceberg lettuce
- ½ cucumber
- 4x small tomatoes
- 1 jar seafood sauce
- 2 x lemons (to dress and squeeze on the top)
- Seasoning
METHOD: Dip each prawn into plain flour, followed by the egg wash and then finally into the breadcrumbs.
Spray with a little light vegetable oil then place all your breaded prawns into the air fryer drawer.
Cook on 180C for four minutes then turn the prawns over and cook for a further four minutes on the other side.
Thinly slice your lettuce and wash, pat dry with kitchen roll and place into small bowls or on a large platter if you’re serving lots of people.
Thinly slice the cucumber and tomatoes and scatter around.
Take the prawns out of the air fryer and leave to rest for a minute or two.
Pop them on the salad, drizzle with lemon juice and follow with the seafood sauce.
Turkey crown
Serves 4
YOU NEED:
- 1.5kg turkey crown (making sure it will fit into your air fryer)
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 clementine – halved
- 1 small brown onion, halved (skin removed)
- 2/3 garlic cloves
- Seasoning
TO MAKE: Set your air fryer to 180C.
Pat dry the turkey crown with some kitchen roll.
Place your clementine, onion and garlic into the cavity of the turkey (if you don’t have room, just use half the ingredients).
Rub with your oil and season well.
Place into the air fryer, breast side down and cook for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, turn the crown over and cook for a further 20-30 minutes, or until the juices run clear and you have a crispy skin (with an internal temperature of about 65C if using a meat thermometer).
Stuffing balls
Serves 4
YOU NEED:
- Packet of any stuffing mixture
- Cooking spray
- Knob of butter
METHOD: Make the small balls as per the packet instructions, making sure you add a knob of butter to the mix to add a bit of naughtiness.
Lay them out on an oven-proof dish and spray with oil.
Cook them at 170C to start, turning after five minutes.
Then a further three-to five minutes on your maximum setting (200C-220C).
That should give you a soft and fluffy inside and a super-crunchy outside.
Leeks, peas, and pancetta
Serves 4
YOU NEED:
- 2 large leeks
- 130g diced pancetta
- 150g frozen peas
- Seasoning
METHOD: Pop your diced pancetta into the air fryer and cook on 180c for around eight to ten minutes, stirring a few times on the way.
Meanwhile, wash and thinly slice your leeks.
When the pancetta is looking crispy, remove and set aside on kitchen roll to drain the fat.
Put the sliced leeks into the air fryer and cook for around four to five minutes (until the leeks start to soften), stir and add in your frozen peas.
Stir well and cook for a further four to five minutes, stirring in between, or until the leeks start to brown and the peas are cooked through.
Finally, add in your cooked pancetta.
Mix, season to taste and serve.
Pigs in blankets
Serves 4
YOU NEED:
- 8 rashers streaky bacon
- 8 chipolatas
- 1 tbsp runny honey
- 1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard
- Cooking spray
METHOD: Wrap your chipolatas in the streaky bacon, starting at one end and rolling so they are all covered.
Mix the honey and Dijon mustard together in a bowl and brush over each chipolata, so they are all coated.
Cook on 180C for about 15 to 20 minutes, turning halfway and brushing with any leftover glaze.
Make sure the sausage is cooked throughout before serving.
If you are using smaller sausages, they may take less time to cook.
Rosemary carrots
Serves 4
YOU NEED:
- 4 fresh carrots
- Cooking spray
- Seasoning
- Dried rosemary
METHOD: You can cook these directly in the air fryer tray or use an oven proof dish.
Peel and slice your carrots into small batons, in a fries-style shape.
You should get around four or six per carrot.
Pop them in a bowl and spritz with cooking spray, adding in your dried rosemary and seasoning.
Place into the air fryer on 190C for about five to seven minutes, turning or shaking the basket halfway.
You might need more cooking time depending on the size of the carrot.
Cauliflower cheese
Serves 4
YOU NEED:
Cauliflower florets 240g (you can buy these pre-cut, which is so much easier)
A store-bought jar of cheese sauce
Handful of grated mozzarella or cheddar, or both!
Worcester sauce
Seasoning
METHOD: Par boil the cauliflower, (either using a microwave or on the hob in boiling water for five minutes) then place into an oven proof dish and pour over your sauce.
Sprinkle over the grated cheese.
Cook on 180C for around ten to 12 minutes.
If you like a crispy top to your cauliflower cheese, then turn up the air fryer temperature to maximum for the last two minutes.
Mince pies
Serves 4
YOU NEED:
- 500g short crust pastry – ready rolled for ease
- Flour for dusting
- 350g mince meat
- 1 large egg
To serve:
- Some brandy cream
- Icing sugar for dusting
METHOD: Depending on the type of pastry you’re using, either roll it out to about ½ cm thick or unroll on to baking paper.
I use an 8cm circular pastry cutter.
Make as many discs as you can, trying to use up all of the pastry.
Start to spoon about a teaspoon of mincemeat into each circle, filling half of the pastry discs and leaving the rest for the lids.
You could use a small star-shaped or snowflake stamp on some of the tops. In a bowl, mix your egg to brush lightly around the edges.
Carefully place the lids on top and brush each pie with the egg.
I like to poke a little hole in the top of each, just to allow the steam to escape.
Use a fork to seal the edges and pinch around the edge to make sure the mincemeat stays inside the pie.
Leave to chill for about 30 to 40 minutes.
Set your air fryer to 180C and pop a layer of baking paper on the bottom to stop any sticking.
Cook your pies in batches for eight to ten minutes, turn them and cook for a further three to five minutes if needed.
Make sure your pastry is starting to brown, and your filling is piping hot.
Leave to cool and lightly dust with icing sugar.
6 of the best airfryers
WHICH air fryer will do the business for your family?
Here, JOEL COOPER looks at six of the best for £60 or less to help you whip up a festive meal . . .
Living and Home 3-litre touchscreen £39.99, Debenhams (was £168)