Cool evenings call for something hearty that doesn’t heat up the whole kitchen. I’ve gathered up 35 fall meals that cook faster in the air fryer while still delivering that stay-at-home comfort you want when temperatures drop. Layers of pasta, meat, and cheese bubble together in less time than oven baking, creating the kind of dinner that makes everyone settle in for the night.
Crispy Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins
Hollowed-out potato halves get filled with cheese, bacon, and all the toppings people pile on at restaurants. Crispy Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins come out with shells that crunch when you bite through to the creamy filling inside. These work as appetizers or turn into dinner when you make enough, and the air fryer gets the skins golden without any deep frying or excessive oil.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins
Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf
Ground turkey stays moist in the air fryer, developing a caramelized exterior while the inside cooks through evenly. Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf takes half the time of traditional oven meatloaf, freeing up space for side dishes. Serving this on chilly autumn nights feels right, and leftovers make excellent sandwiches the next day when you need lunch sorted quickly.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf
Easy Air Fryer Lasagna
Noodles, sauce, and cheese layer together in a dish that fits your air fryer basket, cooking everything at once. Easy Air Fryer Lasagna builds those classic Italian flavors without heating up your whole oven on mild fall days. Each portion comes out with bubbly cheese on top and tender pasta throughout, proving you don’t need a full-size oven to make this comfort food favorite.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Lasagna
Air Fryer Pumpkin
Cubed pumpkin chunks roast quickly with just oil and seasoning, caramelizing on the edges while staying tender inside. Air Fryer Pumpkin becomes the base for soups, salads, or side dishes throughout autumn, and cooking it this way concentrates the natural sweetness. Having roasted pumpkin ready in my fridge means I can throw together fall meals faster all week long.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Pumpkin
Flaky Air Fryer Beef Pot Pie
Store-bought puff pastry tops a flavorful beef filling in individual portions that cook until golden and crisp. Flaky Air Fryer Beef Pot Pie delivers all that gravy-soaked comfort in less time than traditional pot pie, and single servings mean everyone gets their own perfectly browned crust. The air fryer makes the pastry shatter when you break through it, revealing steaming filling underneath.
Get the Recipe: Flaky Air Fryer Beef Pot Pie
Golden Air Fryer Peach Cobbler
Fruit filling bubbles beneath biscuit topping in this downsized dessert that serves two or three people perfectly. Golden Air Fryer Peach Cobbler comes together when you want something sweet but don’t need a whole pan sitting around. Using canned peaches means you can make this any time fall hits, not just when stone fruits are in season.
Get the Recipe: Golden Air Fryer Peach Cobbler
Air Fryer Chickpeas
Drained chickpeas tossed with spices, then crisp up into crunchy snacks that beat any chip for autumn movie nights. Air Fryer Chickpeas stay good for days in an airtight container, giving you something to munch on that actually has protein. I season mine in differently ways depending on my mood, from sweet cinnamon sugar to smoky paprika.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chickpeas
Savory Air Fryer Garlic Mushrooms
Whole mushrooms marinate in garlic butter, then cook until tender with edges that get slightly caramelized. Flavorful Air Fryer Garlic Mushrooms work as a side dish or get piled on steak for something fancier. The concentrated garlic flavor intensifies during cooking, creating that restaurant-quality taste without any complicated techniques.
Get the Recipe: Savory Air Fryer Garlic Mushrooms
Crispy Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole
Classic Thanksgiving side dish gets a makeover in the air fryer, with green beans and creamy sauce topped by crispy onions. Crispy Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole cooks in a fraction of the time, leaving your oven free for the turkey. That crunchy topping comes out even better than baked versions, staying crisp instead of getting soggy from steam.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole
Rich Air Fryer German Chocolate Cake
Chocolate cake with coconut-pecan frosting bakes in a smaller pan that fits most air fryers, creating a personal-sized indulgence. Rich Air Fryer German Chocolate Cake satisfies chocolate cravings on cool nights when you want dessert but don’t need twelve servings. The moist crumb develops perfectly with air circulation, and that signature frosting gets spooned on top while everything’s still warm.
Get the Recipe: Rich Air Fryer German Chocolate Cake
Smoky Air Fryer Pig Shots
Bacon-wrapped sausage bites stuffed with cheese and jalapeño cook until the bacon crisps and everything inside melts together. Smoky Air Fryer Pig Shots bring game day energy to regular fall weeknights, and people always grab more than one. The air fryer renders the bacon fat while keeping the filling juicy, creating that perfect bite-sized combination.
Get the Recipe: Smoky Air Fryer Pig Shots
Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Bone-in or boneless turkey breast roasts in the air fryer, developing golden skin while the meat stays moist. Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Breast makes Thanksgiving dinner possible for smaller gatherings without buying a whole bird. I make this throughout autumn when I want turkey flavor but don’t have hours to tend a big roast.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Creamy Air Fryer Broccoli Soup
Broccoli florets cook until tender, then get blended with cream and cheese into soup that warms you from the inside. Creamy Air Fryer Broccoli Soup starts by roasting the vegetables, which adds depth you don’t get from just boiling them. Serving this with crusty bread turns it into a complete meal for those first cold nights of the season.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Air Fryer Broccoli Soup
Easy Air Fryer Spaghetti Casserole
Broken spaghetti mixes with meat sauce and cheese, then bakes into a casserole that slices into neat portions. Easy Air Fryer Spaghetti Casserole transforms leftover pasta night into something that feels more substantial and complete. The edges get slightly crispy while the center stays saucy, giving you different textures in every serving.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Spaghetti Casserole
Decadent Air Fryer Mississippi Mud Potatoes
Sliced potatoes layer with butter, cheese, and ranch seasoning, cooking until tender with crispy tops. Decadent Air Fryer Mississippi Mud Potatoes earn their name from how rich they taste, loaded with everything that makes potatoes irresistible. These become the side dish people ask about, wanting to know how something this good came out of an air fryer.
Get the Recipe: Decadent Air Fryer Mississippi Mud Potatoes
Flaky Air Fryer Cod
Seasoned fish fillets cook in minutes, developing a light crust while staying tender and moist inside. Flaky Air Fryer Cod makes weeknight fish dinners possible without any lingering smells in your house. The quick cooking time means you can have dinner ready faster than ordering takeout, and the results taste fresh rather than greasy.
Get the Recipe: Flaky Air Fryer Cod
Creamy Air Fryer White Chicken Chili
Shredded chicken simmers with white beans, green chiles, and cream in a pot that fits your air fryer. Creamy Air Fryer White Chicken Chili develops those long-simmered flavors in less time, perfect for autumn evenings when you want something warming. Topping each bowl with cheese, sour cream, and tortilla strips makes this feel like a restaurant meal at home.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Air Fryer White Chicken Chili
Crispy Air Fryer Pizza
Pizza dough gets topped with sauce and cheese, then cooks until the crust crisps and the cheese bubbles. Crispy Air Fryer Pizza lets you make personal pizzas that come out with that wood-fired texture. Everyone can customize their own toppings, and cooking them individually means no waiting for one giant pie to finish baking.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Pizza
Rich Air Fryer French Onion Soup
Caramelized onions simmer in beef broth, then get topped with bread and melted cheese for classic bistro flavor. Rich Air Fryer French Onion Soup brings that restaurant experience home, with the air fryer perfectly melting and browning the cheese on top. Autumn nights practically demand something this warming, and the deep onion flavor tastes like you spent all day cooking.
Get the Recipe: Rich Air Fryer French Onion Soup
Cozy Air Fryer Chicken Noodle Casserole
Egg noodles, chicken, and creamy sauce bake together into comfort food that feels like a warm hug. Cozy Air Fryer Chicken Noodle Casserole feeds the family without much effort, and the air fryer gives you those crispy edges everyone fights over. This is the kind of meal that makes people want to stay at the table talking long after their plates are empty.
Get the Recipe: Cozy Air Fryer Chicken Noodle Casserole
Air Fryer Crumbl Caramel Pumpkin Cookies
Thick, bakery-style cookies get loaded with pumpkin spice and topped with caramel buttercream frosting. Air Fryer Crumbl Caramel Pumpkin Cookies copy that famous cookie shop texture at home, staying soft in the center with slightly crisp edges. Making these in small batches means fresh cookies whenever the craving hits, without turning on your big oven.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Crumbl Caramel Pumpkin Cookies
Soft Air Fryer Garlic Knots
Pizza dough gets tied into knots, brushed with garlic butter, then cooked until golden and pillowy. Soft Air Fryer Garlic Knots pair with any pasta dinner or soup throughout fall, and they cook faster than waiting for your oven to preheat. Pulling these apart while they’re still warm and buttery makes dinner feel special, even on regular weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Soft Air Fryer Garlic Knots
Comforting Air Fryer Chicken and Dumpling Casserole
Biscuit dough tops chicken and vegetables in gravy, baking into a casserole version of the classic soup. Comforting Air Fryer Chicken and Dumpling Casserole gives you all those familiar flavors in a form that’s easier to serve and eat. The dumplings cook fluffy on top while absorbing some of the gravy underneath, creating layers of texture throughout.
Get the Recipe: Comforting Air Fryer Chicken and Dumpling Casserole
Crispy Air Fryer Crostini
Sliced baguette brushed with olive oil and seasoned before crisping into the base for any topping you want. Crispy Air Fryer Crostini come out evenly golden without having to watch them in the oven, giving you the foundation for appetizers or soup accompaniments. I keep these on hand during the fall for last-minute entertaining or just elevating regular meals.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Crostini
Cheesy Air Fryer Mexican Casserole
Tortillas layered with seasoned beef, beans, and cheese, creating Tex-Mex comfort food that cooks in less time. Cheesy Air Fryer Mexican Casserole satisfies taco cravings while feeling more substantial and complete as a meal. The cheese melts perfectly under the air fryer’s heat, and you can customize the spice level to match what your family prefers.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Air Fryer Mexican Casserole
Glazed Air Fryer Carrots
Baby carrots are tossed with butter and brown sugar, then cooked until tender with a shiny glaze coating each piece. Glazed Air Fryer Carrots taste like holiday side dishes but come together any night you want something slightly sweet with dinner. The natural carrot flavor concentrates as they cook, and that glaze caramelizes just enough to make these more interesting than plain steamed vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Air Fryer Carrots
Tender Air Fryer Swedish Meatballs
Seasoned meatballs cook in the air fryer, then get tossed in creamy gravy for that classic Scandinavian flavor. Tender Air Fryer Swedish Meatballs serve over egg noodles for complete comfort on chilly autumn evenings. The air fryer browns the meatballs evenly on all sides without any flipping, and they stay juicy inside while developing that essential crust.
Get the Recipe: Tender Air Fryer Swedish Meatballs
Easy Air Fryer Hamburger Casserole
Ground beef mixes with pasta, vegetables, and cheese in a one-dish meal that bakes until bubbly. Easy Air Fryer Hamburger Casserole uses ingredients most people already have, making it the go-to when you need dinner fast. Kids eat this without complaints, and adults appreciate how hearty it feels after spending time in the cool fall air.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Hamburger Casserole
Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
Classic peanut butter cookies with fork crosshatch marks bake in minutes, staying soft with slightly crisp edges. Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies let you make half a dozen at a time instead of committing to three dozen. The smaller batch size means you can have warm cookies on a random Tuesday without leftovers tempting you all week.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
Easy Air Fryer Thanksgiving Casserole
Turkey, stuffing, and vegetables layer together in a casserole that tastes like the big holiday in convenient form. Easy Air Fryer Thanksgiving Casserole lets you enjoy those flavors without roasting a whole bird or making ten side dishes. This works great for using up leftovers or when you want Thanksgiving taste on a random fall evening.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Thanksgiving Casserole
Meaty Air Fryer Portobello Mushrooms
Large mushroom caps marinate in balsamic, then cook until tender and juicy enough to serve as the main course. Meaty Air Fryer Portobello Mushrooms give vegetarians something substantial for dinner, and meat-eaters find them surprisingly filling too. The concentrated mushroom flavor intensifies during cooking, creating depth that stands up to any steak.
Get the Recipe: Meaty Air Fryer Portobello Mushrooms
Spicy Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
Halved jalapeños get stuffed with cream cheese mixture and wrapped in bacon before crisping to perfection. Spicy Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers bring just enough heat to wake up your palate on cool evenings. The bacon crisps beautifully while the filling stays creamy, and making these in the air fryer means no splattering oil or lingering pepper smell.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
Sweet Air Fryer Sweet Potato Casserole
Mash sweet potatoes, top with pecans and marshmallows, then cook until everything gets golden and bubbly. Sweet Air Fryer Sweet Potato Casserole captures that Thanksgiving side dish in smaller portions that work for regular dinners. The air fryer caramelizes the marshmallow topping without burning it, creating that perfect balance of textures everyone loves.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Air Fryer Sweet Potato Casserole
Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Bone-in or boneless thighs season simply, then cook until the skin crisps and the meat stays tender. Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs have become my default protein throughout fall since they’re hard to overcook and always come out flavorful. The rendered fat drips away while cooking, leaving you with chicken that tastes indulgent without being greasy.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Cheesy Air Fryer Million Dollar Casserole
Multiple types of cheese melt into pasta with seasoned meat, creating layers of richness that justify the name. Cheesy Air Fryer Million Dollar Casserole feeds a crowd or gives you leftovers for days, and reheating portions works perfectly. That golden, bubbly top forms in the air fryer just like in the oven, but dinner’s ready faster so you can settle in for a cozy evening sooner.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Air Fryer Million Dollar Casserole
