We’re big on making things easier and faster—especially on Thanksgiving. So on a day when oven space is precious and hard to come by, it’s time to turn to your air fryer. It can make ultra-crispy or super tender food—depending on what you’re making!—quickly, so you can get to eating sooner. We adapted four of our fave Thanksgiving recipes for the air fryer, either just a topping (can’t-believe-they’re-not-deep-fried crispy shallots for buttery smashed potatoes) or a whole main dish (Chrissy’s Thanksgiving Roast Chicken). Check them out, and breathe a little easier knowing you don’t have to try to cram four dishes in the oven with the turkey (or chicken) now.
Air Fryer Crispy Shallots
Makes: About ½ cup | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
3 shallots, peeled and thinly sliced
+ Olive oil
+ Kosher salt
Directions
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Toss shallots with a light drizzle of olive oil until evenly coated.
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Add to the air fryer basket and set to 250°F.
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Cook for 10 minutes and then give them a good toss. Cook another 10 minutes and toss again—your shallots may need another 5–10 minutes to be crispy and golden brown, depending on how thick they are and your air fryer. Use these to top mashed potatoes or green bean casserole!
Air Fryer Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Serves: 4–6 | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
1 ½ pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthwise
15 cloves garlic, peeled
¼ cup olive oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
Directions
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In a bowl, toss together the Brussels sprouts, garlic cloves, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Add to the air fryer basket and set to 370°F. Cook on the air fry setting for 8 minutes.
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Remove the basket, give everything a good stir, and cook for another 8–10 minutes, until the Brussels sprouts are crispy and deep golden brown and the garlic is tender.
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Transfer to a platter and season to taste with more salt and pepper. Serve as is, or top with the fixins for Chrissy’s Balsamic-Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Cranberries, Walnuts, and Blue Cheese.
Chrissy’s Air Fryer Thanksgiving Roast Chicken
Serves: 6–8 | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Total Time : 1 hour
Ingredients
¾ pound (4 medium) carrots, peeled and halved lengthwise
¾ pound baby potatoes, scrubbed
8 ounces (1 ¼ cups) frozen pearl onions, defrosted, drained and patted dry
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons Cravings’ Garlicky Onion Herb seasoning blend (or 1 tablespoon each garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and kosher salt)
1 head garlic, top ½ inch sliced off and discarded
4 sprigs rosemary
1 (4–4 ½-pound) whole chicken, patted dry
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
+ Kosher salt
Directions
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Arrange the carrots and potatoes in the bottom of the air fryer basket. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Cravings’ Garlicky Onion Herb seasoning blend (or 1 tablespoon each garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and kosher salt). Use tongs (or your hands) to toss and coat right in the fry basket, then put the carrots in the center of the basket to create a “roasting rack” the chicken will go on, and arrange the potatoes around the outer edge of the dish.
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Nestle the garlic head in the corner of the fry basket, drizzle with remaining oil, and season lightly with salt. Season the cavity of the chicken with salt and arrange rosemary sprigs.
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Combine the butter with the remaining 2 tablespoons seasoning in a bowl, then rub all over the chicken, and arrange breast-side down over the carrots.
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Turn the air fryer on to 350°F on the air fry setting. Cook for 30 minutes, then flip. At this time, add the onions to the perimeter of the pan—otherwise they may get overcooked and burn. Cook for 25–30 minutes longer until the chicken is deep golden brown and a drumstick pulls away when jiggled. (The internal temperature of the deepest part of the thigh should reach 165°F when measured with an instant-read thermometer and juices should run clear.)
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Carefully remove the chicken from the basket to rest for 10 minutes. Return the vegetables to the air fryer and cook at 350°F for an additional 10 minutes, or until the carrots are tender. Carve the chicken and serve with the veggies and Pepper's Cheat'n Gravy!
Air Fryer Thyme Butter Roasted Mushrooms
Serves: 4–6 | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Total Time : 40 minutes
Ingredients
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound white mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
1 pound cremini mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
Directions
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In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, oil, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add the white and cremini mushrooms and toss to coat.
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Add the mushrooms to the air fryer basket. Set to air fry setting at 370°F. Cook for 25–30 minutes, stirring three times to make sure the mushrooms brown evenly and don’t burn.
