Every recipe on CookZya is tested multiple times in my home kitchen before publishing — no shortcuts, just real food for real families.
More about Emily →Every year the same thing happens: the turkey takes over the oven, and the sides wait in line. These air fryer Thanksgiving recipes fix that. The turkey stays in the oven, and the air fryer handles the Brussels sprouts, the potatoes, the crispy onions, the bread and the snacks for everyone who walks into the kitchen asking when dinner is.
Below are 16 recipes from our kitchen: 3 mains, 3 vegetable sides, 3 potato sides, 4 little extras and 3 appetizers. For each one you get the temperature and the cook time copied from its full recipe card, plus a link to the complete recipe with ingredients and steps. Air fryers are not all the same, so the first time you make a recipe, check it a couple of minutes early.
Need a time for something that is not on this list? Keep our air fryer cooking times chart open in another tab while you plan.
Air Fryer Thanksgiving Recipes at a Glance
Every recipe in this guide on one chart. Times are for one batch; crowd the basket and they will run longer.
| # | Recipe | Air fryer | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turkey Breast | 350°F 50–60 min |
Flip after the first 20 min |
| 2 | Whole Roast Chicken | 350°F 50–60 min |
Breast side down first |
| 3 | Pork Tenderloin | 400°F 18–22 min |
Pull at 145°F, rest 5 min |
| 4 | Brussels Sprouts & Bacon | 400°F 10–12 min |
Cook in 2 batches |
| 5 | Parmesan Asparagus | 390°F 7 min |
Thick spears: add 1-2 min |
| 6 | Honey Garlic Carrots | 370°F 18–20 min |
Glaze after 12 min |
| 7 | Crispy Baby Potatoes | 400°F 15–20 min |
Shake the basket halfway |
| 8 | Baked Potatoes | 400°F 30–35 min |
Space them apart |
| 9 | Garlic Smashed Potatoes | 400°F 8–12 min |
Boil first, then smash |
| 10 | Crispy Onions | 375°F 8–10 min |
Single layer, flip halfway |
| 11 | Roasted Garlic | 350°F 25–30 min |
Wrap each bulb in foil |
| 12 | Air Fryer Bread | 320°F 20–25 min |
Check with a toothpick |
| 13 | Pumpkin Seeds | 360°F 10–15 min |
Dry the seeds well first |
| 14 | Jalapeño Poppers | 350°F 10–13 min |
Toothpicks hold the bacon |
| 15 | Garlic Parmesan Shrimp | 400°F 8–10 min |
Single layer, shake halfway |
| 16 | Garlic Butter Scallops | 400°F 6 min |
Flip at 3 minutes |
Your Thanksgiving Day Air Fryer Game Plan
One air fryer can only cook one thing at a time, so the order matters more than the recipes. Here is a simple way to line them up.
- Days ahead: make the crispy onions. The recipe says they keep up to a week in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Morning: roast the garlic for the mashed potatoes, bake the small loaf of bread, and toast the pumpkin seeds. None of them need to be served hot.
- While the turkey roasts: the appetizers. Poppers, shrimp and scallops all cook in 13 minutes or less, so you can make them as guests arrive.
- About 40 minutes before dinner: start the baked potatoes (30 to 35 minutes at 400°F).
- While the turkey rests: the quick sides. Asparagus takes 7 minutes, Brussels sprouts 10 to 12 minutes per batch, smashed potatoes 8 to 12 minutes once boiled.
Many of these recipes share the same temperature: 7 of the 16 cook at 400°F and 4 cook at 350°F, so you rarely need to wait for the air fryer to change temperature between batches.
Air Fryer Thanksgiving Mains
Feeding a small group, or want a second protein next to the big bird? These fit in a standard basket air fryer.
1. Turkey Breast
A whole bone-in turkey will not fit in most air fryers, but a turkey breast does. The recipe starts it skin side down for 20 minutes, then flips it and cooks it until the thermometer reads 160°F (30 to 40 more minutes, depending on size). It rests for 10 minutes before carving. Food-safety note: the USDA's safe minimum for poultry is 165°F, so check the thickest part again after resting.
Air fryer: 350°F · 50–60 min
2. Whole Roast Chicken
For a small Thanksgiving, a whole chicken is easier to manage than a turkey. It cooks breast side down for 30 minutes, then breast side up for another 20 to 30 minutes, until the thickest part reads 165°F. Let it rest 10 minutes before carving.
Air fryer: 350°F · 50–60 min
3. Pork Tenderloin
A second main for guests who skip turkey. The tenderloin cooks at 400°F for 18 to 22 minutes, flipped halfway, until it reads 145°F at the thickest part. Rest it about 5 minutes before slicing.
Air fryer: 400°F · 18–22 min
Air Fryer Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Vegetable sides are where the air fryer saves the most oven space. Most of them cook in under 20 minutes.
4. Brussels Sprouts & Bacon
Halved sprouts and chopped bacon cook together, in two batches so the basket is not crowded. Each batch takes 10 to 12 minutes at 400°F, flipped halfway. If your air fryer runs hot, the recipe suggests checking at 8 minutes.
Air fryer: 400°F · 10–12 min
5. Parmesan Asparagus
The fastest side on this list: 7 minutes at 390°F, until the tips are golden and the Parmesan has melted. Thick spears need 1 to 2 extra minutes.
Air fryer: 390°F · 7 min
6. Honey Garlic Carrots
Carrots cook for 12 minutes at 370°F, then get tossed in honey garlic butter and go back in for 6 to 8 minutes, until the edges are golden. A sweet side that does not need the oven at all.
Air fryer: 370°F · 18–20 min
Air Fryer Potato Sides
Three different ways to get crispy potatoes on the table without fighting for a rack.
7. Crispy Baby Potatoes
Halved baby potatoes, oil and seasoning, 15 to 20 minutes at 400°F with a shake halfway through. Crispy outside, soft inside, and no peeling.
Air fryer: 400°F · 15–20 min
8. Baked Potatoes
Russets cook at 400°F for 30 to 35 minutes, flipped halfway, with space between them. If a fork does not slide in easily, add time in 5-minute steps. A good option when the mashed potatoes would need the stove you are already using.
Air fryer: 400°F · 30–35 min
9. Garlic Smashed Potatoes
Yukon Golds are boiled until just tender (about 18 minutes), smashed, brushed with garlic butter and air fried at 400°F for 8 to 12 minutes. You can boil them earlier in the day and crisp them right before dinner.
Air fryer: 400°F · 8–12 min
Little Extras You Can Make Ahead
Small batches that are easy to cook before the busy part of the day.
10. Crispy Onions
Crunchy onion rings and strings to pile on green beans or eat as a snack. They cook at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes per batch, in a single layer. The recipe says they keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, so you can make them days ahead.
Air fryer: 375°F · 8–10 min
11. Roasted Garlic
Foil-wrapped garlic bulbs roast at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes until the cloves are soft. Squeeze them into mashed potatoes, butter for the rolls, or gravy.
Air fryer: 350°F · 25–30 min
12. Air Fryer Bread
A small loaf that bakes at 320°F for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Every air fryer is different, so the recipe says to check at the 20-minute mark.
Air fryer: 320°F · 20–25 min
13. Pumpkin Seeds
Carving a pumpkin for pie? Keep the seeds. Dry them for 30 minutes, then air fry at 360°F for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking halfway. They make a crunchy topping for salads or a bowl to set out before dinner.
Air fryer: 360°F · 10–15 min
Air Fryer Appetizers While the Turkey Roasts
Something to snack on while everyone waits for dinner.
14. Jalapeño Poppers
Cream cheese filled jalapeños wrapped in bacon, 10 to 13 minutes at 350°F. Check at 10 minutes for crispy bacon and melted cheese, and let them cool a few minutes: the filling stays very hot.
Air fryer: 350°F · 10–13 min
15. Garlic Parmesan Shrimp
A quick appetizer that is ready in about 20 minutes including prep. Shrimp cook in a single layer at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, with a shake halfway, until opaque and golden.
Air fryer: 400°F · 8–10 min
16. Garlic Butter Scallops
If you want something a little fancier before dinner: scallops cook at 400°F for 6 minutes, flipped at the 3-minute mark, then get a spoonful of garlic butter. Serve them right away.
Air fryer: 400°F · 6 min
Tips for Air Frying on Thanksgiving
- Cook in batches. Food needs space for the hot air to move. A full basket steams instead of crisps, which is why the Brussels sprouts recipe is split into two batches.
- Shake or flip halfway. Almost every recipe here asks for it, and it is the easiest way to get even browning.
- Trust a thermometer for meat. Pork tenderloin is done at 145°F. For poultry, the USDA safe minimum is 165°F in the thickest part.
- Check early the first time. Basket and oven-style air fryers do not run at the same heat. Start checking a couple of minutes before the shortest time.
- Want more ideas after the holiday? Our 27 easy air fryer recipes cover everyday dinners and snacks.
Air Fryer Thanksgiving FAQ
Can you cook a whole turkey in an air fryer?
A whole turkey is too big for most home air fryers. A turkey breast fits: the recipe in this guide cooks it at 350°F, skin side down for 20 minutes, then flipped for 30 to 40 more minutes until it reads 160°F, followed by a 10-minute rest. The USDA safe minimum for poultry is 165°F.
What Thanksgiving side dishes can you make in an air fryer?
Brussels sprouts with bacon, Parmesan asparagus, honey garlic carrots, crispy baby potatoes, baked potatoes, garlic smashed potatoes, crispy onions for green beans, roasted garlic for mashed potatoes, and a small loaf of bread all work in the air fryer.
What temperature do you use for air fryer Thanksgiving sides?
Most of the recipes in this guide cook between 350°F and 400°F. Seven of the sixteen use 400°F, which makes it easy to cook several sides back to back.
What can I make ahead in the air fryer for Thanksgiving?
Crispy onions keep up to a week in an airtight container, according to the recipe. Roasted garlic, pumpkin seeds and bread can be made in the morning because they do not need to be served hot.
Pick two or three of these, and the oven is all yours for the turkey and the pie. Happy Thanksgiving!
