Eating healthy as college students can be a challenge. For probably the first time in life, you’re the one having to tell yourself what to do, remind yourself to eat your veggies and get enough protein for the day. There’s a lot of freedom and responsibility adulting, especially when you throw in juggling school responsibilities. Meal prepping can be a challenge!

Using an air fryer can help make cooking healthy meals in college faster and easier. An air fryer is also a convenient kitchen tool that can be used even in the smallest college dorms. That’s why today, I’m sharing a round-up of air fryer recipes for college students to enjoy.

Air Fryer Recipes For College Students

I’m going to share whether or not air fryer recipes are healthy and how with the right information, college students can be empowered with how to use air fryers for preparing meals on campus.

Are Air Fryer Recipes Healthy

Cooking in air fryers can be a healthier alternative than deep frying the same foods in grease. With an air fryer, you can eliminate much of the oils used when cooking in traditional fryers. This is what makes air fryers a healthier alternative for many. However, keep in mind that whether or not an air fryer meal is healthy really depends on the actual meal itself that you are choosing to cook.

5 Easy Air Fryer Recipes For College Students

Here are some of my favorite air fryer recipes for college students seeking a delicious meal that’s quick and easy to make.

Greek Yogurt Coated Chicken

By the name, it may sound like a moderately complex dish, but in reality, it’s pretty easy to make! And if you’re making it for guests, they’re sure to be impressed!

Ingredients

6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw – 190 calories

¼ cup Yogurt, plain, whole milk, from tub – 53 calories

¼ Lemon, Whole – 6 calories

1 Tbsp Parsley, fresh – 0 calories

3 cups Cauliflower rice, raw (already riced) – 114 calories

¼ tsp Garlic salt – 0 calories

¼ tsp Paprika – 0 calories

⅛ tsp Red pepper flakes – 0 calories

1 Tbsp Avocado oil (Tbsp) – 124 calories

Instructions

1. Mix together yogurt, spices, lemon juice, and chopped cilantro.
2. Cut a few slivers in chicken breast so your marinade will soak in the chicken.
3. Coat chicken in yogurt mixture.
4. If possible: cover your chicken and refrigerate to marinate for 15-20 minutes.
5. Bake or air fry for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F.
6. Add oil to a pan, stir fry cauliflower rice until cooked through. Top with more garlic salt.
7. Top rice with chicken, enjoy!
8. No chicken? Use tofu. No dairy? Use a plain dairy-free yogurt.

Air Fried Apples

Ingredients

1 Apple, medium – 95 calories

2 tsp Butter (tsp) – 72 calories

½ tsp Cinnamon – 0 calories

8 Tbsp Regular whipped cream – 60 calories

Instructions

• Slice apple into 8 or 16 slices.
• Melt butter in the microwave (about 20 seconds).
• In a bowl, mix together apples, butter, cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice).
• Air fry apples for 10 minutes at 380 degrees F, or bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. Flip apple slices midway through (no matter if you’re using the air fryer or oven).
• Serve with whipped cream.
• No butter? Use coconut oil. No whipped cream? Use whipped coconut cream (available at most stores).

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

Learn how to make these bbq chicken wings in air fryer. You’ll love this easy air fryer recipe when you’re needing a quick pick me up meal for dinner.

Get the recipe here.

Air fryer (Ground) Beef & Broccoli

Pair it with garlic bread or eat it solo. It’s filling, healthy, and a quick and easy air fryer recipe to make.

Ingredients

2 cups Broccoli, frozen – 62 calories

4 oz Ground beef, 85% lean, raw – 213 calories

1 Tbsp Sesame seeds (Tbsp) – 50 calories

2 Tbsp Soy Ginger sauce – 30 calories

1 tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) – 0 calories

Instructions

1. To cook raw ground beef in an air fryer, thaw completely before seasoning. 
2. Add in garlic. Stir fry beef and broccoli for 5-6 minutes.
3. Remove broccoli & cut into small pieces. Add back into pan. Air fry for another 3-4 minutes.
4. Add in sauce.
5. Top with sesame seeds when ready to eat.
6. Notes: No soy ginger sauce? Use soy sauce. No beef? Use ground turkey, tofu, or beans/lentils. Fresh or frozen broccoli can be used here – whatever you have! Also, if you have another % lean meat, that is also fine, use what you have.

Air fried sweet potatoes

There’s a lot you can do with sweet potatoes (or potatoes in general) in the air fryer. You can make potato wedges or sweet potato french fries in the air fryer to make the perfect side dish. You can also do a quick and easy baked potato recipe and cook them until the potatoes are golden brown and the outside is cooked to crispy perfection, then add yogurt like in this recipe down below.

Ingredients

8 oz Yogurt, plain, Greek, 2%, from tub – 170 calories

1 Potato, sweet, medium, 5 inches – 112 calories

¼ tsp Cinnamon – 0 calories

Instructions

1. Wash potato & slice off (be careful) blemishes on skin. Poke holes on all over potato with a fork. Air fry for about 35-45 minutes at 370F degrees (or until soft), which is less time than they take in the oven.
2. In a bowl, mix yogurt and sweet potato.
3. Top with cinnamon.
4. No dairy? Use a dairy free yogurt. Want a flavored yogurt? Choose one with less than 15 gm added sugar.

Like these? You might also like this list of the best healthy microwave meals you can make in your dorm.