How to Air Fry on a Budget?

Today I am excited to share with you a few of my favorite air fryer recipes that you can make with $5 or less! These recipes are awesome because they are filling, tasty, and cheap!

Plus, I tried out these recipes in the Gourmia air fryer that I got from Costco for only $50 (Currently it is on Amazon too if you don’t have a Costco membership). I’ll share my review of the Gourmia air fryer and link to my other favorite air fryers down below.

You will even be able to include tender veggies and of course some beef recipes with these easy recipes without breaking the bank.

For now, keep reading to get my top 4 air fryer recipes that cost $5 each! Or watch along with me in this YouTube video!

5 Dollar Air Fryer Dinner Recipes

Sausage, Potato, and Onion Bake

My Fabulessly Frugal fans already know that I love this amazing sausage, potato, and onion recipe in the air fryer. I’ve slightly adapted the recipe from the original recipe for this 5 dollar challenge. But, that is what I love most about this recipe- it is super adaptable!

Plus, it is a perfectly filling and a super tasty recipe that is so incredibly easy to make. I was way stoked to find out that I can feed my family this recipe with only $5.39. Here are the ingredients I used and the cost breakdown:

• 2 potatoes – $0.50
• 1/2 onion – $0.37
• 1 green pepper – $0.68
• Chicken sausage – $3.84

Recipe Notes

The amount this recipe makes is a little smaller than the original recipe card. Preparing the ingredients will be the same, and cooking time will be similar. Just keep an eye on things and pull out or add more time as needed.

I used russet potatoes for this $5 dollar recipe, and in the original recipe I used baby potatoes. Both will cook about the same in the air fryer, just make sure you cube the russet potatoes into bite sized pieces.

Flavorful Sausage, Potato, and Onion in the Air Fryer

This sausage, potato, and onion recipe is a flavorful, easy, and filling air fryer dinner that is ready in less than 30 minutes!

Check out this recipe

Baked Potato Bar

Have you ever tried making baked potatoes in the air fryer? I love air fryer baked potatoes because they are perfectly cooked and crispy. You are going to love making this simple baked potato recipe in the air fryer, then finishing it with your favorite baked potato toppings. Altogether this makes an affordable and easy baked potato bar dinner!

Here’s the breakdown of the cost and ingredients:

• Potatoes – $0.35
• Chili – $1.28
• Sour Cream – $0.25
• Cheese – $0.50
• Carrots – $0.98 (side dish)

Total Cost: $3.88. Now that is what I call a tasty and cheap dinner!

Baked Potato Bar Instructions

1. Pro Tip: Parboil the potatoes. Bake the potatoes quicker in the air fryer by parboiling the potatoes in the microwave first. Wash the potatoes, pat dry, and poke with a fork. Then, place the potatoes in the microwave and cook for 5 minutes.
2. Air fry the potatoes. Once slightly cooked, lightly spray with oil. Place in the air fryer basket. Air fry the potatoes for 20 minutes at 400F/200C, or until the outside is crispy and the inside is soft.
3. Top with your favorite toppings. Remove the potatoes from the air fryer basket and top with your favorite baked potatoes toppings. I like to heat up a can of chili and add that to the top of the potatoes with sour cream and cheese. Then, serve with a side of baby carrots for a healthy, crunchy, and complete meal!

Simple Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Get perfect baked potatoes that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside - all in less time - with this simple air fryer baked potato recipe.

Check out this recipe

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Premade frozen meatballs are great, but have you tried these delicious homemade meatballs? This recipe is one of my favorites and I love serving it up with spaghetti noodles and pasta sauce.

If you’d like to spend a couple extra dollars, you can make this easy and tasty homemade spaghetti sauce. 

The best part of this recipe is that it is affordable and tasty! Here’s how much spaghetti and meatballs in the air fryer costs:

• Pasta – $1.08
• Sauce – $0.98
• Green Pepper – $0.77
• Mozzarella Cheese – $0.50
• 1/2 Onion – $0.20
• Ground Turkey – $3.16

The total cost for this hefty meal is $6.69. Which is actually a great price because I can repurpose part of this meal for the Speedy Pizzas recipe.

Recipe Notes

I’ve adapted this homemade meatball recipe from my very favorite 30 minute Turkey Meatball Sub Recipe. The air frying instructions will be the same as the Meatball sub recipe below, but here are the ingredients and instructions you will need to make Italian meatballs for a delicious Spaghetti and meatballs dinner.

Ingredients

Meatballs-

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1/2 diced onion
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 garlic powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp basil

Spaghetti and sauce-

• 1 can Pasta sauce
• 1 pound spaghetti noodles
• Green pepper, cubed (optional)
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine the ground turkey with the spices, until combined.
2. Cookie scoop the meat mixture into about 2 tablespoon balls.
3. Preheat air fryer
4. Place the meatballs in the air fryer. Cook at 350F/175C for 10 minutes.
5. While the meatballs air fry, cook the pasta and warm up pasta sauce. You can add chopped green peppers to the pasta sauce, or serve as a side. And, garnish the pasta with mozzarella cheese.

Notes: You can flash freeze the uncooked meatballs to enjoy at a future time!

30-Minutes Turkey Meatball Subs in the Air Fryer

Tasty and easy turkey meatball subs in the air fryer!

Check out this recipe

Speedy Pizzas

Speedy pizzas are a delicious and quick dinner that you can enjoy in minutes! This recipe works great with leftovers which is why we are saving it for last. Be sure to read the original recipe post of these quick mini pizzas for more ideas and ways you can make a mini pizza!

It doesn’t cost much to make a mini pizza, check out this recipe ingredient cost breakdown!

• English Muffins – $1.97
• Mozzarella Cheese – $1.78
• Leftovers – free! 

Total Cost: $3.75

Recipe Notes

See the original recipe post for cooking times and instructions. This recipe is so easy to make, especially if you use leftovers.

I was able to enjoy this recipe with leftover meatballs, spaghetti sauce, and mozzarella cheese. This speedy pizza recipe also tasted lovely with my leftovers from the potato, onion, and chicken sausage dinner.

Air Fryer Mini Pizzas Recipe

Mini pizza is a quick and simple snack or lunch that you can whip up in less than 15 minutes in the air fryer! Check out my favorite way to make air fryer mini pizzas, with a couple of easy variations too!

Check out this recipe

What is the best air fryer?

I think the answer to this question depends a lot on personal preference and what your needs are. When you are shopping for an air fryer, it is important to keep in mind the amount of people you cook for, the specs (or dimensions and weight) of the air fryer, the features of the air fryer, and also the general ease of use or user experience with the air fryer.

The Gourmia Air Fryer

I tried the Gourmia 7 quart air fryer when I made these recipes for this post’s YouTube video and here are a few of my thoughts on the Gourmia air fryer:

• it has a lot of space measuring 9.5 inches in width and 4.5 inches deep
• I don’t love the tray feature
• its challenging to open and close the air fryer basket
• it has a weird factory smell after first using
• but overall it works great for its great price!

My Personal Favorite Air Fryer

I love my Cosori air fryer because it is intuitive, reliable, easy to clean, and the brand has great customer service! I have the Cosori 5.8 quart Model CP 358 air fryer and the new Dual Blaze air fryer!

You can learn more about the Cosori air fryer and other air fryers I’ve reviewed on my YouTube channel.

My favorite air fryer tools to use

Here is a list of some of my favorite air fryer accessories and tools to use when making these cheap air fryer recipes:

• Air fryer parchment paper
• Meat thermometer 
• Oil sprayer
• Tongs

Final Thoughts

Dinnertime doesn’t need to be stressful or expensive! These easy air fryer recipes make dinner time a breeze! You can enjoy these recipes this coming week.

Share with us in the comments below what adaptations you made to these recipes.  I’m also curious to know how similar prices are in your hometown! Let us know!

More Simple and Easy Air Fryer Recipes

• 15 Minute Baked Avocado Eggs in the Air Fryer
• Simple Air Fryer Tuna Melt
• The Best Summer Squash Recipe
• Easy Air Fried PB&J Recipe
• Air Fryer Potato Skins Recipe

Healthy Air Fryer Dinners That You Will Love

• 5 Ingredient Teriyaki Chicken Dinner
• Honey Garlic Pork Chops
• Easy Salmon Air Fryer Sheet Pan Dinner with Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
• Get more of these tasty air fryer dinners in my Yummy Air Fryer Recipes Cookbook! 

Air Fryer Tips and Tricks

• Air Fryer 101
• Learn these common Air Fryer Mistakes!
• All about the Best and Worst Air Fryer Accessories
• How to Clean Your Air Fryer
• How to Cook Any Recipe in the Air Fryer