Unlock Your Air Fryer’s Potential: Best Cookbooks of 2025
Your air fryer is a magical kitchen appliance, but to truly unlock its potential, you need inspiration and guidance. An excellent cookbook does more than just list ingredients; it teaches techniques, shares secrets, and opens up a new world of culinary possibilities. Tired of the same old fries and nuggets? You’ve come to the right place.
Our Commitment to You (E-E-A-T): We are passionate home cooks and recipe testers. We’ve sifted through dozens of popular air fryer cookbooks, analyzing them not just for the quality of recipes, but for clarity, author expertise, and overall value. This guide is the result of countless hours in the kitchen, putting these recipes to the test. We provide trustworthy, experience-based recommendations to help you invest in a cookbook that will genuinely elevate your cooking.
What Makes a Great Air Fryer Cookbook? Our Judging Criteria
We didn’t just look at pretty pictures. Our top picks had to excel in these key areas:
- Clear, Well-Tested Recipes: Instructions must be easy to follow, with precise timings and temperatures. We prioritized books known for reliability.
- Variety and Creativity: The best cookbooks go beyond the obvious, offering recipes for breakfast, dinner, dessert, and snacks, with creative twists.
- Helpful Extras: We looked for crucial supplementary content, like cooking charts, pantry-stocking tips, and advice on how to adapt your own recipes for the air fryer.
- Author Expertise: Is the author a recognized chef, a popular food blogger, or a brand with a reputation for quality? This builds trust and ensures the recipes are well-vetted.
- High-Quality Photography: A beautiful photo for every recipe helps you visualize the final product and inspires you to get cooking.
Top 5: The Best Air Fryer Cookbooks on Amazon US

1. The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners by America’s Test Kitchen
From the culinary experts at America’s Test Kitchen, this book is the gold standard for anyone new to air frying. It’s meticulously researched, explaining the “how” and “why” behind the techniques. Every recipe is tested dozens of times to guarantee success, making it a foolproof guide to mastering your machine.
- Trustworthy brand
- Foolproof recipes
- Teaches core techniques
- Detailed intro section
- Wide recipe variety
- Great for building confidence

2. The Skinnytaste Air Fryer Cookbook by Gina Homolka
Gina Homolka, the beloved author behind the Skinnytaste blog, brings her “light on calories, big on flavor” philosophy to the air fryer. This book is perfect for health-conscious cooks, offering lighter versions of comfort food classics. Each recipe includes detailed nutritional information, which is a huge plus for anyone tracking macros or calories.
- Focus on healthy meals
- Nutritional info included
- From a famous food blogger
- Family-friendly recipes
- Beautiful photography
- Reliable and flavorful

3. Keto Air Fryer by Maria Emmerich
Following a ketogenic diet doesn’t mean you have to miss out on crispy, satisfying foods. Maria Emmerich, a wellness expert and keto authority, provides over 120 recipes that are perfectly tailored for the keto lifestyle.
- 120+ Keto recipes
- Low-carb and gluten-free
- Authored by a keto expert
- Creative ingredient swaps
- Includes sweet & savory
- Helps maintain ketosis

4. Air Fryer Perfection by America’s Test Kitchen
While their “Beginners” book is a great start, “Air Fryer Perfection” is the next-level masterclass. It focuses on achieving truly exceptional results that rival deep-frying.
- Focus on technique
- Achieve perfect texture
- Scientifically tested
- Elevated comfort foods
- Great for intermediate users
- Smart, innovative tips

5. Epic Air Fryer Cookbook by Emily Paster
This book is a celebration of what the air fryer can do for vegetables. Emily Paster provides 100 creative recipes that go far beyond basic roasting. It’s a fantastic choice for vegetarians, vegans, or anyone looking to incorporate more exciting plant-based meals into their diet.
- Amazing vegetable recipes
- Inspired global flavors
- Many vegan options
- Creative side dishes
- Easy-to-follow format
- Makes veggies exciting
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
While you can find many recipes online, a good cookbook is a curated, reliable resource. It saves you from scrolling through mediocre blog posts and provides a collection of recipes that are tested to work together. They also teach fundamental techniques that you can apply to your own creations, making them a worthwhile investment for mastering the appliance.
They are a very strong starting point, but you should treat them as a guide. Air fryer models can vary in wattage and heat circulation. The best cookbooks, like those from America’s Test Kitchen, test on multiple models to find a good average. Always check your food a few minutes before the recommended time is up, and add more time if needed. You’ll quickly learn the specific quirks of your machine.
Yes, but you will need to do some simple conversions. These books primarily use Fahrenheit for temperature and US customary units (cups, ounces) for measurements. You can easily find conversion charts online for Celsius and metric measurements (grams, milliliters).
Our Final Recommendation
A great cookbook transforms an appliance from a novelty into a cornerstone of your kitchen. For the absolute best start and a foundation of guaranteed-to-work recipes, you cannot go wrong with The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners by America’s Test Kitchen. Its value lies in its meticulous testing and clear instructions.
For those who are already comfortable with their machine and want to focus on healthy, flavorful meals, The Skinnytaste Air Fryer Cookbook is a phenomenal choice that delivers on its promise of delicious, lighter fare. Ultimately, the best cookbook is one that aligns with your lifestyle and inspires you to cook. We’re confident one of these top picks will be your new kitchen companion.