8 Cheap Air Fryer Meals for a Family (Built From Supermarket Basics)

Cheap cooking is mostly about ingredients, not appliances. The air fryer helps by cooking small portions quickly without heating a whole oven, but the real saving comes from choosing cuts and staples that stretch.

These meals use ingredients you can find in any UK supermarket's own-brand range. Prices change all the time, so we have not quoted exact costs — compare the price per kilo on shelf labels to find the best value that week.

Shopping basics that keep costs down

These staples appear again and again in the meals below.

• Chicken thighs and drumsticks — usually cheaper per kilo than breast and more forgiving to cook
• Sausages (own-brand) — slice into tray bakes or pasta
• Frozen mixed vegetables, peas and peppers — no waste, and frozen soon after picking
• Potatoes, onions and carrots bought loose or in large bags
• Tinned beans, chickpeas and tuna
• Tortilla wraps, eggs and a block of cheddar

The meals

Each of these feeds a family of four with sides; cook in two batches if your basket is small.

1. Chicken thighs and potato wedges: season thighs with paprika and garlic, cook at 190°C for 22–28 minutes; wedges at 200°C for 20–25 minutes.
2. Sausage and veg tray bake: sliced sausages, peppers, onions and potato chunks tossed in oil and herbs at 190°C for 18–22 minutes, shaking twice.
3. Fish finger wraps: frozen fish fingers at 200°C for 8–10 minutes, served in wraps with shredded lettuce and a spoon of mayo or tartare sauce.
4. Bean and veg fajitas: peppers and onions at 190°C for 10–12 minutes, tossed with drained kidney beans and fajita spice, served in wraps with grated cheese.
5. Jacket potatoes with beans and cheese: see our air fryer jacket potato guide for timings.
6. Crispy chickpea and veg bowls: drained chickpeas at 200°C for 12–15 minutes until crunchy, served with rice and roasted frozen veg.
7. Egg-fried rice with leftover veg: cook the rice on the hob, then use the air fryer to crisp frozen veg and leftover chicken at 190°C for 8–10 minutes before stirring through.
8. Homemade chicken nuggets: breast or thigh pieces dipped in beaten egg and breadcrumbs at 200°C for 10–12 minutes, turning once.

Make it go further

Plan two meals around the same ingredient: roast extra chicken thighs on Monday for wraps on Tuesday. Bulk out mince dishes and curries with lentils or beans. Use the freezer for bread, leftover portions and cooked rice (cool rice quickly and refrigerate within an hour, then freeze or eat within a day).

Writing a simple weekly meal plan before you shop is one of the most effective ways to avoid buying things that go to waste.

Tip: Check the 'reduced' shelf near closing time for meat and bread, and freeze it the same day if you will not use it before the date.

Food safety when batch cooking

Cool leftovers quickly, cover them and get them in the fridge within two hours. Eat refrigerated leftovers within two days, and reheat until steaming hot all the way through — only reheat food once.

General information only. Check product labels and manufacturer instructions before you start.