The air fryer is a Christmas secret weapon — it frees up your oven and cooks many of the trimmings faster. Here's how to plan a full Christmas dinner around it, dish by dish.
Key takeaways
Q: Can you cook Christmas dinner in an air fryer?
A: Yes — a turkey crown, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, sprouts and more all work brilliantly, freeing your oven for everything else.
Q: The biggest win?
A: Crispy roast potatoes and pigs in blankets without fighting for oven space.
The battle plan
The key on Christmas Day is timing and oven space. Use the air fryer for the dishes that benefit most from its crisping and that otherwise crowd your oven — roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, a turkey crown if it fits. Cook in order of what holds heat best, resting the meat while the trimmings crisp, and keep cooked items warm while you work through the batches.
Dish by dish
- Turkey crown — juicy and golden; see air fryer turkey crown.
- Pigs in blankets — crisp in minutes; see pigs in blankets.
- Roast potatoes — extra crispy; see air fryer roast potatoes.
- Brussels sprouts — charred and caramelised in the air fryer.
- Stuffing and parsnips — crisp up beautifully while the oven handles the rest.
Reheating leftovers? See reheating a roast dinner.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cook Christmas dinner in an air fryer?
Yes — a turkey crown, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, sprouts, stuffing and parsnips all cook brilliantly in an air fryer, freeing up your oven for everything else.
What's best to cook in the air fryer at Christmas?
The dishes that crisp well and otherwise crowd the oven — roast potatoes, pigs in blankets and a turkey crown — give the biggest wins.
How do you time it all?
Cook in batches, rest the meat while the trimmings crisp, and keep cooked dishes warm; the air fryer's job is to take pressure off your oven rather than replace it entirely.