You’ve just unboxed your Bella air fryer and now you’re flipping through recipes trying to figure out where to start. I’ve got some good news for you! We’ve curated the best Bella air fryer recipes to try and get you started with your newest appliance.
Bella is a great choice. After all, they make a huge variety of air fryers in terms of both size and functions. I love the pre-set cooking functions which make cooking your go-to meals and snacks even easier!
If you need help getting started beyond the recipe, check out our step by step guide on how to use a Bella air fryer.
BELLA 3 Qt 5-in-1 Air Fryer Oven
Now, onto the delicious part!
1. French Fries (Fresh or Frozen) in Your Bella Air Fryer
That’s right, we love french fries in the Bella air fryer. You can make a fresh, homemade version, or go ahead and shortcut with the frozen variety.
You’ll need to cook, shake, and brown your way to golden deliciousness. Thankfully, it’s only about 30 minutes for fresh and 8 for frozen to cook.
Add a little oil to the fresh ones, but not to the frozen – it’s already included there!
Once they’re piping hot, sprinkle a little salt, pepper, garlic powder, parmesan, or whatever your heart desires on there. Alternatively, you could load them up with toppings to make a meal, like the Dirty Fries featured in our best Blackstone air fryer recipes.
As a side, though, we recommend serving them up with some of our favorites, like burgers, hot dogs, sloppy joes, fried fish, or fried chicken sandwiches.
You can even make the burgers in the air fryer too! Check out the juicy burgers featured in our best Chefman air fryer recipes for more details.
Find the full recipe for air fryer french fries here.
2. Almost Fried Chicken in the Bella Air Fryer
Alright so it’s not quite the same as a deep fried piece of chicken. However, it’s still crunchy, juicy, and probably a lot better for you. That’s right, you can make an air-fried chicken recipe in your Bella air fryer!
Make sure to soak it in some buttermilk to soften things up (I like to add pickle juice too for the brine)! Then, add some breading – double coat if you like some extra crunch.
For a pickle-brined chicken recipe check out the one in our best Crux air fryer recipes!
Spritz that outer coating with a little bit of oil to set things up for that golden brown crunch. If you don’t have one, check out our best oil sprayers for the air fryer.
Then, all that’s left is to air fry your chicken! Depending what cut you’re using, this fried chicken recipe should take 30 minutes or less in your Bella air fryer. Of course, thighs take longer than breasts, and smaller pieces like tenderloins cook very quickly.
Check out the super crispy, highly dippable air fryer chicken tenders over in our best Breville air fryer recipes if that sounds like something you’d like!
I also compiled a list of my favorite Cuisinart air fryer chicken recipes for even more delicious choices!
For the full recipe for Bella air fryer fried chicken, cluck here.
3. Simple Salmon Made Fresh in a Bella Air Fryer
Salmon is such a gorgeous fish, and a great source of Omegas. So, yeah, you can feel good about eating and enjoy the flavor too.
Whether you went fishing and hauled it in, or just hauled it home from the grocery store, it’s so easy to cook in your air fryer.
This recipe for salmon works great in a Bella air fryer. Add some oil and simple seasonings, and finish with a fresh burst of lemon. The whole meal is ready in less than 10 minutes!
Your fish comes out flaky, juicy, and delicious. There’s no need to fight with the grill, heat up the oven, and you can clean the air fryer basket in the dishwasher.
Serve with your favorite summer vegetables. I particularly enjoy the bacon-wrapped asparagus you’ll find in our best Pampered Chef air fryer recipes. However, corn, zucchini, and brussels are other great choices too!
If you’re ready to tackle the catch of the day with your Bella air fryer, find the recipe for perfect air fried salmon here.
I also love to make some extra and reheat salmon in the air fryer the next day for lunch!
4. Bella Air Fryer Pita Bread Pizza
One of my favorite features of the Bella air fryer has to be that the larger units handle cooking a personal sized pizza. Put down the frozen disc and back away slowly, though! Instead, you can make a fresh, delicious pita bread pizza in only about 6 minutes.
I love how customizable this is to give everyone a chance to enjoy their favorites. Everyone can assemble their preferred toppings – it’s like a blank slate. Pepperoni and banana pepper rings for me, please!
Note that you will need some form of air fryer rack to set in the basket to prevent your toppings from flying all over in the hot air circulation air fryers are known for. Otherwise, you’ll be wondering why your air fryer is smoking before you know it.
If you’re ready to turn the Bella air fryer into a pizzeria, check out the recipe for air fryer pita pizzas here.
5. Glazed Air Fryer Apple Fritters for Your Bella Air Fryer
I mean, I’d feel bad if we didn’t mention that you can make dessert in your Bella air fryer as well. This delightful recipe for glazed apple fritters gives me all the vibes of a donut with apples, cinnamon, and sweet glaze.
It only takes about 20 minutes to make these sweet treats. I find it the perfect reward after a long day of dragging the rest of the family with you to the apple orchard.
If you have a smaller capacity fryer you’ll have to work in batches, which will slow down progress slightly. They’re worth it though, and you’ll be sneaking some for breakfast the next day as well.
Got a whole bushel of apples to get through? Check out our best air fryer apple recipes to try and get cooking!
Otherwise, bust out your Bella air fryer and find the recipe for glazed air fryer apple fritters here.
Does a Bella Air Fryer Need to Preheat?
Whether your Bella air fryer needs to preheat depends on the model you have. Any models featuring their circular heat technology do not need preheating. Older versions and some of the smaller, more budget models do not have this system and will require preheating.
Just make sure to check the manual for your specific unit to see what’s recommended. Thankfully, if you do need to preheat, it only takes about 3 minutes. Additionally, Bella says you can just add that to your cook time instead of running it empty.
Do You Put Oil in a Bella Air Fryer?
You can put oil in a Bella air fryer if desired, but you don’t need to. A light misting of oil helps add some additional crunch and browning to foods. However, they’ll cook just fine without it as well.
Some foods, like frozen french fries and frozen chicken tenders come with the oil already on, so you don’t need to add more.
If you do add some, make sure not to overdo it. After all, it’s not a deep fryer. Just a light layer of oil will do the trick!
In Conclusion
If you have a Bella air fryer, we’ve got some of the best recipes to try in it to get you started. From snacks to meals to dessert, this versatile air fryer can do it all.
If you have a Bella Pro series, it can even cook items like chicken, pizza, and french fries using a pre-programmed setting. Just one button press and you’re on your way to dinner!
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
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