The Thanksgiving Dishes An Expert Recommends Making In Your Air Fryer

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The oven is prime real estate on Thanksgiving, but the number of dishes that need to make it on the table at once might call for an additional appliance, especially if you want to stay on track with your carefully-curated Thanksgiving timeline. We spoke to an expert about how to put the air fryer to good use during the holidays.

Clare Andrews is known as the U.K.'s "Queen of Gadget Cookery" and the author of "The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook." She recommends trying roast potatoes or Brussels sprouts in the air fryer on Thanksgiving. Her reasoning? "Both dishes are simple to prepare, cook relatively quickly and free up valuable oven space for the larger dishes," she says. So while your turkey is slowly roasting in the oven, the Brussels sprouts can simultaneously be sizzling in the air fryer. "It's all about making the most of your air fryer and taking a little pressure off when preparing a big family meal!" she says.

Speaking of Brussels sprouts, "The air fryer gives them beautifully crispy, [caramelized] edges while keeping the [centers] tender. You can add bacon, honey or balsamic glaze to give them an extra [flavor] boost," Andrews says. We have a great recipe for honey-balsamic air fryer Brussels sprouts – so there's no need to settle for bland vegetables on a national holiday.

Air fryer guru Clare Andrews highlighted the textural benefits of making roast potatoes in the air fryer as well. "You can achieve that lovely golden, crispy outside with a fluffy [center], often in less time than a conventional oven. They also need very little oil," she says. For the perfect texture, she recommends par-boiling the potatoes, draining the water, and then shaking them in the pan. "This helps create that extra crispy coating," she says.

Although you don't need a lot of oil for air-fried potatoes, giving them a little bit of moisture is definitely helpful, lest they come out too dry. She suggests tossing them in oil, salt, and seasoning and cooking them for between 20 and 30 minutes in the air fryer, depending on how large your potatoes are and the air fryer you're using. You can also upgrade the roast potatoes by swapping oil for ghee for a more layered and nutty flavor.

The air fryer does have one downside: It's significantly smaller than the oven. "Don't overcrowd the basket, as the hot air needs room to circulate," she cautions, and recommends giving the potatoes "a good shake halfway through cooking." She also notes the benefits of cooking the potatoes in batches: "You can always keep the first batch warm while the second cooks."