It's scorching outside and the last thing you want to do is stand over a hot stove. You could go for salads, but after the third day they start getting old. Or you could turn on the oven and turn your flat into an actual sauna. An air fryer gets dinner on the table fast, without heating up your kitchen.
We've put together 5 easy summer dinner recipes you can pull off in no time, whether you're cooking for yourself or the whole family.
1. Thai Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce
Big flavours, barely any washing up. A Thai marinade turns ordinary chicken breast into something seriously good. The actual prep takes barely 10 minutes, the air fryer does the rest.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 400 g chicken breast
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp fresh ginger (grated)
- 1 clove of garlic
- juice of half a lime
- wooden skewers (pre-soaked in water)
For the peanut sauce:
- 3 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp honey
- juice of half a lime
- a little warm water to thin it out
Method:
- Slice the chicken breast into long strips and leave them to marinate for 15 minutes in a mix of soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and lime juice.
- Thread the strips in a zigzag pattern onto the skewers and place in the air fryer.
- Set the Chicken programme or manually select 185 °C for 12 minutes.
- While the air fryer is running, whisk together the sauce ingredients and thin with warm water as needed.
- Serve drizzled with the sauce, scattered with coriander and with lime wedges on the side.
The second basket of the Lauben DualZone® Air Fryer 8000BC is perfect for Asian vegetables, or use it to warm tortillas for the last 2 minutes. With the synchronised finish function, everything will be ready at the same time.
2. Halloumi with Roasted Vegetables and Tzatziki
A Mediterranean classic that never disappoints in summer. Halloumi comes out of the air fryer with a beautiful golden crust on the outside and stays soft inside, without the rubbery texture you sometimes get. Works just as well as a quick weeknight dinner as it does as a light lunch when friends come over.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 200 g halloumi
- 1 small courgette
- 1 red pepper
- a handful of cherry tomatoes
- olive oil, oregano, salt
For the tzatziki:
- 150 g thick Greek yoghurt
- half a cucumber (grated and squeezed well)
- 1 clove of garlic
- fresh dill or mint, salt, lemon juice
Method:
- Cut the vegetables into larger pieces, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and sprinkle with oregano.
- Slice the halloumi into pieces roughly 1 cm thick.
- Place the vegetables in one basket and the halloumi slices in the other — don't pack them too tightly, the hot air needs to circulate freely.
- Set the vegetables to 190 °C for 15 minutes and the halloumi to 200 °C for 8 minutes. Switch on the synchronised finish function and the appliance will handle the timing for you.
- While everything cooks, mix together the yoghurt, cucumber and garlic into a refreshing tzatziki.
3. Juicy Salmon with Lemon and Broccoli
The ideal dinner for days when you want something light and healthy without spending ages thinking about what to cook. Salmon is ready in just 10 minutes and the hot air locks in all the juices. The recipe is naturally gluten-free and genuinely filling.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 2 salmon fillets with skin (approx. 180 g each)
- juice of half a lemon
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- fresh parsley or dill
- salt, pepper
- 300 g broccoli, broken into small florets
Method:
- Rub the salmon fillets with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with lemon juice.
- Toss the broccoli florets in a bowl with a little oil and a pinch of salt.
- Place the salmon skin-side down in one basket, tip the broccoli into the other.
- Set the fish to the Fish programme or 180 °C for 10 to 12 minutes depending on thickness. Set the broccoli to 190 °C for 12 minutes.
- The synchronised finish will make sure the fish and the side arrive on the table at the same time.
If you like your salmon skin extra crispy, raise the temperature to 200 °C for the last 2 minutes.
4. Crispy Beer-Marinated Chicken Wings
A proper grill-out without the smoke, charcoal and waiting around. Wings from the air fryer come out perfectly crispy on the outside and are a genuine match for anything off a garden grill — in a fraction of the time. Great for weekend evenings on the terrace and just as good for a quick dinner after work.
Ingredients (serves 2 to 3):
- 800 g chicken wings
- 150 ml light lager
- 2 cloves of garlic (crushed)
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- salt, pepper
- 1 tbsp honey for the glaze
Method:
- Toss the wings in a bowl with the beer, garlic, spices and salt. Leave to marinate for at least 30 minutes, ideally overnight.
- Before putting them in the air fryer, pat off the excess marinade — the drier the surface, the crispier the skin.
- Set the Chicken programme or 200 °C for 22 to 25 minutes.
- Give the basket a shake halfway through.
- Brush the wings lightly with honey for the last 3 to 5 minutes for a beautiful glaze and a touch of sweetness.
Don't overpack the basket with too many layers — the air needs to flow freely, otherwise the wings will steam rather than crisp up.
5. Swicy Prawns with Avocado Dip
Try this year's biggest flavour trend in action. The sweet-spicy combination of honey and chilli works brilliantly with prawns, and dinner is ready in just 8 minutes. Frozen prawns are easy to find in any supermarket, so you can bring a bit of summer to your kitchen any night of the week.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 300 g prawns (defrosted, peeled and deveined)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp honey
- half a tsp chilli flakes
- juice of half a lime
- salt, fresh coriander to garnish
For the avocado dip:
- 1 ripe avocado
- juice of half a lime
- salt, pepper, optionally 1 small clove of garlic
Method:
- Toss the prawns in a bowl with the olive oil, honey, chilli flakes and lime juice.
- Spread them out in the air fryer basket in a single layer — they shouldn't overlap.
- Set the Shrimp programme or manually select 190 °C for 8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mash the ripe avocado in a bowl with the lime juice, salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately after taking the prawns out of the fryer, with the cool dip on the side.
Use the second basket for chunks of baguette or tortillas with a drizzle of olive oil and you'll have a full warm dinner on the table in under 15 minutes.
Summer cooking without compromise
All five recipes are quick, effortless and won't turn your kitchen into a sauna. An air fryer uses up to 70% less energy than a conventional oven, cooks food up to 50% faster and needs barely any oil.
If you enjoy cooking a main and a side at the same time, take a look at the Lauben DualZone® Air Fryer 8000BC. Two independent zones and synchronised finish take care of the hard work for you. You just need to know how.
Looking for more summer inspiration? Read our article on the swicy trend and find out how to make a honey and chilli marinade that works just as well on the grill as it does in the air fryer.
