air fryer roast dinner

Can you really make a full roast dinner in the air fryer?

The short answer? YES. Absolutely. 100%. 

And if you know me, you’ll know I am very much committed to the air fryer life, so much so that I literally wrote a Sunday Times bestseller about the wonderful little machine (Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook, if you fancy upping your air fryer game).

I’ve cooked all sorts in my air fryer. From chippy chips and midweek dinners to full-on cheesecakes, but until recently I hadn’t tackled the ultimate challenge: a proper Sunday roast in one go, using just an air fryer. I’m talking meat, potatoes, veg, yorkies, gravy…THE LOT.

For this test run, I did use two air fryers to speed things up, but if you’ve got a dual-drawer model, there’s no reason you couldn’t manage it with just one. And honestly? I was shocked by how well it worked. I shouldn’t have been really though…

So, if you’ve been wondering whether your air fryer can take on a roast dinner, whether for the whole meal or just a few elements, let’s run through the pros, the cons and exactly what you can make. HERE WE GO!

air fryer roast dinner

Let’s start with the pros

Speed
Everything cooks faster and in many cases, you can skip steps like parboiling potatoes, carrots, sprouts etc. That means less faff, fewer pans, and quicker cooking gratification.

Less washing up
A dream. You’re not bouncing between hob, oven, trays, and saucepans which means less mess and fewer dishes, and that alone is enough to convert me. I HATE washing up with a passion. 

More forgiving timings
Air fryers heat up quickly and recover temperature fast, meaning food is less likely to dry out if timings aren’t exactly spot on. Ideal if you’re juggling multiple elements and can’t resist opening the door to check every few minutes. 

Taste
You genuinely don’t lose flavour and if anything, you gain crispiness. Roasties get crunchy, veg caramelises beautifully, and meat stays juicy. If you’re looking to cut back on oil, this is a more controlled way of cooking as less is needed to achieve that desired crispyness. 

The cons (because nothing is perfect x)

Capacity
If you’re feeding more than 4–6 people, space can become a little bit of an issue. Overcrowding means you might end up steaming instead of roasting, so batches may be needed. Not ideal if you want to cook multiple bits and pieces. 

Staggered cooking
Yes, it’s faster, but if your basket space is limited, some things will cook at different times, meaning you may need to keep items warm while others finish. 

Not always one-pot simple
A few recipes still need a pan or prep step (I’m looking at you cauliflower cheese), so it’s not always 100% dish-free, but it’s still less work overall. Basically, your dishwasher will not be full! 

But enough of my babbling on, I’m sure you just want a few recipes to get your air fryer roast dinner started…

🐔 THE MEAT: CHICKEN & PORK

Air fryers are SO GOOD for meat. You get fast cooking, crispy skin, juicy insides, and no constant oven babysitting.

Roast chicken

I will forever be in awe when it comes to an air-fried roast chicken because it’s truly that good. Obviously, make sure you get one that properly fits in your basket/drawer. And don’t forget…the secret to moist chicken? Butter. Under the skin. Always. And don’t forget to save those meat juices for the gravy (which naturally I have also made in the air fryer…more on this later). 

 

Air fryer benefits:

  • Faster roasting than an oven

  • Crispy skin without drying the meat

  • Less splatter and mess

Potential con:

  • Large chickens may need flipping or careful positioning depending on basket size

👉 Follow my steps here 

AIR FRYER PORCHETTA

Honestly, no one will believe this came from an air fryer. It’s crispy, succulent, and outrageously flavourful.

Why it works so well:

  • The air fryer renders fat beautifully, giving crackly skin

  • The pork stays tender and juicy

  • Less energy used than a full oven roast

I love serving this with sautéed leeks, roasties, garlic gravy, and apple sauce. Basically a simplied but sophisticated roast dinner or perfect date night dinner. 

👉 Get the air fryer exclusive recipe here

🥔 THE POTATOES (the bit we’re all waiting for)

Let’s be honest, the roasties make the roast. I won’t hear any different. 

CLASSIC AIR FRYER ROASTIES 

You don’t even need to parboil them first. That alone feels revolutionary. 

Don’t fear though, you’ll still get those fluffy centres and super crispy exteriors. But make sure you don’t overcrowd as you won’t get even cooking and it may lead to hotspots. So make sure you give them a good shake through the cooking process and adjust the timings if needed. 

👉 Follow my steps here 

SAGE, ONION AND THYME ROASTIES  

Ok, this does feel a little festive but it gives you stuffling vibes in a roast potato, so basically two elements in one.  

The addition of crispy onions to this spud dish gives you a super crispy bite that pairs wonderfully with the most fluffy interior. If you want to make this feel like a more year-round side, simply switch out the sage for your herb/spice of choice.

👉 Get the recipe here

🥕THE VEG 

HONEY ROASTED CARROTS 

The beauty of this recipe is not just its taste but how ridiculously easy it is to pull off. The air fryer does all the heavy lifting, giving you perfectly roasted carrots with those golden, crispy edges and a soft, tender inside in a fraction of the time it takes in a regular oven. And let’s not even get started on the honey glaze, it’s sticky, buttery, and with just the right balance of sweetness to make these carrots utterly irresistible.

👉 Grab the full recipe here

HOT HONEY PARSNIPS 

I realise we’re bringing out the honey again, but why complicate things? Only this time we’re adding a little spicy kick to give those parsnips extra oomph. Plus, we don’t eat enough parsnips in my opinion. 

The bonus of using the air fryer here is that again, no parboiling is required. I like to halve the parnsips lengthways; however you can shorten if your basket isn’t big enough, just try to keep sizes consistent where possible for even cooking. As great as air fryers are, sometimes the air circulation can be a little bit janky, so twist your parnsips and turn during the cooking process. 

👉 Grab the recipe here

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

I did have to construct part of this recipe in a pan first, so apologies that there is some additional washing up with this one, but I promise it’s worth it. Gooey melty cheese sauce goes beautifully golden with that satisfying crispy layer on top. Also make sure you use the green bits from the cauliflower too, no need to waste. 

To ensure a beautifully cooked and soft cauliflower, make sure you fully coat the top in cheese sauce. I mean there can never enough cheese sauce so that shouldn’t be a problem. 

👉 Grab the delicious deets here

BACON AND CHESTNUT SPROUTS

An absolute classic and not one to save solely for Christmas. I mean the chestnuts definitely allude to those Christmassy vibes, but I love a chestnut and want them all year long. Plus, those bacon pieces and sweet chestnuts roast beautifully in the air fryer, and there won’t be a soggy sprout in sight. Extra bonsu – that’s one less pan on the hob too. 

If you can’t eat a chestnut without belting out a rendition of Jingle Bells, 

Want to level up your sprout game even further or make them feel a little less festive? Toss them in garlic butter, sprinkle over some crispy pancetta, or finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a fancy touch. Who said your air fryer roast dinner can’t be boujee. 

👉 The secret to perfect sprouts 

TENDERSTEM BROCCOLI 

An absolute classic and not one to save solely for Christmas. I mean the chestnuts definitely allude to those Christmassy vibes, but I love a chestnut and want them all year long. Plus, those bacon pieces and sweet chestnuts roast beautifully in the air fryer, and there won’t be a soggy sprout in sight. Extra bonus – that’s one less pan on the hob too. 

👉Find the full breakdown on my YT channel 

🍽️ THE EXTRAS 

THE GRAVY 

I was dubious, sceptical, concerned and more when attempting gravy in the air fryer. To my surprise it worked. I did keep it simple by adding in gravy granules as I was going for simplicity and speed here, but it was pretty tasty. Probably just as easy to do outside the air fryer but I was proving a point and again, saved a little more bit more washing up!

👉Find the full breakdown on my YT channel 

YORKSHIRE PUDS

For maximum surface area, I found a tray that fit my air fryer drawer perfectly, rather than using individual ramekins/cases. Just simply cut into individual portions afterwards. 

So yes, you don’t get that traditional round shape, but it’s easy and delicious. 

👉Find the full breakdown on my YT channel 

To summarise 

Is it doable? Yes.
Is it delicious? Absolutely.
Is it worth trying? 100%.

If you’re cooking for a small household or a roast-for-two situation, this is genuinely a game changer because there is less waste, quicker cooking, lower energy use, fewer dishes, and just as much flavour.

Perfect for cosy Sundays or when you want all the joy of a roast without really exerting yourself. 

If I’ve missed anything out, shout out in the comments below and I’ll add it in. What have I missed?!