Air fryers may divide opinion, but one thing is certain this festive season: Britain cannot stop searching for ways to use them in their Christmas dinner. New data from meal delivery service HelloFresh shows a staggering 5,000% rise in searches for air fryer Christmas dinner ideas over the past month, signalling an unprecedented shift in how home cooks are preparing for the big day.
With more than half of UK households now owning an air fryer, it seems the appliance — once dismissed as a fad — has become a festive essential. Online searches for “Christmas dinner in an air fryer” and “roast potatoes air fryer” have skyrocketed, as cooks look for shortcuts that promise crispy results and quicker timings.
But while the enthusiasm is high, professional chef and Senior Recipe Development Manager at HelloFresh, Mimi Morley, warns that not every part of the beloved Christmas feast is suited to air frying. “Air fryers can absolutely elevate parts of your Christmas dinner, but some dishes are best left to the traditional oven,” she explains. “Used well, they save time, add texture and reduce stress. Used badly, they can dry out your showstoppers.”
Her warnings come as HelloFresh research reveals that 47% of Brits admit they don’t clean their air fryer after every use — a habit that could leave them at risk of bacteria and foodborne illness. “Before cooking anything for your Christmas dinner, make sure your air fryer has had a deep clean,” Morley advises. “Once you’re all clean, you can move on to the fun side — the cooking.”
The Air Fryer Christmas Dinner: What You Should Do
1. Make ultra-crispy roast potatoes
Few dishes spark as much fierce opinion at Christmas as roast potatoes, and according to Morley, the air fryer genuinely delivers. A viral TikTok hack boasting more than 3.4 million views claims to create the perfect golden crisp — and the chef says it’s surprisingly accurate.
“Soaking your potatoes for at least 30 minutes removes excess starch and helps create that golden crisp,” she says. “Parboil them, then air fry for around 20 minutes for the perfect finish.” The result? Roasties that rival even the most seasoned oven cooks.
2. Air-fry pigs in blankets for next-level crispiness
Often the first thing people eat, and frequently the first thing to disappear, pigs in blankets are a Christmas classic. According to Morley, they’re also one of the dishes the air fryer excels at.
“Wrap small sausages in streaky bacon, drizzle with a little honey and cook for around 12 minutes at 180 degrees,” she suggests. The air fryer ensures evenly crisped bacon, while the honey gives just the right festive glaze. They can also be prepped the day before, freeing up valuable time on Christmas morning.
3. Transform Brussels sprouts into a crowd-pleaser
Sprouts may be the most controversial vegetable on the Christmas table, but Morley insists the air fryer can convert even the sceptics. The trick, she says, is technique.
“Halve and parboil them, then toss with butter, bacon lardons, crushed walnuts and seasoning,” she explains. “After 15–17 minutes at 180 degrees in the air fryer, you get sprouts that are crispy, smoky and packed with flavour.” It may just be the secret to ending family sprout debates once and for all.
What Not to Put in Your Air Fryer This Christmas
1. Your turkey or turkey crown
No matter how tempting it may be to speed up the centrepiece of Christmas lunch, Morley advises against air-frying the turkey. “Turkey needs low, slow, even heat to stay moist,” she stresses. “An air fryer can dry it out quickly.” For a juicy bird, the oven remains king.
2. Stuffing
Traditional stuffing also fares poorly in the air fryer. “Stuffing can lose moisture fast in an air fryer,” Morley says. “It’s one part of the meal that really benefits from the oven.” However, she adds that stuffing containing sausage meat can work better thanks to the added fat content.
A Festive Trend That Shows No Signs of Slowing
With searches still rising and more home cooks eager to experiment, the air fryer looks set to play a starring role in Christmas kitchens this year. From crispier roasties to quicker sides, the appliance is reshaping festive cooking — but only when used with care.
For those embracing the trend, Morley’s advice offers a simple guiding principle: let the air fryer enhance the meal, but don’t expect it to replace the oven entirely. Used wisely, it could make this Christmas dinner the easiest — and crispiest — yet.
Discover more air fryer recipes for your Christmas dinner with HelloFresh.