What to Cook First From Pinch of Nom Air Fryer Light & Easy

Seeing Air Fryer Light & Easy in kitchens up and down the country (and even in other countries!) has been such a “pinch us” moment for us. After the incredible response to our first Air Fryer book, we couldn’t wait to bring you even more recipes that make healthy food feel genuinely easy to cook at home.

Packed with 75 slimming-friendly recipes under 500 calories (including over 50 recipes under 400 calories), Air Fryer Light & Easy was designed around simple, satisfying food that slots perfectly into everyday life. We promise there’s something in there for every craving! If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, you can grab one here.

Of course, once you’ve got the book in your hands, the next challenge is deciding what to cook first. With so many tempting recipes to choose from, narrowing it down isn’t as easy as the book’s title suggests! So, we thought we’d help things along by picking out a few tasty places to begin… 

Before we forget!!! Don’t forget to show off your creations! We LOVE seeing what you’ve been making. Share your photos on our PON Gallery, Facebook group or over on Instagram. As long as you tag @pinchofnom, we’ll see them all! Your snap could even snag you some PON swag.

I want to start with a Light & Easy breakfast

It makes sense to start with the first meal of the day, and lucky for you… Light & Easy is brimming with delicious and nutritious breakfasts to get your day off to a good start. Take our Pesto Egg Bagels. Perfect for showing how quickly your air fryer can turn simple ingredients into something mega satisfying, they’re ready in just over 20 minutes, and a straightforward swap makes them gluten-free.

If you’re leaning more towards a brunch-style plate, our Cheesy Beans and Soldiers are a nostalgia-inspired dish that hits that mid-morning spot.

I want to cook a Light & Easy fakeaway first

If you’re flicking straight to the fakeaways section (we don’t blame you!), our Katsu Cod is a fab recipe for switching up Fish Friday. Deliciously crispy and coming in at just 273 calories, it’s a fraction of what you’d order from the chippy.

For something that tastes a bit more like a proper takeaway, our Chicken and Lemon Noodles are another standout. They taste like something off the menu at your local Chinese, but at only 313 calories and ready in just over half an hour, they’ll be on your table faster than the Deliveroo driver could reach your door — for a fraction of the calories too!

I want to cook a Light & Easy traybake first

When you’re in need of something hearty but hands-off, our Smoky Halloumi and Sweet Potato Bake is rich and comforting, but at 402 calories, it’s still firmly in the “light and easy” camp. It’s also freezer-friendly, so you can batch-cook and save portions for later.

For another weeknight winner, the Chicken and Mango Chutney Traybake is maximum flavour for minimal fuss. And best of all, there’s no pile of pans to clean up afterwards. Just stick everything in the air fryer, and you’ll have dinner on the table in an hour!

I want to cook a Light & Easy sweet treat first

Your air fryer is surprisingly good at whipping up desserts that satisfy your sweet tooth without calling for loads of effort or ingredients, like our Caramelized Baked Apples. A firm favourite for exactly that reason, they take just 10 mins to prep, and then it’s over to your air fryer for 20 minutes. We love ours with a dollop of fat-free Greek yoghurt.

More of a biscuit-with-a-brew person? The Peanut Butter Cookies are another must-try. Bake a batch and keep the biscuit tin stocked up so you always have a sweet treat on hand with your afternoon cuppa.

What will you cook first from Air Fryer Light & Easy?

Whatever you decide to cook from Air Fryer Light & Easy, we’d absolutely love to see it! Come and share your creations in our Facebook group. If you’re not already a member, joining is easy, and you’ll be among 1 million members who are also cooking the same recipes at home and sharing tips.

And if you’re curious about what everyone else is cooking from Light & Easy, make sure you scroll through our PON Gallery for plenty of delicious ideas. To upload and share your own photos, you’ll just need to sign up for a free website account. We’ve got a step-by-step guide you can follow here.

If you liked this article, here are a few more that you might find useful:

• How to Convert Recipes to an Air Fryer 
• Top Air Fryer Fryer Recipes
• Healthy and Delicious Fakeaway Air Fryer Recipe Ideas to Try This Weekend
• How to Clean Your Air Fryer in 5 Easy Steps
• Common Air Fryer Recipe Problems and How to Fix Them
• Our Favourite Healthy Chicken Recipes to Make in an Air Fryer
• The Best Air Fryers to Buy 
• What to Make in Your Air Fryer if You’re a Beginner
• 7 Days of Healthy, Easy & Slimming-Friendly Air Fryer Recipes