You can make a really nice holiday dinner for two to four people in your air fryer. It's easy, it won't take you long, and it's far less expensive than ordering a meal "to go." The main dish is turkey tenderloins, which turn out moist and juicy after 20-30 minutes in the air fryer. Simple side dishes--applesauce-stuffed acorn squash and air fried asparagus--go well with the turkey and provide both color and special flavors to the dinner. If you have time, or want to make them ahead, I recommend including a simple corn casserole (see https://www.thenfeedthem.com/post/how-to-make-a-southern-style-corn-casserole-in-your-air-fryer) and an easy dessert--Apricot Puffs (see https://www.thenfeedthem.com/post/need-a-quick-dessert-make-15-minute-apricot-puffs-in-your-air-fryer) to go with your dinner. The corn casserole can be reheated in the microwave while the other dishes air fry, and the dessert can go in the air fryer while you eat the rest of your dinner. If you'd like a fancier, make-ahead air fryer dessert, try hazelnut pear cakes. They are simple to make, really good, and inexpensive (https://www.thenfeedthem.com/post/how-to-make-simple-inexpensive-hazelnut-pear-cakes-in-your-air-fryer). Want a salad--that doesn't need to be air fried or cooked!? Try this one ( https://www.thenfeedthem.com/post/how-to-make-an-easy-clementine-or-orange-and-spinach-salad ), which features fruit and feta cheese and goes well with a holiday meal. This really is a simple dinner to prepare, and it's low on hassle and big on taste. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloins -- Serves 4+
24 ounces of turkey tenderloins, seasoned or not
Salt and pepper and a couple of dashes of poultry seasoning, if the tenderloins aren't
already seasoned (many tenderloins are pre-seasoned, so, if they are, don't add salt)
Olive or canola oil spray
Line your air fryer basket with aluminum foil, arranging the foil so that it comes about two inches up the sides of your air fryer basket. I usually do a double layer of foil to ensure no leaks and make cleanup easier. Spritz the foil with non-stick or olive oil spray. Place the turkey tenderloins (they usually come two to a package) in the basket, arranging them so that one thicker side faces the thinner side on the opposite tenderloin. Spritz the tenderloins with olive oil or canola oil spray (or drizzle oil on them and use your fingers to spread it). Put the basket in the air fryer, set the temperature to 400 degrees, and cook the tenderloins for 15 minutes. Flip them over and cook them for 5-10 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer registers at least 165 degrees when inserted in the thickest part of a tenderloin. Remove the tenderloins from the air fryer basket and let the tenderloins rest for at least five minutes before slicing them. If you need to cook the squash, just loosely cover the tenderloins with aluminum foil and let them sit while the squash cooks. Slice the tenderloins after the squash is done.
Air Fryer Applesauce Stuffed Acorn Squash -- Serves 4
2 small acorn squash, split in half (Stem to bottom) and seeded
4 teaspoons of butter
4 tablespoons of applesauce
1/2 - 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
Chopped nuts, optional
Cut a piece of aluminum foil to fit in your air fryer basket and an inch or two up the sides of the basket. Spritz the foil with non-stick spray. Spritz the insides of the squash halves with the spray and place the squash halves, cut-side-down, on the foil in the air fryer basket. Air fry the squash halves at 320 degrees for about 20 minutes or until just tender when you stick a knife into the squash. Turn the squash over, cut-side-up. Fill each squash cavity with a teaspoon of the butter, a tablespoon of applesauce, and an eighth to a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon (you can stir the mixture around in the squash cavities a little with a fork or spoon, if you'd like). Cook the squash--filled-side-up--for another 5-10 minutes or until the filling is hot and the squash is tender. If you'd like, during the last few minutes of cooking, you can sprinkle some chopped nuts on top of the filling in each squash. Cover the squash loosely with a piece of aluminum foil to keep it warm.
Air Fryer Asparagus -- Serves 4
1 pound of asparagus, washed well and ends trimmed
2 teaspoons of olive oil
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of garlic butter seasoning blend (I use one that McCormick makes)
Cut a piece of aluminum foil to fit in your air fryer basket and an inch or two up the sides of the basket. Spritz the foil with non-stick cooking spray. Break the asparagus in to 2- or 3-inch pieces and put it on the foil in the basket. Drizzle on the olive oil and toss the asparagus well with the oil so the oil coats the asparagus spears. Sprinkle on the garlic butter seasoning. Air fry the asparagus at 360 degrees for about 10 minutes or until the aparagus is slightly charred looking and is as tender as you like it. Serve the asparagus hot, or if you prefer, you can cook the asparagus first before the turkey and squash, and serve the aspargus slightly warm or at room temperature.
15-Minute Air Fryer Apricot Puffs -- See https://www.thenfeedthem.com/post/need-a-quick-dessert-make-15-minute-apricot-puffs-in-your-air-fryer.
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