Spring Into Flavor: 3 Fresh Air Fryer Recipes for Zucchini, Salmon, and Shrimp

With the days growing longer and the weather getting warmer, spring is the perfect time to revitalize your cooking routine with fresh, bright flavors and seasonal ingredients. Whether you’re looking to shed the heavy winter meals or simply add some zest to your diet, these three air fryer recipes are bursting with flavor and fun. Get your aprons and air fryers ready while we go over these fast, effortless, and nutritious meals that are sure to become favorites in your dinner rotation.

Air fryers are the new kids on the block when it comes to kitchen appliances, but there’s a reason why they’ve grown massively popular over the years. Born out of the desire to make a crispy french fry with less oil, the air fryer quickly fries your food by using rapidly circulating hot air instead of submerging your food in oil or butter. However, you’re not just limited to fried foods! From veggies to protein to baked goods, you can use your air fryer to make a wide assortment of meals and treats. Thanks to its functionality and versatility, it also means that you have less mess to clean up and fewer items on your countertop. If you don’t have an air fryer at home, or are in the market for an upgrade, we’ve got you covered.

Level up your kitchen with our TurboBlaze™ 6.0-Quart Air Fryer. This beauty cooks meals up to 46% faster* with DC motor technology and has 9 cooking functions for you to create an entire meal from appetizers to desserts. The TurboBlaze™ has a temperature range of 90°–450°F to give you the flexibility to make tailored options of your favorite snacks like beef jerky and granola, or fried foods like chicken wings and onion rings. And with a 6-quart capacity, you can whip up a delicious meal for up to 5 people in no time, making it the perfect air fryer to cook up healthy family meals like our juicy salmon, or our light but hearty turkey-stuffed zucchini, or our zesty shrimp recipe. So, let’s dive into these dinner ideas that were tailor-made for the TurboBlaze™.

*Compared to COSORI's CP168 (or Pro Gen 2) air fryer.

This salmon has an irresistible flavor that makes eating well a breeze. The smoky paprika adds a punch of flavor to the salmon and colorful veggies decorate the fluffy and protein-rich couscous. This dish offers a delicious and healthy air fryer recipe to add to your springtime meal plan.

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 38 minutes

Couscous

• 1 cup couscous 
• 1 cup canned coconut milk 
• ¼ cup water 
• ¼ cup bell pepper, finely chopped 
• ¼ cup onion, finely chopped 
• ¼ cup carrot, finely chopped 
• 2 garlic cloves, minced 
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 
• ½ teaspoon black pepper 
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• A pinch of ground cloves  

Salmon

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder 
• ½ teaspoon paprika 
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 
• ½ teaspoon black pepper 
• 4 salmon fillets (6 ounces) 
• Olive oil spray 
• 1 lemon, juiced 

Items Needed

• 8-inch cake pan 
• Aluminum foil

Directions

1. Remove the crisper plate from the COSORI Air Fryer basket. 

2. Combine all the couscous ingredients in an 8-inch cake pan and stir to combine. Tightly wrap the pan with foil, then place the pan directly into the basket. 

3. Select the Bake function, adjust the temperature to 390°F and time to 30 minutes, then tap Start/Pause. 

4. Remove the couscous when done and allow to rest for 10 minutes after cooking, then remove the foil and fluff with a fork. 

5. Combine the garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. 

6. Spray the salmon fillets with olive oil spray, then sprinkle the seasoning mixture all over the tops. 

7. Place the crisper plate into the air fryer basket, then place the salmon fillets onto the crisper plate. 

8. Select the Broil function, adjust the temperature to 425°F and time to 8 minutes, then tap Start/Pause. 

9. Remove the salmon when done and golden-brown on top, then squeeze the lemon juice over the tops.  

10. Serve the salmon with couscous. 

This fast and easy meal is a delight to have for lunch or dinner, and a breeze to prepare and cook in the air fryer. Taking less than 20 minutes from start to finish, this air fryer recipe is rich in protein and antioxidants while low in calories.

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

• 1 pound ground turkey 
• 1 teaspoon paprika 
• 1 teaspoon chili powder 
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 medium zucchinis
• Oil spray 
• ½ cup mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded

Directions

1. Combine the ground turkey, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl and gently mix together.

2. Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon, then spray the inside of the zucchini halves with oil spray.

3. Fill the voids of the zucchini halves with the ground turkey mixture.

4. Place the crisper plate into the COSORI Air Fryer basket, then place the stuffed zucchini boats onto the crisper plate. 

5. Select the Air Fry function, adjust the temperature to 400°F and time to 8 minutes, then tap Start/Pause.

6. Top the stuffed zucchini with shredded mozzarella cheese halfway through cooking.

7. Remove the stuffed zucchini when done, then serve.

These low-carb lettuce wraps have succulently seasoned shrimp that is air-fried and placed in crisp butter lettuce. This light and healthy dinner idea brings the brightness of spring to your table. Replacing mayonnaise with Greek yogurt adds a creative touch, enhancing the overall taste and appeal of these taco alternatives.

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Sauce

• ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce 

Rainbow Slaw

• 1 cup green or red cabbage, shredded
• 1 large carrot, grated
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1⁄2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 
  

Shrimp

• 1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cumin
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne 
• 1⁄2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 head butter lettuce
• Jalapeño slices, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl until combined. If it is too thick, add a tablespoon of water to thin the mixture. Store in the refrigerator. 

2. Toss all of the slaw ingredients in a large bowl until combined. Cover and keep chilled in the refrigerator.

3. Place the crisper plate into the COSORI Air Fryer basket.

4. Select the Preheat function, adjust temperature to 450°F, then tap Start/Pause.

5. Toss the shrimp, olive oil, garlic, salt, cumin, cayenne, and chili powder in a bowl until combined.

6. Place the shrimp onto the preheated crisper plate.

7. Select the Broil function and tap Start/Pause.

8. Remove the shrimp when done, then squeeze the juice of 1 lime over the top. 

9. Assemble the wraps by placing a spoonful of slaw onto a butter lettuce leaf. Place three pieces of shrimp onto the slaw and top with a dollop of sauce. Repeat until you have used all the shrimp, then garnish as desired and serve.

One of the biggest benefits of an air fryer is that it can help keep your food juicier with less effort because of its unique way of cooking your food. Thanks to the circulation of hot air in an air fryer, your dishes can retain more moisture than other methods like deep frying and will brown and caramelize in the air fryer basket without needing your attention or supervision in the kitchen. The process of browning, known as the Maillard reaction, unlocks deep, savory flavors in your food, and the air fryer accomplishes this with far less oil and fat than traditional methods of frying. 

Weeknight dinner ideas can sometimes feel like a chore, but the air fryer is a game-changer for those of us with a busy schedule. Helping you maximize your time, air frying allows you to cook food faster than traditional methods like baking or oven roasting. This quicker cooking time means you get to spend more time eating and enjoying your meal, and less time standing in front of a hot stove or oven. Plus, air fryers preheat fast and cleanup is easy, making them perfect for concocting nutritious, flavorful meals on the busiest of days.