7 Ways to Use Your Air Fryer to Make a Healthy, Satisfying Summer Dinner

Even if cooking is your jam, it's normal to not exactly feel like heating up the kitchen to get something on the table in the middle of a heat wave. But, hey, a girl's still gotta eat, right? Especially if you also need to feed an entire household.

Fortunately, the air fryer's got your back. The kitchen tool of the moment can help save time, cook proteins and veggies without causing a kitchen meltdown (literally), and can even make a next-level dessert. Intrigued? Rounded up here are seven healthy summer dishes all putting the air fryer to good use.

Scroll down to see 7 summer dishes you can make using your air fryer.

1. Healthy air fryer vegetables

There is so much amazing produce in season during summer, but it's easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to prepping them for dinner. (Stir fry again? Oh joy!) Switch it up with the air fryer, which gives them a crispy texture as if you roasted them in the oven...without dealing with the heat of an actual oven. Top it off with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and garlic for added flavor.

2. Lemon-garlic shrimp

What makes this meal so ideal for summer is how refreshing it tastes—lemon zest can be magic when it comes to brightening up a dish. Unlike shrimp that's deep-fried, the air fryer ensures the shrimp has crunch with way less saturated fat.

3. "Fried" yellow squash

In the South, fried yellow squash is a classic summer side dish, but a plate of fried food coupled with intense summer heat can leave to feeling not-so great later. The air fryer keeps the integrity of the dish intact while cutting back on the grease. Pair with some air-fried green tomatoes for a truly next-level side.

4. Air fryer corn

What would a summer roundup be without corn? Popping your ears in the air fryer gives them a taste similar to roasting or grilling them, charred and flavorful. Season with olive oil and your go-to spices.

5. Greek lamb burgers with tzatziki sauce

Hey, sometimes you don't want to get all hot and sweaty standing over a grill just to enjoy a delicious burger, right? This is a meal you can blessedly cook inside—without breaking a sweat monitoring it. And yes, it will be just as juicy as you want it to be.

6. Cauliflower and beets

It's natural to crave light veggie-forward meals over heartier dishes in warmer weather, and this simple cauliflower and beets salad is a perfect simple, summer meal. Using the air fryer plays with the texture, adding a satisfying crunch with each bite. Who says you need croutons to make salads interesting?

7. Blueberry apple crumble

PSA: Your air fryer can be used for more than just chips, fries, and meals—it can be a valuable dessert tool, too. Wow your friends or fam with this air fryer blueberry apple crumble, the perfect post-cookout treat. The best part (besides the delicious taste): it only takes 15 minutes to make.

Here's how to use your air fryer to make kale chips and French toast bites.