5 Air Fryer Breakfast Ideas For Busy Mornings

These air fryer breakfast ideas are a smart way to bring speed and consistency to the morning routine. Instead of juggling pans or waiting for the oven to preheat, the air fryer delivers quick results, making breakfast feel more manageable. Each recipe in this collection cooks quickly, works for both busy weekdays and relaxed weekends, and adds a little more variety to the usual morning lineup. These air fryer breakfast ideas keep things simple, familiar, and genuinely useful for real-life mornings.

High-Protein Cottage Cheese Bagels

High-protein cottage cheese bagels bring a simple, satisfying start to the morning with a soft, chewy texture and a gentle tang from the cottage cheese. They cook quickly in the air fryer, giving you a fresh, warm bagel without the usual fuss. Serve them plain or with your favorite breakfast spreads for an easy, homemade option that fits into busy mornings.

Ingredients

• 1 cup self-rising flour 
• 1 cup cottage cheese, full-fat
• 1 small egg beaten, for egg wash
• Everything Bagel Seasoning

Instructions

1. Blend the cottage cheese in a food processor or blender until completely smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Transfer the blended cottage cheese to a medium bowl. Add the flour and stir until a dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
2. Lightly flour a work surface. Place the dough on it and knead 8–10 times until smooth, adding a little more flour as needed if the dough feels sticky.
3. Roll the dough into a ball, then divide it into four equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 6- to 7-inch rope about 1 inch thick. Bring the ends together to form a circle, and pinch the seam to seal. Brush the tops with beaten egg and sprinkle with Everything bagel seasoning.
4. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for 5 minutes. Spray the basket with nonstick spray.
5. Place the bagels in the air fryer basket and air fry for 12-14 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Let the bagels cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Air Fryer Bacon

Air fryer bacon delivers perfectly crisp, evenly cooked strips every time with zero babysitting. The air fryer handles the splatter and mess while you get consistent texture from edge to edge. It’s ideal for meal prep, big family breakfasts, or simple mornings when you want reliable results without turning on the stove.

Ingredients

• 8 slices of bacon, regular or thick

Instructions

1. Set the air fryer to 350°F for regular-cut bacon or 375°F for thick-cut.
2. Place the bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Slight overlapping is okay since the bacon shrinks.
3. Cook for 7-9 minutes for regular-cut bacon or 9-12 minutes for thick-cut, adjusting for desired crispness. Around the 6-minute mark, check the bacon and adjust the cook time if needed.
4. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess grease before serving.

Twisted Bacon

Twisted bacon adds a playful touch to the classic breakfast side, giving each strip an extra-crispy outside and a tender bite inside. The shape helps lock in flavor and texture, and the air fryer keeps things quick and hands-off. It’s great for brunch boards or anytime you want bacon that feels a little more special without extra effort.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Twisted Bacon.

Air Fryer Blueberry Donuts

Air fryer blueberry donuts offer that cozy bakery-style flavor without deep frying, thanks to a soft cake-like crumb and bursts of warm blueberries. They’re quick to make and come out beautifully golden, making them perfect for weekend breakfasts or a fun morning treat. A light glaze or powdered sugar dusting brings them together with just the right sweetness.

Ingredients

• For the donuts:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup fresh blueberries tossed in 1 teaspoon flour
• For the glaze:
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 1½ tablespoons milk
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 320°F for 3-5 minutes.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, mix the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Gently fold in the blueberries that have been tossed with flour.
4. Spoon the batter into greased silicone donut molds, filling them about ¾ full.
5. Place the molds in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 320°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the donuts are golden and spring back when touched. Let the donuts cool in the molds for a few minutes before removing.
6. In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make the glaze. Dip or drizzle the cooled donuts with the glaze before serving.

Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs

Air fryer hard-boiled eggs are a smart way to prep breakfast for the week with consistent, fuss-free results. The shells peel easily, the yolks cook evenly, and there’s no need to wait for water to boil. Enjoy them on toast, chopped into a breakfast bowl, or packed into lunchboxes when you need a simple protein boost.

Ingredients

• 9 eggs at room temperature (or as many as needed)
• Salt and pepper to taste, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 245℉ for 3 minutes. Once preheated, carefully place the basket with the eggs into the air fryer.
2. Cook the eggs in the air fryer at 245℉ for 16 minutes.
3. Carefully remove the eggs from the air fryer and transfer them to a bowl of ice water to cool for 5 minutes.
4. Once cooled, peel the eggs and serve them immediately, or store them in the refrigerator for later use.