Ring in the New Year with These 17 Air Fryer Appetizers Everyone Will Love

Kick off the New Year with a spread of appetizers that are big on crunch, flavor, and convenience. These air fryer recipes are perfect for New Year’s Eve celebrations, delivering all the crispy, cheesy, saucy goodness your guests crave, without the stress of deep frying. From bacon-wrapped bites and crowd-favorite wings to cheesy snacks and seafood starters, every appetizer is easy to make, quick to cook, and guaranteed to keep everyone snacking right up until midnight and beyond.

Air Fryer Calamari

Air-fried calamari rings garnished with parsley and lemon wedges on a white plate. — Air Fryer Calamari. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

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This air fryer calamari delivers all the golden crunch you crave without deep frying. Lightly breaded and perfectly crisp, it’s ready in under 20 minutes and makes an impressive yet effortless appetizer. Serve it with marinara or lemon for a lighter take on a classic favorite.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Calamari

Air Fryer Bacon Jalapeño Cheese Pigs in a Blanket

Close-up of a baked pastry filled with ham, cheese, and green peppers, topped with sesame and poppy seeds, with a bite revealing the filling. — Air Fryer Bacon Jalapeño Cheese Pigs in a Blanket. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella .

These pigs in a blanket take things up a notch with smoky bacon, melty cheese, and a kick of jalapeño. Wrapped in pizza dough and air-fried until golden, they’re a bold, bite-sized snack that’s perfect for game day or parties. Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Bacon Jalapeño Cheese Pigs in a Blanket

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites

Juicy cheeseburger bites wrapped in crispy bacon make this appetizer impossible to resist. These burger bombs are packed with flavor and cook quickly in the air fryer, making them perfect for entertaining or casual snacking.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

A plate of bacon-wrapped seasoned breadsticks is stacked on a white dish, with a gray and white striped cloth in the background. — Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget .

Tender, juicy chicken wrapped in crispy bacon creates the ultimate savory bite. These air fryer chicken tenders come out crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside, making them a guaranteed hit for kids and adults alike.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Meatballs

Classic meatballs get a major upgrade when wrapped in bacon and cooked in the air fryer. They’re smoky, flavorful, and ready in under 20 minutes—perfect for last-minute appetizers or easy dinners.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Meatballs

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings

These BBQ chicken wings come out juicy inside and crispy outside with far less oil than traditional wings. Tossed in tangy barbecue sauce and air-fried to perfection, they’re ideal for game day or casual weeknight snacking.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings

Air Fryer Blackened Shrimp

Air fried blackened shrimp in a plate. — Air Fryer Blackened Shrimp. Photo credit: Little House Big Alaska.

Boldly seasoned and cooked in minutes, this blackened shrimp recipe delivers big flavor with minimal prep. It’s a fast, protein-packed appetizer that works just as well for tacos, salads, or dipping.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Blackened Shrimp

Air Fryer Blooming Onion

Blooming onion on a plate with sauce in the background. — Air Fryer Blooming Onion. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Skip the restaurant and make this crispy blooming onion at home. The air fryer creates a golden, crunchy exterior while keeping the inside tender, making it a fun and impressive appetizer without the deep fryer.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Blooming Onion

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Buffalo chicken tenders on a plate with dipping sauce. — Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These buffalo chicken tenders are ultra-crispy and coated in bold, spicy sauce. They’re a healthier take on the restaurant favorite and perfect as an appetizer or easy main dish.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

Bbq chicken wings with celery and ketchup. — Air Fryer Buffalo Wings. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Get all the heat and crispiness you love without the hassle of frying. These buffalo wings are juicy, spicy, and air-fried to crunchy perfection with less mess and guilt.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

Air Fryer Cheese Quesadilla

Some picking up a slice of cheese quesadilla. — Air Fryer Cheese Quesadilla. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Simple, cheesy, and perfectly crisp, this air fryer quesadilla is a quick snack or appetizer that hits the spot. Great on its own or served with salsa and sour cream.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cheese Quesadilla

Air Fryer Cheese Sticks (Homemade Easy!)

A plate with breaded sticks arranged in a circle around a bowl of marinara sauce, set on a red and white checkered cloth. — Air Fryer Cheese Sticks (Homemade Easy!). Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Golden and crunchy on the outside with a gooey mozzarella center, these homemade cheese sticks skip the deep fryer but keep all the flavor. They’re quick to make and perfect for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cheese Sticks (Homemade Easy!)

Air Fryer Cheesy Mexican Corn Cakes

Stack of Mexican corn cakes on a white plate with a fork. — Air Fryer Cheesy Mexican Corn Cakes. Photo credit: Ginger Casa.

Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these cheesy corn cakes are bursting with flavor. They work beautifully as a side dish or a standout appetizer. Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cheesy Mexican Corn Cakes

Air Fryer Cheesy Pepperoni Breadsticks

A wooden cutting board with pepperoni breadsticks and dipping sauce. — Air Fryer Cheesy Pepperoni Breadsticks. Photo credit: Ginger Casa.

Stuffed with melty cheese and pepperoni, these breadsticks are a pizza lover’s dream. They’re easy to make, endlessly dippable, and perfect for parties or movie nights.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cheesy Pepperoni Breadsticks

Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs

A white plate with several air-fried chicken meatballs garnished with parsley and wooden picks. — Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Juicy chicken meatballs cook up fast in the air fryer and are packed with flavor. They’re a lighter alternative to traditional meatballs and can be served with marinara or your favorite dipping sauce.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs

Air Fryer Chicken Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Dip

A pile of breaded mozzarella sticks on a platter with a small bowl of marinara sauce and parsley garnish. — Air Fryer Chicken Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Dip. Photo credit: xoxo Bella .

These chicken mozzarella sticks combine seasoned ground chicken with melty cheese for a fun twist on a classic snack. Crispy, cheesy, and perfect for dipping, they’re made for game day.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Dip

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

Sweet coconut-crusted shrimp air-fry to a golden crunch in minutes. Light, crispy, and full of flavor, this appetizer pairs perfectly with a tangy or sweet dipping sauce.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp