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Air Fryer Back to School Snacks
This is your simple, straight-talking guide to back-to-school snacks made in the air fryer.
No faff. No fancy ingredients. Just crispy, warm, comforting bites your little ones will pounce on the minute they walk through the door. And because this is Bored of Lunch, we’re keeping it budget-friendly, lighter where it counts, and absolutely doable on a hectic weekday.
Why the Air Fryer Wins for After-School
The air fryer is the perfect kitchen gadget for after-school snacks because most things are ready in under 10–12 minutes… that’s even quicker than preheating an oven. It’s a smaller appliance, which means shorter cook times and lower energy bills (your wallet will thank you for that one). Plus, there’s less washing up at the end… need I say more?
Bored of Lunch Favourites
No need for full recipes here – just simple air fryer hacks and easy recipes your kids will love.
Air Fryer Kinder Toast
This easy-to-make treat is a hit with everyone, even adults! You only need three ingredients, a slice of bread, kinder bar and an egg. Meaning its super easy, even the kids can make them!
Air Fryer Halloumi Potato Tots
These Halloumi potato tots are the perfect treat for anyone who loves potatoes and cheese! With just three ingredients, you can make a snack that’s crispy on the outside and salty on the inside.
Air Fryer Potato Skins
Here is a crunchy potato snack. You can use veggies or sweet potatoes too for this recipe and it helps cut down on food waste. Win win!
Air Fryer Pizza Baguettes
Who doesn’t love pizza? This gives the Friday-night vibes on a Tuesday afternoon. Fast, customisable (let them top their own), and perfectly crisp in minutes.Â
Air Fryer Apple Pie Roll
We all know those famous apple pie rolls from that even more famous fast food chain. I love them – crunchy pastry with sticky and sweet apples on the inside.
Air Fryer French Toast Bites
I do change up the sauce for these – you can just use a chocolate hazelnut spread or even a berry compote instead of the speculoos if you want to take your French toast to a whole new level.
Air Fryer Sausage Roll Bites
Whether you’re looking to cut down on calories or you’re just after something a little lighter, these will satisfy even the most aggressive sausage-roll craving. Pair with your dip of choice.
Air Fryer Donuts
This is more of a cheat’s way of making donuts. Traditionally, they’re made with yeast and deep-fried, but this is an easier, simplified version that uses far less oil. I like to get creative with my toppings and tend to use a few different options.
Time-Savers for Busy Weeknights
Batch on Sundays
Do a tray of tots, sausage roll bites, or French toast bites. Cool, box, and chill or freeze. Reheat in the air fryer for 3–5 minutes.
Pre-slice and pre-portion
Keep baguette halves, halved bagels, and quartered wraps in freezer bags. Straight from freezer to air fryer with toppings = instant snack.
Make seasoning jars
Pizza dust (oregano, garlic powder, onion powder), Cinnamon sugar, Taco mix. Saves minutes and delivers consistent flavour.
Line the basket
Use perforated liners or a small bit of parchment for saucy snacks. Less clean-up, less sticking.
Use mini tins
Silicone muffin cups are brilliant for French toast bites and donut shapes.
Freezer & Fridge Staples
Freezer Staples
- Frozen potato waffles, hash brown patties, or diced potatoes
- Puff pastry sheets
- Peas, sweetcorn, mixed veg
- Cooked chicken, meatballs, veggie balls
- Bagels, sliced bread, wraps, baguettes
Fridge Staples
- Halloumi, cheddar, mozzarella, light cream cheese
- Yoghurt (Greek or natural), hummus
- Apples, berries, grapes, carrots, cucumbers, peppers
- Eggs, milk (or dairy-free alternatives)
- Dips and sauces (pesto, passata, BBQ, salsa)
Cupboard Staples
- Tinned beans (kidney, black, chickpeas), sweetcorn
- Oats, cinnamon, honey, peanut/almond butter
- Raisins, sultanas, dark chocolate chips
- Tomato purée, passata, pesto jars
- Vanilla extract, baking powder (for donuts and quick bakes)
Reheating & Packing Tips
Reheat the clever way
160–170°C in the air fryer for 3–5 minutes crisps most snacks without drying them out.
Vent, then lid
Let hot snacks cool for 5 minutes so steam escapes before putting them into boxes (keeps the crunch!)
Add dips last minute
Pack dips in little pots so nothing goes soggy.
Layer smart
Paper towel at the bottom of a container will catch moisture for things like tots or sausage rolls.
Keep It Budget-Friendly
When it comes to snacks and lunches, the best tip is to use what you’ve got. If you’ve got a bit of stale bread lying around, turn it into French toast bites instead of binning it. Leftover mash? Shape it into little potato bites and give them a crisp finish in the air fryer. Your air fryer is brilliant at bringing life back to leftovers and turning simple ingredients into something tasty.
Don’t be afraid of own-brand basics either—passata, cheese, spices and more. With the air fryer doing its flavour magic, you don’t need to splash out on premium labels to get a great result. Save your budget for the special touches and stretch them further. A small block of halloumi, for example, can be chopped into tiny tots and will go a surprisingly long way.
Planning overlaps is another smart move. Buy one pack of baguettes and you’ve got pizza bases one night, garlic bread the next. A bag of apples could be used for sweet pie rolls while still leaving plenty for lunchboxes. Thinking like this makes your food shop work harder without feeling repetitive.
Happy Cooking!
Nathan
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