14 Kid-Approved Vegan Meals & Snacks You Can Make in the Air Fryer

Easy vegan meals for the family have been my jam ever since my husband and I made the radical decision to ditch animal products from the home for health and ethics reasons. We had a few days of the little ones whining over the absence of chicken nuggets before everyone pretty easily slipped into the new normal.

But preparing any type of food for a pack of hungry kids is tough stuff, especially when you don’t want to make more than one meal and the adults are trying to keep things as healthy as possible. Enter the air fryer, my new best friend and the beacon of hope my husband practically bows down to. (Even if you do not have a vegan or vegetarian home, you need to invest in one of these bad boys).

We use the thing so much I am starting to feel like we should have to thank it audibly the way one might talk to a plant. Because seriously, going vegan as a family has been made ridiculously easy thanks to this device that even a kitchen neophyte like yours truly can operate (and clean) easily.

Here are some of our favorite vegan recipes to toss in the air fryer any day of the week. What about yours?

More Vegan Recipes:

14 Kid-Approved Vegan Meals & Snacks You Can Make in the Air Fryer

Bow Tie Pasta Chips

My kids love chips, popcorn, and anything salty and crunchy. Who could blame them? But you can make them yourself with a whole grain base, no preservatives, and no excess packaging in under an hour with this incredibly tasty and creative bow tie pasta chip recipe.

Photo & Recipe: Healthy Slow Cooking
Cauliflower Chickpea Tacos

Taco Tuesdays are still very much a thing around here despite nixing the meat. You can make vegan tacos at home with this tasty, crunchy, creative take on your family's favorite meal.

Photo & Recipe: Sweet Peas & Saffron
Vegan Air Fried Ravioli

Yep, you read that right. Cheesy, creamy, delectable ravioli breaded and air-fried to an insane crisp with way fewer calories than traditional frying, not to mention a plant-based list of nutrient-rich ingredients!! I promise, your kids will have no idea these are as healthy as they are delicious.

Photo & Recipe: Cadry's Kitchen
Vegan Avocado Fries

These pack a major punch, giving you and the fam a flavorful and textural burst of delish. Rich, creamy avocado and a crunchy, crave-worthy crust are your air fryer's new bestie. And yours, too!

Photo & Recipe: Glue & Glitter
Toasted Coconut French Toast

Pure, fork-licking goodness is yours with this undeniably delightful air fryer French toast recipe. I promise, it'll rival your old go-to preparation.

Photo & Recipe: Strength & Sunshine
Kale & Potato Nuggets

Mashed potatoes and kale are mixed together to form bite-sized pieces and then they’re air fried to perfection. These are perfect as a snack, an appetizer, or even a side dish.

Photo & Recipe: Dianne's Vegan Kitchen
Crispy Veggie Quesadillas

Filling but not heavy, air fryer quesadillas make a quick and satisfying weeknight supper. Omit the cheese or swap it with a melty vegan option like Daiya cheddar shreds.

Photo & Recipe: Cooking Light
Ranch Kale Chips

I've tried to bake kale chips in the oven a few times, and I'll be honest: they weren't all that great. Making them in an air fryer is a total game changer.

Recipe & Photo: Glue & Glitter
3-Ingredient Apple Chips

These are soooo good when you have a hankering for a sweet snack and don't want to blow your wine calories on a candy bar. Oh, wait, we're supposed to be talking "kid approved" here, which, by the way, these totally are!

Photo & Recipe: Recipe This
Sweet Potato Chips 5
Crispy Air Fryer Tofu

If your kids like Chinese takeout, they'll be game to try this flavorful tofu dish. It's the most delicious vegan recipe you can make in under 30 minutes.

Photo & Recipe: Sustainable Cooks
Vegan 'Bacon' Wrapped Mini Breakfast Burritos

This grab and go vegan breakfast can be assembled and cooked in just about 15 minutes. Sold!

Photo & Recipe: Spabettie
Sweet Potato Chips

Regular potatoes can be sliced thin, seasoned, and turned into delightful crisps right in the air fryer, but if you want to add some extra vitamins and a complex flavor profile, give this vegan sweet potato chip recipe a try.

Photo & Recipe: Awe Filled Homemaker
Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi

We heat this cauliflower gnocchi up as a snack for the kiddos or make for dinner with red sauce, vegan parmesan or "goat" cheese, and a side salad or steamed veg. The outside gets crisp and naughty-tasting in the air fryer while the inside remans decadently gooey.

Photo: Jenny Studenroth Gerson