✔ Updated · grown to 40 recipes grouped by cooking function, plus a function guide
My Ninja Foodi pulls double duty as a pressure cooker and an air fryer, which is why it lives on my counter. These 40 recipes are the ones I come back to, from foolproof rice to crispy fried pickles.
The best Ninja Foodi recipes use what it does best: pressure cooking for rice, beans, pot roast and mac and cheese, air crisping for fries, wings and fried pickles, and TenderCrisp (pressure cook, then crisp) for whole roast chicken, baked potatoes and ribs. Start with rice, mac and cheese and a whole chicken to learn every function.
- Pressure cooker: rice, risotto, pot roast, chili
- TenderCrisp: whole chicken, baked potatoes, short ribs
- Air fryer: fries, fried pickles, cauliflower wings
- Sweet: blueberry crisp, rice pudding, apple fritters
Pressure Cooker Recipes
1. Ninja Foodi Rice
Fluffy white rice in about 20 minutes start to finish, with a 1:1 rice-to-water ratio and a 10-minute natural release.
Get the recipe →2. Ninja Foodi Risotto
Creamy, no-stir risotto: toast the rice on sauté, add broth and pressure cook 6 minutes, then stir in Parmesan.
3. Ninja Foodi Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes pressure cooked right in the pot, then mashed with butter and milk. No draining pot of boiling water.
4. Ninja Foodi Black Beans
Dried black beans from hard to creamy in about 40 minutes, no soaking needed. Season with cumin and garlic.
5. Ninja Foodi Spaghetti Sauce
A rich meat sauce that tastes like it simmered all afternoon after 15 minutes under pressure.
6. Ninja Foodi Mac and Cheese
Dry pasta, water and butter pressure cooked for 4 minutes, then stirred with cheese and milk. Weeknight gold.
7. Ninja Foodi Mexican Rice
Toasted rice cooked with tomato, onion and spices in one pot. A perfect side for tacos and enchiladas.
8. Ninja Foodi Pot Roast
Chuck roast, potatoes and carrots pressure cooked until fork-tender in about 90 minutes instead of all day.
9. Ninja Foodi Mississippi Roast
Beef chuck with ranch seasoning, butter and pepperoncini, shredded into juicy, tangy sandwich meat.
10. Ninja Foodi Beef Stew
Seared beef, potatoes and carrots in a thick gravy, ready in about an hour. Sear on sauté first for flavor.
11. Ninja Foodi Hard-Boiled Eggs
Eggs pressure cooked 5 minutes, natural release 5, then an ice bath. The shells slip right off.
12. Ninja Foodi Pulled Pork
Pork shoulder pressure cooked tender, shredded, then crisped with the lid for crunchy edges.
13. Ninja Foodi Chili
Ground beef and bean chili that tastes slow-simmered after 10 minutes at pressure.
TenderCrisp Favorites (Pressure Cook, Then Crisp)
14. Ninja Foodi Whole Roast Chicken
Pressure cooked for juicy meat, then air crisped for golden skin. Cook to 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh.
15. Ninja Foodi Baked Potatoes
Pressure steamed for a fluffy inside, then air crisped with oil and salt for a crackly skin.
16. Ninja Foodi BBQ Short Ribs
Fall-apart short ribs pressure cooked in BBQ sauce, then crisped and glazed with the lid down.
17. Ninja Foodi Garlic Parmesan Wings
Wings pressure cooked briefly, then air crisped until golden and tossed in garlic butter and Parmesan.
18. Ninja Foodi Carnitas
Citrus-braised pork shoulder shredded and crisped under the lid for tacos with crunchy edges.
Get the recipe →19. Ninja Foodi Taco Pie
Seasoned beef and cheese baked under a biscuit or tortilla crust; a family-friendly one-pot dinner.
Air Fryer Recipes
20. Ninja Foodi Fried Pickles
Breaded dill pickle chips air crisped until crunchy, with ranch for dipping. No deep fryer needed.
21. Ninja Foodi Fried Green Tomatoes
Cornmeal-crusted green tomato slices that come out golden and crisp with just a spray of oil.
22. Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Battered cauliflower florets air crisped, then tossed in buffalo sauce. A great meatless game-day snack.
23. Ninja Foodi Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato sticks tossed with a little cornstarch and oil for crisp edges and soft centers.
24. Ninja Foodi French Fries
Soak, dry and air crisp hand-cut fries at 390°F, shaking often, for crunchy fries with a fraction of the oil.
25. Ninja Foodi Fried Chicken
Buttermilk-soaked chicken in a seasoned coating, air crisped to 165°F inside with a crunchy crust.
26. Ninja Foodi Corn on the Cob
Pressure steam for 2 minutes or air crisp with butter and seasoning for charred, sweet kernels.
27. Ninja Foodi Green Beans
Fresh green beans air crisped with garlic and Parmesan until blistered and tender-crisp.
28. Garlic Broccoli with Aioli
Broccoli roasted under the crisping lid until charred at the tips, served with a quick garlic aioli.
29. Air Fryer Hot Dogs
Hot dogs crisped in minutes with toasted buns. Kids' lunch sorted.
Get the recipe →Dips, Sides and Party Food
30. Ninja Foodi Artichoke Dip
Spinach and artichoke dip baked bubbly and golden in the pot; serve it straight from the insert.
31. Ninja Foodi Cowboy Dip
Ground beef, beans, tomatoes and melted cheese in one pot. Scoop with tortilla chips.
32. Ninja Foodi Pasta Salad
Pasta pressure cooked in 4 minutes, cooled and tossed with veggies, salami and Italian dressing.
Desserts and Breakfast
33. Ninja Foodi Blueberry Crisp
Juicy blueberries under a buttery oat topping, crisped golden with the lid down.
34. Ninja Foodi Rice Pudding
Creamy, vanilla-scented rice pudding pressure cooked in about 20 minutes.
35. Crustless Ninja Foodi Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie filling cooked in a small pan in the pot; silky and done without rolling any pastry.
36. Ninja Foodi Apple Fritters
Apple-studded dough air crisped and dunked in a simple vanilla glaze while warm.
37. Ninja Foodi Strawberry Jam
Small-batch strawberry jam made in minutes; keep it in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
38. Ninja Foodi Blueberry Cake
A tender blueberry snack cake baked in a cake pan inside the pot. Lovely with morning coffee.
39. Ninja Foodi Cheesecake
A creamy pressure-cooked cheesecake in a 7-inch springform pan; chill it overnight for clean slices.
40. Ninja Foodi Cinnamon Oatmeal
Steel-cut oats with cinnamon and brown sugar, pressure cooked while you get ready for the day.
Which Ninja Foodi Function to Use
| Function | Best for | Lid |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure cook | Rice, beans, roasts, stews, pasta | Pressure lid, valve sealed |
| Air crisp | Fries, wings, breaded foods | Crisping lid |
| TenderCrisp | Whole chicken, ribs, baked potatoes | Pressure lid, then crisping lid |
| Sauté / sear | Browning meat and onions first | No lid |
| Bake / roast | Cakes, crisps, dips | Crisping lid |
My Ninja Foodi Tips
- Sear first. Browning meat on sauté before pressure cooking adds a lot of flavor.
- Always add liquid for pressure cooking, at least 1/2 cup (check your manual for your model).
- Deglaze the pot after searing so nothing sticks and triggers a burn warning.
- Don't overfill: no more than 2/3 full, or 1/2 for rice and beans.
- Use a thermometer: chicken 165°F, ground meat 160°F, whatever the cook time says.
More Easy Recipes
My Ninja Foodi lives on my counter because it does double duty as a pressure cooker and an air fryer. Start with Ninja Foodi rice, then check whether you can use foil in an air fryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you make in a Ninja Foodi?
Almost anything you'd make in a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker or small oven: rice, beans, stews, roasts, wings, fries, whole chicken, dips, cakes and even yogurt on some models. Its trick is pressure cooking and then crisping in the same pot.
Is a Ninja Foodi the same as an air fryer?
It's an air fryer and a pressure cooker in one. The crisping lid air fries, roasts and bakes, while the pressure lid handles rice, beans and stews. Many models also slow cook, sauté and steam.
What is TenderCrisp on the Ninja Foodi?
TenderCrisp means pressure cooking food first so it's tender and juicy, then switching to the crisping lid to brown and crisp the outside. It's ideal for whole chickens, ribs, wings and baked potatoes.
Do you need to add water to a Ninja Foodi?
For pressure cooking, yes: it needs liquid to build steam, usually at least 1/2 cup (check your model's manual). For air crisping, roasting and baking, you don't add water.
What should I make first in my Ninja Foodi?
Start with something simple that teaches each function: rice or hard-boiled eggs for pressure cooking, fries for air crisping, and a whole chicken or baked potatoes for TenderCrisp.
