14 Walmart Foods That Taste Even Better Made in the Air Fryer

The air fryer has been a godsend for folks who don’t have an hour to spend at the stove, allowing an even cook of a variety of foods in a fraction of the time a conventional oven, stovetop, or grill might take. Walmart, in particular, stocks so many fun options to try.

We dug around and found these 14 foods that are a step above when prepped in an air fryer, helping you save on Walmart essentials and time spent in the kitchen.

Editor’s note: Prices are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $3.16

If you prepare these as suggested in the microwave, they can be soggy or overcooked and turn to stone in minutes. 

Instead, throw them in the air fryer for 6-9 minutes from frozen, and you should get a nice crunch to the outside and a soft, fluffy inside to start your day off right.

Price: $3.84

If you want the perfect cook to a crunchier-style crust, throw a quarter to a half of Tony’s pepperoni pizza – depending on the size of your air fryer basket – into the air fryer. 

Set it at 400 degrees for five minutes for an even cook that leaves the edges and cheese clean, with a little crisp to the pepperoni.

Price: $1.16

A quick way to roast veggies is to throw frozen produce tossed in olive oil and herbs in the air fryer basket for a few minutes. 

Having this California-style veggie mix is perfect because it cooks up quickly with nice, crispy edges and — coupled with parmesan — is a perfect substitute for other savory afternoon snacks.

Price: $5.34

Microwaving corn tortillas can be disastrous since they become rock solid within minutes. These white-meat chicken taquitos are a great source of protein and deserve better than a soggy microwave finish. 

Air fry these inexpensive taquitos to give the edges a nice crunch as you snap into them.

Price: $3.92

If you have been craving big, flavorful onion rings like the ones you used to get at the fair or the fall festival growing up, then the air fryer hack is a must-try. 

The air fryer will cook these babies up evenly in about three minutes if you throw them in the basket at 350 degrees. Plus, you don’t run the risk of grease soaking through to your clothing.

Price: $6.97

Red Lobster’s coconut shrimp is almost addictive, which makes the ebb and flow of the restaurant chain’s popularity that much more painful. Luckily, they sell their coconut shrimp bites at Walmart. 

Throw them in the air fryer and get a light, crunchy bite in just minutes with the included sweet chili sauce.

Price: $2.98

If you're shopping for Chinese food on a budget, the Great Value pork egg rolls are top-notch. Put them in the air fryer basket and fry them at 360 for about 7 to 10 minutes to your crunch level of preference. 

This is only about half the time cooking them in a conventional oven would take.

Price: $1.98

Didn’t think a can of crescent dough could get any better? Grab the flaky and buttery container of crescent rolls from Walmart, throw them in the basket two to four at a time, and enjoy an expansive, fluffy, crunchy-shelled pastry in mere minutes. 

Such a fun snack for just a quarter each!

Price: $3.48

Kale is highly nutritious and really great in an array of dishes, including salads, pasta, casseroles, and more. 

You can make kale chips with some oil and spices in under 15 minutes in an air fryer, avoiding the hours of prep and the unappealing smell that comes with baking it in the oven.

Price: $3.28

Walmart sells a bag of sweet potato fries that has zero grams of trans fat. These fries take 30 minutes in the oven and half that time in the air fryer. The even cook gives you a crispy outside and a soft, pillowy potato inside.

For dessert, add cinnamon sugar and butter before you fry.

Price: $2.26

For a quick, affordable dessert, you can buy a bundle of organic bananas at Walmart. Caramelize your bananas with toppings, seasonings, liqueurs, or extracts by cooking them in the air fryer. 

Add them to ice cream, pie, creme brulee, and more, or eat them on their own, covered in chocolate or berries.

Price: $12.48

If you want to evenly cook your salmon until it’s tender all the way through with flaky edges that fall apart, then cook it in an air fryer. 

You can easily adjust your glaze, sauce, produce, herbs, or additional ingredients and have an omega-rich dinner cooked in under ten minutes.

Price: $8.47

Tyson has an affordable frozen breaded chicken breast tenderloin that is made from 100% all-natural ingredients and is perfect to stock in your freezer for meal prep. 

The air fryer cooks these pieces of breaded, tender chicken perfectly, with an airy, crunchy finish to the breading.

Price: $5.78

If you are a fan of bacon with crispy, crunchy edges and croissants with a flaky, buttery finish, then these affordable Great Value Bacon Egg & Cheese Croissants are perfect for an on-the-go meal. 

Throw them in the air fryer for eight minutes at 350 degrees for the perfect finish.

A great way to save money shopping is knowing multiple, easy prep options for your food so that none of it goes to waste. 

The air fryer is a tool that can help prepare almost anything. Find fun options in the aisles of stores like Walmart, Target, Costco, and Aldi.