Whether you’re after jammy yolks or easy-to-peel whites, air fryer boiled eggs nail the texture every time, no guesswork, no drama. Forget boiling water or babysitting a pot – just load your eggs into the Ninja Air Fryer and let it do its thing. It’s fast, mess-free, and perfect for salads, sandwiches, or eating cold from the fridge, sprinkled with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Protein: 6 grams per egg
Eggs pack a serious protein punch – six grams each, clean and complete, no extras needed. I’ve been making them in the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone for ages now, and honestly, I’d never go back to boiling. No steam, no fuss, and while the eggs cook, you’ve got time to toast bread, chop a few veggies, or actually get something useful done for once.
Why you will love this recipe
- Protein-packed: Each egg brings six grams of clean, filling fuel.
- Zero fuss: No pots to scrub or water to boil, just press a button and walk away.
- Totally reliable: Soft, jammy, or firm – they turn out how you want.
- Easy to peel: The ice bath trick makes shells slide right off.
- Meal prep MVP: Ideal for snacks, salads, or building quick lunches.
- Multi-use: Pop on toast, mash into egg salad, or spice up a bowl.
Key ingredients and substitutions
- Eggs (1-12): Use as many as you like, as long as they fit in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Large eggs work best, but medium or extra-large are fine too – just tweak the timing slightly.
You’ll also need:
- Air fryer: Any model works, but this method was tested in a Ninja Foodi dual zone.
- Ice water bath: This cools the eggs quickly and helps the shells release easily. Cold tap water works too if you don’t have ice on hand. You can fill a bowl and pop it in the fridge or freezer while the eggs are cooking to make it even colder.
How to make air fryer boiled eggs
- Preheat the air fryer: Set it to bake at 250°F (120°C). You don’t need a full warm-up, but getting it started while you grab the eggs helps with timing.
- Add your eggs: Place up to 12 eggs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they’re not stacked or crowded so they cook evenly.
- Start cooking: Slide the basket in and press start. No boiling water, no hovering.
- Set the timer: Go for 11 minutes if you want soft-boiled. Medium eggs take about 13 to 15 minutes, and hard-boiled ones need the full 17.
- Prep an ice bath: While the eggs cook, fill a bowl with ice and cold water. This cools them quickly and makes peeling easier.
- Cool them down: When the timer beeps, use tongs to move the eggs into the ice bath. Let them chill for at least 5 minutes.
- Peel or chill: Peel them right away or stash them in the fridge with the shells on – they’ll keep perfectly either way.
Recipe notes and tips
- Size: If you’re using medium or extra-large eggs, adjust the cooking time slightly to get your ideal texture.
- Test one first: Not all air fryers cook the same, so start with a single egg to dial in your timing.
- Don’t skip the ice: The ice bath cools the eggs fast and makes peeling way easier.
- Use tongs: The basket gets hot, and eggs can roll. Tongs = safe, easy, less drama.
- Work quickly: Move the eggs straight into the ice bath to avoid overcooked yolks or rubbery whites.
Storage instructions
- Fridge: Store cooked eggs in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- Shell on: Leaving the shells on helps keep them fresher for longer.
- Shell off: If you’ve already peeled them, keep in an airtight container with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.
- No freezing: Don’t freeze hard-boiled eggs – the whites turn rubbery.
Ways to serve and switch up air fryer boiled eggs
- Avocado Cottage Cheese Toast: Smash a hard-boiled egg on top with a little salt, chili flakes, or even a swipe of hot sauce.
- Breakfast plate: Serve with air fryer Canadian bacon, a toasted bagel, or sautéed greens for a full-on protein breakfast.
- Egg salad remix: Use them to make a classic egg salad with cottage cheese, or stir through a creamy potato salad.
- Power lunch: Add to a grain bowl, layer into a sandwich, or pair with this smoked salmon sushi bowl and some leafy greens. I really love having them a bit jammy (13 minutes) with the sushi bowl!
- Bento-style snack: Halve and tuck into a lunchbox with rice, pickled veggies, and something protein-rich like tofu or tuna.
- Snack board extras: Add to a platter with crackers, olives, roasted nuts, or your favorite homemade dip.
- Deviled eggs: Slice and scoop, then load them up with paprika, chives, or whatever topping you’re craving.
Frequently asked questions
It’s best to eat them cold – reheating can dry out the yolk and mess with the texture. If you do want to warm one up, don’t microwave it whole (even peeled eggs can explode from steam). Slice it first and cover it with a damp paper towel, or reheat gently in the air fryer or a skillet.
Cold eggs straight from the fridge can crack from the sudden heat. It also helps to avoid overcrowding – if they bounce around or knock into each other during cooking, they’re more likely to split. Let them come to room temp and keep them in a single layer.
Nope. Air frying doesn’t affect the protein or key micronutrients like calcium, potassium, or vitamin B12.
You can, but the cooking process is totally different. If you’re curious to try it, the go-to method is 5 minutes on high pressure, followed by a 5-minute natural release and 5 minutes in an ice bath.
More high-protein egg recipes you’ll love
- Scrambled Eggs with Cottage Cheese
- Egg White Wraps
- Egg Salad with Cottage Cheese
- Scrambled Egg Cottage Cheese Bowl
Have you made this recipe? I’d love to know <3 Tag me on Facebook and Instagram, Pin it on Pinterest, and please give it 5 stars with a review below! Don’t forget to subscribe to the email list (top right of this page) for sparkly new recipes in your inbox.
Air Fryer Boiled Eggs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-12 eggs
Instructions
- Turn the air fryer on to the bake setting, and set it for 120°C/250°F. Note: my air fryer is a Ninja Foodi dual zone.
- Add the eggs to the air fryer basket (or baskets), close the basket, and press the middle of the circle dial to start cooking.1-12 eggs
- For a soft boiled egg, cook for 11 minutes, medium boiled egg: 13-15 minutes, and a hard boiled egg: 17 minutes.
- When your egg is finished cooking, plunge it into a bowl of ice cold water to stop the cooking.
- You can either store them in the fridge with the shell on, or peel them. Enjoy!
Notes
- Size matters: If you’re using medium or extra-large eggs, adjust the cooking time slightly to get your ideal texture.
- Test one first: Not all air fryers cook the same, so start with a single egg to dial in your timing.
- Don’t skip the ice: The ice bath cools the eggs fast and makes peeling way easier.
- Use tongs: The basket gets hot, and eggs can roll. Tongs = safe, easy, less drama.
- Work quickly: Move the eggs straight into the ice bath to avoid overcooked yolks or rubbery whites.
Storage instructions
- Fridge life: Store cooked eggs in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- Shell on: Leaving the shells on helps keep them fresher for longer.
- Shell off: If you’ve already peeled them, keep in an airtight container with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.
- No freezing: Don’t freeze hard-boiled eggs – the whites turn rubbery and sad.
