5 from 4 votes

Best Air fryer Halloumi

Jump to Recipe
This halloumi air fryer recipe is savory, sweet, and ready in 10 minutes! Itโ€™s an easy weeknight appetizer thatโ€™s packed with flavour and spice!
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
ยฃ1.15
Makes: 5
mains, Snack
Greek

This delicious halloumi air fryer appetizer is made with bold seasonings and sweet chilli sauce, giving it a savory, sweet, bold spice flavour. It’s cooked in the air fryer, so you’ll be using less oil than if you brown it in a skillet. Yet, youโ€™ll still get deliciously crispy air-fried halloumi every time.

Golden browned halloumi cubes on a plate with some green herbs and a small bowl of chilli sauce.

Why youโ€™ll love this recipe

Quick cooking โ€“ This halloumi air fryer dish only takes about 10 minutes (including prep time!).

Sweet and savory โ€“ The spices and chili sauce have a deliciously complex taste, so expect bold flavours in every bite.

Only two ingredients – This recipe requires only two ingredients (not including pantry essentials!).

Diet-friendly – This crispy air fryer halloumi is naturally gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly, so it’s the perfect way to boost protein in a healthy meal. 

Satisfy your halloumi cravings and try these other recipes; Sweet Chilli Halloumi Wrap, Halloumi Tacos and Halloumi Pasta

What is Halloumi Cheese?

If you’re making this halloumi air fryer recipe, you may be wondering about this cheese. It’s a semi-soft cheese originally made with goat or sheep milk. In some cases, halloumi was made with both types of milk. However, it’s typically created with cow’s milk now.

It has a rubbery texture that’s similar to fresh mozzarella, and it doesn’t melt like other common types of cheese. Instead, it stretches, making it great for browning and adding to salads and sandwiches. Halloumi is a yummy, tangy, salty cheese.

Where to buy
As it has become more popular worldwide, it is now easier than ever to buy halloumi cheese in stores! I recommend heading to a larger grocery store and checking in the specialty cheese area. It will likely be in a vacuum-sealed bag. 

Can you cook halloumi in the air fryer?

Yes, you can cook crispy halloumi in the air fryer! See the notes below for more details on this air fryer halloumi recipe.

Is it okay to put cheese in the air fryer?
I would not recommend putting other types of cheese (sliced or shredded) in the air fryer, as they can fly around and cause a mess. If youโ€™re wondering, can you air fry halloumi? The answer is yes! Since youโ€™re cutting this air fry halloumi in larger chunks, they should be heavy enough to stay in place.

How long to cook halloumi in the air fryer?
It will take about 10 minutes to get a deliciously crispy exterior on the air fryer halloumi.

How do you know when it is done?
Youโ€™ll know this yummy halloumi air fryer recipe is ready when the outside is golden brown.

Need inspiration for some other air fryer recipes? Try my; Cauliflower Rice, Air Fryer Shrimp and Air Fryer Chicken Bites

Ingredients

Ingredients to make the halloumi recipe laid out on a pale blue background and labelled.

Halloumi Cheese โ€“ Halloumi is the star of this halloumi air fryer recipe. You can use any brand youโ€™d like; they all work well to create appetizer cuisine.

Sweet Chilli Sauce โ€“ The sweet chilli sauce helps create a complex flavour in this halloumi in air fryer recipe. If you prefer another sauce, hot honey is a great alternative.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations/ Adaptations

Here are a few ways to make this halloumi air fryer recipe your own! Instead of halloumi cheese, consider using Kefalotyri cheese, paneer cheese, or queso panela. They each offer a slightly different flavour, but they will all work well as toppings for salads, rice bowls, and other dishes.

Instead of cutting the halloumi into chunks, you can cut the halloumi into halloumi bites, which are easier to add to salads. Or, you can add a breading to them to create The Crispiest Halloumi Fries.

How to make air fryer halloumi

  1. Slice the halloumi into 2cm x 2cm chunks (Image 1).
  2. Add to a bowl with the onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. Toss to combine until the pieces are evenly coated (Image 2).
2 step by step photos, the first with sliced halloumi on a chopping a board and the second with the halloumi in a bowl with seasoning.

3. Evenly distribute across the airfryer basket allowing gaps in between the pieces. Add a few sprays of oil then cook for 5 minutes at 392ยฐF (200ยฐC). Rotate the pieces with tongs and cook for a further 4-5 minutes, until golden brown. 

4. Serve with sweet chilli sauce and a crack of black pepper.

Pair this yummy hallloumi recipes with one of these mains for an even tastier meal: Tabbouleh Inspired Chicken Salad, Tricolore Salad and Vegetarian Burrito Bowl

Tips for the best result

Preheat the air fryer
When making this halloumi air fryer recipe, be sure to preheat the air fryer first. Otherwise, it will take much longer for the cheese to crisp up.

Spread the slices out
If you overcrowd the air fryer basket, the halloumi slices wonโ€™t be able to properly crisp up on the outside. Be sure to properly space them out so the hot air can circulate around the pieces of the cheese.

Flip them mid-way through
This step ensures the halloumi is golden-brown on all sides.

Coat the sides with olive oil cooking spray
Whether you use olive oil or another cooking spray, coat all sides of the halloumi pieces so the outsides are nice and crispy.

A plate filled with golden browned halloumi cubes with some green herbs and a small bowl of chilli sauce.

Serving Suggestions

Now that you know how to cook halloumi in the air fryer, it’s time to add it to recipes! This halloumi air fryer recipe is delicious by itself as a protein-rich snack. However, you can also use the air-fried halloumi as a salad topper, an ingredient in a rice or Buddha bowl, turn it into tacos, etc.

Serve the halloumi with some; 5 Ingredient Vegan Mayonnaise or some romaine salad with Healthy Caesar Salad Dressing

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

This halloumi air fryer recipe is best eaten fresh! I recommend halving the recipe if you know you can’t eat the entire amount. Then, cook the extra when you’re ready for more halloumi. If you have an opened pack, store the extra halloumi in a container with cold, salty water. It should stay good in the fridge for up to two weeks.

If you make extra halloumi that you can’t eat, it will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for about a week. Reheat the leftover halloumi in a pan over medium heat or in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes on each side.

If you have leftover halloumi, consider making one of these yummy recipes; Halloumi Kebabs, Halloumi Burger and Halloumi and Avocado Toast

A plate filled with golden browned halloumi cubes with some green herbs and a small bowl of chilli sauce with a fork holding up a piece of halloumi.

FAQs

Should I soak the halloumi before air frying it?

Some home chefs claim soaking halloumi in cold water before cooking it helps create a softer, more flavourful cheese. However, I have found it’s unnecessary to soak it beforehand, as the halloumi air fryer recipe will still create tasty pieces of cheese.

Will this melt into the basket of the air fryer?

Since halloumi is a grilling cheese, it does not melt when it cooks. It simply crisps up on the outside and becomes a bit gooey on the inside.

Why is my halloumi rubbery?

If you donโ€™t eat the halloumi right away, it can become rubbery as it cools. Overcooking the halloumi can also lead to a rubbery texture.

Can you make this ahead of time?

This halloumi air fryer recipe is best eaten fresh. I would not recommend making it ahead of time.

Can you eat halloumi raw?

Yes, you can eat this cheese โ€œrawโ€ like any other cheese. However, I think itโ€™s best after cooking, as it enhances the flavour of the cheese.

Need inspiration for some other main meal recipes? Try my; Easy Tuna Fishcakes, Gochujang Aubergine and Quorn Chicken Pieces Recipe with Pesto

If you tried this Air Fryer Halloumi recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys ๐Ÿ’› Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x

 

Best Air fryer Halloumi

Print
5 from 4 votes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
ยฃ1.15
mains, Snack
Greek
Servings: 5
This halloumi air fryer recipe is savory, sweet, and ready in 10 minutes! Itโ€™s an easy weeknight appetizer thatโ€™s packed with flavour and spice!

Ingredients

  • 450 g (2 blocks) of halloumi (ยฃ2.70x2)=ยฃ5.40)
  • 3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce (ยฃ2.15/4)=(ยฃ0.54)

Cupboard Essentials

  • 1 tsp onion
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • ยฝ tsp Cayenne pepper
  • Oil spray

Method

  • Slice the halloumi into 2cm x 2cm chunks. Add to a bowl with the onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. Toss to combine until the pieces are evenly coated.
  • Evenly distribute across the airfryer basket allowing gaps in between the pieces. Add a few sprays of oil then cook for 5 minutes at 392ยฐF (200ยฐC)
  • Rotate the pieces with tongs and cook for a further 4-5 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Serve with sweet chilli sauce and a crack of black pepper.

Notes

  • Preheat the air fryer to ensure the halloumi crisps up quickly.
  • Spread out the slices to avoid overcrowding and allow proper air circulation.
  • Flip the slices halfway through for even, golden-brown crispiness.

Nutrition

Servings: 5 servings
Fat: 22g
Calories: 295kcal
Carbohydrates: 4g
Protein: 20g
5 from 4 votes

Leave a comment and a rating!

Thank you so much for trying my recipe! I hope you loved it. Iโ€™d be so grateful if you could leave a comment/rating - it makes my day hearing your feedback!

Recipe Rating




Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Joe White | 3 weeks ago

    Sweet chili and Halloumi. Perfect mix and these ar fryer halloumi bite make a great snack.5 stars

  2. Jane McDonald | 3 months ago

    New favorite way snack to make in the air fryer as who didnโ€™t love Halloumi!5 stars

  3. Simone Harris | 3 months ago

    Great speedy way to cook Halloumi! Turned out great.5 stars

  4. Great way to brown the Halloumi! So yummy made in the airfryer !5 stars

  • Weekly meal plans with a ยฃ20 budget
  • 150+ exclusive recipes
  • Personal dashboard
  • Exclusive step by step videos
  • Shopping list tools
  • Advert Free experience

JOIN NOW LEARN MORE

Never miss a recipe!

Sign up to my weekly newsletter to get all of Beat the Budget's recent recipes, so you never miss out!

Development Alchemy + Aim
Share to...