To ask your favourite meals involving only a microwave, air fryer and kettle?

[MoHunter]

Will be without my kitchen for approx 6 weeks soon, I'll have a small utility room with a dual air fryer, microwave and kettle to cook with only.

Do not want to have takeaways every other night, so I'm looking for some dinner inspo please, or even any "decent" ready meals?

I've already thought of the usual... Jacket potatoes, beans on toast, beige freezer food, air fried chicken and microwavable frozen veg, instant gravy... Are there any decent microwave pasta meals out there as we normally eat pasta about twice a week?

Hit me with your favourites please. 😆

(Sadly do not have a slow cooker but thinking of getting a cheap one just for this!)

You can cook pasta in the microwave, pop it in a large bowl, cover with hot water and pop in fir 2/3 minutes less than normal.
We were in a similar position to you a few years ago so can empathise.
Also, if it's in your budget then buy one of those single plug in hob things on Amazon, can get them for £20 and it will greatly increase what you can cook like chilli & bolegnese etc.

You can do jacket potatoes in the airfryer & heat any toppings like beans in the microwave.

How large are the drawers on your airfryer? If you buy some cheap silicone cookware you can make all sorts in there from pasta bakes to cakes.
You can do all sorts of beige freezer food then steam some veg in the microwave to go with it.

You can boil eggs in a kettle, this is a common thing in hotel rooms (hence why I never use a hotel room kettle).

Get a slow cooker and follow boredoflunch on Instagram (or buy his airfryer or slow cooker book). All of his recipes are via one of those two appliances and they are amazing.

You can make ‘boiled eggs’ in an air fryer.

I did a full roast dinner in my air fryer yesterday, I make bread in mine as well. It’s just a smaller oven really so anythjng that can fit in can be done. It’s not quite the same but you can cook fresh veg in a microwave. All you can’t do is fry or steam with your set up.

If you stretch to a single plug in electric hob (this one's induction but depending on your pans wouldn't have to bo) there wouldn't be much you couldn't do with what you've got there.

You can roast gnocchi or tinned beans (canellini or butter) in a sauce you'd normally use for pasta

Baked eggs recipes?

I'd get a single ring Electric hob over a slow cooker, I think it would be a lot more useful if you eat pasta a lot. Or a second hand chest freezer - I've checked on Facebook marketplace and there are loads for around £40, and just do a load of batch cooking that you can defrost and microwave easily (eg sauces for pasta and then just cook the pasta)

Microwave rice packs are great and can be used as a base for lots of stuff

Casseroles, homemade soup and pasta sauces, made in advance and frozen can be re heated in the microwave also fresh veg and potatoes for mash.

I managed without an air fryer because it was before they were a thing. However, microwave and slow cooker were available. We did eat a lot of ready meals to be honest but I tried to buy decent M&S ones. I rarely use my oven these days so I can't think of anything you can't cook. You see boxed slow cookers in charity shops a lot so I'd definitely get one. You can do a whole chicken in the air fryer, leftovers can go in slow cooker to make a curry/casserole or whatever. I'd do that twice a week. It was also the summer so I did use the BBQ on fair weather days. It's a pain but it is manageable.

You can get a microwave rice cooker so you can make real rice, much nicer than microwave rice - Sistema do a good one.

Agree with buying a slow cooker and the Bored of Lunch books

Oh and batch cooking and freezing (which is something I do a lot now but didn't then), essentially making your own ready meals.

Air fryer boiled eggs !
Ramen

The NY Times had an article this week about how several chefs praise the microwave as a method for cooking fish. Sorry, it is behind paywall but I bet there are recipes online.

Small jacket potatoes and white rice cook beautifully in there as do many green veg, and of course you also have the air fryer. Cous cous just needs a kettle. Sorry I can’t help with the pasta, which I also love.

We did 4 months last year with a microwave, air fryer, rice cooker, and a single ring induction hob. The induction hob was amazing and allowed us to cook so many things. About the only thing we couldn't do was pizza, and didn't need the rice cooker, it's just what we use anyway

Don't underestimate how nice sandwiches are! Good bread, a bit of flavoured mayonnaise, a herb or two & filling of choice, maybe a pickle. Vietnamese sandwiches and bao buns are favourites here.

Usually 99% of anything that can go in an oven can go in an airfryer.. it's like a mini oven. ( obviously not the top stove) but you can buy electric plug in steamers.
I can't remember last time l had my oven on.
Between my slow cooker and airfryer and microwave l just about do all my meals..
Silicone cups for poach eggs in airfryer..
Can do a full English if you so want.
I do smoked haddock .
I even do Yorkshire puddings and scones in it.
I do half a roast chicken have with wedges and coleslaw.
Chicken casserole in slow cooker..
Or beef stew etc.
Frozen mash in microwave.

I have the crockpot express. It has a sauté and simmer functions.

With the microwave, airfryer, kettle and this, I can cook pretty much anything. It does amazing potatoes for mash.

Crockpot Turbo Express Pressure Multicooker | 14-in-1 Functions | Slow Cooker, Steamer, Pressure Cooker & More | 5.6L (6+ People) | Energy Efficient | [CSC062],Black/Silver https://amzn.eu/d/7wWLjL2

Get a slow cooker! You can make amazing all in one helathy meals in one.

Great suggestions so far, thank you! I'll look into getting a single induction hob but space is an issue, the worktop in the utility room is tiny. It's either that or a slow cooker then perhaps, both won't be possible space wise...
Also good call about batch cooking beforehand. I think rice and pasta were my main worries as I do them on the hob.

I don't use my oven that much tbh since having the air fryer, it's the hob I will miss most.

I got an Pot DUO 60 Duo 7-in-1 Smart Cooker, 5.7L - Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Sauté Pan, Yoghurt Maker, Steamer and Food Warmer, Brushed Stainless Steel amzn.eu/d/fj8S6Bv Instant Pot last year & I've used it loads.

It will boil, saute, pressure cook, slow cook, rice cooker, etc. I did a large ham in it yesterday in an hour! Definitely good for bolognese, curry etc

Sorry, link didn't work
Search for Instant Pot DUO 60 Duo 7-in-1 Smart Cooker, 5.7L

We found couscous very useful when we were having our kitchen done and only had a microwave and kettle.