The 6 Best Air Fryers for 3 People in 2025

The Ninja Air Fryer (AF101) stands out as a versatile and efficient appliance, well-suited for preparing meals for a small family of three. Its 4-quart ceramic-coated nonstick basket can comfortably accommodate up to 2 pounds of French fries or a similar quantity of other foods, ensuring enough servings without excessive batch cooking. The unit offers a wide temperature range from 105°F to 400°F, which allows for a variety of cooking methods beyond just air frying. You can roast, reheat, and even dehydrate foods, making it a multi-functional tool in the kitchen. The convection heat technology ensures quick cooking and crispy results, while also promoting healthier eating by reducing fat by up to 75% compared to traditional deep frying methods.

Users will appreciate the straightforward controls and the ease of cleaning, as the basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe. The inclusion of a 20-recipe booklet provides a good starting point for exploring its capabilities. While it offers four main functions, these cover the most common cooking needs for quick and healthy meals. Its performance in crisping foods is consistently praised, delivering that desired crunch with significantly less oil. For a household of three looking for a reliable and multi-functional air fryer, the Ninja AF101 offers a good balance of capacity and cooking options. Compared to the CRUX x Marshmello 3.0 QT Digital Air Fryer, the Ninja AF101 offers a larger capacity and the added dehydrate function, though the CRUX may appeal more for its unique design.

The CRUX x Marshmello 3.0 QT Digital Air Fryer brings a unique design flair to the countertop, combined with effective cooking technology. Its standout feature is the “TurboCrisp” technology, engineered to deliver an optimal balance of crunch and moisture in cooked foods, powered by a 1300-watt heating system. The 3-quart capacity is advertised to cook up to 2.5 lbs of food, making it suitable for 2-4 people, which comfortably includes a household of three. The digital touch screen controls are intuitive, offering pre-programmed cook settings that simplify the cooking process, and a 60-minute auto shut-off timer adds a layer of convenience and safety.

This air fryer aims to make healthier cooking accessible, claiming to use up to 75% less fat. Cleanup is designed to be straightforward, with a dishwasher-safe, PFOA-free non-stick cooking basket and crisping tray. A fun bonus is the inclusion of custom CRUX x Marshmello silicone cupcake molds, encouraging creative cooking. While its capacity is slightly smaller than some 4-quart models, its performance and distinctive aesthetic make it an appealing choice for those who value both function and style. The CRUX x Marshmello offers a more compact and stylish design compared to the Ninja Air Fryer AF101, though it has a slightly smaller capacity.

The DEIME Air Fryer 3 Qt is specifically designed for those prioritizing kitchen space, offering a compact and quiet solution for air frying. Its 3-quart square basket is engineered to maximize its capacity within a small footprint, making it ideal for smaller countertops or for individuals and couples. While the manufacturer suggests it’s best for 1-2 people, it could potentially serve three for smaller meals or side dishes. The digital touchscreen display allows for easy customization of cooking time and temperature up to 400°F, with little to no preheating time required, enabling quick meal preparation from frozen to golden.

This air fryer emphasizes healthy cooking, using significantly less oil for crispy results due to its top-down airflow system. It’s also highlighted for its quiet operation, a welcome feature in smaller living spaces. Cleaning is simplified as the BPA-free nonstick basket is dishwasher safe. While it may not have an extensive list of preset functions, its core air frying, baking, reheating, and roasting capabilities are effective for quick and easy meals. For those needing a truly compact unit, the DEIME offers a more space-saving design than the BELLA 3 Qt Touchscreen Air Fryer, though the BELLA provides more explicit multi-cooking functions.

The BELLA 3 Qt Touchscreen Air Fryer is designed for user-friendliness and versatility, making it a strong contender for small families or groups of three. Its digital touchscreen interface simplifies operation, allowing users to easily select from its 5-in-1 multicooking capabilities: Air Fry, Broil, Bake, Roast, or Reheat. With a 2.5-pound food capacity, it can comfortably prepare meals for 2-4 people. The 1400-watt heating element combined with Circular Heat Technology ensures that food is cooked evenly and achieves a desirable crispiness, all while using significantly less fat and calories compared to traditional frying.

The matte white finish offers a clean, modern aesthetic that can fit well in various kitchen decors. Cleanup is also a breeze, thanks to the PFOA-free nonstick basket and crisping tray, both of which are removable and dishwasher safe. Its compact size ensures it doesn’t monopolize counter space, making it a practical choice for everyday use. While it offers a good range of functions, it focuses on core cooking tasks effectively. The BELLA 3 Qt provides similar 5-in-1 functionality to the Crux 3QT Digital Air Fryer, but with a different aesthetic and potentially a more intuitive touchscreen for some users.

The Crux 3QT Digital Air Fryer positions itself as a budget-friendly yet capable option for small households, including those with three members. It boasts a 5-in-1 multi-cooking functionality, allowing users to Air Fry, Broil, Bake, Roast, or Dehydrate, providing a good range of culinary possibilities. The digital controls are straightforward, complemented by a 30-minute auto shut-off timer and an audible tone for ease of use. Its 1200-watt heating element utilizes Circular Heat Technology for faster preheating and even cooking, aiming to deliver crispy results efficiently for up to 2.5 pounds of food.

This air fryer emphasizes healthier meal preparation, stating that its air-fried foods have significantly less fat and fewer calories than conventionally fried alternatives. The PFOA-free non-stick cooking pan and crisping tray are removable and dishwasher safe, simplifying the cleaning process. Its compact design is intended to fit neatly on most kitchen counters without adding clutter. While the 30-minute timer might be limiting for some recipes requiring longer cooking times, its overall feature set offers good value. Compared to the Ninja Air Fryer AF101, the Crux 3QT offers more cooking functions like dehydrate in a smaller, more budget-conscious package, though with a smaller capacity.

The bella 4Qt Slim Air Fryer offers a compelling solution for those needing a decent capacity for a family of three, without sacrificing too much counter space. Its “Fits-anywhere™” slim design is a key selling point, aiming to save up to 50% more space compared to previous models, while still providing an XL basket capable of holding up to 3.3 lbs of food. This model features the EverGood™ Ceramic Nonstick Coating, which is notable for being free from PFAS, PFOA, PTFE, lead, or cadmium, promoting healthier cooking and easier cleanup.

Powered by 1300 watts and Circular Heat Technology, this air fryer promises crispy food fast. The digital controls are user-friendly, offering an adjustable temperature and six preset cooking options: air fry, bake, roast, broil, reheat, and dehydrate. This range of presets adds convenience for common dishes. The modern aesthetic, with its soft matte finish and subtle fluting, is designed to complement contemporary kitchen decor. Its combination of a space-saving 4-quart capacity and enhanced nonstick coating makes it a strong contender. The bella 4Qt Slim provides a larger capacity and more presets than the BELLA 3 Qt Touchscreen Air Fryer, along with an upgraded ceramic nonstick coating.