There are few things better than a proper pie dinner. FACT.

There are even fewer things better than a proper pie dinner that doesn't leave you washing up half the kitchen afterwards!

Enter the air fryer.

We're not suggesting you become one of those people who puts absolutely everything in an air fryer. Although, let's be honest, we're getting dangerously close to that point.

What we are suggesting is using it to create a couple of very tasty, very easy pie dinners, with our Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie and Steak & Ale Pie doing the heavy lifting.

Because when the pie is this good, there's really no need to complicate things!

So, here are two easy-peasy air fryer dinners that look like you've made a real effort, despite the air fryer doing most of the work.

Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie with Air Fryer Roasties & Tenderstem Broccoli

The dinner: creamy, comforting and very difficult to argue with.

Our Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie is already bringing plenty to the table, so we're pairing it with crispy little roast potatoes and tenderstem broccoli here.

A good old-fashioned roast dinner, without the part where you've got six saucepans going and suddenly realise you've forgotten the gravy!

You'll need

• 1 Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie

• Baby potatoes

• Tenderstem broccoli

• A little oil

• Salt and pepper

• Your favourite seasoning for the potatoes

• Gravy, obviously!

How to do it

1. Get the potatoes going.

Halve your baby potatoes, give them a little oil and seasoning, and pop them into the air fryer.

Cook at around 190°C for 20–25 minutes, giving them a shake halfway through.

You want them golden and crispy on the outside and lovely and fluffy inside.

2. Add your pie.

Your Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie needs 20mins @ 170°C  in the air fryer from chilled (or 35mins from frozen) so bung it in. If you've got a 2 drawer fryer then it's a doddle but definitely doable with only one compartment, too (provided there's room!).

For the last 8–10 minutes, throw in your tenderstem broccoli to the air fryer basket with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.

That's it!

Pie. Potatoes. Broccoli.

Three things on a plate and only one machine doing all the hard work.

3. Serve.

Get the pie onto a plate, pile up those crispy potatoes and add your broccoli. Followed by a very generous glug of gravy!

Because although technically optional, we're not interested in living dangerously.

The result

Golden pastry, creamy chicken and bacon filling, crispy roasties and a bit of green so you can tell yourself you've been sensible!

Steak & Ale Pie with Air Fryer Chips & Mushy Peas

Now we're going properly British.

Our Steak & Ale Pie paired with crispy air fryer chips and mushy peas.

It's the sort of dinner that makes you feel like you've wandered into a cosy pub on a wet Wednesday evening.

Except you're at home, in your slippers, and it's delightfully peaceful!

You'll need

• 1 Steak & Ale Pie

• Potatoes

• Mushy peas

• A little oil

• Salt

• Black pepper

• Gravy, naturally

How to do it

1. Make your chips.

Cut your potatoes into chunky chips and give them a light coating of oil and seasoning.

Air fry at around 190°C for 25–30 minutes, shaking them a couple of times during cooking.

No deep fryer. No bubbling pan of oil. No standing around wondering whether you're about to set fire to the kitchen! Lovely.

2. Cook the pie.

Pop your Steak & Ale Pie into the other drawrer for 20mins at 170°C in the air fryer from chilled (or 35mins from frozen).

3. Add the peas.

During the final 5–10 minutes, heat your mushy peas through.

We suggest bunging them in a little pot inside the tray.

4. Plate it up.

Pie in the middle.

Chips on one side.

Mushy peas on the other.

Gravy over the top.

And suddenly your Wednesday night is looking remarkably like Friday night (or Pienight as we've been calling it!).

The result

Rich, hearty steak and ale filling, beautifully crisp pastry, golden chips and mushy peas to make the plate less beige (not that there's anything wrong with beige!).

Basically, a comforting pub classic without having to leave the house! What could be better?!

A Couple of Air Fryer Tips From Us

Because we're all about making life easier:

Don't overcrowd the basket - Your chips need room to breathe. Your pie does not appreciate being squashed in with half a bag of potatoes.

Give things a shake - A little shake halfway through helps get everything evenly golden and crispy.

Keep an eye on your pie - Air fryers vary, and they can cook more quickly than conventional ovens, so check your pie isn't getting too golden!

And finally… Don't forget the gravy! Honestly, after all that effort, it would be rude not to!

Pie Night, Sorted

The beauty of these dinners is that they don't require a culinary degree, a fridge full of mysterious ingredients or three hours of your life.

Just a proper pie, a few simple sides and an air fryer!

Which means you get all the joy of a hearty, comforting pie dinner… with rather less faffing. And that's something we can all get behind!

Easy-peasy? Absolutely. Pie-tastic? Obviously!

Keep your eyes posted because Head Chef Marc has been working on something exciting (well, several exciting things!!). Chunk sides coming to a table near you soon!