Fast food is rarely healthy, especially when you’re trying to lose weight or be a little healthier. But what if I told you there’s a way to enjoy your favourite takeaway dishes without completely overdoing it? MJ’s Diner air fryer meals are a game-changer for those who want a takeaway but also want to lose weight. They are a bit of an in-between, a fake away or takeaway you make at home.
This is a collaborative post.
Fast food doesn’t have to mean greasy, unhealthy meals. With air frying technology, you can now enjoy the crispy texture and delicious flavours of traditional fast food with significantly less oil. This not only makes the meals healthier but also retains the taste and crunch that we all love.
For each of the meals we tried I have also included a photo showing the nutrition and ingredients where possible to help you decide if you would enjoy the meals and see how much better than a takeaway they are!
What Makes Air Fryers Special?
Air fryers use hot air circulation to cook food evenly, giving it a crispy exterior similar to deep frying but without the extra oil. This means fewer calories and less fat, allowing you to indulge in many of your favourite deep fried meals, guilt-free.
I often use the air fryer to make homemade chips, jacket potatoes, or to cook things I would normally pop in the oven like chicken nuggets, reheating pizza etc. There are some great air fryer recipes too that I have shared with you for fake aways but we all know that sometimes there isn’t the time. Consider the MJ’s Diner meals as like the microwave meal alternative for crispier air fryer meals.
MJ’s Diner – who are they?
MJ’s Diner offers healthier alternatives to traditional fast food. Their air fryer meals are prepared with high-quality ingredients and minimal oil, making them a perfect choice for anyone trying to lose weight or be a little healthier.
The MJ’s Diner meals are available at Farmfoods stores across the UK as well as Poundland and Oops Food Clearance at 1 Ardwick Street in St Helens. They are also in talks with other supermarkets so don’t panic if you have none of those near you at the moment, you can still get them soon I hope.
Katsu Chicken Curry with Chips
Katsu chicken curry is a popular dish, but it’s often deep-fried. The MJ’s Diner version uses an air fryer to achieve the same crispy coating without the excess oil. Paired with seasoned chips and a rich, flavourful curry sauce it is your whole meal in one bag. The sauce needs to be either boiled or microwaved but this is easy enough, the chips and chicken go in the air fryer.
The Taste
The crispy chicken pairs well with the curry sauce, creating a meal that is a good alternative to a less healthy take away Katsu curry. The curry sauce was good and definitely a filling and easy meal that could be served on its own or with some veggies if you prefer.
All Day Breakfast
Who doesn’t love breakfast at any time of the day? The MJ’s Diner all-day breakfast includes air-fried sausages, gammon grills, black pudding, and hash browns. Enjoy the full English breakfast experience with significantly fewer calories and add any other extras you love.
The Taste
Each component of this all-day breakfast is cooked to perfection. The sausages and bacon retain their savoury flavours, while the hash browns are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The black pudding was soft and cooked perfectly however if you prefer it crispier I would advise an extra couple of minutes in the air fryer for that.
We paired the all-day breakfast with some microwaved baked beans, scrambled eggs and mushrooms and a good squirt of HP Sauce but the choice is yours. I know some people have all sorts of weird and wonderful things on a cooked breakfast!
Salt and Pepper Chicken with Chips
Salt and pepper chicken is a classic Chinese takeaway favourite, and the MJ’s Diner version is a great alternative. With tender chicken pieces coated in a perfectly seasoned crust, this dish is paired with a serving of chips. Whether you enjoy it on it’s own, add some prawn crackers or even a handful of salad the choice is yours.
The Taste
The chicken was perfect with a perfectly cooked middle and crunchy exterior. It was well flavoured and popular in our house. Ben added some sweet chilli sauce to his meal!
Kebab Meat with Chips and Sriracha Sauce
This dish combines kebab meat with crispy chips and a spicy sriracha sauce. It’s the perfect choice for those who love a bit of heat on their kebab. That said, the sauce comes in a separate pouch to microwave or boil so if you prefer another sauce simply have that instead!
The Taste
The kebab meat was popular with Stuart and Ben who said it was almost as good as the takeaway kebab which has so many more calories and they would love to have this more regularly! They had it with a soft pitta bread and some salad!
Salt and Pepper Pork Ribs with Chips
Pork ribs are often viewed as indulgent, but the MJ’s Diner air-fried version offers a healthier alternative. The ribs are seasoned well and paired with chips for a great air fried Chinese meal.
The Taste
Ben loved the pork ribs and said they were tender and juicy. The salt and pepper seasoning was perfect and he would definitely like to have these more often. He added some Prawn crackers!
Sweet and Sour Chicken with Chips
Sweet and sour chicken or sometimes called Sweet and Sour Chicken balls (battered) is something both Stuart and Ben like from the local Chinese. The MJ’s Diner version is air-fried to perfection with crispy batter on the chicken that rivals its deep fried alternative for flavour without the greasy taste! The sweet and sour sauce is easily microwaved or boiled and a side of chips cooked at the same time in the air fryer makes for an easy way to enjoy a popular choice.
The Taste
Both Stuart and Ben thoroughly enjoyed the Sweet and Sour chicken balls and chips and I am tempted to buy some for the freezer for next time I make Singapore Chow Mein so they can have it as a side dish between them if they fancy it. We added some prawn crackers for an extra side!
Overall Thoughts of MJ’s Diner meals
MJ Diner’s air fryer meals are a fantastic option for anyone looking to enjoy their favourite takeaway dishes in a healthier way. The use of air frying technology ensures that each meal is lower in fat and calories while still having those flavours you love.
I would love some vegetarian choices and hope the new additions to the range include some veggie options!
More from MJ’s Diner
The full current range from MJ’s Diner is great however they are currently looking at new dishes to add so I am sure this will soon grow. Which do you like the sound of?
- Chicken Nuggets and Fries (Made with 100% Breast)
- Fish Fillet and Straight Cut Chips
- Mixed Starter: 2 Potato Skins, 6 Garlic Mushrooms & 4 Hot & Spicy wings
- All Day Breakfast – 2 Sausage, 2 Hash Browns, 3 Gammon Grill / Steak, 2 Black Pudding
- Katsu Chicken & Crinkle Cut Chips – 100% Breast Fillet
- Sweet & Sour Chicken & Crinkle Cut Chips (100% Breast Fillet)
- Shortcrust Steak Pie and Steak Cut Chips
- Southern Fried Popcorn Chicken and crispy fries
- Hot & Spicy Chicken Wings and Crinkle Cut Chips
- Breaded Fish Fingers with Chips
- 2 Beef Grillsteaks with Chips
- Crispy Chicken Goujons and Crinkle Cut Chips (100% Breast Fillet)
- Salt & Pepper Chicken Chunks and Crinkle Cut Chips
- Beef Meatballs with Chips & Gravy
Which sounds like it would be your favourite? Let me know in the comments below.
