This is your ultimate guide to air frying vegetables! No matter what veggie you have, you’ll learn how to air fry it into perfectly cooked, healthy deliciousness. From tender zucchini to firm butternut squash, this comprehensive guide has you covered.
In today’s edition of “What Food Can You Cook In Your Air Fryer?” – Vegetables! Specifically, all the vegetables.
Cooking vegetables in the air fryer gives you a result similar to roasting, but crispier on the outside and in far less time.
So today I’m walking you through how to cook virtually any veggie in your trusty air fryer.
I’ve tested over 100 air fryer recipes over the years, using my experience as both a nutritionist and food scientist to learn the ins and outs of healthy cooking using your air fryer. Safe to say, these air fryer vegetables have been tried and tested!
Every air fryer is a bit different though, so while I’ve tested this recipe on as many air fryers as I could, yours may cook at a slightly different speed than mine does. Always keep an eye on your vegetables in the air fryer to keep tabs on how quickly they’re cooking and to prevent burning.
For simplicity’s sake, we’ll break down our vegetables into two categories: tender and firm. Tender veggies, like zucchini and bell peppers, are quicker to cook than their tougher friends, like butternut squash and beets. And you can even throw in your frozen veggies!
Any quick-cooking veggie will fall into the “Tender Vegetable” category. These are great for busy weeknights when you need to get a vegetable on the table! It includes veggies like:
- Crucifers (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts)
- Summer Squash (like zucchini and yellow squash)
- Soft Veggies (like bell pepper, tomato, mushrooms, and onions)
- Thin Veggies (like asparagus and green beans)
To cook tender vegetables in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Prep your veggies by chopping them to the size you want, optionally drizzling with olive oil (this will make them a bit more roasted tasting in the end). Add to your air fryer in as flat of a layer as possible and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the air fryer pan once or twice during cooking to promote even cooking.
Broccoli and cauliflower are just better when they’re a bit charred and crispy, right? To air fry crucifers like broccoli or cauliflower, toss them with a bit of oil (or cooking spray) to keep those florets from burning, and pop them in a 375°F (190°C) air fryer for about 10 minutes.
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wings