How to Air Fry Vegetables

Co-authored by Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: February 12, 2020 References Tested

Air fryers have gained a lot of popularity in recent years, in large part because they allow you to cook crisp, delicious vegetables without having to deep-fry them in oil. Even better, most air fryer frozen vegetable recipes are very similar, no matter what veggies you choose. You can even make crispy air fryer vegetable chips that are perfect for guilt-free snacking!

Ingredients

Fresh or Frozen Veggies

1.5 lb (0.68 kg) of vegetables (potatoes, carrots, squash, broccoli, etc)
2 tsp (9.9 mL) of olive or vegetable oil
1/4 tsp (1.5 g) of salt
1/4 tsp (0.5 g) of black pepper
Your choice of other seasonings (optional)

Makes 4 servings

Vegetable Chips

1.5 lb (0.68 kg) of your choice of veggies
2 tsp (9.9 mL) of oil
3/4 tsp (4.5 g) of salt
1/4 tsp (0.5 g) of black pepper
Your choice of seasonings (optional)

Makes 4 servings

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Air-Frying Fresh or Frozen Veggies

1
Turn the air fryer to 360–375 °F (182–191 °C). If you'd like, you can play around a little with the temperature of your air fryer for cooking vegetables, but in general, a temp of about 375 °F (191 °C) will work for air-frying vegetables. However, if you find your food is cooking a little too fast, you can bump the temperature down to about 360 °F (182 °C), and just add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time if it's needed.^{[1]
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- One advantage of using an air fryer over a conventional oven is that an air fryer preheats very quickly, so you can wait to preheat it until about 3-5 minutes before you're ready to cook.
2
Start with about 1.5 lb (0.68 kg) of your favorite vegetables. You can cook almost any veggie you can imagine in your air fryer, from potatoes, carrots, and yams to broccoli, peppers, and zucchini. You can air fry frozen vegetables, as well. Just open the bag and pour them into a bowl to season them, then cook the same way as fresh veggies.^{[2]
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- Air-frying veggies is quick and healthy, so this is perfect for a weeknight side dish, or even an afternoon snack!
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3
Peel and cut larger veggies into 1 in (2.5 cm) pieces. If you're cooking a larger vegetable like potatoes, sweet potatoes, or squash, you'll likely need to cut them into bite-sized pieces. If you want to remove the skin, place the edge of a knife or a vegetable peeler at the top of the food you're preparing, then drag it firmly down to slice away the peel, if you'd like. Then, place your veggies on a sturdy cutting board and cut them into cubes, sticks, or slices—whatever shape you prefer!^{[3]
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- For instance, you might slice carrots into 1 in (2.5 cm) rounds, while you might cut a sweet potato into large cubes.
- Don't cut the vegetables too thin. If you're cooking potatoes, for instance, you might dice them or cut them into French fries or steak fries, but shoestring cuts will tend to burn quickly in an air fryer.
- If you're working with smaller vegetables, like baby carrots, brussels sprouts, or broccoli, or if you want to serve the vegetables whole, like carrots or ears of corn, you don't have to cut them.^{[4]
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4
Toss your vegetables in oil and your choice of seasonings. Place your sliced veggies in a large bowl and pour in about 2 tsp (9.9 mL) of olive or vegetable oil. Sprinkle in 1/4 tsp (1.5 g) of salt and 1/4 tsp (0.5 g) of pepper, or whatever seasonings you want to use. Then, gently toss the vegetables in the bowl to coat them evenly.^{[5]
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- Choose seasonings that will complement the dish you're making! For instance, if you're serving your veggies alongside lasagna, you might use 1/4 tsp (1.5 g) of salt and 1/2 tsp (7 g) of Italian seasoning.
- If you're serving grilled hamburgers or ribs, you might mix 1/2 tsp (1.5 g) of salt and 1/2 tsp (0.9 g) of smoked paprika and sprinkle the mixture on the vegetables.
- Consider how the seasoning will go with the vegetable you're eating, as well. For instance, if you're making sweet potatoes, you might sprinkle them with brown sugar and cinnamon for a sweet treat, or you might use salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne if you'd prefer a more savory side.
5
Place the veggies in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Slide the basket out of your air fryer and shake in some of your vegetables. Spread them across the bottom of the basket. Depending on the size of your vegetable pieces and your air fryer basket, you'll probably need to split them into 2 batches.^{[6]
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- If you overcrowd the basket, your vegetables won't crisp up properly or evenly.
6
Cook the veggies for 10-20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes. As you saute the vegetables in the air fryer, give them a good shake every 5 minutes or so. That will help ensure that they cook more evenly.^{[7]
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- Thicker, denser veggies, like potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts will take longer to cook. Soft or thin vegetables, like asparagus or bell peppers, will cook faster. Also, the larger you cut your veggies, the longer they'll take to cook.
- Check the vegetables frequently as they near the end of their cooking time, as they can go from just-done to overcooked quickly. When the veggies are browned and tender enough to be easily pierced with a fork, they're ready to come out of the air fryer.^{[8]
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Tip: Be sure to set the timer on your air fryer so you don't lose track of time!
7
Enjoy your air-fried vegetables while they're hot. Try to plan your meal so that the veggies will be ready at about the same time as the rest of your food. They'll taste their best fresh out of the air fryer. However, if you're making multiple batches, cover the first batch tightly to keep them warm while the next batch finishes.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making Vegetable Chips

1
Preheat the air fryer to 320 °F (160 °C). Find the temperature setting on your air fryer and start heating it to 320 °F (160 °C) a few minutes before you plan to start cooking. An air fryer only needs about 5 minutes to pre-heat, but letting it come up to temperature first will help ensure that you get consistent results, even if you're making multiple batches of veggie chips.^{[9]
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2
Slice 1.5 lb (0.68 kg) of potatoes or veggies into ¹⁄₈ in (0.32 cm) rounds. If you want to make vegetable chips, you'll need to cut very thin slices of your chosen veggie. Use a knife and a cutting board to carefully slice the vegetables into ¹⁄₈ in (0.32 cm) pieces, or run them along a mandoline placed on the thinnest setting.^{[10]
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- Some vegetables that you could use to make chips include zucchini, squash, beets, sweet potato, and carrots.
- You can also make kale chips in an air fryer—just cut the leaves off of the stalk instead of chopping them.^{[11]
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3
Place the slices in a single layer on the air fryer tray. Once you get your vegetables cut, lay the slices in your air fryer basket or tray. Try not to overlap them, since they'll cook more evenly if they're in a single layer.^{[12]
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- Work in small batches if you're making a lot of chips.
4
Cook at 320 °F (160 °C) for 25-30 minutes, shaking every 5 minutes. Turn on your air fryer and set the temperature to 320 °F (160 °C). Then, place the basket in the air fryer and set the timer to about 25 minutes. Every 5 minutes or so, lift the basket and shake it back and forth to shift the chips around. This will help ensure the chips crisp evenly.^{[13]
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- Thinner, more delicate vegetables, like kale chips, might only need 7-10 minutes.
5
Check the chips frequently near the end of the cooking time. During the last 5 minutes or so, keep a close eye on your vegetable chips. Once they get crispy, the edges can start to burn easily, so you'll want to pull them out right away once the chips appear to be thoroughly cooked.^{[14]
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- The chips should have a relatively uniform toasty color when they're ready.
6
Toss your chips in a bowl with oil and seasoning. After they're finished cooking, transfer your veggie chips to a bowl, then add about 2 tsp (9.9 mL) of canola or vegetable oil, along with seasonings like salt and pepper. Gently shake the bowl to coat the chips evenly, then serve and enjoy!^{[15]
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- For a simple, tasty treat, season the chips with 3/4 tsp (4.5 g) of salt and 1/4 tsp (0.5 g) of black pepper.
- If you love the cool tangy flavor of ranch, try shaking on 1 tsp (2 g) of ranch powder.
- Make craveable savory chips by mixing 1/4 tsp (1.5 g) of salt, 1/8 tsp (0.25 g) of garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) (5 g) of grated parmesan.