These 11 Air Fryer Hacks Make Vegetables FUN Again
Calling all vegetable fans (and foes) – these air fryer hacks are for you!
We’re all trying to eat healthy, but it’s not always easy to get excited about vegetables.
Enter the air fryer!
This incredibly fun appliance not only cooks fresh veggies quickly without heating up the oven, but clean up is a cinch afterward! Plus, we’ve got some pretty delicious air fryer hacks that’ll have even the pickiest eaters asking for seconds.
My air fryer has quickly turned into my favorite kitchen appliance!
I recently upgraded to a larger 6-quart NuWave air fryer and I LOVE it! I can cook a lot more food at one time now for my family. It’s super easy to use and saves time and effort in the kitchen. I also like the design of the inner basket on this brand because food doesn’t seem to stick at all!
Air frying gives cooked vegetables that awesome tender-in-the-middle and crunchy-on-the-outside texture that we all crave!
Can you recreate most of the following ideas in a conventional oven?
Sure, though I find using the air fryer to be time-saving, great-tasting, and less hands-on. Need another benefit? The air fryer doesn’t heat up your kitchen like your oven will, and it uses less energy! Plus, air frying makes cooking fun again!
Simple veggie side dishes are the best!
The thing I love most about air frying veggies is that basically you can spray or coat most veggies with olive oil, season as desired, and cook in the air fryer. It makes for some yummy and quick side dishes when you’re in a pinch during the busy week.
Here are some of my favorite air fryer hacks for vegetables!
1. Kale Chips
Crispy kale chips in less than 10 minutes? Yes, please! If kale chips are your thing, they turn out fantastic in the air fryer! To make, first separate about 3 cups of leaves from the stem. Toss in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and then air fry for about 7 minutes at 370 degrees. Shake the basket halfway through. Oh my, these are such a great snack.
2. Buffalo Cauliflower
Try adding buffalo wing sauce to your roasted cauliflower! It’s so darned good and addicting. Spray cauliflower florets with olive oil, add salt and pepper, and then cook for 5 minutes in the air fryer at 400 degrees. Toss the cauliflower in a little wing sauce and cook for another 5-6 minutes until tender.
3. Fried Pickles (Keto/Low Carb Version)
Make these crispy air-fried pickles by creating a breading out of grated Parmesan cheese and crushed pork rinds. Dredge the pickles in almond flour, then in a whisked egg, and finally in the Parmesan cheese and pork rind mixture. Place these in a greased air fryer basket in a single layer and mist the tops with olive oil. Set the timer for 6 minutes at 370 degrees, and enjoy! They get so crispy and yummy!
Hip Tip: If you’re not eating low carb, try white flour instead of almond and breadcrumbs instead of pork rinds! Use this same breaded idea for sliced zucchini, yellow squash, etc.
4. Green Beans
Air fried green beans ROCK! Spray them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and air fry at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes until tender/crisp. You can also add a little ranch seasoning to these, or you can season as desired. Sometimes just a squeeze of fresh lemon after cooking is delicious!
5. Herb Roasted Carrots and Potatoes
Potatoes are one of my favorite things to cook in my air fryer! First boil these simple baby potatoes for 5 minutes. Then onlinebine them with carrots, and coat everything with olive oil, garlic salt, and Herbes de Provence seasoning blend. Cook in the air fryer at 390 for about 20 minutes. SO GOOD!
6. Brussels Sprouts
Love crispy Brussels sprouts? The air fryer gets Brussels sprouts tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. I love this texture so much. To make, coat the Brussels sprouts with olive oil, season, and then cook in the air fryer for about 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees. Stop and shake the basket to turn the sprouts halfway through cooking.
7. Sweet Potato Fries with Avocado Dipping Sauce
If you LOVE sweet potatoes (or even if you’re on the fence), try these air fryer sweet potato fries with avocado dipping sauce! They’re a delicious, crowd-pleasing side dish or snack, and they’re so easy to prepare! The dipping sauce is fantastic.
8. Corn on the Cob
Classically roasted corn on the cob is a cinch to make in the air fryer. Just spray with oil, salt, and pepper, and air fry at 390 degrees for 12 minutes. I also make frozen corn this way, and it’s SO GOOD.
9. Parmesan French Fries
Love fries? Add Parmesan cheese and garlic to these easy-to-make french fries, or serve them up with salt and pepper (or any other seasonings you prefer)! Get the easy recipe HERE.
10. Air Fried Asparagus
Asparagus just happens to be a vegetable my kids eat without much onlineplaining, but it’s kinda annoying to heat the oven up to prep it. Instead, just pop your asparagus in the air fryer and mist with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook on 400 degrees for about 8-10 minutes until tender. (Time will depend on how thick your asparagus is.)
11. Roasted Garlic
Roasting garlic has never been so quick! Simply cut the top off of a head of garlic, and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place in foil and set the timer for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees until golden.
Your garlic cloves will easily slide out and are ready to be used in lots of recipes like garlic bread, Alfredo sauce, and (of course) with your veggies or fries! Even just spreading roasted garlic cloves on a cracker or bread is delicious!
Make a bloomin’ onion at home with this simple air fryer recipe!
