Your ultimate guide to air fryer vegetables! How to air fry virtually any vegetable into perfectly cooked, healthy deliciousness. From tender zucchini to firm butternut squash, this guide to air fryer veggies has you covered.
In today’s edition of “What Food Can You Cook In The Air Fryer”… vegetables! Specifically, all the vegetables. Cooking vegetables in the air fryer gives you a result similar to roasting, but slightly crispier on the outside. 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 figure out 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.
The Ultimate Guide To Air Fryer Veggies
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 cooking than their tougher friends, like butternut squash and beets. And you can even throw in your frozen veggies! Click the links below to jump around the post:
- The Ultimate Guide To Air Fryer Veggies
- Which Air Fryer Is Best?
- How To Air Fry Tender Vegetables
- How To Air Fry Firm Vegetables
- How To Air Fry Frozen Vegetables
- Air Fryer FAQs
Which Air Fryer Is Best?
I used both a Philips Air Fryer and an Instant Vortex Plus (affiliate links) to make all of these air fryer recipes and absolutely love it, though any air fryer should do the job! (Curious about which air fryer is right for you? We rounded up the best air fryers here.)
Favorite Air Fryer
After trying out a bunch of different air fryers across dozens of recipes, this is my favorite air fryer!
How To Air Fry Tender Vegetables
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 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.
How To Air Fry Broccoli Or Cauliflower
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 to keep those florets from burning, and pop them in a 375°F (190°C) air fryer for about 10 minutes.
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wings 👈 Crispy from the air fryer and packed with flavor
- Frozen Broccoli Air Fried 👈 Got frozen broccoli? Follow this guide
How To Air Fry Summer Squash
Tender types of squash, like zucchini and yellow squash, are amazing when cooked in the air fryer. They don’t necessarily need oil, but a little salt and pepper go a long way! Cook them in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes.
- Air Fried Zucchini Chips 👈 For a healthy snack that you can’t stop eating!
How To Air Fry Onions
Air fryer onions are such a fun way to transform the humble onion! Use a bit of oil to prevent the onion chunks from burning (each layer of onion is quite thin, so they burn easily). Simply toss the onion chunks in a small amount of oil then air fry in a single layer at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes.
- Air Fryer Garlic 👈 For the roasted garlic lovers!
How To Air Fry Bell Pepper
Air frying bell peppers is a nice way to give them a little char without having to wait for them to cook forever in the oven. As with the onions, bell pepper need a little oil to prevent their thin skins from burning. Then just air fry the bell pepper in a single layer at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes
How To Air Fry Firm Vegetables
When I think of roasted veggies, the “Firm Vegetables” usually come to mind. These guys take a bit longer to cook, but oh is it worth it! Firm vegetables include:
- Root Vegetables (carrots, beets, potatoes, parsnip)
- Winter Squash (butternut, acorn, pumpkin)
To cook firm 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 (remember: smaller pieces cook faster!) Optionally drizzle with oil and add to your air fryer in as flat of a layer as possible. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes, shaking the air fryer pan a few times during cooking to promote even cooking.
How To Air Fry Potatoes
When it comes to air frying potatoes, the type of potato matters. Where sweet potatoes are firmer and will take a bit more time, white potatoes can be softer and will cook quicker. The general rule of thumb is to air fry potatoes at 375°F (190°C) for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Beginners Guide To Air Fryer Potatoes 👈 Learn how to make fries, wedges, or baked potatoes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Fries 👈 If you’re craving some homemade fries
How To Air Fry Butternut Squash
It can take hours for winter squash, like butternut or acorn squash, to cook in the oven. Fortunately, you have an air fryer! Simple peel and dice your butternut squash, toss the cubes with a bit of oil, and air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for about 25 to 30 minutes (the smaller you dice the squash, the quicker it will cook).
How To Air Fry Beets or Carrots
Other firm vegetables, like beets, carrots, and parsnip, take a similar approach when being cooked in the air fryer. Dice them up, toss with a little oil and seasonings, then air fryer in a single layer at 375°F (190°C).
- Crispy Air Fryer Carrot Chips 👈 You can’t eat just one!
How To Air Fry Frozen Vegetables
You can even use your air fryer to cook frozen vegetables! Figure out which category your veggie falls under (tender or firm, see notes above), then just add a few minutes to the cooking time to account for the veggies having to thaw during the cooking process. It’s crucial when cooking frozen vegetables in your air fryer to give them space! Be sure there is some room between your veggies to ensure water can evaporate and they can become perfectly roasted.
I used a Philips Air Fryer and an Instant Vortex Plus (affiliate links) to make all of these air fryer vegetable recipes and absolutely love it! You can get a bunch of handy accessories like a baking pan or grill skewers (though I just used the basics to make these air fried vegetables). Enjoy!
Air Fryer FAQs
Air frying is healthier than deep frying because you need much less (or no) oil. It is similar in healthiness to conventional ovens, though it’s much quicker cooking.
Nope! Air fryers work by circulating hot air, which makes your food crispy without the need for oil. If you do add oil, it should be directly on the food (for example, rubbed onto vegetables before air frying).
The bottom of your baking pan may be oily. Simply clean it out to prevent the oil from smoking. I also like to place my air fryer under the stove hood so I can fan away the smell of cooking food.
Have a question not answered in this post?
Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Ingredients
Tender vegetables
- Crucifers broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
- Soft Veggies like bell pepper, tomato
- Thin Veggies like asparagus
Firm vegetables
- Root Vegetables carrots, beets, potato, parsnip
- Winter Squash butternut, acorn, pumpkin
Frozen vegetables
- Any of the veggies from above
Instructions
- Tender Veggies: Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Prep veggies by chopping them to the size you want, optionally drizzling with 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.
- Firm Veggies: Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Prep veggies by chopping them to the size you want (remember: smaller pieces cook faster!) Optionally drizzle with oil and add to your air fryer in as flat of a layer as possible. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes, shaking the air fryer pan a few times during cooking to promote even cooking.
- Frozen Veggies: Figure out which category your veggie falls under (tender or firm, see notes above), then just add a few minutes to the cooking time to account for the veggies having to thaw during the cooking process. Be sure to give space between your veggies to ensure they become perfectly roasted.
Which air fryer is best?
Not sure which air fryer is best? Here are a few of our favorites (complete list of best air fryers here).
More Air Fryer Recipes
Here are a few more air fryer recipes you'll love (find all of our vegetarian air fryer recipes here).
Buttermilk Fried Mushrooms
With air fried oyster mushrooms and a crunchy coating, this tastes just like fried chicken!
Air Fryer Pizza
Perfectly crispy, easy to make, personal pan pizzas that are about to revolutionize pizza night.
How to Cook Air Fryer Potatoes
How to make baked potatoes, homemade French fries, and potato chips in your air fryer, using both white potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Dorothea E says
Thank you for this valued Info. I have a Philips Air fryer and so far have found not much use for it. I love roasted Veggies. Especially, Broccoli , Brussel Sprouts and many more. I have not tried it out yet, but definitely will. I hate to turn my oven on for roasting which just takes too much electricity and also makes the kitchen to warm in summer. I will let you know how it turned out. I am sure it will be great.
Sarah says
Oh how exciting that you have an air fryer! There’s actually a whole lot you can do with it, just need to start experimenting 🙂 Here are a few of my favorite recipes to cook in the air fryer.
Kelly says
Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU! I’m new with my air fryer. We LOVE roasted veggies and this made them so easy! Thank you for also breaking down which veggies are in which category! Very helpful! I will be using this way ALL THE TIME!!!! 🧡
Sarah says
So happy to hear, Kelly! Enjoy! 😀
Janice says
I have a Frigidaire oven that also can be used as an air fryer. So large oven.
Would the temperature and time be the same as those stand alone air fryers?
All the recipes are toward the smaller air fryers. And uses baskets. I just bought a good wire rake for my oven to try the air fryer.
Sarah Bond says
I haven’t experimented with your type of air fryer so its hard to say for sure, but I think the times would be about the same 😀
Mark Allan says
Sarah, we don’t have an air fryer yet but bought some dried fried veggies at a local health food store thinking they were healthy but they’re deep fried with palm or canola oil. Both are bad oils in my book. Is there a way to fry certain veggies like peas, beets, sweet potatoes, taro, squash, carrots, and green beans if cut thin or small so we can eat low fat veggie snacks?
Sarah says
Hi Mark! Yep, all of those should be air fry-able! They won’t have the same dried texture, more of a roasted texture with crispy exterior 😀
Pinki says
I have an airfryer which does not have an icon for veggies. I have contacted the company and they are not very helpful. They sent me to you.
Please advise. I have signed up for your news letter.
Sarah says
Hi Pinki! Depending on what veggie it is the time will be slightly different. If you skim through this recipe it should help you figure out how to cook your specific veggie (but definitely let us know if it’s not covered here!)
Au Yeong says
Hi, Sarah,
My name is Au Yeong and I’ll like to know how to stir-fry a mixed array of veggies Chinese style and complete with a sauce in an air fryer. Seems to me is a multiple steps process leaving the sauce to be made separately in a pan. Since the veggies are to be stir-fried, what should be the time and temperature settings? Your advice is appreciated.
Best regards,
Au Yeong
Sarah says
While I haven’t tried this exactly, I think it can be done! I would probably do 375F for 10 to 15 (which is what we do for tender veggies). You can always keep them in a little longer if you want them to brown or crispy up a bit more.
Sondra Lavoie says
This was good solid advice.
Sarah says
Yay! Happy to hear it! 😀
Lindsay says
…tomatoes are a fruit!
Stacy says
So are bell peppers, Smarty Pants. However, most people use these fruits like they do vegetables.
Michelle says
What setting do you put it on? I have Ninja Foodi, and there are options for air fry, air roast, and bake. The difference is the fan speed and where the heat comes from.
Sarah says
I would do roast in that case! 😀
WENDY says
Huge help for us air fryer newbies
Debbie Comer says
Do you cook your veggies in a basket or pan ?
Sarah says
I cook them in the basket! 😀
Bett Faulk says
can i roast whole cabbage,broccoli, and cauliflower in vortex air fryer oven? my family loves whole roasted veggies in oven and takes over an hour would love to do in my air fryer.
Sarah says
I haven’t tried this but I would think to! 😀
Sue says
Thank you
Trudy Emerson says
Can you air fry snow peas or capsicum
Trudy Emerson says
Because this is is my fist time doing this.
Sarah says
Yes! Air fry them as you would the tender veggies 😀
Kelly gertino says
all types of vegetables but no mention of canned vegies.
Sarah says
Great point! I’ll see about getting those added 😀
Phyllis Gay Bertin says
I just got an air fryer and was wondering if you can use a foil pie pan to put your cauliflower on to air fry so the small pieces won’t fall to the bottom of the pan. I saw some recipes call for a dish with lid. That doesn’t make any sense to me, but will an open pan prevent the hot air from circulating?
Sarah says
It just depends on the make of your air fryer – they’re all a little different! I usually don’t recommend using foil, because indeed it can cause the air to not circulate correctly.
Gail Herbest says
Going to try roasting my vegetables tonight in my air fryer I have a philips I love it, It is a no frill just turn it on and let her go air fryer right up my ally and it works fantastic.
Mary Meyer says
Can I add stir fry sauce? When?
Sarah says
That’d be tasty! I would add it at the end, right before serving.
Debbie says
Thank you for all the information on both fresh and frozen vegetables!
Linda Brown says
I got my Emeril Lagasse 360 XL three days ago and love it. So far the food taste so much better. I’m looking forward to learning how to cook
“again”.
Patricia says
How do you clean the bottom of the air fryer? The top has small openings that allows some food to go to the bottom . It is difficult to reach the bottom because its top doesn’t open up or detach.
Sarah Bond says
Does your air frying pan come apart at all? Each air fryer is different, so it’s hard to say. But mine, for instance, comes apart completely for me to wash.
donna says
what about can veggies
Sarah Bond says
I would air fry those like you would for tender veggies. They’re already cooked and really just need to be heated and crisped!
Paul says
Hello when cooking fresh broccoli carrots Brussels sprouts
Not using any oil do they need a little water so not to dry them out ?
I’m not concerned about crispy veg, rather soft texture ?
I notice some Air Fryers appear similar to toaster ovens,
My main food selection is plain omelette partial cooked rice
( long grain )’ Pasta shells Gluten free.
Or do I need to use my portable 2 hob /oven to boil the pasta
shells or twirls.
It seems no water is added to the Air Fryer to cook fresh veg or
in any cooking ?
I do not use oils at all.
Do I need to buy a multi or combo Air Fryer. Some do not have the 2 bottom drawers which I would use mostly for fresh veg, omelette.
I think pasta is not for Air Fryers.
I hoped to eliminate my portable 2 hob oven. ( I never use the oven ).
Sarah Bond says
Hi Paul! You can indeed use water in your air fryer, but correct, pasta will not do well in it 😀
Leslie says
Do you use the airfry or roast when cooking veg
Sarah Bond says
I would use the air frying setting!
Tim says
When cooking vegetables do they go in bottom of pan or on the perforated tray?
Sarah Bond says
Air fry the veggies on the perforated tray!
A Dean says
How do you cook mixed veg ie) potatoes, carrots ,cauliflower. and chicken all together so as all food is hot when served.
Sarah Bond says
I would put the ones that need the longest cook time in first, then add the tender veggies closer to the end of cooking 😀
DoUglas says
I’ll let y’all know when I’m done
Kay R says
I have just bought a Tefal air fryer, it came with hardly any instructions so I looked up how to cook a chicken. Well, what can I say? In a hour I had a perfectly brown cooked chicken! I couldn’t believe it, I am now going to air fry veggies after reading your advice!
Thank you so much Sarah
CHERRY PRINGLE says
I need to know what program to cook vegetables on. My airfryer does not have vegetables. Do I cook them on meat/pizza or what?
Sarah Bond says
I would guess meat! Is there not a manual setting for time and temp? That would be best.
Ron says
Thank you for your air fryer recipes….is there such a thing as air frying pasta?
Sarah Bond says
I’ve heard of people doing it but I haven’t personally tried cooking pasta in the air fryer!
Lorraine Dickinson says
Hi I am new to this. I have a ninja duel air fryer for Christmas. I cannot wait to use it. Hoping it will save me money in the long run
rhona romoff says
why are my vegies coming out DRY,i even sprayed them with oil, tried to put spices on them and it all fell off and what a mess!!
Sarah Bond says
Hi Rhona! I would recommend salting them after cooking, as salts and spices can cause moisture to be pulled out of the veggies. Tossing them in a small amount of olive oil can also help! 😀
jo says
Just tried making broccoli as directed and it burned. I had doubts but gave it a try. Next time I will add oil. Or maybe a lower temp though I like it roasty (but not burnt!)
Raffy says
Sorry, but the broccoli was burnt and so was the butternut squash 🙁
Sharon says
Very helpful!
Linda puzio says
I thought using an air fryer was a quick cooking method but cooking veggies for an average of 20 minutes does not seem like quick cooking.?
Sarah Bond says
It’s quick compared to the oven, which is often double the time 🙂
linda says
Do carrots or Brussel sprouts have to be placed on the grill or bottom of basket to roast? I have a Tfal air fryer.
Thank you
Sarah Bond says
I put them directly on the grates of my basket!
Newbie says
This blogger says to keep the vegetables as flat as possible. But, be sure to shake the basket one or two tines while cooking. How do you keep the vegetables flat when you shake the basket?
I’m new to air frying, so there are plenty of these tricks I need to learn.
Sarah Bond says
I just shake it to jostle them around, then rearrange them to be more or less in a single layer 🙂
Joseph SINNOTT says
Just bought an air frier (MODEL AFWOI) does it cook vegetables as well as well as other foods. Someone told me that you have one that has steam feature Joe Diamond x
Sarah Bond says
I’ve heard of these steaming ones but haven’t tried it myself!
Gw says
We were about to roast in the oven. This was great and such a good use of the air fryer. I see you have some veggie fries in the air fryer posts. I am motivated to try that next. Thanks
Sarah Bond says
So happy to hear it, enjoy! 😀
Dolores says
Hi. I am on a limited income and I am interested in buying an air fryer. Which one would be the best value? I will only be cooking for myself, but I have eaten air fried veggies recently. Absolutely delicious! Thank you for your recipes and assistance.
Dolores says
Thank you for the update.
Sarah Bond says
The Instant Pot Air Fryers tend to be the most affordable in range!
Ashi says
Iam so so excited all day I been making every single dishes 😂
Carol B Roberts says
Tried this with eggplant rounds. I was great!!
I tossed them in some evoo first–very little.
I oiled the basket. I set at 375 and let them go for about 10-15 (could have been crispier, but were starting to smell burny.)
TIP: Peel the eggplant. The skin is like eating paper.