23 Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes That Even Picky Eaters Will Love (2024)

    These vegetarian recipes are crispy, satisfying, and anything but boring.

    by Hannah LoewentheilBuzzFeed Staff

    Maybe you're trying to cut back on meat or perhaps you're just looking for some new and exciting ways to prepare vegetables. In any case, your air fryer will be your new best friend when it comes to vegetarian cooking. Here are some recipes to get you started.

    Sustainable Cooks / Via sustainablecooks.com

    Fill egg roll wrappers with shredded cabbage, carrots, and scallions, roll 'em up, and pop them in the air fryer until golden brown and crispy.

    Recipe: Vegetarian Air Fryer Egg Rolls

    Easy Low Carb / Via easylowcarb.com

    Mushrooms are sautéed in a mixture of garlic, onion, and butter, then mixed with cream cheese, Parmesan, and spices, stuffed, and air fried.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms

    The Delicious Spoon / Via thedeliciousspoon.com

    These cauliflower bites get dredged in egg and breadcrumbs and air fried until crispy. Then it's tossed in a sweet and sticky Korean BBQ sauce.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Korean BBQ Cauliflower Bites

    Pinch Me Good / Via pinchmegood.com

    This better-for-you take on eggplant parm is never fried. It's breaded and air fried so that the eggplant slices get golden and crispy without any oil.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

    Dash of Mandi / Via dashofmandi.com

    Start with your favorite store-bought gnocchi (potato, sweet potato, or cauliflower all work great here). Toss them in your favorite store bought pasta sauce or serve them with marinara sauce or pesto for dunking.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi Dippers

    Adventures of a Nurse / Via adventuresofanurse.com

    You can make these veggie fries using thick-cut zucchini, too, but starting with spiralized zucchini gives you thin and crispy curly fries that are so satisfying.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Curly Zucchini Fries

    7. Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes With Hot Honey Butter

    23 Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes That Even Picky Eaters Will Love (2)

    My Forking Life / Via myforkinglife.com

    Rather than bake sweet potatoes in the oven, use your air fryer to speed up the process and get delicious, tender, and buttery potatoes with crispy skin.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes With Hot Honey Butter

    Kleinworth & Co. / Via kleinworthco.com, Kleinworth & Co / Via kleinworthco.com

    You'll only need five ingredients to whip up this veggie side: Canned quartered artichokes, panko breadcrumbs, mayo, Parmesan, and parsley. Serve these with a simple aioli for dipping.

    Recipe: Crispy Air Fried Artichoke Hearts

    Gimme Delicious / Via gimmedelicious.com

    These thick-cut zucchini fries are a delicious addition to any meal. They're keto-friendly, ready in 15 minutes, and delightfully crunchy.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

    10. Air Fryer Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives

    23 Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes That Even Picky Eaters Will Love (3)

    Dash of Mandi / Via dashofmandi.com

    If you can't find blue cheese stuffed olives, you can easily make them yourself. It just requires one extra step.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives

    11. Everything Bagel Seasoned Brussels Sprouts

    23 Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes That Even Picky Eaters Will Love (4)

    How To This and That / Via howtothisandthat.com

    These five-ingredient Brussels sprouts are so flavorful, thanks to a mixture of crushed almonds, Parmesan cheese, and everything bagel seasoning.

    Recipe: Everything Bagel Seasoned Brussels Sprouts

    Cook It Real Good / Via cookitrealgood.com

    These quesadillas are topped with a layer of refried beans and shredded cheese, but you can get creative with your filling.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Quesadillas

    Julie's Eats and Treats / Via julieseatsandtreats.com

    The best thing about this broccoli is that it comes together using ingredients you probably already have on hand: a head of broccoli, olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder is all you need.

    Recipe: Five-Ingredient Air Fryer Broccoli

    Colleen Christensen Nutrition / Via colleenchristensennutrition.com

    Sure, you could start with frozen tots and throw them into the basket of your air fryer, but if you have the time to make them from scratch these battered and air fried mashed potatoes are next level delicious.

    Recipe: Homemade Air Fryer Tater Tots

    15. Air Fryer Falafel

    23 Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes That Even Picky Eaters Will Love (5)

    Living Smart Girl / Via livingsmartgirl.com

    There's no deep frying required for these crunchy-on-the-outside-moist-on-the-inside chickpea falafel balls. Enjoy them on top of salad or in pita as a vegetarian-friendly main dish.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Falafel

    The Typical Mom / Via temeculablogs.com

    Thin-cut onion rings for the win. And you don't even need to fry them in oil to reach peak crispiness.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Crispy Onion Rings

    17. Air Fried Green Tomatoes

    23 Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes That Even Picky Eaters Will Love (6)

    Air Fryer Fanatics / Via airfryerfanatics.com

    Ready for the best BLT sandwich ever? Swap your ordinary sliced tomatoes for these air fried beauties.

    Recipe: Air Fried Green Tomatoes

    Eat The Gains / Via eatthegains.com

    Pair these with veggie burgers for a meatless meal that will satisfy your craving for comfort food.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

    19. Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

    23 Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes That Even Picky Eaters Will Love (7)

    A Gouda Life / Via agoudalife.com

    If you like buffalo chicken, you're going to love this meatless version made with battered cauliflower. Serve it with blue cheese dressing for dipping.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

    20. Air Fryer Halloumi Cheese

    23 Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes That Even Picky Eaters Will Love (8)

    Happy Veggie Kitchen / Via happyveggiekitchen.com

    If you're trying to cut back on meat, halloumi cheese makes for a satisfying and protein-packed substitute. Enjoy it on a salad, in a wrap, or with your favorite grilled veggies.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Halloumi Cheese

    Girl With the Iron Cast / Via girlwiththeironcast.com, Girl With The Iron Cast / Via girlwiththeironcast.com

    Forget avocado toast. Your new favorite recipe will be these creamy avocado fries coated in crispy breadcrumbs.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Avocado Fries

    Platings and Pairings / Via platingsandpairings.com

    You could bake these green bean fries in the oven, but the air fryer gets them so much crunchier and more satisfying.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Green Bean Fries

    Life Made Sweeter / Via lifemadesweeter.com

    Mix together shredded zucchini, egg, Parmesan, flour, and spices, shape the veggie batter into patties, and air fry until the fritters turn golden brown.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters

    23 Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes That Even Picky Eaters Will Love (2024)

    FAQs

    Is an air fryer worth it for vegetarians? ›

    Air-fryers are brilliant for embracing low-energy cooking and an easy way for vegetarians to give new veggie recipes a go.

    How to go vegetarian for picky eaters? ›

    10 Vegetarian Meals for Kids + Other Picky Eaters
    1. Baked Tostadas with Fajita Veggies. ...
    2. Kid-Approved Freezer-Friendly Carrot Walnut Meatballs. ...
    3. Vegetarian Enchilada Skillet with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans. ...
    4. Butternut Squash Baked Ziti. ...
    5. Grilled Peach Caprese Naan Pizza. ...
    6. Vegan Chicken Pot Pie. ...
    7. Old School Vegetarian Tacos.
    May 8, 2019

    What is the most popular food cooked in an air fryer? ›

    Insider asked chefs to share their favorite things to make in an air fryer. Their favorite dishes to make in this appliance include gnocchi, chicken, and crunchy chickpeas. It's also possible to make flavorful steak, bacon, and chicken nuggets in an air fryer.

    What do vegans use an air fryer for? ›

    Air fryers can also make it easier to follow a vegan diet, offering a failsafe way to cook staples like tofu, cauliflower, and potatoes to perfection. Below, we've rounded up 10 mouth-watering recipes that prove plant-based cooking needn't be complicated or boring.

    Is there a downside to air fryers? ›

    Air fryers have a limited cooking capacity compared to traditional ovens or deep fryers, making them unsuitable for larger families or cooking larger portions.

    Is it true air fryer is not healthy? ›

    Air frying uses less oil

    This means that your food has fewer calories. Still, food isn't necessarily healthier just because it contains less oil. Extra virgin olive oil, for example, is rich in polyphenols and has known heart health benefits. Overall, air frying is healthier than deep-frying.

    What do vegetarians tend to lack? ›

    The nutrients of concern in the diet of vegetarians include vitamin B(12), vitamin D, ω-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, and zinc. Although a vegetarian diet can meet current recommendations for all of these nutrients, the use of supplements and fortified foods provides a useful shield against deficiency.

    How do picky vegetarians get protein? ›

    The 18 Best Protein Sources for Vegans and Vegetarians
    1. Seitan.
    2. Tofu.
    3. Lentils.
    4. Beans.
    5. Nutritional yeast.
    6. Spelt and teff.
    7. Hemp seeds.
    8. Peas.

    What foods do vegetarians miss? ›

    Most vegetarians usually have enough protein and calcium (found in dairy products) in their diet. But if you don't plan your diet properly, you could miss out on essential nutrients. For example, vegetarians need to make sure they get enough iron and vitamin B12 in their diets.

    Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

    Summary. In conclusion, while air fryers offer certain benefits such as reduced calorie intake and faster cooking times, they are not without their limitations. Size constraints, limited cooking options, and concerns about crispiness are driving some people to look for alternatives.

    What cannot be cooked in an air fryer? ›

    7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
    1. Wet Batters. Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. ...
    2. Cheesy Items. ...
    3. Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
    4. Baked Goods. ...
    5. Greens. ...
    6. Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
    7. Too Much of Anything.
    Apr 14, 2023

    What is the first thing I should cook in my air fryer? ›

    Make homemade sweetcorn and spring onion fritters in the air fryer for easy, energy-efficient cooking. These would be perfect as a veggie lunch, starter or side.

    What does not work in an air fryer? ›

    Using the air fryer with grains that are already cooked is no problem, but steer clear of firing up the appliance for uncooked grains, including rice, quinoa, and pasta. Air fryers are designed to cook dry foods, and rice and other grains need to be cooked in water.

    Is an air fryer good for a plant-based diet? ›

    Welcome to our collection of 25 vegan air fryer recipes that make cooking quick, easy, and deliciously crispy. The air fryer can intensify flavors without excessive oil and becomes the perfect companion for crafting delicious plant-based dishes.

    Are veggie burgers better in air fryer? ›

    Cooking Beyond Burgers in the air fryer is quick and easy, and the burgers come out perfect every time! No flipping burgers over a hot stove or waiting for your oven to preheat. Air fryers heat up quickly, cook your food super fast, and are easy to clean. Air frying is a healthy cooking method that uses minimal oil.

    Are vegetables better in an air fryer? ›

    An Air Fryer Favorite

    We air fryer veggies because: they're quick to prep and to cook. you don't need as much oil as you would need with oven roasted. they caramelize better (which means more flavor)

    Is it better to get an air fryer or not? ›

    There are some less tangible benefits too. Research shows that air fryers are more energy efficient than using an oven and that means savings on energy bills. They are healthier than deep frying or using an oil-soaked frying pan so there are some health benefits too. The Instant Vortex itself is a good bit of kit.

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