Air fryer on a kitchen countertop with Natural Spices World Mix seasonings and fresh vegetables including broccoli, bell peppers, courgette and carrots.
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More and more people are cooking vegetables in the airfryer. And that's not surprising. The hot air creates a delicious roasted edge while the inside stays nice and soft. In addition, you need far less oil than with traditional frying and vegetables are often on the table within 10 to 20 minutes.

Whether you're looking for a quick weekday meal, a healthy side dish, or a way to eat more vegetables: the airfryer is a surprisingly versatile tool. In this guide you'll discover which vegetables are suitable for the airfryer, how long they should cook, what temperature to use, and which herbs and spices pair best with each vegetable.

 

Why cook vegetables in the airfryer?

Vegetables from the airfryer have a very different taste than boiled vegetables. The high temperature caramelizes the natural sugars, making vegetables taste fuller and sweeter.

The benefits at a glance:

  • Quick to prepare.
  • Less oil needed.
  • Delicious roasted flavor.
  • Crispy outside and soft inside.
  • Less washing up than with an oven.
  • Suitable for almost any vegetable.
  • Perfect as a side dish, lunch, or part of a meal.

Which vegetables can you cook in the airfryer?

Almost all vegetables are suitable for the airfryer. Some take a little longer than others, but the principle remains the same: a little oil, spices, and enough space so the hot air can circulate well.

 

Hard vegetables

These vegetables have the longest cooking time and become wonderfully roasted.

  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Carrots
  • Parsnip
  • Pumpkin
  • Beetroot

Soft vegetables

These are often ready within ten minutes.

  • Zucchini
  • Bell pepper
  • Eggplant
  • Mushrooms
  • Red onion

Green vegetables

Green vegetables also do surprisingly well in the airfryer.

  • Green beans
  • Green asparagus
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Sugar snaps

Cooking times per vegetable

The exact cooking time depends on the size of the pieces, the power of your airfryer, and how many vegetables you cook at once. The times below are a good starting point.

Broccoli

  • Temperature: 190°C
  • Cooking time: 10 to 12 minutes

Cauliflower

  • Temperature: 190°C
  • Cooking time: 12 to 15 minutes

Zucchini

  • Temperature: 190°C
  • Cooking time: 8 to 10 minutes

Bell pepper

  • Temperature: 190°C
  • Cooking time: 8 to 10 minutes

Carrots

  • Temperature: 190°C
  • Cooking time: 15 to 18 minutes

Brussels sprouts

  • Temperature: 190°C
  • Cooking time: 14 to 16 minutes

Mushrooms

  • Temperature: 180°C
  • Cooking time: 8 to 10 minutes

Green asparagus

  • Temperature: 190°C
  • Cooking time: 6 to 8 minutes

Eggplant

  • Temperature: 190°C
  • Cooking time: 10 to 12 minutes

Green beans

  • Temperature: 190°C
  • Cooking time: 9 to 11 minutes

5 tips for the tastiest airfryer vegetables

1. Don’t use too much oil

For most vegetables one tablespoon of olive oil is sufficient. The airfryer needs much less fat than a frying pan or oven.

2. Pat moist vegetables dry

Vegetables that are very moist, such as mushrooms or zucchini, brown more nicely when you pat them dry first with kitchen paper.

3. Cut the vegetables uniformly

This way all pieces cook evenly and you prevent small pieces from burning while larger pieces are still not done.

4. Shake halfway through

Shake the basket well after about half the cooking time. This ensures all sides turn a nice golden brown.

5. Don’t overfill the basket

The hot air must be able to circulate well. Preferably cook two smaller portions rather than one overloaded basket.

 

Which herbs and spices go with airfryer vegetables?

With the right spices you can give each vegetable a completely different taste. This allows endless variation.

  • Mediterranean: delicious with zucchini, bell pepper, eggplant and red onion. Try for example Sirtaki Mix for a fresh Mediterranean flavor.
  • Garlic and herbs: perfect with broccoli, green beans and mushrooms.
  • Winter vegetables: for cauliflower, carrots, pumpkin and parsnip The One Pan Show is a surprisingly tasty choice. This spice mix was developed for mash and oven dishes, but also works excellently on roasted vegetables from the airfryer.
  • Spicy vegetables: do you like a bit more kick? Then choose a spice mix with smoked paprika or Ras el Hanout. Especially nice with cauliflower, bell pepper, corn and pumpkin.
  • Fresh and zesty: for broccoli, asparagus and zucchini Lemon Pepper is a delightful combination. The fresh citrus flavor makes vegetables extra light and summery.

Can you cook frozen vegetables in the airfryer?

Yes, that's perfectly fine. In most cases you don't need to thaw frozen vegetables first.

Keep in mind a slightly longer cooking time and shake the vegetables regularly to allow excess moisture to evaporate. This way they stay nicely roasted instead of becoming soft.

 

Common mistakes

Even with an airfryer things sometimes go wrong. These are the most common mistakes:

  • Filling the basket too much.
  • Using too much oil.
  • Not adding spices.
  • Not shaking during cooking.
  • Cutting vegetables into uneven pieces.

More airfryer recipes

Want more inspiration? Also check out our recipes for:

Frequently asked questions

1. Which vegetables taste best from the airfryer?

Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, bell pepper and carrots are among the most popular vegetables. Roasting gives them much more flavor than boiling.

2. Do you need to boil vegetables first?

No. Almost all vegetables can go into the airfryer raw. Only very hard vegetables, such as whole beets, sometimes require a longer cooking time.

3. How much oil do you need?

For about 500 grams of vegetables one tablespoon of oil is usually sufficient. Some vegetables, like asparagus or bell pepper, need even less.

4. Can you cook different vegetables together?

Yes, as long as the cooking time is roughly the same. For example, combine broccoli with cauliflower or zucchini with bell pepper. Vegetables that take much longer, like carrots, are best cooked separately for a few minutes first.

5. At what temperature do you cook vegetables in the airfryer?

For most vegetables 190°C is ideal. Only delicate vegetables, such as mushrooms, often do better at about 180°C.

 

Give your vegetables extra flavor

With a good spice mix you can turn simple vegetables into a surprisingly flavorful dish. At Natural Spices you'll find more than 100 herbs and spice mixes, all without added salt or sugar. Whether you choose the Mediterranean flavors of Sirtaki Mix, the spicy The One Pan Show or the fresh Lemon Pepper, you can give airfryer vegetables a delicious flavor in no time.