25 Best Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes

It sounds too good to be true, but there is such a thing as healthy fried food.

And these tempting air fryer vegetarian recipes achieve that culinary holy grail.

How? By using an air fryer. The air fryer is a magical device that gives you all the flavor of fried food… without any actual frying. 

There’s no greasy aftertaste, no messy oil splatters, and no lingering fried-food-regret. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a vegetarian, or you’re just feeding vegetarians, you’ll love these irresistible “fried” dishes. 

Try out some classics like french fries, or get brave with cauliflower.

Rustle up some crunchy kale chips or go big with a blooming onion.

Oh, and dessert’s covered too. How about apple fries or grilled peaches? Ever tried making your own churros?

Now’s the time to dust off your air fryer and explore a whole new world of veggie delights. Plants never tasted so good! 

1. Air Fryer French Fries

French fries are the reason I got my air fryer. And now I’m living the dream.

The dream where I have crispy, golden, shoestring fries every night of the week.

You can also live that dream with this easy recipe for restaurant-quality fries.

Done in heart-healthy olive oil, these spuds crisp up perfectly in just 15 minutes.

2. Sweet Potato Fries

It’s always a good idea to get more sweet potatoes in your diet.

Rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and fiber, sweet potato is a true superfood.

So make it super tasty! This recipe is what every sweet potato wants to be – crispy on the outside, and soft and squishy on the inside.

3. Air Fryer Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

All you’ll need for the most perfect Brussels sprouts ever is olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and an air fryer.

These golden brown balls of goodness are perfect every time, but you can make them even better.

Pro tip – choose sprouts that are all the same size so they cook evenly.

Other pro tip – par-boil them first so they’re perfectly soft inside.

4. Air Fryer Baked Potato

Baked potatoes are a great, easy dinner, but they take forever.

If you aren’t in the mood to wait an hour for your meal, pop them in the air fryer.

You’ll get soft spuds but the real bonus here is the skin, which turns chewy, crispy, salty, and insanely tasty. 

5. Air Fryer Carrots

You can enjoy these air fryer carrots three ways. And they’re all crazy-delicious.

If you’re in the mood for a savory version, go with garlic and herb. Feeling fiery?

Try cumin and paprika. When you want a sweet snack, give the coconut sugar and maple syrup version a go.

6. Air Fryer Butternut Squash

A light coat of olive oil and 20 minutes in the air fryer is all it takes to turn squash from boring to beautiful.

‘Roasting’ butternut squash in the air fryer unlocks all of its nutty goodness and sweet softness.

This is a holiday side that’s a fall-flavored must.  

7. Air Fryer Fried Cauliflower

Smoked paprika and cayenne give this air fryer cauliflower a bold hit of flavor.

The result is crispy, crunchy, cauliflower florets with plenty of interesting tastes and textures.

Serve these with a creamy dip, or put them in a bowl and snack on them as you would popcorn.

8. Air Fryer Patatas Bravas

Patatas bravas are spicy Spanish potatoes in a rich tomato sauce.

You can make the Meditteranean treat in your own kitchen thanks to this foolproof fryer recipe. 

Simply cook seasoned potato wedges in the air fryer until crispy then serve them with a chunky homemade tomato sauce. 

9. Crispy Chickpeas

Protein-rich chickpeas are a nice alternative to nuts when you want something savory and crunchy.

Just toss with oil, season, and throw them into the fryer.

In 20 minutes, your soft legumes will have become crunchy little golden balls of yum. 

10. Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

This vegan recipe is a great way to use up leftover cauliflower. 

Coat those florets in a thick, spicy batter and fry.

Tangy, crispy, and incredibly addictive, they’re just like buffalo chicken bites, but better! 

11. Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob is the ultimate summer treat, but you won’t always want to heat up the grill on scorching days.

Enter the air fryer! Just spray the cobs with oil, season, and pop them into the air fryer basket. 

They come out tender, juicy, and flavorful.

Don’t forget to slather them with butter before diving in (and have napkins handy)!

12. Air Fryer Blooming Onion

Blooming onions are what happens when you take a whole onion, artfully cut it into segments, coat in batter, and fry the entire thing.

The result is both impressive and delicious. This recipe delivers all that flavor, without sacrificing your diet.

It can be adjusted for gluten-free eaters and anyone who’s low-carbing. 

13. Air Fryer Garlic Chips

Pungent garlic isn’t always a crowd-pleaser, but it’s well worth making these crunchy chips.

Why? Because they are incredibly versatile. 

Keep a bag around and crumble them into dishes for a quick garlic hit. Sprinkle on salads to punch up the flavor.

Toss onto soups and stews to add a crunchy bite. 

14. Crispy Air Fryer Tofu

Crispy tofu chunks are a quick and easy meal, providing lots of tasty protein for anyone avoiding meat.

This recipe uses garlic, onion, and paprika to give the tofu an enticing, spicy flavor. 

Toast up your tofu and serve with a dip or piled on top of saucy noodles.

15. Air Fryer Toast

Standard toasters seem to have gone the way of the dodo. But that’s okay because now we have air fryers.

It turns out small convection fryers are perfect for crisping up bread to make it golden and crunchy. Who knew?!

16. Air Fryer Kale Chips

Kale-haters at home? Convert them to the palate-pleasing potential of the leafy veg with this tasty recipe.

If you’re craving potato chips, keep this one handy. It’ll scratch that itch without any food guilt.

17. Air Fryer Buttered Spinach

Air frying spinach really ramps up the flavor in this underrated green. 

Especially when it’s cooked with masses of butter, as in this creamy, dreamy recipe. 

18. Air Fryer Potato Chips

Store-bought potato chips are often loaded with a lot of nasties.

So skip the additives, preservatives, and artificial flavorings by making your own.

These are so crunchy and delicious, they will blow your mind and your tastebuds.

They’re not just as good as store-bought… they’re even better!

19. Air Fryer Okra

Okra can be a bit slimy, but you can get over that particular hurdle with this air fryer recipe.

Coating the veg in a light batter and dry frying takes away any slime factor. Instead you get golden brown, crispy, mouthwatering bites.  

20. Air Fryer Eggplant

Your veggie guests will fall head over heels for this easy eggplant recipe.

Low-carb, gluten-free, and oh-so-tasty, the garlicky chunks of eggplant are perfectly cooked.

Eat them straight from the fryer or save to toss into a salad.      

21. Air Fryer Churros

Churros can be intimidating, but this hassle-free recipe takes care of those beginner blues.

Sweet pastry dough is fried until fluffy inside and crunchy outside.

It’s then dusted in cinnamon sugar and served with a creamy dulce de leche sauce.   

22. Air Fryer Apple Chips

When are chips amazingly healthy, but still yummy? When they’re fruity apple chips!

A single serving is just 48 calories, making this the perfect snack for anyone watching their weight. 

23. Air Fryer Apple Fries

You can use almost any apples for this easy recipe, but crisp varieties give the best taste and texture.

There’s no mushiness with these fries. Just crispy, sweet wedges. Serve with a caramel sauce to make them really decadent.

24. Air Fryer Grilled Peaches

Ripe, juicy peaches get the air fryer treatment here… and it’s peachy perfection.

Grilling the fruit brings out its intense sweet flavor and adds rich caramel notes.

Serve with ice cream, or eat straight from the cooker. 

25. Air Fryer Shortbread

Yes, you can make baked goods in the air fryer!

This recipe shows you how to make buttery, crumbly shortbread in just 10 minutes using your fryer.

Give these sweet treats to friends as a holiday gift, or eat them all yourself.

It’s hard to resist the lure of fresh baked shortbread. (I speak from experience.)