15 Healthy Air Fryer Side Dishes You’ll Want to Make Again
From crispy potatoes and roasted vegetables to savory stuffed mushrooms, these easy air fryer side dishes bring plenty of flavor to the table without the mess of traditional deep frying.
If your air fryer spends most of its time making French fries, it may be time to give it a bigger job. An air fryer can handle vegetables, potatoes, appetizers and satisfying side dishes with very little hands-on work.
Because hot air circulates quickly around the food, you can create crispy air fryer side dishes while using far less oil than traditional frying methods. It is also convenient when your oven is already busy cooking the main course.
Below you’ll find 15 ideas ranging from asparagus and broccoli to sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and seasoned potato wedges. Use the list for weeknight dinners, holiday meals, cookouts or whenever you need a quick side dish.
Dual-Basket Air Fryer Accessories Set
A multi-piece accessory kit can be helpful for roasting vegetables, cooking smaller foods, baking and separating different foods inside compatible air fryers.
Check Price on Amazon →Air Fryer Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are a great way to start a dinner or add something special to an appetizer table. Baby bella mushroom caps hold a savory crab filling beautifully, while the air fryer gives the tops a lightly browned finish.
They also cook quickly because the hot air reaches both the filling and the outside of each mushroom.
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Tender asparagus and crisp bacon make an easy combination for holidays, weeknight dinners or entertaining. Wrapping the spears individually helps the bacon brown while the asparagus stays tender.
This is also a useful recipe when you need an impressive-looking side without spending much time preparing it.
Quick Air Fryer Roasted Carrots
Carrots develop extra sweetness when their edges begin to caramelize. The air fryer makes that happen quickly while keeping the centers pleasantly tender.
Keep the seasoning simple with salt, pepper and garlic powder or add herbs, Parmesan, honey or a touch of spice.
Crispy Air Fryer Asparagus
Air fryer asparagus can go from refrigerator to dinner table in minutes. The tips become slightly crisp while the stalks stay juicy and tender.
Everything-bagel seasoning, lemon, Parmesan, garlic and black pepper are all easy ways to change the flavor.
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
A good baked potato needs two things: a fluffy middle and a well-seasoned, crisp skin. The concentrated heat inside an air fryer is ideal for creating both.
Serve your potatoes simply with butter and salt or build them into a complete side with cheese, herbs, Greek yogurt, green onions or your favorite toppings.
Add More Cooking Options to Your Air Fryer
This compatible accessory bundle includes multiple cooking pieces for foods such as vegetables, potatoes, skewers and baked dishes.
See It on Amazon →Gluten-Free Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Hush puppies are usually associated with a pot of hot frying oil, but an air fryer provides another way to prepare these bite-size cornmeal favorites.
They make a fun side for barbecue-inspired meals, beans, vegetables, fish or your favorite dipping sauce.
Plant-Based Air Fryer Calamari
This creative meat-free side uses hearts of palm to produce calamari-style rings. A seasoned breadcrumb coating becomes crisp in the air fryer while the inside remains tender.
Add lemon wedges and marinara or another favorite dipping sauce for an appetizer-style side dish.
Parmesan Air Fryer Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the easiest vegetables to transform in an air fryer. The florets develop browned, crispy edges while maintaining plenty of texture.
A little Parmesan, garlic powder, pepper and olive oil can turn a simple bag of broccoli into a side dish that works with pasta, chicken, seafood or rice.
Crispy Seasoned Air Fryer Potato Wedges
Thick potato wedges give you the best of both worlds: a crisp exterior and a soft, fluffy potato center.
Season them with paprika, garlic, onion powder, herbs or your favorite all-purpose seasoning. They are especially good alongside burgers, grilled meat and sandwiches.
Savory Air Fryer Eggplant
Eggplant absorbs seasoning exceptionally well, making it an excellent candidate for air frying. Bite-size pieces become soft inside while the outer edges pick up color.
Garlic, soy sauce, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, sesame oil and spicy sauces can all work depending on the meal you’re serving.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries are easy to prepare from scratch or directly from frozen. The air fryer helps them cook quickly while developing browned edges without requiring a deep fryer.
Try them with smoky paprika, Cajun seasoning, cinnamon, garlic salt or a creamy dipping sauce.
Honey Balsamic Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts become much more interesting once their outer leaves begin to brown and crisp.
A honey-balsamic finish gives the vegetables a sweet and tangy contrast that works especially well with chicken, pork, steak or holiday dinners.
Whole Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
A whole sweet potato is one of the simplest air fryer side dishes you can make. Once cooked, the center becomes soft enough to mash directly inside the skin.
Keep it savory with salt and pepper, or add butter and cinnamon for a warmer, slightly sweet flavor.
Crispy Air Fryer Garlic Fries
A plate of fries becomes much more flavorful with garlic, herbs and Parmesan. The air fryer makes it easy to develop crisp edges without heating a pot of frying oil.
Serve garlic fries with burgers, grilled chicken, sandwiches or simply a small bowl of your favorite dipping sauce.
Air Fryer Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes
Yukon Gold potatoes have a naturally creamy texture that contrasts beautifully with their crisp roasted surface.
Cut them into evenly sized pieces, season generously and give the basket a shake during cooking. They make an easy side for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Make More Types of Air Fryer Recipes
If you use your air fryer regularly, racks, pans and other compatible accessories can give you more options than the standard basket alone.
Check Current Amazon Price →15 Easy Air Fryer Side Dishes
Need a quick vegetable or potato recipe to round out dinner? Save this list and pick a different air fryer side each time you need an easy addition to your meal.
Popular Choices
- Air fryer stuffed mushrooms
- Bacon wrapped asparagus
- Roasted air fryer carrots
- Crispy asparagus
- Air fryer baked potatoes
- Gluten-free hush puppies
- Plant-based calamari
- Parmesan broccoli
- Seasoned potato wedges
- Air fryer eggplant
- Sweet potato fries
- Honey balsamic Brussels sprouts
- Whole sweet potatoes
- Garlic fries
- Yukon Gold potatoes
How to Use This Roundup
- Choose one of the air fryer side dishes above.
- Follow the original recipe link for detailed ingredients and instructions.
- Adjust cooking time when necessary for the size and model of your air fryer.
- Serve your side dish fresh while it is still hot and crisp.
Air Fryer Side Dish FAQs
What vegetables are good in an air fryer?
Broccoli, asparagus, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, zucchini, eggplant and potatoes all work well because circulating hot air can brown their surfaces quickly.
How do I make air fryer vegetables crispier?
Dry vegetables thoroughly, avoid overcrowding the basket and use only a light coating of oil when needed. Leaving space around the pieces helps hot air circulate.
Should I preheat an air fryer?
Some recipes benefit from a short preheat, while others do not require one. Follow your appliance manufacturer’s instructions and the specific recipe you’re making.
Why should I shake the air fryer basket?
Shaking or turning food exposes different sides to the circulating air, helping foods such as potatoes and vegetables brown more evenly.
Can I cook frozen vegetables in an air fryer?
Yes. Many frozen vegetables can be cooked without thawing first. Cooking times will vary depending on the vegetable, basket size and air fryer model.
