These 6 air fryer side dish recipes are quick and easy staples that can be paired with almost any meal. From baked potatoes in the air fryer to crispy broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, green beans, cauliflower, and baby potatoes, we've got you covered!
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These 6 air fryer side dish recipes are made with simple seasonings and can be cooked quickly and fast.
There are so many ways to use these six side dishes. You can serve it as an appetizer or as a side dish with any chicken, beef, pork or seafood dinner.
I've listed them below with all the ingredients and instructions. Some vegetables will turn more crispy than others. For example, potatoes and brussels sprouts get really nice and crispy. But other vegetables won't have the same results (for example zucchini). That doesn't mean they are still delicious! I love the air fryer because things cook faster and easier than the oven.
1. Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
Probably my absolute favorite thing to make in the air fryer! Getting crispy potatoes is almost foolproof. I love serving with ketchup and eating them on the days I'm craving french fries. I've also got a dedicated blog post on air fryer baby potatoes with more details here.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs baby potatoes - yellow or red potatoes
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese - optional, but tastes great!
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Wash and slice the 1 ½ lbs baby potatoes in half. No need to peel. Add them to a large bowl.
- Add the ¼ cup grated parmesan, 3 Tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp dried thyme, ½ tsp dried parsley, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper.
- Toss the potatoes evenly with all the seasonings.
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F for 2 minutes.
- Add the potatoes in a single layer. Cook for 15-18 minutes, giving them a toss halfway through.
- Cook until the edges are brown and crispy and potatoes are tender when poked with a fork.
QUICK TIP: You might notice that I've made most of these recipes using a bit of freshly grated parmesan cheese (not the store-bought shaker version). It melts into these perfect crunchy pieces and adds a bit of extra saltiness to the vegetables. It tastes really good, but it is an optional ingredient. You can easily make all of these recipes without it.
2. Air Fryer Carrots
Another personal favorite over here! Carrots have a bit of natural sweetness to them that tastes great with the crispy parmesan bits! The trick to air fryer carrots is to cut them into small pieces that are similar in size. This will help them to cook more evenly. You can use regular carrots that are peeled and chopped or baby carrots.
Quick Note: If the carrots are too thick, I would definitely recommend chopping them in half so they cook faster.
Ingredients
- 1 lb carrots, peeled and chopped into similar size pieces
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese - optional, but delicious.
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 390°F for 2 minutes.
- Wash, peel and chop the carrots into a similar size. Add them to a large bowl.
- Add the 2 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper. Toss the carrots together evenly with the seasonings.
- Add to the preheated air fryer and bake for 16-18 mins at 390°F, tossing halfway through.
- Done carrots will be tender when poked with a fork, with charred crispy on the outside edges.
3. Air Fryer Broccoli
There's a trick to cooking broccoli in the air fryer... you want to start at a lower temperature so that the broccoli will soften and tenderize without burning. Once it's tender enough to poke with a fork, the temperature is raised to cook a few quick minutes which will give it those crispy edges.
Parmesan cheese and drizzled fresh lemon juice really add more flavor! I also recommend serving it with your favorite sauce including ranch dressing, hot sauce, or buffalo sauce. See my full air fryer broccoli recipe here.
Ingredients
- 12 oz small broccoli florets - fresh or frozen broccoli will work, but fresh broccoli will give the best texture.
- 3 Tbsp olive oil - or vegetable oil
- 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese - optional but adds flavor and crispy bits!
- ½ Tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ freshly squeezed lemon - drizzled over cooked broccoli
Instructions
- Prep the broccoli: Cut into same-size florets, wash, and dry with a towel. If you're using frozen broccoli, it needs to be thawed before tossing it with the spices.
- Add 12 oz of broccoli florets to a large bowl along with 3 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese, ½ Tbsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Toss the broccoli with the seasonings until it's evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 320°F for 2 minutes. Once heated, add in the broccoli and place in a single layer. Cook for 8 minutes. Poke the broccoli with a fork, it should be crisp-tender. If it isn't, cook another 1-2 minutes or until it can be poked with a fork but is still firm.
- Increase the temperature to 400°F. Toss the broccoli in the air fryer basket. Bake for another 2-4 minutes, or until broccoli reaches your desired crispy edges. (Keep an eye on it during this step as it can start to burn easily!)
- Add the broccoli to a serving plate and drizzle with fresh lemon juice. Serve immediately.
4. Air Fryer Baked Potato
This is definitely the best way to make a baked potato! Cooking russet potatoes in the air fryer is SO EASY and there's no foil needed. The most important step is to poke the sides of the potato multiple times with a fork. This will release the steam as the potato cooks.
Air fryer baked potatoes can be served with your favorite toppings including butter, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese, chives or green onion, and crumbled bacon!
Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes - washed and dried with a towel
- 1 Tbsp olive oil - or vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 5 mins.
- Prick each baked potato with a fork multiple times on the outside. Drizzle the outside with olive oil, over top, and generously season each one with salt and pepper.
- Place the potatoes in a single layer in the air basket. Bake at 375°F for 35 minutes, flipping them halfway through using tongs. The potatoes are done when they are tender when poked with a fork.
- Transfer the potatoes to a plate using tongs or an oven mitt. Let them cool enough to handle. Slice open the center with a knife and fluff with a fork. Add your favorite toppings and serve.
5. Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts can also be tricky to cook if you don't know this easy trick. I've heard people complain that they get burnt on the outside and are basically raw on the inside. The trick is similar to air frying broccoli, where you need to start them out at a lower temperature and then raise them for a couple of minutes at the end.
But it's definitely worth it! Air fryer brussels sprouts turn out soo crispy and remind me a lot of kale chips! They are truly delicious, especially with the added parmesan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb brussels sprouts - washed, stems removed and sliced in half.
- 3 Tbsp olive oil - or vegetable oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Wash and slice the brussels sprouts in half. Pat them dry with a towel.
- Add the brussels sprouts to a large bowl along with 3 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, and 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese. Toss the ingredients together until evenly mixed.
- Preheat the air fryer to 325°F for 2 minutes. Add the brussels sprouts and cook for 7-10 minutes, or until tender when poked with a fork. Then raise the temperature to 350°F and cook an additional 2-4 minutes, until you get those crispy outsides.
6. Air Fryer Cauliflower
Cauliflower is so easy to make in the air fryer! Consider drizzling some buffalo sauce and dipping it into ranch dressing while you serve.
- 32 oz cauliflower florets - fresh or frozen cauliflower will work, but fresh will give the best texture.
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the cauliflower stem and chop it into small bite-size pieces. Wash the cauliflower and pat dry with a towel. Add cauliflower pieces to a large bowl.
- Add in the 2 Tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp ground black pepper to the bowl. Toss everything together until it's evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 2 mins. Place the cauliflower in the air fryer in a single layer. Cook for 7-10 minutes, flipping the cauliflower halfway. Check that it's done by poking with a fork.
7. Air Fryer Green Beans
Green beans do not get really crispy in the air fryer, but they certainly taste delicious! This is another recipe that I highly recommend serving with freshly grated parmesan cheese. It will create these perfect crispy bits that compliment the green beans nicely. See more air fryer green beans details here.
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans
- 3 Tbsp olive oil - or canola oil
- 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese - this is optional
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Wash the green beans and trim off the ends if needed.
- Add the green beans to a large bowl. Drizzle the 3 Tbsp olive oil over top. Add the 2 Tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese (if using, it's optional). Sprinkle the ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp ground black pepper and ¼ tsp salt.
- Toss the green beans together with all the seasonings so that they are evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer at 350°F for 2 minutes.
- Add in the green beans. Use a spatula to scrape along the side of the bowl to get all the oil, parmesan and spices as well. Spread the green beans into an even layer.
- Cook for 14 minutes, tossing and shaking the basket with green beans halfway through the process. The edges will start to turn golden brown and the parmesan cheese will crispen up during the process.
8. Air Fryer Zucchini
Zucchini naturally has more moisture, so you will notice excess liquid at the bottom of the air fryer as you cook these. Zucchini doesn't get crispy the same way that potatoes and brussels sprouts do. You might think that this zucchini looks crispy, but it isn't. It is, however, really delicious!
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchinis - cut into ¼ inch slices (this equals about 3-3 ½ cups)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese - optional
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Slice the zucchini into sticks or bite-size pieces. No need to peel them. Add it to a large bowl.
- Add in 2 Tbsp olive oil, ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese (optional), 1 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp ground black pepper. Toss everything together until it's evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 2 minutes. Add the zucchini in a single layer. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until tender when poked with a fork.
How To Store Leftovers
- Refrigerate - Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They will lose their crispiness over time but can be reheated back in the air fryer.
- To Reheat - Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-10 minutes, or until edges crispen up and vegetables are warmed through.
Air Fryer Tips
No matter what recipe you make in the air fryer, there are always some tips that help to improve the cooking. Here they are:
- Preheat your air fryer first. It's similar to preheating the oven before baking. This will cook the ingredients more evenly.
- Always toss the basket or flip the ingredients over halfway through the cooking process.
- All food should be in a single layer. You will get crispier results this way. Just cook in multiple batches if needed.
- Check your food in the last couple of minutes to make sure it's not burning.
- Every air fryer is different so it might take a little bit of practice getting used to your temperature and how it works. When you do find the right temperature for a recipe that you'll make often, write it down so you know for next time!
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Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links) - Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- Vortex Plus 6 Qt Air Fryer - This is the air fryer that I used in the photos! It has a large basket to cook more ingredients in a single layer. It can even cook a whole chicken. It also automatically preheats and lets you know when to add your food.
- Silicone Spatula - A must-have for scraping all the seasonings into the air fryer from the mixing bowl.
- Mixing Bowls - Stackable mixing bowls keep the cupboards more organized and make it easy to toss ingredients together quickly.
- Magnetic Measuring Spoons - I love these magnetic ones which stay nice and organized together when storing them
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6 Air Fryer Side DIsh Recipes
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Ingredients
1. Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- 1 ½ lbs baby potatoes - yellow or red potatoes
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese - optional but tastes great!
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
2. Air Fryer Carrots
- 1 lb carrots - peeled and chopped into similar size pieces
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese - optional but delicious
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
3. Air Fryer Broccoli
- 12 oz small broccoli florets - fresh or frozen broccoli will work
- 3 Tbsp olive oil - or vegetable oil
- 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese - optional but adds flavor and crispy bits!
- ½ Tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ freshly squeezed lemon - drizzled over cooked broccoli
4. Air Fryer Baked Potato
- 4 medium russet potatoes - washed and dried with a towel
- 1 Tbsp olive oil - or vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
5. Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- 1 lb brussels sprouts - washed - stems removed and sliced in half.
- 3 Tbsp olive oil - or vegetable oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground black pepper - to taste
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
6. Air Fryer Cauliflower
- 32 oz cauliflower florets
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
7. Air Fryer Green Beans
- 1 lb green beans
- 3 Tbsp olive oil - or vegetable oil
- 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese - this is optional
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
8. Air Fryer Zucchini
- 2 medium zucchini - cut into ¼ inch slices (about 3-3½ cups)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- Wash and slice the 1 ½ lbs baby potatoes in half. No need to peel. Add them to a large bowl.
- Add the ¼ cup grated parmesan, 3 Tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp dried thyme, ½ tsp dried parsley, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper.
- Toss the potatoes evenly with all the seasonings.
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F for 2 minutes.
- Add the potatoes in a single layer. Cook for 15-18 minutes, giving them a toss halfway through.
- Cook until the edges are brown and crispy and potatoes are tender when poked with a fork.
Air Fryer Carrots
- Preheat the air fryer at 390°F for 2 minutes.
- Wash, peel and chop the carrots into a similar size. Add them to a large bowl.
- Add the 2 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper. Toss the carrots together evenly with the seasonings.
- Add to the preheated air fryer and bake for 16-18 mins at 390°F, tossing halfway through.
- Done carrots will be tender when poked with a fork, with charred crispy on the outside edges.
Air Fryer Broccoli
- Prep the broccoli: Cut into same-size florets, wash, and dry with a towel. If you're using frozen broccoli, it needs to be thawed before tossing it with the spices.
- Add 12 oz of broccoli florets to a large bowl along with 3 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese, ½ Tbsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Toss the broccoli with the seasonings until it's evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 320°F for 2 minutes. Once heated, add in the broccoli and place in a single layer. Cook for 8 minutes. Poke the broccoli with a fork, it should be crisp-tender. If it isn't, cook another 1-2 minutes or until it can be poked with a fork but is still firm.
- Increase the temperature to 400°F. Toss the broccoli in the air fryer basket. Bake for another 2-4 minutes, or until broccoli reaches your desired crispy edges. (Keep an eye on it during this step as it can start to burn easily!)
- Add the broccoli to a serving plate and drizzle with fresh lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Air Fryer Baked Potato
- Preheat the air fryer 375°F for 5 mins.
- Prick each baked potato with a fork multiple times on the outside. Drizzle the outside with olive oil, over top and generously season each one with salt and pepper.
- Place the potatoes in single layer in the air basket. Bake at 375°F for 35 minutes, flipping them halfway through using tongs. The potatoes are done when they are tender when poked with a fork.
- Transfer the potatoes to a plate using tongs or an oven mitt. Let them cool enough to handle. Slice open the center with a knife and fluff with a fork. Add your favorite toppings and serve.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Wash and slice the brussels sprouts in half. Pat them dry with a towel.
- Add the brussels sprouts to a large bowl along with 3 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, and 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese. Toss the ingredients together until evenly mixed.
- Preheat the air fryer at 325°F for 2 minutes. Add the brussels sprouts and cook for 7-10 minutes, or until tender when poked with a fork. Then raise the temperature to 350°F and cook an additional 2-4 minutes, until you get those crispy outsides.
Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Remove the cauliflower stem and chop it into small bite-size pieces. Wash the cauliflower and pat dry with a towel. Add cauliflower pieces to a large bowl.
- Add in the 2 Tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp ground black pepper to the bowl. Toss everything together until it's evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 2 mins. Place the cauliflower in the air fryer in a single layer. Cook for 7-10 minutes, flipping the cauliflower halfway. Check that it's done by poking with a fork.
Air Fryer Green Beans
- Wash the green beans and trim off the ends if needed.
- Add the green beans to a large bowl. Drizzle the 3 Tbsp olive oil over top. Add the 2 Tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese (if using, it's optional). Sprinkle the ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp ground black pepper and ¼ tsp salt.
- Toss the green beans together with all the seasonings so that they are evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer at 350°F for 2 minutes.
- Add in the green beans. Use a spatula to scrape along the side of the bowl to get all the oil, parmesan and spices as well. Spread the green beans into an even layer.
- Cook for 14 minutes, tossing and shaking the basket with green beans halfway through the process. The edges will start to turn golden brown and the parmesan cheese will crispen up during the process.
Air Fryer Zucchini
- Slice the zucchini into sticks or bite-size pieces. No need to peel them. Add it to a large bowl.
- Add in 2 Tbsp olive oil, ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese (optional), 1 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp ground black pepper. Toss everything together until it's evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 2 minutes. Add the zucchini in a single layer. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until tender when poked with a fork.
Nutrition info is auto-calculated and meant to be an approximation only.
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