Air fryers have completely changed how I cook, and I am not exaggerating. They’re quick, convenient, and make almost everything taste better.
If you’re looking for simple recipes, I’ve compiled a list of 16 incredible air fryer side dishes. These recipes are so tasty and easy to make.
Let’s get cooking!
1. Air Fryer Garlic Zucchini
Before I learned about air fryer zucchini, I only enjoyed zucchini when it was breaded and fried. With my air fryer, I’m able to ditch the breading. I just use garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cooking spray to make it all stick.
The zucchini turns out so crispy and garlicky. It has become my favorite and much healthier way to eat zucchini.
2. Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tots
These crunchy, perfectly seasoned tots only require five ingredients and are ready in under 25 minutes. All that’s needed is sweet potato puree, salt, cumin, coriander, panko breadcrumbs and some spray oil.
It’s easy to prepare and an absolute delight.
3. Air Fryer Asparagus
I thought that there was no better way to prepare asparagus than grilling it. I now realize that cooking it in the air fryer is just as yummy.
While the recipe is already on point, I like to add a bit more. I’ll keep the asparagus and olive oil, I skip the pepper, I include garlic salt instead of regular salt, and toss a little parmesan into the mix.
Air fryer asparagus is delicious, even without all my additions. It’s tender but has that snap that makes asparagus taste great.
4. Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan
This broccoli parmesan isn’t necessarily my favorite air fryer side dish, but it’s in the top five. It’s wonderfully fresh, and the cheese makes it so yummy.
Even the broccoli is amazing, and I’m not the biggest broccoli enthusiast.
If you like a little spice, add some chili flakes.
5. Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
When you make corn on the cob in the air fryer, it tastes like it was roasted or grilled, but there’s no need to fire up the grill. Just spray the corn with a little oil and air fry it for 16 minutes.
Then take it out, slather it in butter, add some salt and pepper, and enjoy.
6. Air Fryer Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms
Until you’ve had bacon-stuffed mushrooms, you can’t understand how tasty they can be. It’s so packed with flavor.
All you’ll need to make them are mushrooms, cream cheese, bacon, parmesan cheese, and ground sage.
They take less than 15 minutes to make, so you’ll want to make more the moment they’re done. You won’t be able to stop at just a few.
7. Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Nothing beats oven-cooked garlic- and parmesan-covered Brussels sprouts, to me. But air fryer Brussels sprouts are nearly as good because it’s one of the only ways to get them so crispy and perfect.
The red wine vinegar, butter, shallots, olive oil, and salt bring a nice zestiness to the sprouts that’s hard not to like.
8. Air Fryer Crispy Garlic Potatoes
If you want potatoes that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, your air fryer is the way to go. I like them more than any other cooking method, and these are even better.
Just cover them in garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper for a delightful flavor.
9. Air Fryer Carrots
Although I love the taste of raw carrots, you’ll want them cooked if you’re serving them as a side dish. Fortunately, the air fryer makes that easy, whether you want to make sweet or savory carrots.
The sweet carrots are super simple, only needing four ingredients – carrots, butter, brown sugar, and salt. The savory carrots are just as easy, but they use a few more ingredients. Whatever you make, you can have them ready in about 30 minutes.
They’ll be tender with just a hint of a crunch on the outside.
10. Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Green beans make a side dish that is always healthy and yummy.They do lose a little of their healthiness when you wrap them in bacon, but they become tastier, so that’s a win, right?
In all seriousness, these bacon-wrapped green beans are just perfection.The bacon is crispy and super yummy, and the green beans add crunch and freshness for an unbeatable treat.
11. Air-Fried Italian Stuffed Tomatoes
You’ll have to try these air fryer stuffed tomatoes if you’re a stuffed peppers fan.They lack the peppers’ spicy heat, but they’re so delicious that you won’t miss it.
Start with four medium tomatoes.Stuff each one with cooked brown rice, parmesan cheese, goat cheese, toasted walnuts, basil, garlic, and Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs for a phenomenal result.
The tomatoes won’t get squishy or wrinkled in the air fryer.They’ll look great when they come out, and they’ll taste even better.
12. Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
If you want crunchy, flavorful sweet potato fries, all you’ll need are sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and about 15 minutes. These fries are simple to make. Just peel and cut the potatoes, toss them in the oil and spices, and place them in the air fryer.
That’s all it takes.
13. Air Fryer Cauliflower
People often overlook cauliflower when trying to create the perfect side dish, which is a shame. If you season it correctly and toss it in the air fryer, it’s scrumptious.
Cauliflower holds the flavors of the spices – turmeric, paprika, salt, and pepper – well and gets crispy.
14. Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Air fry your baked potatoes if you like skins that are perfectly crispy and insides that are tender. While it takes about 45 minutes to cook four, it hardly requires any work. Just wash your potatoes, then add oil and salt.
The fryer will take care of everything else.
15. Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Carrot Fries
These carrot fries are similar to the sweet potato fries, but they get even crispier. They also have more flavor because of the parmesan and red pepper.
The sweet potato fries also have garlic and black pepper, too. These are a cheesy alternative if you like sweet potato fries.