This collection of over 15 simple and delicious Air Fryer Sides will make dinnertime quick and easy!
If you’re anything like me, you might find yourself always going for the same side dishes, or pressed for time in the evenings and rushing to prepare dinner.
When I’m in these situations, I always turn to my air fryer. Not only is it a quick and easy way to cook side dishes, but it frees up valuable oven space for your main dishes.
So, to help make life easier, I’ve pulled together all of my favorite air fryer side dish recipes in one place!
What is an air fryer?
An air fryer is a countertop appliance that ‘fries’ food by rapidly circulating hot air around it to achieve a crispy texture (for most foods) with much less oil than a deep fryer.
The air circulation evenly cooks food, and the air fryer’s compact cooking space helps cook food quicker than in the oven. And, while they take up a bit of counter space, they’re simple to use and they make clean up easy too.
Reasons to use an air fryer to cook side dishes
- Air fryers usually cook food in less time than an oven. A side dish that might take 30-40 minutes in the oven, can be ready in half the time in an air fryer.
- Using one frees up oven space, which is especially important if you’re cooking a big meal and need your oven space for main dishes.
- It’s also a great alternative to using your oven when the days are hot and you just don’t want to turn on your oven.
- You can get crispy food, like french fries or tortilla chips, with minimal oil.
- It’s also a delicious way to roast up veggies that are fork tender with caramelized edges.
What air fryer is best for cooking side dishes?
Currently, I’m using a 5.8 quart basket style air fryer for all of my recipes. This has been my go-to for a few years, and we love the size and ease of cleaning. It’s the perfect size for cooking multiple servings of side dishes (at least 4 servings).
In my early days of air frying, I used a 2.75 quart air fryer. It was also basket style and a good size for cooking for two people. I also used an air fryer/convection/toaster oven, which is essentially a toaster oven with a built in air fryer. It has a larger air frying surface than a basket style, so it’s perfect for preparing larger batches of side dishes.
Air fryer brands will differ slightly in operation (for example, some need to preheat, while others don’t) and they also come in different sizes and capacity. That’s why I always note in my recipes that depending on the make and model of your air fryer, you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly.
Air fryer sides
The following are our favorite side dishes that we prepare in the air fryer on a regular basis!
These herb and garlic Air Fryer Carrots are ready in just 20 minutes (from start to finish). They roast up tender and sweet in the air fryer and just require some oil and a few basic seasonings!
Air Fryer Butternut Squash is the perfect fall and holiday side dish! You can enjoy this recipe as squash cubes or squash halves and it has a sweet and savory seasoning with herbs, spices and maple syrup. The squash turns out perfectly tender and caramelized.
Crispy and golden, these Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes are easy to make as you don’t need to peel or score the potatoes. You just need a little melted butter, fresh parmesan cheese and a few simple seasonings. They’re packed with flavor and have an irresistible parmesan crust on them!
If you’re looking to try a different type of side in your air fryer, try these Air Fryer Snap Peas! They have a tender texture with a little bit of crunch and only take 7 minutes to cook in the air fryer! With a simple seasoning of salt, pepper and garlic powder, you can pair these sugar snap peas with your favorite protein and some rice.
Instead of roasting your beets whole, this Air Fryer Beets recipe includes peeling and chopping them so they roast up as sweet and tender cubes in the air fryer. The recipe calls for three different kinds of beets – red, golden and candy cane, but you can easily just use traditional red beets if that’s all you have available.
If you have leftover mashed potatoes, these Air Fryer Potato Cakes are a quick and easy way to use them up! With very little oil, these potato pancakes get golden brown and crispy in the air fryer, while maintaining a fluffy and creamy center. Serve them with some sour cream and chopped chives for a satisfying side dish.
Air Fryer Gnocchi is one of my favorite air fryer recipes because the flavor and texture is so additive. You only need 10 minutes and a simple mix of oil and seasonings (including nutritional yeast). The gnocchi is crispy on the outside and pillowy soft in the middle, and the recipe can be made using fresh or shelf-stable gnocchi!
If you enjoy mushrooms and onions with your steak or burgers, these Air Fryer Mushrooms and Onions are a must try! You only need a few ingredients, and they’re pretty hands off in the air fryer. You only need to shake the basket once or twice, instead of constantly stirring the mushrooms and onions on the stovetop.
In just 20 minutes, these Air Fryer Baby Potatoes turn out fluffy in the middle and crispy on the outside. All you need are a few simple ingredients and you can use red or Yukon gold baby potatoes. Full size potatoes can also be used in a pinch as long as they’re chopped into cubes.
If you love sautéed peppers and onions, you’ll love these Air Fryer Peppers and Onions. The recipe calls for a mix of sweet bell peppers and red onions. Serve them as a standalone side, or on top of fajitas or salads.
Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes with parmesan and rosemary roast up ultra crispy and golden brown in the air fryer. These low starch potatoes have a creamy and tender texture when cooked, and their thin skin crisps up perfectly in just 25 minutes!
Tortilla chips might not be your traditional side dish, but these ultra crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Tortilla Chips are the perfect addition to chilis and chunky soups!
Enjoy the taste of grilled corn without turning on the grill! This Air Fryer Corn on the Cob recipe is super easy and the corn turns out sweet and juicy with a little charring, just like grilled corn.
As an alternative to traditional french fries, these Air Fryer Turnip Fries are deliciously seasoned and get caramelized edges in the air fryer. The recipe also includes tips on how to avoid soggy turnip fries!
Possibly one of the best air fryer sides for busy weeknights, these Air Fryer Vegetables have a light seasoning and achieve a tender texture in less than 15 minutes. The recipe includes a mix of peppers, onions, mushrooms and zucchini.
Soft and creamy in the middle with a smoky and savory seasoning, you won’t be able to stop eating these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges. The recipe includes a little trick of adding cornstarch to help the edges of the sweet potatoes get crispy in the air fryer.
*This post was originally published in October 2020.
If you make any of these recipes, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!
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What dip do you make for your pumpkin fries? They look so good!
Thanks Autumn! I usually eat these pumpkin fries on their own but pairing them with a dip sounds like a great idea!
So many delicious options, Leanne! It definitely makes me want to break out my air fryer and get frying. I’m keeping these in mind for the holidays!
Hope you find a few to try over the holidays. Thanks Katherine!
What a fabulous list Leanne! Every time you post air fryer recipes it makes me want to get one. For now, I just use my mom’s from time to time.😉
Thanks Tasia! Hopefully you’ll get to try a few on the list!
This is so great! I love anything that is fried but it’s great to use an air fryer to cut back on the amount of oil used. Those sweet potato fries look so good!
Thanks Christie! Yes, one of the reasons I love my air fryer too!
You are definitely inspiring me to buy an air fryer, Leanne! I want to try all of these!
Thanks Marissa! Happy to inspire!
Thanks so much for this list! These recipes all look great and it’s awesome to have them all together. Can’t wait to try them all!
I’m so glad you find the list helpful. Thanks Terry!
Thank you for sharing this!! I love your air fryer recipes and that you’ve put them in one convenient place!! Now I’m hungry!!
Thanks Annie! Glad you like the air fryer recipes!