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You are here: Home / Side Dishes / 21 Air Fryer Side Dishes (To Make Weeknight Dinners Easier)

21 Air Fryer Side Dishes (To Make Weeknight Dinners Easier)

October 15, 2020 Updated: September 16, 2021 By Leanne 14 Comments

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These 21 Air Fryer Side Dishes will make your weeknight dinners easy and delicious. From potatoes and carrots, to okra and eggplant, this list has a side dish to go with every meal!

Collage of images for air fryer side dishes.

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.

I’ve been turning to my air fryer quite a bit lately for quick and easy side dishes. So, I wanted to round up some air fryer sides that we could all keep in our back pockets. This list includes some of my tried and true favourites, as well as some new and delicious options from fellow food bloggers.

And, with Christmas and the American Thanksgiving just around the corner, these air fryer side dish recipes can also help you round out your holiday menu.

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 prepare side dishes

  • Air fryers usually cook food in less time, so a side dish that might take 30 minutes in the oven, can be ready in almost half the time in an air fryer.
  • They free up valuable 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 type of air fryer do you recommend?

For most of my recipes, I use a Philips air fryer with a 2.75 quart capacity. I’m usually cooking for two, so this size works well for me. I also have a Cuisinart 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 the Philips, so it’s perfect for preparing double batches of side dishes. It usually gets used when I’m preparing a meal for a crowd.

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.

21 Air Fryer Side Dishes (To Make Weeknight Dinners Easier)

These 21 Air Fryer Side Dishes will help make your weeknight dinners easy and delicious! From potatoes and carrots, to okra and eggplant, this list has a side dish to go with every meal.

1

Air Fryer Carrots (Three Ways)

Next time you roast carrots, try them in the air fryer. These Air Fryer Carrots are quick and easy, with sweet, savoury and spicy options included in the recipe.

2

Air Fryer Butternut Squash (Home Fries)

Air Fryer Butternut Squash Home Fries are a great way to change up your side dishes. They're sweet and spicy, with a simple seasoning of herbs, spices and maple syrup.

3

Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Photo Credit: carmyy.com

If you want your Brussels sprouts crispy on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside, you need to try these Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.

4

Air Fryer Mushrooms

Photo Credit: littlesunnykitchen.com

These Air Fryer Mushrooms are tasty and simple to make with a few basic ingredients including soy sauce and rosemary.

5

Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Photo Credit: www.persnicketyplates.com

Easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are fluffy and tender on the inside with a crispy skin on the outside. Pile on the toppings or keep it simple with butter and some salt and pepper.

6

Crispy Spicy Air Fryer Okra

Photo Credit: savoryspin.com

Be sure to add these Crispy Spicy Air Fryer Okra as a side to your next family meal. They're coated with a spiced egg wash and panko breading.

7

Air Fryer Radishes

Have you tried Air Fryer Radishes yet? You can get soft and tender roasted radishes, seasoned with garlic and oregano, in just 15 minutes.

8

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Photo Credit: thebellyrulesthemind.net

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries let you enjoy a more wholesome version of classic french fries. They have the perfect texture and make a tasty side dish your whole family will love.

9

Air Fryer Zucchini

Photo Credit: cookathomemom.com

This Air Fryer Zucchini and onions recipe is made in a snap with Italian seasoning, less oil and no breading.

10

Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

You just need a few simple ingredients to make these Air Fryer Baby Potatoes. They're easy to prep and roast up crispy and tender in the air fryer.

11

Air Fryer Broccoli Cheese Bites

Photo Credit: www.megseverydayindulgence.com

Air Fryer Broccoli Cheese Bites are a delicious and fun way to enjoy your veggies. The perfect side dish to any dinner.

12

Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant

Photo Credit: thishealthykitchen.com

This simple Air Fryer Eggplant is made without oil or breading, and it makes a tasty alternative to roasted potatoes.

13

Air Fryer Tortilla Chips 

Use your air fryer to make crispy and crunchy homemade tortilla chips. You just need a few seasonings and there are 5 different flavour options included in the recipe.

14

Air Fryer Asparagus

Photo Credit: watchlearneat.com

You need just two ingredients to make these Air Fryer Asparagus. They cook in less than 10 minutes and make a great side dish for any occasion.

15

Air Fryer Pumpkin Fries

Air Fryer Pumpkin Fries are sweet and salty, and a delicious way to enjoy roasted pumpkin. The recipe requires just a few ingredients, and also includes two different air frying methods.

16

Lemon Garlic Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes

Photo Credit: avirtualvegan.com

Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes are made with heaps of lemon and garlic. They turn out crispy, fluffy, tangy, and are low effort too.

17

Air Fryer Broccoli

Photo Credit: nourishplate.com

Air Fryer Broccoli cooks in just 15 minutes in the air fryer, and it's a quick and easy way to add vegetables to your meals.

18

Air Fryer Green Beans

You need just 15 minutes from start to finish for these Air Fryer Green Beans. They roast up quick and delicious with a little oil, garlic and dried herbs.

19

Air Fryer Cauliflower

Photo Credit: carmyy.com

Want to know how to make crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower? This recipe will show you how, and you'll also learn how to cut and core cauliflower.

20

Crispy Air Fryer Tater Tots

Photo Credit: recipesfromapantry.com

Air Fryer Tater Tots are a healthier version of a fast food favourite. They have a crispy outside with a pillowy soft middle.

21

Air Fryer Roasted Beets

You just need some oil, salt and pepper to make these easy Air Fryer Roasted Beets! The recipe uses a mix of red, golden and candy cane beets.

If you try any of these recipes, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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Filed Under: Air Fryer Recipes, All Recipes, Recipe Roundups, Side Dishes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Autumn says

    December 5, 2020 at 9:59 pm

    What dip do you make for your pumpkin fries? They look so good!

    Reply
    • Leanne says

      December 6, 2020 at 9:10 pm

      Thanks Autumn! I usually eat these pumpkin fries on their own but pairing them with a dip sounds like a great idea!

      Reply
  2. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

    October 20, 2020 at 12:11 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Leanne says

      November 2, 2020 at 6:55 pm

      Hope you find a few to try over the holidays. Thanks Katherine!

      Reply
  3. Tasia ~ two sugar bugs says

    October 18, 2020 at 9:58 pm

    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.😉

    Reply
    • Leanne says

      October 19, 2020 at 1:20 pm

      Thanks Tasia! Hopefully you’ll get to try a few on the list!

      Reply
  4. Christie says

    October 16, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Leanne says

      October 19, 2020 at 1:23 pm

      Thanks Christie! Yes, one of the reasons I love my air fryer too!

      Reply
  5. Marissa says

    October 16, 2020 at 12:30 pm

    You are definitely inspiring me to buy an air fryer, Leanne! I want to try all of these!

    Reply
    • Leanne says

      October 19, 2020 at 1:23 pm

      Thanks Marissa! Happy to inspire!

      Reply
  6. Terry says

    October 15, 2020 at 11:13 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Leanne says

      October 19, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      I’m so glad you find the list helpful. Thanks Terry!

      Reply
  7. [email protected] says

    October 15, 2020 at 11:05 am

    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!!

    Reply
    • Leanne says

      October 19, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      Thanks Annie! Glad you like the air fryer recipes!

      Reply

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Meet Leanne

Hey there! I'm Leanne and welcome to Crumb Top Baking. I'm a self-taught baker, home cook and food photographer, and I'm passionate about sharing recipes that help people eat a little healthier and find balance in the recipes they prepare for themselves and their families. Learn more about me and what you'll find on Crumb Top Baking....

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