10 Ways to Season Air Fryer Veggies

There’s no doubt about it: The air fryer is having a MOMENT. Air fryer recipes are popping up everywhere, and air fryer conversions are a frequent topic of discussion in our Cook Smarts Facebook group. And it’s no wonder: This magical machine crisps up just about any food you throw in it – and it does so quickly, with little mess, and uses a fraction of the oil of a traditional fryer. 

One of our favorite foods to cook in the air fryer? Vegetables. They get nice and crispy in half the time they’d take to roast in the oven (if not less), and caramelize beautifully to bring out the veggies’ natural sweetness. Better yet, you can start from either fresh or frozen and end up with a delicious vegetable side dish.

Frankly, we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to eat your favorite air fryer vegetables with just a drizzle of olive oil and some salt and pepper, but let’s be honest: Eventually it would get old. You can honestly have so much more fun with veggie seasoning in an air fryer. That’s why we put together this downloadable PDF chart of some of our favorite air fryer vegetable flavor combinations. No matter what kind of vegetable or vegetable medley you’re using, these flavors will complement the veggies nicely and provide a great side dish for your meal.

Download our Air Fryer Vegetable Flavor Combo Chart here, or read on for more info about the flavor combos we have found to make the best air fryer vegetable recipes!

PRINT THE FREE CHART HERE

10 Flavor Combos for Air Fryer Veggies

1. Italian Herb

We love Italian food, and what better side to go along with a bowl of pasta than some air fryer vegetables with Italian herbs and spices? We use Italian seasoning along with red wine vinegar and lemon zest for this flavor combo. Italian seasoning generally contains oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, and sometimes garlic powder, so if you don’t have the blend, feel free to experiment with making your own!

2. Middle Eastern

These Middle Eastern spiced air fryer vegetables use za’atar, one of our favorite seasoning blends. Za’atar is a spice mixture that includes toasted sesame seeds, sumac, and a variety of other herbs and spices that often include marjoram, oregano, thyme, coriander, and cumin, and sometimes dried orange zest and more. A simple combination of red wine vinegar and za’atar makes up this veggie seasoning recommendation.

3. Sweet and Tangy Chinese

This is not the Chinese sweet and sour sauce you might be familiar with from Chinese restaurants, but it’s a delicious (and super easy!) air fryer vegetable sauce that will pair well with Chinese stir-fried meat or fried rice. Containing just hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil, it couldn’t be quicker to stir together and toss onto your air fryer vegetables as they cook.

4. Honey Adobo

We love the spicy kick that comes from the sauce part of canned chilis in adobo sauce. For a Southwestern vegetable side dish, toss your vegetables of choice will honey, adobo sauce, and cumin while they’re cooking, and you’ll end up with crispy, spicy air fryer veggies that are a perfect side for enchiladas, quesadillas, or stuffed poblano peppers.

5. Thai Curry

If you’re not sure how to use Thai curry paste that’s been sitting in your cupboard, this one’s for you! Combine red, green, or yellow Thai curry paste with soy sauce and lime juice for a Thai vegetable side dish that’s sure to please. Serve these Thai-spiced air fryer vegetables with Pad Thai or other noodle or rice stir-fries.

6. Tex-Mex

For a vegetable side dish with the flavors of a classic taco recipe, you can simply use Tex-Mex seasoning in an air fryer to elevate your veggies to another level. We use red or white wine vinegar along with chili powder, cumin, coriander, and garlic powder for a well-rounded flavor.

7. Spicy Chili-Garlic

A simple combination of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili-garlic sauce makes up this spicy Asian-inspired air fryer vegetable flavor combo. The flavors are savory and delicious while being nonspecific enough that this vegetable side dish can be paired with a variety of meals. 

8. Honey Dijon

Honey, Dijon mustard, and cooking oil is all you need for a tangy honey Dijon vegetable side dish. If you’re wondering what side dish to serve with sandwiches, here’s your answer. It’s a healthy alternative to chips or fries, and tastes great too!

9. Indian Curry

Cook Smarts members frequently request Indian dishes, but many Indian flavors are so complex they’re hard to reproduce at home. Not so with this Indian curry spice mix that is perfect for vegetable seasoning in an air fryer. Our recipe manages to cram in tons of flavor with just two ingredients plus cooking oil, thanks to the fact that garam masala and curry powder are both blends themselves!

10. Cajun Spice

Last up is our Cajun spiced air fryer vegetables. Soy sauce, a Cajun spice blend, and lemon zest come together for a delicious mix of sour, salty, umami, and spicy. Cajun seasoning typically contains salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, oregano, and thyme, though variations abound.

To learn more about what and how to air fry, as well as all the cooking times and temperatures for many common foods, check out our Air Fryer Cooking Chart:

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