15 Air Fryer Vegan Recipes
Plant-based mains, sides and snacks - all dairy and egg free.
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
Times and temperatures come from our reviewed cooking database. Explanatory text on each page is generated from that entry so the numbers stay consistent.
Illustration generated to show a typical finished result. It is not a photograph of a specific batch we cooked.
Plant-based cooking has one recurring frustration: texture. Tofu goes soft, vegetables go limp, chickpeas go chewy rather than crunchy. An air fryer fixes most of that, because dry circulating heat drives off surface water and gives you an actual crust without deep frying. Everything here is fully vegan.
All 15 air fryer vegan recipes
Air Fryer Acorn Squash
190°C · 18-24 min
Tender acorn squash wedges glazed with maple and brown butter notes. The air fryer roasts the dense flesh until soft and caramelised at the edges, a cosy autumn side that comes together far quicker than the oven. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 18-24 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Beets
190°C · 22-28 min
Earthy, sweet roasted beetroot with concentrated flavour and no messy oven tray. The air fryer intensifies their natural sugars beautifully, giving tender wedges that are ideal in salads, grain bowls or served warm with feta. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 22-28 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Bok Choy
190°C · 6-9 min
Crisp-edged bok choy with tender stems and a savoury sesame-garlic glaze. The air fryer chars the leaves while keeping the crunchy base juicy, a speedy Asian-inspired side for rice bowls and stir-fries. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 6-9 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Broccolini
190°C · 8-10 min
Charred, tender-stemmed broccolini with crispy tips and a garlicky finish. The air fryer blisters the florets while keeping the stalks snappy, a fast, elegant green side for any meal. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 8-10 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Carrot Fries
200°C · 14-18 min
Sweet, crisp-edged carrot fries with a tender bite, a colourful veg-packed alternative to chips. The air fryer caramelises the natural sugars and crisps the outsides using barely any oil, a hit with kids and adults alike. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 14-18 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks
200°C · 15-18 min
Thick slabs of cauliflower roasted until the edges caramelise and the centre turns tender and sweet. The air fryer chars them like a griddle without heating the oven, making a striking meat-free centrepiece in under twenty minutes. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 15-18 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Crispy Chickpeas
200°C · 12-16 min
Chickpeas roasted until crunchy and popcorn-like, seasoned with smoky spice. The air fryer's rapid circulation dries them out beautifully so they turn addictively crisp, perfect as a snack, salad topper or protein-rich crouton swap. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 12-16 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Delicata Squash
200°C · 12-16 min
Sweet delicata squash rings with caramelised edges and tender, edible skin, so no peeling needed. The air fryer roasts them quickly into golden half-moons, a beautiful autumnal side for any table. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 12-16 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Kale Chips
150°C · 5-8 min
Feather-light, salty kale chips that crackle at the first bite. The gentle heat of the air fryer crisps the leaves in minutes without scorching, giving you a wholesome, addictive snack packed with green goodness. Cooks at 150°C / 300°F for 5-8 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Okra
200°C · 10-14 min
Crisp, blister-edged okra with none of the sliminess, thanks to the dry heat of the air fryer. Lightly spiced and roasted until charred, it makes an addictive snack or a punchy side for curries and grilled meats. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 10-14 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Plantains
190°C · 10-14 min
Sweet, caramelised plantains with golden edges and a soft, custardy centre. The air fryer coaxes out their natural sugars with barely any oil, making a quick Caribbean-style side or snack that is hard to stop eating. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 10-14 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Portobello Mushrooms
190°C · 8-11 min
Meaty portobello caps marinated in garlic and balsamic, then air fried until juicy and deeply savoury. The air fryer concentrates their flavour and drives off excess water, giving a robust burger filling or steak-style plate. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 8-11 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Radishes
200°C · 12-15 min
Roasting mellows radishes into a surprisingly soft, buttery low-carb side that tastes like roast potatoes. The air fryer draws out their sharp bite and leaves lightly crisped edges, a clever swap for anyone watching the carbs. Cooks at 200°C / 400°F for 12-15 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
190°C · 20-30 min
Roasted spaghetti squash that forks into tender, noodle-like strands, a brilliant low-carb pasta swap. The air fryer roasts the halves faster than the oven while keeping the strands firm and separate. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 20-30 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
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Air Fryer Tempeh
190°C · 12-15 min
Marinated tempeh strips turned crisp and caramelised in the air fryer, with a nutty depth you only get from the whole soybean cake. A steaming and marinating trick tames any bitterness and lets the savoury glaze soak right in. Cooks at 190°C / 375°F for 12-15 min. Ingredients, method, and starting-point times for a domestic air fryer.
Read moreGetting tofu properly crisp
Press it first. Firm tofu holds a surprising amount of water and every bit of it has to leave before browning starts. Twenty minutes under a weight makes the difference between crisp cubes and pale sponge.
Then toss the pressed cubes in a teaspoon of cornflour along with the oil. The starch dries into a thin shell that crisps hard at 200°C / 400°F, which is the closest you will get to deep-fried texture without the oil.
Vegetables need more oil than meat, not less
Meat renders its own fat as it cooks. Vegetables have none, so with no oil at all they dehydrate and turn leathery rather than roasting. A proper teaspoon per basket, tossed through so everything is coated, is the right amount.
Season after cooking rather than before where you can. Salt draws moisture to the surface, which is exactly what you are trying to avoid while the crust is forming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are air fryers good for vegan food?
Very. Tofu, chickpeas, cauliflower and root vegetables all get a roasted, crisp exterior that is hard to achieve in a pan or oven without a lot of oil.
How do you make tofu crispy in an air fryer?
Press it for 20 minutes, cube it, then toss with a teaspoon of oil and a teaspoon of cornflour. Cook at 200°C / 400°F for 12-15 minutes, shaking twice.
Do you need oil for air fryer vegetables?
Yes - about a teaspoon per basket. Unlike meat, vegetables have no fat of their own, and with none at all they dry out and go leathery instead of roasting.
Can you air fry chickpeas?
Yes. Drain, dry thoroughly, toss with oil and spices, then cook at 190°C / 375°F for 12-15 minutes. They crisp as they cool, so judge them a minute or two after they come out.