Name: Air Fryer Fried Okra
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 oz Whole Okra; ½ Tablespoon Oil; ½ Tablespoon Cajun Spice

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Air Fryer Fried Okra is a quick and healthier take on the traditional recipe. In less than 15 minutes, you can have crispy okra that is perfect for a snack or side dish.

Two veggie dishes in a row. I know. But, this recipe is another one of my favorite go-to's. It is super quick and perfect for a hot summer day when you do not want to heat up the stove.

Growing up in Georgia, I ate a lot of okra. My family always had it in their gardens every summer. It was almost always served breaded in flour and fried in oil. Most of the veggies I grew up eating were served this way - fried yellow squash, fried potatoes, and onions, fried tomatoes. I’m pretty sure any vegetable can be fried. While these things are good, I prefer my veggies to not taste like oil when they’re cooked.

That’s why I love my air fryer. It allows me to get that crunch I miss from breaded fried okra while still keeping some of the actual flavors.

How to make Air Fryer Fried Okra

This part is super simple and much easier to clean up after. I turn the air fryer to 400 degrees and preheat for 2-3 minutes. I then add my okra, oil, and seasoning to a bowl and coat evenly. I prefer to leave the okra whole with the stems on but you can remove if you prefer. It makes for easier dipping.

Once the air fryer is preheated, I add the okra to the basket in a single layer to allow for even cooking. They cook for 10-15 minutes at 400 degrees or until the desired crispiness. I shake the basket several times throughout the cooking process to allow each side to cook evenly.

Once done, I serve on a plate with ranch sauce for dipping or eat them plain. It’s that simple.

Other Cooking Options

Grill – Okra cooked on the grill is an excellent option too. You can cook them the same way as my Grilled Green Beans. The charred edges give them great flavor.

Oven – For the oven, you can cook them at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. I found they will not be as crispy as the air fryer, but they are still just as good.

Okra Seasoning Options

You can season these any way you’d like. Plain with salt and pepper, spice with a Cajun blend, or really change it up with a curry or Japanese spice! When dipping in ranch, I like to use a spicy Cajun blend to balance the creamy sauce.

Recipes to Serve with Air Fryer Fried Okra

Serve with Spatchcock Chicken, Oven Roasted Spatchcock Chicken, Grilled Corn on the Cob, or Lemon Garlic Chicken.

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