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Once I learned how to Air Fry Frozen Vegetables, it became my favorite way to make them. I’m finding that more than anything, I’m using frozen vegetables when I cook with my air fryer.
If this easy air fryer recipe sounds good to you, also try our Buffalo Cauliflower Low Carb Air Fryer Recipe, Airfryer Eggplant, Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli, and Air Fried Artichoke Hearts.
Why I Love Air Frying Frozen Vegetables
Convenience: I live about 25 minutes from a grocery store and I love being able to use frozen veggies for everything I can – they’re picked at the peak of freshness, so rest assured you’re not compromising anything when using frozen vegetables.
Versatility: There are so many great vegetables to choose from for air frying. My personal favorite is broccoli because it tastes just like roasted broccoli (but cooks much faster!).
Skill Level: All of these recipes are so easy for anyone to follow!
Ingredients in Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Broccoli florets: Definitely a favorite because it tastes just like roasted broccoli, but it’s faster!
- Cauliflower: All around, my favorite vegetable to cook any way–in the last year I’ve developed a love affair with cauliflower.
- Sweet Potatoes: Roasted sweet potato chunks sprinkled with cinnamon are a delicious treat.
- Brussel Sprouts: Mixed with some onions and mushrooms, this is a meal in itself, or the perfect healthy side dish! Have you tried Oven Roasted Teriyaki Brussels Sprouts?
How to Air Fry Frozen Vegetables
The cooking time changes a bit when using frozen vegetables vs fresh vegetables, and based on the type of vegetable, but these instructions should help if this is your first time using your air fryer to cook frozen vegetables.
Step 1: Depending on the size of your air fryer, pour about 6 ounces of your frozen vegetables into a large bowl.
Spray a light coating of olive oil onto the vegetables.
Step 2: Add your toppings now, depending on your recipe. I add nutritional yeast to all of my frozen vegetables because it makes for a great bread-like coating, has a buttery-nutty flavor, and adds a little protein.
Toss your veggies and the seasonings well.
Step 3: Cook in the preheated air fryer at 400º for about 20 minutes, opening the fryer to toss and mix the veggies every few minutes.
Optional seasonings for Air Fryer Vegetables
I love experimenting with seasonings – here are some of my favorites:
- Salt & Black Pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic Powder and Onion powder
- Montreal Seasoning
- Balsamic vinegar
- Parmesan cheese
- Nutritional yeast
- Frank’s hot sauce
- Garlic salt
- Rosemary and Garlic
Recipe Tips
- Cook at a higher heat so that the vegetables don’t have a chance to get soggy as they cook.
- If you’d rather not spray oil on the vegetables, that’s fine, but watch for them to become dry.
- Remember that you might lose some seasoning at the bottom of the air fryer. Plan for that and add a little extra towards the end of your cook time if you’d like.
- Don’t overcrowd your air fryer when cooking–allow the heat to circulate and cook more evenly by cooking multiple small batches rather than one large one.
Air Fryer FAQs
An air fryer is like a countertop convection oven. It is different than deep frying because it cooks food by blowing hot air around it. It technically doesn’t need any oil, but by not using oil your food might come out a bit dry (with all of that air blowing, it’s easy to dry food out if it’s overcooked in the air fryer).
Yes! Don’t worry about thawing or pre-cooking. You can easily cook fresh or frozen broccoli, frozen cauliflower, frozen or thawed eggplant, or other frozen vegetables in the air fryer. Air frying vegetables takes a little more time to cook than thawed vegetables–about 20 minutes total–because you’re defrosting the veggies as they go through the cooking process.
While I prefer the Ninja Foodi to use as my air fryer, you can easily use an Instant Pot with an air fryer lid or a Mealthy CrispLid. If you have a convection oven, simply use that–it’s the original air fryer :)
Healthy Eating Plans
21 Day Fix Containers
Nutritional yeast is free if you’re using one serving, but 1/2 cup will count for about 1/2 red container (this is an educated guess on my part, as nutritional yeast is not on the food list).
If you’d rather not use nutritional yeast, you can use whole wheat panko and count 1 yellow container for 1/2 cup, or use 6 Triscuts, crunched up, for 1 yellow container.
Weight Watchers Points
Most vegetables are free on Weight Watchers. The breading and fats are where your points will come in.
- 1/2 cup of Nutritional Yeast is 2 points
- 1 tbsp of butter is 5 points
- Olive oil cooking spray is zero points
- 1/2 cup of panko whole wheat breadcrumbs is 5 points
- 1/4 cup of Frank’s Original Red Hot is zero points
- 1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar is 1 point
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How to Air Fry Frozen Vegetables
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Equipment
- Toaster, Oven, or Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen veggies I love using broccoli, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes
- spray olive oil
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Pour the frozen vegetables into a bowl.
- Spray olive oil on top of the veggies.
- Add balsamic vinegar to the bowl. Add nutritional yeast or other breading to the bowl. Toss well to mix.
- Cook at 400* for 20 minutes, opening to toss every 3-5 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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We use this recipe weekly!
I’m going to try crushed pork rinds I’ll let you know how the turn out
What temp would you use to air fry frozen veggies in a Ninja Foodi 5 in 1 Indoor Grill?
I’m sorry, I don’t have one of those.
Love this recipe!
My 11 year old is begging for his favorite veggie, broccoli! YAY! I have found this frozen broccoli recipe to be a Godsend. Thanks for posting it.
i am 84 yrs. by myself now.glad i found your site. very helpfull.hope i can learn more in future. not a cook. trying to learn.bought a bunch of vegies. will try air fryer. thanks
My husband and i have diabetes and i have been looking for healthy ways to cook .this has really helped me we both love veggies .
Yay! This is wonderful news, Barbara!
WOW , thank you very much. This is great information.
Just got an air fryer, and all these veggies look delish