Air Fryer Okra

Air Fryer Okra is a classic Southern side, lightened up by using an air fryer instead of cooking it in all that oil!

Air fryer okra? Air-fried okra? Whatever you want to call it, this is lightly breaded crispy okra cooked in an air fryer, and if you're a Southerner (or a wannabe) who loves this crunchy goodness, you're going to freak out over the guilt-free version.

Jump to:

• Do I need an air fryer?
• Sara's notes about the ingredients
• How to air fry okra
• How long do I cook okra in the air fryer?
• What type of oil spray/mist is best?
• FAQ's
• Variations
• More okra recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• Hot Side Dishes

Do I need an air fryer?

I'm so glad you asked! By now I'm sure you know that air fryers are the easy little appliance that magically fries food with little or no oil, which means much less calories when you're craving something that is typically greasy like fried okra.

We also love to make Air Fryer Catfish Fillets, which make you think of an old school fish fry - but without the grease. And Air Fryer Lobster tails are hands-down the best way to cook these special treats (but easy enough for a weeknight).

Lots of fish fries would include shrimp, and yep, we've got Air Fryer Breaded Shrimp for you too! All you need is a bowl of cocktail sauce and you've got it made in the shade!

Air Fryer Asparagus Parmesan is a super quick and easy side that can be dressed up for a fancy dinner. Air Fryer Home Fries is another perfect side, but they're also a rustic breakfast classic.

Sure, there are baked version of our favorite foods out there, but let's be honest: you don't get the same crunch and sometimes you just don't want the hassle (or the warmth!) of heating up that whole oven for a side dish. With these air fryer recipes, those problems are totally eliminated.

Haven't bought an air fryer yet? Here are some of our favorites! And when you do get yours, be sure to check out our Greek lemon chicken skewers... I promise you'll be hooked.

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Sara's notes about the ingredients

• Fresh okra - this is typically going to be a summer-in-the-south recipe, because that's when and where you're most likely to find fresh okra
• Cornmeal - white or yellow is fine
• Flour - plain or all purpose
• Cajun seasoning - it's optional, but we love the depth of flavor it adds. We actually use our home blackened seasoning blend.
• Black pepper - freshly ground is always best
• Salt - only needed if you do not use the Cajun seasoning
• Eggs - the perfect binder for the batter to make sure none of it comes off while you're cooking and will keep the okra nice and moist inside its crunchy shell.

For exact proportions see the recipe card below.

How to air fry okra

Ok, enough jibber-jabber. Let's talk okra! When you're frying okra the old fashioned way you would typically never see the okra dipped in egg first, so don't be thrown off by that!

• Slice the whole okra into ½ inch thick slices.
• Beat the eggs lightly and dip okra slices into moisten.
• Combine the dry ingredients in a large zip loc type bag.
• Let the excess egg drain off the okra slices and then drop into the cornmeal mixture a few at a time. Shake to coat and move the slices to an oiled air fryer basket. Repeat until all of the okra is coated.
• Spray with cooking spray like avocado oil or canola oil (not the type used for pans) and cook according to the notes below.
• Depending on the size of your air fryer you may have to cook more than one batch, but be sure they're in a single layer.

How long do I cook okra in the air fryer?

It's going to vary just a little bit based on how crunchy you want it and how much okra you have, but my general rule for air fryer okra is to spray it down with and then cook it for 5 minutes on 400 degrees.

Then, toss it, spray it again, and cook for another 5 minutes. After that, check it! It may have a perfectly crispy texture, but if not, just toss, spray, and repeat for another 3-5 minutes.

What type of oil spray/mist is best?

We've tried the refillable type oil misters and don't recommend them. Your goal is to get a really fine mist of oil. That way you use the least amount of oil while still giving the okra (or whatever you're cooking). We found the refillable type tend to spray vs. misting.

Traditional cooking sprays like we use to keep food from sticking to pans isn't recommended either. They have additives that tend to scorch or burn in the air fryer.

Our favorites are the type that have no propellant, but are non-refillable. This one is an avocado oil and our other favorite is a canola oil mister.

FAQ's

Variations

Our recommendations are more for the way to serve the okra than how to cook it. We typically think of it as a delicious side dish, but it actually makes a great appetizer. Just serve with your favorite dipping sauces like ranch dressing or remoulade sauce.

More okra recipes

If you love okra and love all of the great health benefits of including it in your diet you'll want to try these too:

• Southern Style Vegetable Beef Soup
• Quick and Easy Spicy Pickled Okra
• Gumbo (a Cajun/Creole classic)
• Southern Style Vegetable Chicken Soup

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📖 Recipe