Air Fried Okra Recipe (All the Taste With None of the Guilt!) (2024)

Published - Last Modified , by Susan LaBorde 23 Comments

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Our air fryer recipe for Air Fried Okra gives you a healthier way to cook a southern fried favorite – plus it’s fast, easy, and eliminates the chore of cleaning up messy grease spatter!

Air Fried Okra Recipe (All the Taste With None of the Guilt!) (1)

This Air Fried Okra is a great recipe for air fryer skeptics. If you like old-fashioned deep fried okra, get ready for a very pleasant surprise because this healthier version actually tastes better!

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Are air fryers perfect? No, there are a few things that simply don’t work. An example is hot water cornbread. Despite numerous tests, I still haven’t figured out a way to get good results. (If you have, please add a comment below and share your ideas!)

Table of Contents

  • How to Get The Best Results From Your Air Fryer
  • About Air Frying Okra
  • Air Fried Okra Recipe
  • More Air Fryer Recipes

How to Get The Best Results From Your Air Fryer

On balance, air fryers do an excellent job on the vast majority of foods. One huge key to success is to get a good cookbook. This Air Fried Okra recipe is from The Air Fryer Bible cookbook by Elizabeth Hickman and yours truly. It has over 200 recipes that cover all the standard favorites plus lots of tasty new ideas.

However, this isn’t meant to be a sales pitch. If you don’t want to buy our cookbook please see all the other recommendations in our Air Fryer Cookbook Guide. A word of caution – unfortunately there’s a lot of scamming going on with air fryer cookbooks. Avoid any that claim to have 550 recipes or some other ridiculous number. Rather, look for reputable authors such as Linda Larsen and Meredith Laurence.

About Air Frying Okra

Now, let’s cook up some delicious crispy fried okra!

An interesting thing about this recipe is that crowding is okay. More often than not, you have to avoid stacking food in air fryers and cook single layers in different batches.

Of course there are exceptions, and this is one of them. When cooking okra this way you can pile it all into the basket at once. As long as you stop a couple of times during cooking to shake the basket, you’ll get good results. Give it a try and see for yourself – enjoy!

It’s okay to crowd this okra in your air fryer.

My amateur pics don’t do it justice!

Air Fried Okra Recipe (All the Taste With None of the Guilt!) (4)

Air Fried Okra

Susan LaBorde

You can't get more southern than fried okra, and this air fryer version lets you enjoy a traditional favorite without all the grease.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 7-8 ounces fresh okra
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup skim milk
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • oil for misting or cooking spray

Instructions

  • Remove stem ends from okra and cut into 1/2-inch slices.

  • In a medium bowl, beat together egg and milk. Add okra slices and stir to coat.

  • In a sealable plastic bag or container with lid, mix together the breadcrumbs and salt.

  • Remove okra from egg mixture, letting excess drip off, and transfer into bag with breadcrumbs. Be sure okra is well drained before placing it in the breadcrumbs. You may want to use a slotted spoon to life a little okra at a time and let plenty of the egg wash drip off before putting it into breadcrumbs.

  • Shake okra in crumbs to coat well.

  • Place all of the coated okra into air fryer basket and mist with oil or cooking spray. Okra does not have to be in a single layer, and it isn't necessary to spray all sides at this point. A good spritz on top will do.

  • Cook at 390℉ for 5 minutes. Shake basket to redistribute and give it another oil spritz as you shake.

  • Cook 5 more minutes. Shake and spray again. Cook for 2 to 5 minutes longer or until golden brown and crispy.

Keyword air fried okra

© 2017 Susan LaBorde and Elizabeth Hickman. All rights reserved. No part of this recipe may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.

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Want more? This recipe is from The Air Fryer Bible Cookbook by Susan LaBorde and Elizabeth Hickman. Click here to see The Air Fryer Bible on Amazon.

More Air Fryer Recipes

When you buy an air fryer you quickly discover it’s capable of way more than French fries. The best way to get the most from your appliance is to experiment on your own, and to keep trying new recipes. For lots of ideas and inspiration, be sure to check out these great recipes and recipe collections:

  • Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners – Our 20 Fast, Easy Favorites
  • Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
  • Air Fried Steak
  • Air Fryer Chicken Legs
  • Air Fried Chicken No Breading
  • Air Fryer Chicken Wings – 15 Mouthwatering Recipes
  • Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Recipe
  • 50+ Air Fryer Recipes from Around the Web
  • 50 More Air Fryer Recipes from Around the Web
  • Air Fryer Indian Recipes
  • Air Fryer Recipes for Onion Rings

You may also like…

  • Why You Should Never Trust An Air Fryer Cooking Time Chart
  • Universal Air Fryer Accessories – All Sizes, Best Value
  • Will All Air Fryer Recipes Work In All Air Fryers?

If you like this recipe please share on Pinterest and spread the word!

Air Fried Okra Recipe (All the Taste With None of the Guilt!) (5)


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Air Fried Okra Recipe (All the Taste With None of the Guilt!) (2024)

FAQs

What makes okra taste better? ›

Methods like grilling, sauteing, and frying that use high heat for a short amount of time work well. Make sure your cast iron skillet, grill, or fryer is hot before you start cooking okra. Getting a good sear on the outside will not only make the outside taste great, but it will also reduce the slime inside.

Do you have to thaw okra before air frying? ›

Yes, you can cook frozen okra in the air fryer—and it will be delicious. But you shouldn't try to coat it in breading. It won't stick.

How much does it take to put breaded okra in air fryer? ›

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place 1/2 the breaded okra slices in the basket of the air fryer and spray with cooking spray. Cook 4 minutes.

Why do you put baking soda in okra? ›

Pro tip: add a little baking soda to your okra if you want it to “draw” more.

Why do you put vinegar in okra? ›

One popular way to reduce okra's sliminess is to "soak it in vinegar for 30 minutes [before cooking with it], which helps to break up and dissolve the slime," says food scientist, food industry consultant, and author Bryan Le.

What is the best cooking technique for okra? ›

Stir-frying and sautéing (as in this stir-fried okra with tomatoes and spices) will yield lightly crisp pods with a juicy interior.

What is okra good for in woman? ›

Okra is rich in magnesium, folate, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins C, K1 and A. It may help support healthy pregnancy, heart health, blood sugar. it may even have anticancer properties.

What is the healthiest way to eat okra? ›

Roast okra is a healthy snack alternative to the fried version, although it does have quite a few uses in the kitchen! Turn it into a variety of other dishes like stuffed peppers, gumbo or even Spanish rice to add a nice roasted flavor. Most commonly though, they're great as a starter, side or delicious snack!

How long does okra need to be in the air fryer? ›

Try to leave space between each piece of okra. Air fry at 400F for 12-14 minutes. Shake the air fryer basket halfway through cooking. The okra is ready when golden.

Why is my fried okra chewy? ›

Whether picking it yourself or shopping for it at the store or farmer's market, you want the tender, young okra. Bigger is not better. The larger okra pods have tough husks and are too chewy.

How do you keep breading from falling off okra? ›

Instead of plain cornmeal I used a pre-mixed cornmeal, four, salt mixture. I also added a little bit of buttermilk to the egg mixture. I'm sure the use of flour along with the cornmeal is the secret to keeping the batter on during cooking. Another secret is to make sure your oil is good and hot before adding the okra.

Is frozen breaded okra good in air fryer? ›

Breaded okra is totally a staple in the south – but us northern folk still know how to fix it! I love making okra in the air fryer! This easy recipe for these crunchy little nuggets of goodness is the perfect healthy side dish!

Will frozen okra brown in the air fryer? ›

Start with just 15 minutes of cook time and only increase it if you want it crispier. Don't skip spraying the frozen okra with a little oil before air frying. It will give the okra a golden brown color and make it crispy.

How do you eat okra if you don't like it? ›

Roasted okra is the best choice if you don't like the slimy texture. Roasting okra dries it out on the inside. Simply toss it with some olive oil and your favorite spices and roast in the oven for about 20 minutes.

What is the best way to eat okra? ›

If that's not to your liking, okra can be eaten raw, pickled, fried, succotashed, roasted, grilled, crisped to shards, or cooked an infinite number of ways that celebrate all that's special about this vegetable, and it freezes gorgeously to boot.

What happens to your body when you eat okra? ›

Okra is low in calories but packed full of nutrients. The vitamin C in okra helps support healthy immune function. Okra is also rich in vitamin K, which helps your body clot blood. Antioxidants are natural compounds that help your body fight off molecules called free radicals that can damage cells.

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