Air fried okra everyone will love!
Okra can be a rather controversial food. People either love it or hate it.
I fell into the latter category my entire life. That is… until I discovered this air fryer okra. (Inspired by a local spots incredible deep-fried okra recipe!)
The simple act of breading and then air frying the otherwise slimy slices created a counterbalance of crispiness that I couldn’t get enough of!!
My favorite way to serve these up is the good ole’ Southern way with a side of some homemade ranch dressing, or you can add a bit of spice with some spicy sriracha mayo!
Ingredient Notes
Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredients amounts and instructions.
- Okra. Look for brightly colored, fresh okra pods. They should be shorter, no more than 4 inches long, as these are the most tender. If they are dull, soft, or bruised, skip them. I’d also avoid frozen okra, as it gets incredibly slimy upon thawing!
- Breadcrumbs. My trick to quickly giving these crunchy morsels a ton of flavor is all in using Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs. If you can’t find these, simply use regular and then add a teaspoon or two of Italian seasoning!
- Parmesan. Try to get grated, and not shredded, so it will incorporate more easily into the breading.
- Seasonings. A blend of paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper are used to give this dish it’s Southern flair. You can also make it spicy with some Cajun Seasoning.
(Have some extra okra? Learn how to freeze okra so you can enjoy it year-round!)
How to Make Air Fryer Okra
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete instructions and ingredient amounts.
Slice the okra into ½-inch pieces.
Before you start prepping, don’t forget to preheat your air fryer to 380℉.
Then clean the okra under running water and trim into relatively even ½-inch pieces. Try to keep everything the same size so it cooks up evenly.
Coat in the flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs.
My favorite method for battering almost all foods so the coating really sticks, is the three-bowl method: 1) flour, 2) egg wash, and 3) the breadcrumb coating.
Work in batches of about 10-15 okra slices so they don’t all stick together.
Toss in the flour, then add to the egg wash. Use a fork to lift up each piece and let any excess egg drip off. Finally, drop the okra into the breadcrumb mixture and toss until they’re coated. You can use your fingers to press in the breadcrumb mixture so it really sticks.
Pro Tip: I like to try and keep one hand strictly for the dry ingredients so I don’t have to keep going back and forth to the sink!
Cook in the Air Fryer until crispy.
Add the breaded okra to the air fryer basket in a single layer with a little space between each slice. (Depending on the size of your air fryer, this might take more than one batch.)
Spritz the top with non-stick cooking spray.
Cook at 380℉ for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. The okra is done when it’s tender and the edges are golden brown.
What’s the best way to reheat air fryer okra?
Use the tool you’ve got! Simply pop the fried okra back into your air fryer for a few minutes at 350℉ to get them piping hot and crispy!
Why is my fried okra slimy?
Okra can become slimy when it’s not cooked at a high enough temperature or the slices are too thick. Shoot for sliced okra no thicker than 1/2-inch for the crispiest texture!
Tasty Sauces to Serve with It!
Air fryer okra is already delicious on its own, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it tastes even BETTER with some tasty sauces!
I mentioned them before, but homemade ranch dressing is a classic and spicy sriracha mayo adds so much kick!
Other favorites of mine include this Chick-fil-A Special Sauce, Secret Sauce, or even a simple Tartar Sauce!
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Air Fryer Okra Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh okra
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Ranch dressing or marinara for serving, optional
Instructions
- Preheat a 6-quart air fryer to 380℉ for at least 3 minutes.
- Trim and discard the ends of the okra and then cut into ½-inch slices1 pound fresh okra
- In three separate shallow bowls combine the following: 1) the flour, 2) whisk together the eggs and milk, 3) whisk together the breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.½ cup all purpose flour, 2 large eggs, 2 tablespoons whole milk, ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs, ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Add a handful of the okra pieces to the flour, tossing to completely coat all sides. Shake off any excess flour and then add to the egg wash. Once covered, use a fork to remove the pieces from the eggs and let any excess drip off. Place the okra pieces into the breadcrumb bowl and shake until they are almost completely coated. Use your hands to press more crumbs into all sides. Shake off any excess crumbs.
- Add the breaded okra to the air fryer basket in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd, and spritz with non-stick cooking spray. (Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to work in batches.) Cook for 8-10 minutes, giving the basket a shake halfway through, or until the okra is tender and the edges are golden brown.
- Serve with a side of ranch dressing or your other sauce of choice, if desired.Ranch dressing or marinara
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Video
Notes
- Okra. Fresh is best! Avoid previously frozen okra so it won’t get soggy. Also, make sure to slice the pieces as close to the same thickness as possible for the most even cooking.
- Italian seasoned breadcrumbs. If you’re unable to find these, simply substitute with ½ cup regular breadcrumbs and 1-2 teaspoons Italian seasoning.
- Reheating. Pop the fried okra back into a 350℉ air fryer for a few minutes until heated through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
