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Get It NowI’ll admit I was hesitant about cooking okra at first — it can have a weird, slimy texture if not cooked right. Many of you know I love trying new veggies, though, so I had to give this Southern-inspired dish a try. I wasn’t a fan of some of the other cooking methods I experimented with, but air fryer okra turned out great! That’s because cooking okra in the air fryer makes it nice and crispy, instead of slimy. Make it with me!
Why You Need My Air Fryer Okra Recipe
- Crispy, crunchy texture – In my opinion, many okra recipes are kind of slimy, and I’m just not a fan of that. My air fryer okra is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. So good!
- Simple ingredients – All you need is the okra and a few pantry staples. The spices add plenty of flavor without the fuss of breading — and that means this dish is naturally gluten-free, too.
- Quick and easy – The prep only takes a few minutes, and afterward cooking okra in the air fryer is super quick. You can add this dish to your meal in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fryer okra recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Okra – Sometimes called ladies’ fingers, gumbo, or ochro, this is a fuzzy green vegetable that grows in hot, humid weather. I used to buy it frozen when I lived in Minnesota, but in Florida I often find it fresh in stores (since it grows here). My recipe works for both, the time is just a bit different.
- Olive Oil – Avocado oil works, too.
- Spices – Garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and cayenne pepper. Sometimes I just use a tablespoon of Cajun seasoning instead.
How To Cook Okra In The Air Fryer
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Prep your air fryer. Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray. Preheat the air fryer.
- Season the okra. In a large bowl, combine the okra pieces, olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and cayenne pepper. Toss to coat.
- Air fry until tender. Place the okra in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook until tender, and shake the basket half way through.
- Crisp up more. Crank up the heat on your air fryer and air fry for a couple more minutes, until crispy. Enjoy right away for the best texture!
My Recipe Tips
- If using frozen okra, don’t thaw it first. It turns out mushy if you thaw it.
- Don’t crowd the basket. You want the okra pieces in a single layer! Cook in batches if needed. My air fryer basket is fairly large and I can cook this air fryer okra recipe in 2 batches.
- Cut the okra into 1-inch pieces… here’s why: Larger ones (or not cutting at all) means less surface area to crisp up, plus they tend to kind of steam and get slimy inside. On the other hand, slicing it too thin makes it kind of fall apart. I find 1-inch pieces are the sweet spot, although you could even do 1/2-inch. The frozen okra I get is usually precut like this anyway, but for fresh I just slice it myself.
- This dish is moderately spicy. If you want it more mild, use less cayenne or substitute black pepper. Or increase the cayenne if you want it really hot.
- Be careful not to cook too long. Okra gets more slimy if it’s overcooked.
- Prefer to use the oven? You can roast the okra in a single layer at 400 degrees F, but it won’t be quite as crispy as air frying.
Serving Ideas
I recommend serving air fryer okra with other Southern-inspired dishes! My favorite pairing is blackened salmon or blackened chicken, on a bed of frozen cauliflower rice to keep it simple, and maybe some pineapple salsa on top if I’m feeling fancy. It also goes well with my Cajun shrimp, fried cabbage, or sugar-free coleslaw.
Air Fryer Okra (Super Crispy)
This easy air fryer okra recipe is super crispy, not slimy! You can make it using fresh or frozen okra, and just a few spices.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
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Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C).
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In a large bowl, combine the okra, olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and cayenne pepper. Mix to coat. (If using frozen okra, no need to thaw.)
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Place the okra in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd, as air needs to circulate for best results. You might need to air fry in 2 or 3 batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
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Fresh: Cook fresh okra in the air fryer for 10 minutes, tossing halfway through.
Frozen: Cook frozen okra in the air fryer for 15 minutes, tossing halfway through.
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Increase the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees F. Air fry okra for 2 more minutes, until crispy.
Did You Make My Recipe?
Leave a rating to help other readers, tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram (I’d love to see!), or save the recipe to your email.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/2 cup
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips to ensure your air fried okra gets nice and crispy, and my recommendations for adjusting the heat.
- Store: Keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat: I like to reheat okra in the air fryer again, this time at 350 degrees F.
- Freeze: I prefer this dish fresh, but you can freeze it for up to 3 months if you need to. I find the texture is better if you reheat from frozen rather than thawing.
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32 Comments
GS
1Fantastic! I love okra, and this is a fast, easy, delicious way to make it. We have a stainless tray-style air fryer and a regular bag of okra fit on two trays perfectly. I air fried it a little over 15 minutes to make it a little crispier in our particular air fryer. Will definitely be making this again!
Rose
1I grew up in New Orleans so while I’m very familiar with okra, living in California now for 20 years, I haven’t had it in a while. I tried this recipe yesterday (with frozen okra) and it was delicious!! I had to air fry for an extra 5 minutes (perhaps since it was frozen?) to get the crispness I desired but it was very flavorful and I’ll definitely make this again. Thanks!!
Linda
0Would canned pickled okra for this? I’m thinking I might try it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Linda, I’m not sure but I think it might turn out too soggy and not crisp up. Let me know how it goes if you try it, though.
Paula
0Yummy! I don’t tolerate pepper well so will leave it out next time. My husband does & loved it.
Paul
0I just made this recipe and it is great
Ben
0I assume you should defrost the frozen okra before seasoning it?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Ben, No, I don’t recommend defrosting it.
Linda Monforte-Ritter
0What if you don’t have an air fryer?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Linda, You can roast them in the oven instead, but they won’t be as crispy.
pinky
0WOW! These were delicious. I cooked for an extra 2-3 minutes at 400 degrees at the end in my air fryer to help crisp them up but either way they were still delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Tracy
0Hi, I’d love to try this but don’t have an air fryer, can I bake them in the oven?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Tracy, That should work, but they might not be as crispy.
MacKenzie
0Can’t wait to make this air fryer okra. It’s such a great way to add crispiness without the oil.
Traci
0I made this awhile ago and it was so good! Loved the crispy outside texture of the okra. Delicious!
Jenn
0Love love love okra! This recipe was so good and so easy! What a winner!
Shelby
0Such an underutilized veggie! I love the simple seasoning on this okra!
Erin
0This okra was so quick and easy to make! Will make again soon, thanks!
Betty
0This sounds so delicious. I’ll be making it tomorrow.
jessica
0I havent had an airfryer for very long but figured most vegetables could be cooked in it so I decided to go recipe hunting and found this. My family loves okra when its cooked well and I had a feeling it would be good. I was right! We were out of cayanne but they still turned out very tasty. I used frozen okra and they still turned out perfectly crispy with the extra 5 minutes of cook time. Thank you!
Heidy
0This okra recipe came out perfect. This recipe is a keeper in my book. Our family loves it. Looking forward to more great recipes from your blog.
Anna
0We just got an air fryer so this recipe will come very handy! I’m really looking forward to trying this, as I’m a huge fan of okra!
Tracy
0This was such a delicious okra recipe! My family loved it, even my kids who said they didn’t like okra!
Lauren Michael Harris
0I never think to buy and make okra, but I’ve been trying to use my air fryer more AND expand our veggie intake. Definitely giving this a go this week!
Tristin
0Mmm, bring on all of the okra recipes! This was so good, made a great side dish.
Erin
0This was so good! Will make again soon. My first time making okra!
Mikayla
0I believe I have found a new favorite snack. So easy to make and really good as a crispy snack. SO much better for you too!
Lisa
0I make this okra and eat it like candy! The air fryer is the best way to cook it!
Deb
0I never tried okra in the air fryer until now. It was really easy and so good.
Deb
0I never tried okra in the air fryer but since I just got one and had some frozen I made for lunch. Excellent!
Jen
0Didn’t work with my air fryer. Followed instructions exactly. Okra was WAY too salty & not crispy at all – very soggy. Was very hopeful, but unfortunately will not use this recipe again.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jen, Sorry to hear that. Just to confirm, you had a full pound of okra and didn’t add any extra salt? I don’t find this dish too salty but feel free to use less salt next time. If your okra was soggy, most likely it was too crowded in the basket, needed more time to cook, or both. Hope this helps for next time.