Vegan air fryer recipes have been playing it too safe for too long. There’s a whole world beyond roasted vegetables and seasoned chickpeas — and once you find it, there’s no going back to the boring stuff.
Here’s what makes the air fryer particularly useful for vegan cooking, specifically: it solves the texture problem.
Crispy tofu that actually stays crispy. Cauliflower with edges that genuinely caramelise. Chickpeas that crunch.
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The things that can make plant-based eating feel a little flat when oven-roasted come alive in the air fryer basket in a way that’s hard not to get excited about.
These 13 recipes are the ones worth actually making — satisfying enough to convince a committed meat-eater, simple enough for a Tuesday night, and varied enough that you won’t feel like you’re eating the same thing on rotation.
A few are meal-prep friendly, a couple work brilliantly as sides, and more than one has genuinely surprised me with how good it turned out.
1. Vegan Crunchwrap
Crispy on the outside, layered and melty in the center, this vegan crunchwrap delivers serious fast-food nostalgia with a fresher, plant-based upgrade.
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2. Vegan Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan
Golden and crisp with that classic marinara-and-melty topping moment, this air fryer eggplant parm brings all the Italian comfort without the heavy, oil-soaked aftermath.
3. Easy Teriyaki Cauliflower Wings
Sticky, glossy, and perfectly crisp at the edges, these teriyaki cauliflower wings hit that sweet-salty sweet spot and disappear fast at any dinner table or game-night spread.
4. Air Fryer Green Beans
Bright, blistered, and finished with a pop of citrus and pomegranate, these air fryer green beans prove a simple side can still steal the spotlight.
5. Nutritional Yeast Tofu
Savory, golden, and irresistibly crisp, this nutritional yeast tofu delivers that craveable cheesy depth — no dairy required — and turns a humble block into something genuinely exciting.
6. Air Fryer Roasted Beets
Caramelized at the edges and naturally sweet at the center, these air fryer roasted beets feel earthy and elegant — the kind of side that quietly elevates the entire plate.
7. Vegan Air Fryer Donuts with Jam
Light, fluffy, and filled with glossy jam, these vegan air fryer donuts bring bakery-level comfort to your kitchen — minus the deep-fry commitment.
8. Air Fryer Falafel
Crisp on the outside, tender and herb-packed within, these air fryer falafel bring bold, Middle Eastern-inspired flavor with a lighter, weeknight-friendly twist.
9. Air Fryer Beyond Burger
Juicy, smoky, and perfectly seared straight from the air fryer, this Beyond Burger delivers that classic cookout satisfaction — no grill required.
10. Air Fryer Zucchini
Tender on the inside with lightly crisped edges, this air fryer zucchini is the kind of effortless side that makes eating your greens feel genuinely appealing.
11. Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Crackly on the outside and fluffy at the center, these air fryer baked potatoes deliver that steakhouse-worthy texture with far less waiting around.
12. Crispy Air Fryer Oyster Mushrooms
Delicately crisp with those signature ruffled edges, these air fryer oyster mushrooms channel serious fried comfort energy — with a surprisingly light finish that keeps you reaching for one more.
13. Air Fryer Hash Browns
Golden and shatteringly crisp on the outside with a soft, steamy center, these air fryer hash browns bring brunch-level satisfaction to even the most ordinary morning.
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