Preparing air fryer frozen vegetables is the easiest and tastiest way to enjoy frozen mixed vegetables! It’s faster than roasting in the oven, retains more nutrients than steaming, and comes out crispy and flavorful every single time!
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My favorite way to prepare vegetables is in the air fryer. I started with air fryer squash, baked potatoes, and carrots. Now I’ve begun preparing frozen foods in the air fryer, and it’s life-changing! Be sure to try my air fryer frozen broccoli, the air fryer frozen sweet potato fries, and air fryer tater tots!
This air-fried vegetable recipe is simple and quick and tastes like fresh roasted vegetables straight from the oven! They are delicious, fast, and family-friendly! Plus, you can use this basic recipe to prepare almost frozen vegetables in the air fryer! See my recommended air fry times and temperatures for different frozen vegetables below.
💗 Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and Easy
- No Prep Time
- Perfectly Roasted
- No Need to Defrost
- Only 3 Ingredients
- Gluten-Free
- Keto and Low-Carb
- Vegan and Vegetarian
🥦 Ingredients and Notes
Frozen Mixed Vegetables: Any frozen mixed vegetables will work for this recipe. I used a combination of carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower. You’ll want to use a 12-14 ounce bag for this recipe.
Olive Oil: Any oil will do, but I don’t recommend using a cooking spray. Over time cooking spray can damage the enamel on your air fryer. Instead, opt for your favorite cooking oil. You can also place your olive oil in a mister to reduce the fat.
Salt and Pepper: You only need a little salt and pepper for seasoning. Feel free to use some other seasonings as you like—for example, garlic powder, onion powder, or herbs like oregano.
👩🏻🍳 How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables
- Preheat the air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
- While the air fryer is heating, toss the frozen vegetables in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Do not thaw the vegetables before.
- Place the vegetables in the air fryer basket. It’s okay if the vegetables overlap, but you don’t want them crowded. Try to keep them in a single layer as best as you can. Cook at 400° Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Toss the vegetables and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
⏲ Air Fryer Vegetable Cooking Times
This recipe calls for a mixed vegetable blend, but honestly, you can use any frozen vegetables with this simple recipe, and they are sure to come out well-cooked and perfectly roasted. Cook time and temperature will vary depending on the size of the frozen vegetables.
Here are a few vegetables that turn out great in the air fryer…
- Brussels Sprouts, cooking time 14 minutes at 390 F.
- Broccoli, 15 minutes, 400 F.
- Green Beans, 15 minutes, 320 F.
- Zucchini, 15 minutes, 320 F.
- Carrots, 15 minutes, 400 F.
- Cauliflower, 15 minutes, 400 F.
- Butternut Squash, 15-20 minutes, 400 F.
📝 Expert Tips
- Leave the vegetables in the freezer until you pop them in the basket. You don’t want them to defrost at all. This will prevent them from coming out soggy.
- Preheat the air fryer to cook more quickly when the frozen vegetables go in.
- Toss the vegetables with olive oil, and sprinkle with your favorite seasoning.
- Place the vegetables in a single layer to cook evenly and brown on all sides.
- Shake the basket at least once during cooking to ensure an even roast.
- Don’t use cooking spray. It will damage the enamel of your air fryer basket.
- Add any seasonings that you like.
❓ Recipe FAQS
Yes, you can put frozen vegetables in the air fryer, and they turn out perfectly crisp and delicious.
No, you need not defrost vegetables before placing them in an air fryer. You don’t want them to be wet and soggy when you add them to the air fryer basket because this will cause them to become rather soggy when you pull them out.
Preheat the air fryer. This ensures it’s hot enough to cook the vegetables, quickly creating a crispy finish. Make sure to toss the vegetables with oil. The oil helps to coat the vegetables and promote browning.
When cooking frozen vegetables, use high heat to cook them quickly and minimize moisture absorption. This helps to maintain their texture and prevent sogginess. Use a hot skillet or preheated oven to ensure proper heat distribution. Ensure the frozen vegetables are spread out in the air fryer without overcrowding. Overcrowding can lead to steaming instead of roasting, resulting in excess moisture and sogginess. If necessary, cook the frozen vegetables in batches to maintain proper spacing.
🍴 How to Serve
- Once the vegetables are roasted and slightly cooled, toss them with your favorite salad greens, such as spinach or mixed greens. Add some toasted nuts and a simple vinaigrette dressing.
- Combine the roasted vegetables with cooked grains like quinoa, couscous, or rice. Add some protein, such as tofu or chickpeas. Drizzle with vegan tahini dressing and garnish with fresh herbs or a squeeze of lemon.
- After roasting the vegetables, heat a skillet or wok and add a little oil. Toss in the roasted vegetables along with some garlic, ginger, soy sauce, or other stir-fry sauces.
- Serve as a side dish with your main course.
- Use in a casserole.
🫙 How to Store and Keep
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, reheat them in the microwave or throw them back in your air fryer for 3-5 minutes to heat and crisp them up!
⚖️ Serving Size
The serving size depends on the size of your frozen vegetable bag. Most frozen vegetables have a serving size of four.
More air fryer recipes!
Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12-14 ounce bag of frozen mixed vegetables carrots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 400 F, for 5 minutes.
- While the air fryer is heating, toss the frozen vegetables in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Do not thaw the vegetables before.
- Place the vegetables in the air fryer basket. It’s okay if the vegetables overlap one another but don’t overcrowd. Cook at 400 F, for 10 minutes. Toss the vegetables and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
Notes
- Don’t use cooking spray. It will damage the enamel of your air fryer basket.
- Use this simple basic recipe to prepare any type of frozen mixed vegetables you like.
- Add any type of seasonings that you like.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or toss back into the air fryer and reheat for 3-5 minutes at 350 F.
Alison Corey
My favorite way to prepare veggies that I know the kids will devour!
Gail Montero
What a tasty and easy side dish this makes! I always have frozen veggies so this recipe is perfect!
Jamie
This is the perfect easy side for any meal! I love how simple and convenient it is!
Nathan
I’m always looking for quick ways to cook vegetables that won’t turn them to mush, so this air fryer method seems like a perfect middle ground. Can’t wait to try it out!