If you love okra as a snack and often forget to defrost it, this recipe will show you how to make the crispiest air fryer frozen okra in less time!
This easy recipe is a simple side dish that takes just 15 minutes total time to prepare from freezer to plate! This flavorful snack is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
If you buy a lot of fresh okra when it's in season, freezing it is a great way to make it last longer. You can use okra in so many dishes like this okra soup, or seafood okra, but it also makes a really tasty veggie snack.
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Equipment used
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You will need an air fryer for this recipe. Some of my favorites are the Ninja air fryer, Cosori air fryer, and the Ninja foodi. Air frying okra is one of the best and fastest ways to make crispy okra with golden-brown perfection.
Another great thing about using an air fryer for this recipe is that the okra won't have a slimy texture that most people struggle with.
I use my trusted air fryer several times a week to whip up quick, easy, and flavorful meals for my family. Food cooks while the air fryer is sealed, so meals are even more delicious.
It is the perfect appliance for frozen meals like frozen shrimp, frozen brussel sprouts, and frozen chicken wings. Such a lifesaver when I'm in a hurry!
Check out this list of the best affordable air fryers that will get the job done!
Ingredients Used
- Frozen okra: You can find frozen cut okra in the frozen vegetable section of your local grocery store. You can also just buy fresh okra pods, chop them into bite size pieces and then freeze them.
- Olive oil spray: You can substitute with coconut oil, avocado oil, or your favorite cooking oil.
- Spices: Black pepper, garlic powder, salt, and red pepper flakes (optional).
How To Make This Recipe
- Preheat your air fryer to 400F. To preheat an air fryer that doesn't have a dedicated Preheat button, turn it on to 400F and let it heat up for 3-4 minutes.
- Arrange the frozen okra on a single layer on your air fryer basket.
- Spray the okra with your cooking spray.
- Mix the spices together in a small bowl and sprinkle on the frozen okra.
- Use a brush to lightly rub the spices all over or shake the basket.
- Air fry for 15 minutes and shake the basket to make sure each piece of okra is evenly heated.
- Garnish with red pepper flakes and serve!
Storing and Reheating
You can store leftover okra in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep fresh for a day or two this way.
To reheat the okra using the air fryer, reheat at 350F for five minutes or slightly more if needed. You can also roast it in the oven using the same settings. Do not microwave the frozen okra because it will become quite soft and lose its crispiness.
What can I eat this recipe with?
This crispy okra is so versatile and can be gobbled up in various ways. I enjoy it as a quick snack but it also makes a perfect side dish for your meat, chicken, or fish dishes.
Enjoy this healthy veggie snack with some:
Instant Pot Bone-in Pork Chops
Tips and variations
- For extra crunch, let the frozen okra air fry for 5 more minutes.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika for some heat and extra flavor.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
Frozen okra should be air fried at 400F. Preheat the air fryer first so that it starts to fry the okra once you put it in. You need just 15 minutes to fry them crisp.
The best way to cook frozen okra so it's not slimy is to air fry it. With the air fryer, ingredients turn out with a crispy texture with just a little bit of oil. Of course, you can also deep fry them in hot oil, but I find that they turn out oily and not quite as tender inside. They also soak up some oil this way.
There's no need to thaw frozen okra before cooking. That's one great thing about using an air fryer. It does the thawing and frying all at once and much quicker too! It's my preferred way of cooking frozen ingredients for the best results.
Check out these other easy air fryer recipes!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Okra
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz frozen okra
- olive oil spray or 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Red pepper flakes optional, garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400F. To preheat an air fryer that doesn't have a dedicated Preheat button, turn it on to 400F and let it heat up for 3-4 minutes.
- Arrange the frozen okra on a single layer on your air fryer basket.
- Spray the okra with your cooking spray.
- Mix the spices in a small bowl and sprinkle on the frozen okra.
- Use a brush to lightly rub the spices all over or shake the basket.
- Air fry for 15 minutes and shakes the basket.
- Garnish with red pepper flakes and serve!
Notes
- For extra crunch, let the frozen okra air fry for 5 more minutes.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika for some heat and extra flavor.
- 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.
Nutrition
Tayo Oredola is the founder of Low Carb Africa, where she shares healthy, low carb dishes with global flavors. She is passionate about teaching people how to cook drool-worthy dishes while losing weight and living their best lives. Tayo’s recipes have been featured on MSN, Women’s Health, Parade, Yahoo News, Pure Wow, Essence, and other online publications.
great recipe!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I cooked my okra twice for 15 minutes. The super small pieces crisped up but the majority of the okra was still soft. I drizzled the oil over it all and tossed it with the seasoning. Maybe the spray works better?
Yes the spray should work better. Also shake the air fryer frequently to make sure all the pieces have a chance to crisp up.
This is the best okra we've ever had. We used fresh okra (no frozen okra here), so we cooked it a couple minutes less, and tossed it with the oil and spices, rather than spray/brush, but we didn't alter the flavor profile. So delicious. My husband said if he had to eat only one meal the rest of his life, this would be part of it (along with the poulet yassa and riced cabbage, which is what this was served with).
I'm so glad you both enjoyed it. It is one of my husband's favorite veggie snacks as well 🙂
would you use minced garlic or garlic powder? thanks!
You can use any, but I prefer garlic powder.
I have a bunch of fresh okra. Will this work with frozen whole okra?
I didn't try it with whole okra, so I'm not sure. Let me know if it works out for you.
Can I also use fresh okra the same way?
Yes, you can. But air fry for 10 mins first, then check if it's crispy enough.
nice