Breaded okra is totally a staple in the south – but us northern folk still know how to fix it! I love making okra in the air fryer! This easy recipe for these crunchy little nuggets of goodness is the perfect healthy side dish! You can make frozen OR fresh okra in your air fryer and this okra recipe has you covered for both options!
I made both fresh and frozen for this recipe and really liked them both! The frozen is easier and was only $1 at Kroger – hard to beat that! But the fresh was super crispy with the breading route that I took – and spicier! Yum!
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How to make air fryer frozen okra
This is so simple and truly – it’s the best way – because it’s so easy! Buy a bag of frozen breaded okra and just pop it in the air fryer.
- Add frozen breaded okra to air fryer basket in a single layer
- Spritz with your favorite brand of olive oil, cooking spray, coconut oil or avocado oil
- Air fry at 400º for 6 minutes cook time
- Open air fryer at 6 minute mark and shake to toss and spray again with olive oil spray
- Air fry at 400º for 6 minutes more.
FYI – Spraying with olive oil gives you that golden-brown perfection. And this air fryer okra recipe uses such little oil compared to deep fried okra!
Ingredients to Make Okra in Air Fryer from Scratch
If you’re wanting to tackle fresh okra – it isn’t much more difficult and it is very tasty and super crunchy! Here’s what you’ll need:
- 10-15 okra chunky dice
- 1 cup Hooter’s Wing Breading
- You can also use all purpose flour or even a flour & cornmeal mixture
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 cup sweet & spicy panko breadcrumbs
- If you can’t find the sweet & spicy panko in the grocery store, you can jazz up plain panko by adding 1 tbsp cayenne pepper or cajun spice for extra flavor
How to make Fresh Okra in Air Fryer
If you’re going to make it from scratch – it’s super simple!
- Cut stem end off okra and dice remainder into thick chunks approx 1 inch each
- In a medium bowl, beat egg and whisk in water
- Set up three breading trays with Hooters breading, egg/water and panko bread crumbs
- Toss cut okra into flour mixture – then egg – then panko
- Add in a single layer in air fryer tray
- For best results, spray diced chunks with oil to get golden brown color when done
- Air fry okra at 400º for 12 minutes cooking time
- Open air fryer at the halfway mark and shake to toss and spray again with olive oil
The best part of either version of air fried okra is how crunchy they are! You’ve got crispy okra ready to be dipped in ranch or any other favorite dipping sauce!
How do you store & reheat leftover okra?
This okra recipe makes enough as a side dish for four. That said – you might have leftovers! Store in airtight container and refrigerate up to a week – or freeze up to three months. Reheat in the air fryer for 4 minutes to bring back that crispy texture.
Dipping Sauce Recipes
Regular ranch is a great option to dip in – but here are some of my favorite dipping sauces:
Side Dish Air Fryer Recipes
This is the perfect side dish for any southern meal and here are some of my other favorite air fryer vegetable recipes:
Air Fryer Breaded Okra
Ingredients
Breaded Okra from Scratch
- 10-15 okra chunky dice
- 1 cup Hooter's Wing Breading (or regular flour)
- 2 eggs beaten
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 cup sweet & spicy panko breadcrumbs (or plain panko)
Frozen Okra from Bag
- 1/2 bag frozen breaded okra
Instructions
Make Your Own Fried Breaded Okra
- Cut stem end off okra and dice remainder into thick chunks approx 1 inch each10-15 okra
- In a medium bowl, beat egg and whisk in water2 eggs, 2 tbsp water
- Set up three breading trays with Hooters breading, egg/water and panko bread crumbs1 cup Hooter's Wing Breading, 1 cup sweet & spicy panko breadcrumbs
- Toss cut okra into flour mixture – then egg – then panko
- Add in a single layer in air fryer tray
- For best results, spray diced chunks with oil to get golden brown color when done
- Air fry okra at 400º for 12 minutes cooking time
- Open air fryer at halfway mark, shake to toss and spray with oil
Air Fried Frozen Okra
- Add 1/2 bag of frozen okra to air fryer1/2 bag frozen breaded okra
- Air Fry at 400 for 6 minutes
- Open air fryer, shake okra and spritz with olive oil spray
- Air Fry at 400 for 6 more minutes
Claudine says
Thanks for your recipe. I’m going to make this in my air fryer just as soon as I can get to the store to buy some frozen okra! Let me tell you, I am southern born and bred, but I could NEVER get the breading to stay on my fresh okra long enough to fry it! My Mom could, but NOT me, EVER. I gave up long ago trying to use fresh okra and only bought the breaded frozen okra. I know this recipe will be just the thing.
Thank you for sharing. Love your blog!
Claudine in Fort Worth, TX
FoodHussy says
I’m glad you’re excited to try it – I didn’t have any issue with the breading sticking on the fresh with this recipe! Enjoy!
Gwendolyn M Mulholland says
Just wanted to let you know your recipe card is missing the egg in the ingredients list. I am making this for hubby tomorrow and he can’t wait. Don’t have the Hooters breading but am going to add some canjun seasoning to the flour for a little back heat.
FoodHussy says
Sorry about that! I fixed it! Hope you like them!
Carolyn says
I tried this mine was not cooked all the way and not crispy what is the mistake I might have made first time to use
FoodHussy says
Well – I’m not sure what size air fryer you used. You might have overcrowded your air fryer – which would prevent the okra from getting as crispy as you might like because mine were separated with space between for the air to circulate around. And you can always cook a bit longer – so they’re cooked through. But most likely – overcrowding. Hope this helps!
Katherine M says
I did the version with the Kroger breaded okra. I have a toaster oven-style Air Fryer (Kitchen-Aid), and I have noticed consistently that it needs more time than the basket style air fryer. I cooked them longer and bumped temp up to 420 about halfway through, but eventually they came out flavorful and crispy! Thank you for the assurance that I could cook the breaded okra in my air fryer.
FoodHussy says
Glad it worked! I think the oven type might need more time because it’s not as enclosed -maybe the baskets – because they’re a little “tighter” hold heat better? But – again – glad it worked!!!!
Ada Smith says
Orka was mushy.
FoodHussy says
you might have had too much egg or too much okra in the tray and the air wasn’t able to circulate properly – i’ve never had it turn out mushy.
Brenda says
Thanks for the detailed recipe and cooking method. Before I found this I tried cooking frozen beaded okra at 360o for 11 min in my Ninja Foodie Air Fryer. It cooked but didn’t brown or crisp. Fortunately I had only made a small batch. After reading your recipe I bumped temp to 400o, preheated it, put more frozen breaded okra into the basket, sprayed with Canola Oil (because that’s what’s in my pantry) and started the cooking for 6 min. Opened the Foodie, stirred the okra, sprayed again, and cooked another 6 min more. Def much better cooked than at lower temp. Will need to figure out the oil spray a little better, or maybe raise temp. Thanks so much for this recipe
FoodHussy says
Glad it helped! I spray lightly with oil – that helps with the browning –