Too often people can get confused between vegan and vegetarian, and while they may be similar in some aspects, they are not the same. Vegans is opting to eat no animal-based products including all dairy, while vegetarians omit meat and fish but will still consume eggs and dairy or animal by-products.
Choosing to eat vegan may be for health reasons, personal choice, or even just to change up the meal for dinner during the week and to eat something more wholesome and organic, either way, we have you covered.
This great collection of vegan air fryer recipes for midweek meat-free meals will help you not only try new dishes, but to get more veggies into the kids, and to do it in a way that tastes great.
#1. Crispy air fryer cauliflower wings
I love cauliflower, in general, so when I found these air fryer vegan recipes I was over the moon, and with an Asian influence, what could be better? What I loved about this dish was that although it may seem like there are a lot of ingredients, many I already had in the pantry, and the method was so quick and easy.
Simply wash and cut the flower head into florets and coat completely in the mixed batter, I enjoy the rich nutty flavor of the almond milk but you are more than welcome to try it with coconut milk. Then pop them into the air fryer to crisp and get golden while the batter cooks, the brown tinge also adds a nice flavor too.
As they are frying you can make the sauce and once the second batch is done cooking simply toss all the battered florets in the tangy, rich dark sauce to coat evenly. Pile high into a bowl, sprinkle with sesame seeds for a nice pop of color and spring onions and impress the family when you put these on the table.
Great on the side of your main course, or even with a crudité platter for a variation on texture and taste. The kids had great fun (and messy) trying to eat these with chopsticks when I told them they were my Asian cauliflowers. Dinner times with laughter are the best times and isn’t that what life is all about?
We all enjoy a good bowl of creamy or tomato-based pasta to fill the gap, but what you may never have thought about was crisping the pasta. What? Yes, pasta chips are increasing in popularity and are the perfect treat for kids to nibble on throughout the day or have a snack box full of, and they are so much healthier too.
Unlike the generic potato crisps we all know these are made without oil, and air fried rather than deep-fried or baked with oil, and you can use all varieties of pasta shells and colors, shapes, and sizes, and then seasoning a different bowl for each family member if you wish.
You could make a few batches with different flavors to pop onto the table at gathering to pick at while having drinks, or for kids to grab from at parties, there is always an occasion and celebration ready for the pasta crisp.
I made these for the kids but when my hubby got a hold of them he raved about it, and now we make a batch for the adults too with some chili flakes or vegan ranch dressing. So next time you need a quick snack, try these convection oven vegan recipes to fill hungry tummies and save you slaving in the kitchen for hours.
A vegan air fryer recipes option that is ready in under 30 minutes is right up my alley. I always enjoy making quick foods because I don’t, particularly like being in a hot kitchen and even more so during the summer months when it seems like a sauna.
These are perfect to have as part of a crudité platter, as a side dish with dip on the buffet table, or to binge a big bowl while watching your favorite series, and why not. They are effortless to put together even the most beginner of cooking enthusiasts could do it successfully.
Too often we think that veganism means eating veggie sticks and nothing else, but while you do eat more wholesome ingredients, you can certainly get creative with them.
The spices are also so customizable so to add more heat you could always add dried chili flakes to the batter, or more BBQ spice which has been a hit with the kids, and then a homemade sauce for them to dip into them and you have yourself a healthy treat the children have no problem munching on. Win-win.
There is nothing better than having your cake and getting to eat it too, and when you are on a vegan nutritional eating plan you often miss out on the sweet treats because of the egg and milk ingredients, well now, using vegan soy or buttermilk, you can enjoy it just as much as anyone else.
This is why I love making easy vegan air fryer recipes because what was once thought of as impossible, is now easy to do and tastes amazing. The dough method is the same as the traditional recipes with the yeast rising and dough kneading, but without all the naughty ingredients.
And they cook in as quickly as 10-12 minutes, be sure to give them a flip at the halfway mark to get an even and brown coating on all sides. You could opt for plain ones to dust with sugar once they come out or more colorful ones where you can get the kids involved to help with the decorating (and they will be more than happy to go wild with rainbow sprinkles, and some in their mouths no doubt).
Perfect for parties where your child might be the only vegan, you could take a platter with for them to be part of the sweet treat celebrations, and you can be sure the other kids will love them too without realizing they are vegan.
Kids, and my husband if I am being honest, always like to eat something that is fried and crispy and comes with a sauce, they could eat it for every meal if they could get away with it (they cannot in our house), but from time to time I let them have it.
And this is one of those healthy air fryer vegan recipes that is a true crowd-pleaser and never disappoints, there is also never any left for the next day. What I particularly enjoy about this recipe was that the rapid air circulation allowed jack fruit pieces to be golden and crispy on all sides so you weren’t left with one side a bit soggy from the batter.
My children had friends over and we made this and they thought they were eating chicken nuggets which is a compliment in my book, and so we now always make them for school events or to take to friends and families’ homes when visiting.
They are light but filling, and a must-have recipe to add to your collection.
I almost always make some version of these convection oven vegan recipes and the green beans seem to go down so well lately that I have made it twice in one week. They have an Asian influence which I think seals the deal.
Anything smothered in garlic and ginger is a yes in my book so I was overjoyed that the rest of the family loved it too. And every parent knows the joy of seeing their kids enjoying eating vegetables.
This dish is possible to make with frozen green beans although they will take a little longer to cook so be sure to keep an eye on them and lay them in a single layer in the fryer to not overcrowd and cook evenly.
Perfect as a side serving to fluffy rice, on a veggie platter or to serve at a BBQ for people to have a vegan option of veggies rather than the normal (boring) potato salad with mayonnaise.
And because they are made in the air fryer compared to in a pan they have less grease, if any, and will shrivel up into nothing like in the oven.
We make large batches of these in our house all summer long, the kids love it, it’s a great snack for them to chew on before dinner while they are waiting, and it uses only 3 ingredients, what more could you love about a dish?
And fruit is a great natural energy source for kids when usually they would grab something filled with sugar and fructose and unwanted preservatives or additives.
These easy vegan air fryer recipes are perfect for older kids to begin their cooking experience and learning how to make food, meals, and snacks from early on will never go to waste. You simply slice the bananas, put them in a bowl and coat them with the avocado oil and layer them in the air fryer to get crispy and golden, and once they come out place them on a paper towel while you put the next batch into the air fryer.
Sprinkle the chips with kosher salt, we also like to use the pink Himalayan kind to bring out the flavor of the banana and to elevate the overall flavor profile. Store in an air-tight jar to keep fresh, although in our house they rarely last the week.
This is a game-changing food dupe that has seen the kids eating ingredients they would normally run from but covered in a gorgeously light batter, this vegan convection over recipe is one not to miss out on.
It looks exactly like calamari, but it isn’t, and if you don’t tell the kids and they are eating it, then do they need to know? I was planning on telling them after they had cleaned their bowls, but hearing them ask for me to make it again soon, I decided to rather head to the shops to buy more heart of palm.
When the palm heart and whole and you slice them you get the ring effect which you can pop out and then proceed to crumb as usual. Simply coat them in the mustard milk (buttermilk) liquid, toss them in the bread crumbs, and layer them in the air fryer for 10 minutes to get golden and crispy.
Serve them with homemade tomato salsa or a vegan tartare sauce with a lemon wedge and it is the perfect dish for outdoor dining that is light and best of all, not greasy. A winning dish in our house and has been with the rest of the extended family too when they tried them at our last family gathering.
This was certainly not something I ever thought I would be making but here we are. These healthy vegan convection oven recipes were just what the doctor ordered (as they say) and went down as a treat for a breakfast snack.
I made these early in the morning because I had carrots to use up, I knew the day would be non-stop and we would only be back much later, and I half-convinced the kids they were eating bacon (I don’t think it worked, ha). They were so quick to make.
Earlier the evening before I had read the recipe to be sure I would have enough time in the morning for my experiment so I sliced the carrots lengthwise (I used a mandolin but you could use a slicer machine, I tried but I was too scared, or even a knife but I found the mandolin so much quicker and kept everything the same thickness).
The marinade liquid was also prepared in the evening. The next morning I began to semi-marinade the slice in the liquid while carrying on with the rest of the morning chores and then laid the slices into the air fryer to crisp up. And when I went back to check on them I forgot for a second they were carrots, beautiful crispy strips covered in a rich sauced out layer, delicious.
Let’s just say I have a new appreciation for carrots and found a great way to get the kids to eat them without complaining they are tasteless. Who said meat-free meals had to be boring, right?
My family could eat potato wedges for their main meals every day, they love them, but the carb count is not my cup of tea so I only make it every so often, but when I do they are divine.
Potatoes, in general, are vegan but then people ruin them for the vegans by smothering them in butter or topping them with cream, so this olive oil version with plenty of spices was the perfect snack.
Once you have the spuds prepped and placed in the fryer they cook till crispy with a tinged golden color, then you know they are done. But what’s even better is that they are firm and crisp on the outside with a fluffy soft inside so when you bite into them you have comfort food at its best, and they are filling too.
Sprinkle the ready potatoes with a handful of fresh, chopped herbs, and salt and nibble on them for a fuss-free dish that pleases the whole family. And you could make a few batches for some that aren’t salted, or to give to kids with some homemade tomato ketchup, effortlessly delicious.
This easy air fryer vegan recipes dish is just too quick for words, and I only wish I had found it a hundred years earlier, but I guess I was lucky enough to discover it now. We have, as a family, chosen to eat vegan for one or two days during the week to get more wholesome, organic foods into our bodies, and I have been having a lot of fun researching and trying out new dishes.
Fries were my first thought because I know we all love them, but potatoes can be so heavy if you have too many of them, so these were the perfect substitute, and they look similar too.
They need almost no preparation, are done in a matter of minutes and require only a handful of ingredients, I was in shock. But going through the recipe and steps was just that easy, and with minimal effort, it has become a staple in our dinner rotation menu.
Serve with a homemade sauce, a sprinkle of garlic, or regular salt and you have a superb side dish to complement the main course. Win-win.
I found these and have never looked back. That is putting it mildly, but these healthy convection oven vegan recipes are the ultimate meat-free snack food to convince you that non-meat dishes are that good.
The great thing about this dish is that the ingredients are so versatile so you could swap one out for another if there are allergies or the kids don’t enjoy something, and then just add it to the mix to roll in the wrap.
Get a generous amount of filling into the wrap but not so much that when you roll it and it cooks, it starts to pour out the sides because that will just lead to a mess in the air fryer. I like to hold them closed with a toothpick once rolled but this is optional. Brush them with oil once in the fryer and fry till golden, turn them over, and brush again frying for an additional few minutes.
Enjoy with homemade guacamole or with a spicy tomato salsa which is my husband’s favorite. They look great piled into a pyramid on a platter for appetizers for when you have visitors, and as a snack to nibble on while chatting with friends outside around the fire in the summer evenings.
My kids, for some reason, although I am not complaining, love these for breakfast. I know, corn for an early morning bite to eat, is not my first choice, but it’s a veggie and the kids want to eat it so I am making it.
And they look and taste great so they have been a frequent visitor in our house, and best of all, they are budget-friendly so easy on the wallet and on my peace of mind too.
I did enjoy finding out, by accident if I’m being honest, that you can use potato as a binding agent to keep the shape of the fritters. I had some mashed potato left over from the previous evening’s meal and I knew it would go sour if I didn’t think of something to make with it, but it wasn’t enough to have as a whole meal on its own, so these fritters came in handy.
Once everything was mixed and the fritter shapes were ready to place in the fryer, cook till golden flipping halfway through so the rapid air circulation can get to all sides and you have a beautifully evenly cooked dish.
The kids enjoy helping with the shaping go of the fritters so if they are around be sure to get them involved, and it makes for great bonding moments and the kids learn even if you aren’t necessarily ‘teaching’ them. A simple and delicious dish that ticks all the boxes.
This is one ingredient I have been challenged with in my house and while trying out new dishes to convince the family that they are so tasty, they just don’t get it. But I love them so I am persevering.
I saw these on special when I went to the shops the other day so I bought a few packets and was determined to serve them as part of dinner that evening, and I will say, I think it was a success.
They were gorgeously tender, tinged with a dark char that only adds immense flavor which I love, and were ready in no time at all. I washed and chopped them in half, hard ends cut away as well, and then coated them completely in the oil before popping them into the air fryer.
I gave them a good shake at around the 10-minute mark out of the 15 minutes cooking time and they were perfect when I served them with a good sprinkle of salt. If you have some bacon carrots on hand they could be chopped up and sprinkled on top as well for some color and a great addition of texture.
There are so many options and sprouts are surprisingly cheap so I prepped all of it and froze half down for later in the month or for a rainy day, freeze them before cooking.
If you have been looking for the world’s easiest air fryer vegan recipe then stop looking because this is it, and it is done in 10 minutes with 2 ingredients, I mean, it just does not get simpler than that.
I love these.
We always make a few so everyone in the family can have a whole half rather than a quarter, and they are great the next day to spread onto corn tortillas with tomato and stir-fried mushrooms. So many dishes for multiple meals and days all with a humble avocado.
There is no excuse not to get your good fats into your diet with this dish, and it is made in record time so even busy mornings are no match for this dish.
If your kids are anything like mine then they will love eating corn on the cob, but boiling can often take so long and one of my kids doesn’t particularly enjoy it so mushy, so the air fryer was my next option, and now, my only option.
This dish was flawless, with quick preparation, minimal cooking time, and with a spray of avocado oil rather than butter, and seasoning it was even tastier than the traditional boiled method of corn.
I particularly enjoyed seeing these piled high on the serving platter at the last BBQ because they had a great pop of yellow color, with gold-tinged edges that add flavor and texture, and everyone raved about them. They were also surprised when I said they had no butter, and I have since handed out copies of this simple recipe to all my friends and family.
When I buy beetroots I always buy them whole, with the leaves and the bulb this way I get two dishes essentially for the price of one. I use the leaves for a light summer salad and the bulb part is fried in the air fryer for a great texture and delicate on the inside.
What we love (I think mostly me though) is that this dish is so speedy to make, with about 5 minutes of the cooking process, and you have perfectly crisped beetroot wedges to eat as is in a big bowl sprinkled with chopped herbs, or tossed in a salad with tofu and even roasted nuts for added crunch.
When handling the beetroot be sure to wear gloves because the red stain, as lovely as it is, will stain your hands and fingers and does not make for a great look at the office.
Any leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and go great with feta and a drizzle of olive oil if you want a salad that doesn’t have leaves.
This recipe states to serve with cream or ice cream but this is easily left out for vegans rather opt to drizzle the air-fried peach with honey and cinnamon, a beautiful breakfast dish.
Peaches are a great way to enjoy a light meal during the summer and when you make them in the air fryer that added layer of crunch and texture makes it even more delicious and elevates a humble fruit to the next level.
Try this recipe for a vegan-friendly dessert and if you have a peach tree in the back garden you can make this dish essentially for free, if not, peaches are reasonably priced, especially when in season and in abundance.
A quick sweet treat to pop into the fryer for those times when the kids are nagging for sugar-filled processed treats, rather give them this to keep them on a healthy track. Delicious and easy and the whole family raves about it.
The time to get your air fryer out and experiment with new, delicious dishes is now, and with these vegan air fryer recipes for midweek meat-free meals you can’t go wrong.
You can eat healthy, tasty food without all the additives, and have ready snacks and meals in under an hour and even some ready within 30 minutes. Yes, please.
If you like the sound of that then be sure to head to our blog for even more fuss-free recipes and options for yummy, simple food.
Born and raised in South Africa and being immersed in the rich culture, Candace soon found a passion for all things food related. Exploring and experiencing new flavors and taste profiles she pursued her career as a qualified chef in silver service specialized in fine dining.
