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Air fryer frozen vegetables take 15-20 minutes at 400F (200C). Frozen vegetables in air fryer (with oil and seasoning) turn out like fresh roasted veggies, complete with crispy edges. Make my air fryer broccoli recipe and say goodbye to soggy, mushy cooked-from-frozen vegetables forever. This is going to be your new favorite way to cook frozen broccoli, frozen Brussels sprouts, frozen cauliflower, frozen carrots, and other frozen veggies.
OMG, I roasted cauliflower from Frozen, and it came out so good. Thank you so much for this recipe! 
– Sadie
This air fryer frozen veggies recipe is so simple, but it’s also been a bit of a game-changer for me. I’m excited that it has become one of the most popular recipes on the site. I decided to add a recipe video and make this the ultimate guide to air frying frozen veggies.
I’ve been mistreating my frozen vegetables for far too long. Microwaving, steaming, and baking frozen vegetables generally results in a pile of veggie mush.
The air fryer, on the other hand, is the perfect appliance for cooking frozen veggies. Think of an air fryer like a countertop convection oven. That rapid airflow will help dry out the moisture in your frozen vegetables while simultaneously helping them to crisp.
If your love of fresh roasted veggies sends you running to the supermarket more often than you’d like, you need to try air fryer frozen vegetables. It’s the best way to cook frozen vegetables!
⭐ Frozen Vegetables in Air Fryer
Here are the ingredients you need to make air fryer veggies:
- 12-16 ounces frozen vegetables (no thawing required): You could air fry single vegetables or make an air fryer vegetable medley. IMHO, the best frozen vegetables for the air fryer are Brussels sprouts! You can also make frozen mixed vegetables in air fryer, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, air fryer frozen carrots, or try airfrying frozen squash.
- 3 tablespoons cooking oil: My personal preference is to use avocado oil or olive oil in this recipe.
- 1 teaspoon seasoning of your choice: Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning is my favorite seasoning to use for extra flavor. Onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, plus salt and pepper also works!
- Cooking oil spray to mist the air fryer baking trays or basket.
For kitchen equipment, you’ll need a spatula to flip the veggies and an air fryer or air fryer oven. That’s all you need to jump in on this deliciousness!
You can air fry frozen vegetables in the Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot Vortex, Cosori, Philips, Nuwave, Pampered Chef, Actifry, Breville, or other air fryers. However, air fryers cook inconsistently between brands. Check your food early to help ensure you have perfect air fryer recipe results.
➕ How to Air Fry Frozen Vegetables
The technique for cooking any type of frozen vegetable in the air fryer is the same. Here are the step-by-step instructions for frozen veggies in air fryer:
Mist the air fryer basket or rack with oil spray. Then, stir your frozen, unthawed vegetables with cooking oil and sprinkle the veggies with seasoning.
Place the veggies in a single layer on two air fryer racks, or dump them all in the air fryer basket. If you have one of the smallest air fryers, you may want to cook your vegetables in more than one batch to prevent overcrowding. Next, place your frozen veggies in the air fryer.
What temperature do you air fry frozen veggies? Cook frozen veggies at 400F (200C) for 10-12 minutes, then flip or shake the veggies (or switch the position of the racks in an air fryer oven), and air fry for 5-10 minutes more.
Chef’s tip! I don’t recommend trying to cut back on the oil in the recipe! It really helps to turn the frozen veggies into crispy-edged roasted vegetables. You’re welcome to try an oil-free roasting method, but I can’t guarantee that you’ll get good results.
⏲️ How long to cook frozen veggies in an air fryer?
In general, frozen vegetables take about 15-20 minutes to roast in an air fryer. Some air fryers require longer or shorter cooking times, so adjust this general guideline as needed. Additionally, some frozen vegetables will require a longer cooking time than others.
My basic recipe is to air fry frozen veggies for 12 minutes at 400 degrees. Then I switch the racks’ position in the air fryer (my fryer has two racks). I roast the veggies for an additional 8 minutes, making the total cooking time 20 minutes.
Tender, watery veggies (like zucchini) may take a little more time to roast than firmer veggies (like broccoli). Veggies that are chopped into larger pieces may have a longer time than vegetables that were cut smaller.
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables (No more mushy frozen veggies!)
Ingredients
Ingredients for air fryer frozen broccoli:
- 1 lb. frozen broccoli (454 grams; do not thaw)
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (other seasoning blends may be substituted)
- cooking oil spray of choice
Ingredients for air fryer frozen cauliflower:
- 1 lb. frozen cauliflower (454 grams; do not thaw)
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (other seasoning blends may be substituted)
- cooking oil spray of choice
Ingredients for air fryer frozen Brussels sprouts:
- 12-16 ounces frozen Brussels sprouts (340-454 grams; do not thaw)
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (other seasoning blends may be substituted)
- cooking oil spray of choice
Ingredients for air fryer frozen spinach:
- 1 lb. frozen whole leaf spinach (454 grams; do not thaw)
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (other seasoning blends may be substituted)
- cooking oil spray of choice
Ingredients for air fryer frozen okra:
- 12-16 ounces frozen okra, chopped (340-454 grams; do not thaw)
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (other seasoning blends may be substituted)
- cooking oil spray of choice
Ingredients for air fryer frozen butternut squash:
- 12-16 ounces frozen butternut squash, chopped small (340-454 grams; do not thaw)
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (other seasoning blends may be substituted)
- cooking oil spray of choice
Ingredients for air fryer frozen zucchini:
- 1 lb. frozen zucchini, sliced (454 grams; do not thaw; it should be sliced in half lengthwise and cut into ½-inch/1.27 cm thick half moons)
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (other seasoning blends may be substituted)
- cooking oil spray of choice
Instructions
How to make air fryer frozen broccoli:
- Cut the frozen broccoli into smaller pieces if some of the pieces are large. (I did not need to do this.) Lightly mist your air fryer baking racks with the cooking spray.
- Drizzle the frozen broccoli with the oil and sprinkle with the seasoning. Stir to distribute it well.
- Spread the broccoli in a single layer on two air fryer racks, or dump it in the air fryer basket. I used both racks that came with the oven. You may need to cook the broccoli in batches if you have a small air fryer.
- Make sure the drip tray is in place in your air fryer oven. Put the racks in the oven and roast at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes.
- Switch the position of the trays in the oven or shake the air fryer basket. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes. That's it!
How to make air fryer frozen cauliflower:
- Cut the frozen cauliflower into smaller pieces if some of the pieces are large. (I did not need to do this.) Lightly mist your air fryer baking racks with the cooking spray.
- Drizzle the frozen cauliflower with the oil and sprinkle with the seasoning. Stir to distribute it well.
- Spread the cauliflower in a single layer on two air fryer racks or dump it in the air fryer basket. I used both racks that came with the oven. You may need to cook the cauliflower in batches if you have a small air fryer.
- Make sure the drip tray is in place in your air fryer oven. Put the racks in the oven and roast at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes.
- Switch the position of the trays in the oven or shake the air fryer basket. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes.
How to make air fryer frozen Brussels sprouts:
- Lightly mist your air fryer baking racks with the cooking spray.
- Drizzle the frozen Brussels sprouts with the oil and sprinkle with the seasoning. Stir to distribute it well.
- Spread the Brussels sprouts in a single layer on the racks or place it in the air fryer basket. I used both racks that came with the oven. You may need to cook the Brussels sprouts in batches if you have a small air fryer.
- Make sure the drip tray is in place in your air fryer oven. Put the racks in the oven and roast at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes.
- Switch the position of the trays in the oven or shake the air fryer basket. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes.
How to make air fryer frozen spinach:
- Lightly mist your air fryer baking racks with the cooking spray.
- Drizzle the frozen spinach with the oil and sprinkle with the seasoning. Stir to distribute it well.
- Spread the spinach on the air fryer racks or dump it in the air fryer basket. I used both racks that came with the oven. Leave the spinach in frozen clumps for results that are both tender and crispy. Break up the frozen clumps for a spinach side dish that is more crispy.
- Make sure the drip tray is in place in your air fryer oven. Put the racks in the oven and roast at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes.
- Flip and stir the spinach pieces. They may be done at this point. If not, switch the position of the trays in the oven (if applicable). Bake an additional 5-10 minutes.
How to make air fryer frozen okra:
- Lightly mist your air fryer baking racks with the cooking spray.
- Drizzle the frozen okra with the oil and sprinkle with the seasoning. Stir to distribute it well.
- Spread the okra in a single layer on the racks or dump it in the air fryer basket. I used both racks that came with the oven. You may need to cook the okra in batches if you have a small air fryer.
- Make sure the drip tray is in place in your air fryer oven. Put the racks in the oven and roast at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes.
- Switch the position of the trays in the oven or shake the air fryer basket. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes.
How to make air fryer frozen butternut squash:
- Lightly mist your air fryer baking racks with the cooking spray.
- Drizzle the frozen winter squash with the oil and sprinkle with the seasoning. Stir to distribute it well.
- Spread the butternut squash in a single layer on one air fryer racks or dump it in the air fryer basket.
- Make sure the drip tray is in place in your air fryer oven. Put the rack in the top rack position in the oven and roast at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes, stirring and flipping the squash after 12 minutes.
How to make air fryer frozen zucchini:
- Lightly mist your air fryer baking racks with the cooking spray.
- Drizzle the frozen zucchini with the oil and sprinkle with the seasoning. Stir to distribute it well.
- Spread the zucchini in a single layer on two racks or dump it in the air fryer basket. I used both racks that came with the oven. You may need to cook the zucchini in batches if you have a small air fryer.
- Make sure the drip tray is in place in your air fryer oven. Put the racks in the oven and roast at 400°F (200°C) for 12 minutes.
- Switch the position of the trays in the oven and flip the zucchini. Bake an additional 10 minutes.
- Switch the position of the trays in the oven one more time. Roast the zucchini at 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. (Zucchini is very watery, so it can take a little more time than other veggies to get some browning. Just keep checking and stirring it if you have an air fryer basket.)
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). Non-starchy veggies are a low-calorie addition to meals, as long as you limit high-calorie sauces and oils. Consider adding a protein and 1-2 more veggies to your healthy side dish to make it a full meal that may support a weight loss goal. The last time I served air fried frozen broccoli, I accompanied it with oven-roasted potatoes and cauliflower, plus a really delicious pork chop! I went with larger portions of the pork chop and potatoes for a higher energy meal. No matter your dietary preferences and goals, this air fryer roasted vegetables recipe is likely to be a good fit 🙂 Here are some other benefits of this recipe:-
- Increases your vegetable intake: Unfortunately, most Americans are not meeting the Dietary Guidelines recommended intakes for veggies. Make these easy airfryer roast vegetables to give your veggie intake a boost!
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- Rich in phytonutrients and fiber: Vegetables offer a lot more than essential vitamins and minerals that may help optimize your health. The bright colors of veggies indicate a varied array of potentially beneficial phytonutrients. Veggies also provide fiber, a component that will help you feel full from meals.
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- Easy recipe: Seriously, this is a super simple technique for preparing frozen vegetables.
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- Vegan, keto, gluten free, low calorie, dairy free, low carb: Depending on the veggies and seasonings you use, these air fry vegetables will fit your special diet.
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- Helps to extend the time between shopping trips by using more frozen veggies. Save time and save gas that would be spent making extra grocery store trips!
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
🥦 How to cook frozen broccoli in an air fryer
Mist your air fryer racks with cooking spray. Cut the frozen broccoli florets into smaller pieces if any of the pieces are large. Air fryer frozen broccoli will cook more evenly if the pieces are all about the same size.
Mix the broccoli with cooking oil and sprinkle with seasoning. Stir to distribute it well.
Place the drip tray and racks with the broccoli in your air fryer oven. Roast at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes. Then switch the position of the trays and roast an additional 8 minutes.
💡 Making air fryer frozen cauliflower
The technique for air frying frozen cauliflower is exactly like for frozen broccoli.
Mist your air fryer racks with cooking spray and cut your cauliflower into uniform pieces, if needed. Mix the cauliflower with oil and then with seasoning.
Spread the cauliflower in a single layer on your air fryer racks or dump it in the basket. Roast at 400F for 12 minutes. Switch the position of the trays in the oven and roast an additional 8 minutes.
😋 How to make air fryer frozen Brussels sprouts
Air fryer Brussels sprouts are my FAVORITE. They come out of the oven almost burnt looking, but no worries. The way they are super crisp on the outside while remaining tender on the inside is perfection.
Frozen Brussels sprouts take slightly less time in the air fryer than broccoli or cauliflower. However, overall the directions are the same. Mist the air fryer racks with oil, add oil and seasoning to the frozen Brussels sprouts.
Spread the sprouts out in a single layer on the racks and air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Then switch the position of the trays in the air fryer and roast an additional 8 minutes. Voila!
🥬 How to make air fryer frozen spinach
Frozen spinach is not my favorite veggie in general, but it can make a perfectly acceptable side dish when air fried. I use whole leaf frozen spinach for this recipe, not chopped frozen spinach.
Mist your air fryer racks with cooking spray. Put your frozen spinach in a bowl and stir in the oil and seasoning. I feel like the Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning really makes this one.
Spread your spinach out on two air fryer racks. Leave your spinach clumpy for a mixture of tender and crisp spinach. Break up any large, frozen clumps for spinach that is extra crispy.
Air fry the spinach at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Next, toss and stir the spinach and switch the position of the racks in the air fryer. Give your spinach an additional 10 minutes of air frying time at 400F. Bon appetit!
👨🍳 How to make air fryer frozen okra
Frozen okra is the perfect contender for air frying. When you air fry okra, it crisps right up and its characteristic sliminess diminishes.
I used cut frozen okra for this recipe. Give your air fryer racks a spritz of cooking oil spray. Mix the okra with cooking oil and Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (or other seasoning).
Divide your okra between two air fryer racks. It should be in an even layer (not overcrowded). Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes.
Now flip and stir the okra pieces and switch the position of the racks in the air fryer. Air fry the okra for an additional 8 minutes at 400F. That’s how to make okra that is crispy and delicious!
✨ How to make air fryer frozen butternut squash
Frozen butternut squash can be tricky because different brands cut their squash into different sizes. I had the most success air frying butternut squash that was cut relatively small.
You can probably figure out what we’re going to do by now. Mist your air fryer racks with cooking spray, and mix oil and seasoning into the frozen butternut squash.
Spread the squash in a single layer on an air fryer rack and air fry at 400F for 12 minutes in the top rack position. Flip and stir the squash. Roast the squash for 8 more minutes.
That’s it for the squash, but maybe not quite. What happens if you overcook the squash, leaving it too dry on the outside? I have a super easy fix for this.
If you accidentally overcook frozen vegetables in the air fryer, try stirring in a little pesto. You can use your favorite brand of pesto, or try this carrot leaves recipe for pesto.
The air fried butternut squash in the photos was overcooked a bit. (Whoops!) Luckily, pesto saved the day and morphed the dry squash into a fantastic side dish.
Now if anyone asks, “Can you air fry frozen vegetables?” you know the answer – heck yes! You’ll be so glad that you tried it!
👩🏻🍳 Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Now that your air fryer side dishes are taken care of, here are some main dishes to serve with them:
👪 FAQs
What vegetables can you not cook in an air fryer?
The only vegetables I would not air fry are those I prefer to eat raw, such as lettuce. Other than that, you can make any fresh or frozen veg in an air fryer! (If you’re having trouble air frying a certain veggie, drop me a comment. I’d love to help!)
Are air fried vegetables healthy?
Yes, I would say that air fried vegetables are healthy (unless you drown your air fried veggies in added oil). Air frying frozen vegetables yields similar results (nutritionally and texture-wise) to cooking them in a convection oven.
Can you cook frozen foods in an air fryer?
As I’ve demonstrated above, you can cook frozen vegetables in the air fryer. However, you shouldn’t stop there! A large assortment of frozen foods can be cooked in an air fryer.
Are you wondering what sorts of foods you can air fry from the freezer? Frozen meats, frozen pizza, frozen egg rolls, and frozen hash browns are good air frying contenders.
Can frozen vegetables be thawed and eaten raw?
No, you should not eat frozen vegetables raw. Frozen veggies should be cooked before eating. My packages of frozen vegetables say, “For food safety and best product quality, cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.”
Cooking frozen veggies can help prevent certain types of foodborne illnesses, particularly listeriosis. It’s tempting to throw uncooked, thawed frozen vegetables in salads and smoothies; I’ve been guilty of this. However, it’s better to take the precautionary measure to cook them first.
Can you freeze vegetables that have been previously frozen and thawed?
According to the USDA, it is fine to refreeze thawed food without cooking or heating. Just make sure not to refreeze any vegetables left out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.
Are frozen vegetables as healthy as fresh (non-frozen) vegetables?
I would consider this frozen vegetables air fryer recipe as healthy as fresh vegetables in terms of nutrition. Frozen vegetables are often picked and frozen at peak ripeness. Fresh vegetables may (sometimes) experience greater nutrient losses than frozen if shipped long distances or stored at suboptimal temperatures.
Additionally, frozen veggies may have additional advantages over fresh veggies in terms of seasonal availability, price, and storage. I would not avoid frozen vegetables due to a misconception that fresh vegetables are always healthier. Instead, choose a mix of fresh and frozen vegetables based on availability and your household’s needs.
🥕 More Air Fryer Vegetables Recipes
If you’re looking for other air fryer vegetable recipes, you’ve come to the right place. I love cooking both frozen and fresh vegetables in my air fryer! Here are some of my favorite air fryer recipes using fresh veggies:
- Air Fryer Whole Carrots
- Air Fryer Jicama
- Easy Tempeh Bolognese Sauce over Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
- Air Fryer Radishes – Loaded! (Low-carb, Keto)
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash
- Frozen Diced Hash Browns in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
You may also enjoy this recipe for air fryer frozen green beans.
Have you ever tried air fryer frozen vegetables? If not, why not start with my recipe for air fryer broccoli, air fryer cauliflower, air fryer butternut squash, or air fryer Brussels sprouts? Give them a whirl and drop me a comment to let me know how it turns out!
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
I did the frozen spinach, 15 minutes at 390F, and it was dried out beyond edibility.
Hi Jim, if you’re only cooking spinach on one air fryer tray or a single air fryer basket, I would try 10 minutes. The recipes above cooked on two racks will take significantly longer. The amount of spinach you use and your particular air fryer brand/type can also impact cooking times.
OMG, I roasted cauliflower from Frozen, and it came out so good. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Hi Sadie, So glad you liked it! Thank you for leaving feedback!
Hello! We have the Instant Vortex Plus that has air fry and roast setting. You mention in the instructions to “roast” for set time, are you using the air fry or roast option? Thanks!
Hi Samantha, this recipe is for the “air fry” setting. Sorry for the confusion! I hope you enjoy your veggies 🙂
Who has time for the walls of chatty text? I consider myself a pretty good skimmer, But I saw a new way to quickly jump to the recipe without scrolling and scrolling
Hello, there’s no need to scroll if you choose not to- just click on the “Jump to Recipe” button right at the top. Some of my posts are reviews rather than recipes, and those don’t have the button of course. Hope that helps, and thanks for visiting 🙂
wow. It’s definitely worth a try! Thanks
What do you mean by “switch the position of the racks?” Never mind. You have 2 trays. Mine only has one. Thanks!
Yes, my fryer has 2 trays! I try to remember to link to the air fryer I use in each of my posts because I know they are all different. Thank you for visiting!
Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Sounds yummy!
Yummy and low-carb friendly too! 😀 Thanks for stopping by!
That is a pretty nifty way, Summer, of getting around current difficulties in buying fresh vegetables, or at least in doing so as frequently as we once did.
Cooking vegetables still is something of a novel experiment (for me, at least), as I eat most of them raw, in salads.
How does using an air fryer compare to methods involving constant agitation, as in stir-fry or saute? Just wonder if there’s a practical way to replicate the effect in an air fryer without having to use a skillet or a wok, not to mention appreciable amounts of butter or oil.
Do you happen to have a convection oven? That should work just like the air fryer does. I’ve made many stir-fries with frozen mixed veggies and I wouldn’t say they turn out like this. On the bright side, the addition of a stir-fry sauce seems to make the texture differences matter a bit less!
More air fryer magic! Love that you don’t need to thaw the broccoli! Thanks for the great post!
Thank you! This recipe is definitely easy