Air fryer fennel gets roasted to perfection in the air fryer. It's a delicious side dish that has such a unique flavor. Pair it with a squeeze of lemon juice or an orange honey drizzle.
Every single time I buy fennel I always have to ask myself why I don't buy it more. It's such a fun vegetable! Those layers are gorgeous. The flavor is amazing. And it's just so easy to cook.
And lately? I've loved roasting it in my air fryer. It makes such a delicious side dish. It's fantastic paired with salmon, chicken, steak, or even turkey if you make it for Thanksgiving!
And it's easy. Simply slice the fennel into wedges, toss with olive oil and seasonings, and then pop into the air fryer until tasty and caramelized.
Ingredients:
- Fennel bulb
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh lemon juice (optional)
What is fennel?
Fennel is a root vegetable that can be eaten either raw or cooked. It has an anise-like flavor that pairs well with citrus.
When is fennel in season?
Fennel bulbs are in season from fall to early spring (in the US). They are delicious roasted in those fall months or served sliced thinly and raw in salads as the weather turns a bit warmer.
When buying fennel, it should be firm and whiteish-green. All parts of the fennel can be eaten, from the bulb to stalks to fronds.
How to customize:
The air fryer fennel can be customized depending on what flavor profile you are craving. Here's a few ideas:
- Toss with some chopped fresh dill before air frying
- Add dried thyme or dried oregano
- Toss with a little garlic powder before cooking
- Add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat
Serving suggestions:
This air fryer fennel is delicious in so many ways! I love serving with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness. Orange and fennel are also a match made in heaven, so the air fryer fennel would be delicious drizzled with a little orange and honey glaze.
And the fennel pairs well with fish, chicken, or steak! I love it with this air fryer honey mustard salmon, these air fryer lemony chicken thighs, or air fryer brown sugar salmon.
My husband loves slicing up the fennel and adding to salads! He says is adds such a nice heartiness and a delicious flavor.
Recipe tips:
- Fennel layers can fall apart if you cut off the very bottom part of the bulb. Try to leave as much intact as possible, and be gentle when tossing with the olive oil.
- All air fryers cook differently. Check frequently to see if fennel is cooked to your liking.
How to make air fryer fennel:
Take the fennel bulb and cut off any stalks and fronds, so you're left with the bulb section. Slice the bulb into 8 wedges.
Place the fennel wedges in a large bowl. Add olive oil, salt, and ground black pepper. Very gently toss to coat.
Place fennel wedges in the air fryer basket in a single layer. (note - I used air fryer parchment paper, but you do not need to use parchment paper).
Air fry the fennel, flipping halfway through, until roasted to perfection.
Serve with lemon juice if desired and enjoy!
Like this air fryer recipe? Try these!
Air Fryer Fennel
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 fennel bulb
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Take your fennel and slice off any stalks and fronds, if needed.
- Slice the fennel bulb into 8 wedges. Add to a large bowl.
- Add the olive oil, and a sprinkling of salt and pepper to the bowl. Gently toss to combine.
- Add the fennel wedges in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 380 for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
- Remove from the air fryer and serve as desired!
Notes
- Fennel layers can fall apart if you cut off the very bottom part of the bulb. Try to leave as much intact as possible, and be gentle when tossing with the olive oil.
- All air fryers cook differently. Check frequently to see if fennel is cooked to your liking.
- If using a larger fennel bulb, you may need to slice into more pieces (than the recommended 8) to make them smaller for roasting so they cook through properly.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
Eva
If boil mine first then sir fry
Denise Orr
Braised fennel needs long, slow cooking to make it properly soft and juicy. I tried this, following the instructions in your recipe, because I love braised fennel...but although it came out nicely browned and looked appetising on the outside - just like your photos - it was still absolutely raw on the inside; tough and practically inedible on the inside. If I do it again I would have to cook the fennel in the microwave first, or revert to the old-fashioned conventional oven or stove-top methods.
Aimee
Yes, this would be more like roasted fennel and not braised fennel. Braised fennel is delicious, I agree! But hard to do fennel like that in the air fryer. I think the microwave option is a good one to make it more tender if the goal is braised fennel, or just cook in the oven or on the stove in this case.