These Air Fryer Breaded Mushrooms are irresistibly crunchy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and seasoned to perfection. They’re perfect as a snack or appetizer—delivering restaurant-quality flavor while being healthy with no oil!
Crispy breaded mushrooms are one of my favorite restaurant starters. They’re deep-fried to perfection, with a crunchy exterior that gives way to a tender, melt-in-your-mouth mushroom.
However, I wanted to create a homemade version without deep frying. I relied on my trusted breading technique, as I used in the air fried eggplant parmesan to achieve a crispy, crunchy exterior in the air fryer, resulting in a healthier appetizer or snack. It's perfect for game days, holidays, or as a nutritious snack for the family.
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Why you'll love it?
- Crunchy with juicy interior
- Light and crispy breading
- Perfectly seasoned
- Almost no oil
- Easy breading procedure
- Perfect appetizer, starter or snack
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Mushrooms - I prefer using small white button mushrooms, but baby bellas work wonderfully too. Just give them a quick rinse, pat them dry thoroughly, and trim the stems slightly.
- Panko breadcrumbs – Japanese-style panko breadcrumbs provide an exceptional crunch. I like to briefly process them in a dry grinder or mini food processor, which helps them adhere better to the mushrooms.
- All purpose flour - Just a tablespoon helps thicken the egg batter and ensures that the breading adheres perfectly.
- Seasoning - I used basic pantry staples like garlic powder, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Feel free to customize with your favorite seasoning blend!
- Parmesan - Just like the panko breadcrumbs, processing the parmesan cheese in a food processor ensures an even coating.
How to make crispy breaded mushrooms in air fryer?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
Proo tip: I recommend processing both the parmesan and panko breadcrumbs in a mini food processor or small blender for a few seconds before using it in the recipe. This ensures a more uniform coating.
Tip: Dip each mushroom individually into the wet batter. If you dunk several at once, they can release moisture, which may dilute the egg batter.
Step 7 - Cook in a preheated 400 degree air fryer for about 10 minutes.
Pro tip - Don't overcrowd the air fryer! Arrange the mushrooms in a single layer, leaving some space around each one to allow hot air to circulate. This helps achieve that perfect crispy texture.
Sauces to pair
I typically serve air fryer breaded mushrooms as a snack, but they also make excellent appetizers or starters. They pair beautifully with red sauces like marinara or arrabbiata.
For added flavor, a garlicky dip such as garlic aioli or garlic parmesan sauce works wonderfully. In a pinch, simple options like ranch dressing, honey mustard, chipotle sauce, or tzatziki sauce are also great choices!
Recipe tips
- Choose mushrooms of similar size to ensure they cook evenly.
- Dip each mushroom individually into the wet batter. If you dunk several at once, they can release moisture, which may dilute the egg batter.
- Using your hands, firmly press the breadcrumb mixture onto all sides of each mushroom. This helps it adhere better and creates a thicker coating.
- Process the panko and parmesan in a mii food processor, which will help give an even coating.
- Don't overcrowd the basket. I used a 6-quart Instant Vortex air fryer and found that half a pound of mushrooms fit perfectly in one batch.
More mushroom recipes
Air Fryer Breaded Mushrooms
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ pound mushrooms
Dry ingredients
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
Wet batter
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Clean the mushrooms with a vegetable brush or a kitchen towel—avoid washing them with water. It's essential that they are completely dry and trim the stems slightly as needed.
- Optional step - Process the panko and parmesan in a mini food processor or a dry grinder for a few seconds, which will help give an even coating.
- Place all dry ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk all the wet ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
- Working with one mushroom at a time, dip it into the wet batter and gently toss to ensure an even coating. Allow any excess batter to drip off, then place the mushroom into the breadcrumb mixture.Tip: If you dunk several at once, they can release moisture, which may dilute the egg batter.
- Using your hands, firmly press the breadcrumbs onto all sides of the mushroom to ensure they adhere well and create a satisfying crunch.
- Pre heat air fryer at 400°F. Place the mushrooms into the air fryer basket, spacing evenly and spray a generous coating of cooking spray.
- Cook for about 10 minutes or until they are a deep golden brown. I like to spritz them with cooking spray again around the 5-minute mark for an extra crispiness.
- Enjoy hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
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