21 irresistible air fryer appetizers that disappear fast

No longer. Prep these easy appetizer recipes, and let the air fryer do the rest. They’re guaranteed to be the hit of any party.

In this post:

Crispy vegan onion rings are battered and coated in panko. Then they’re air fried until crispy for a delicious, classic appetizer.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Barbecue sauce, spicy chili crisp dipping sauce, or vegan sriracha mayonnaise

Reader feedback: "Sooo good!! Thank you so much for the recipe."

Air fried potato peels are one of those genius, two-for-one snacks. You get the main part of the potato for mashed potatoes or potato salad. But then you get the skins for a light, crispy treat that’s perfect for dunking.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Onion & garlic salad dressing, vegan sour cream, or vegan ranch dressing

Reader feedback: "These were so tasty! I normally don’t peel potatoes, but sometimes I need to make smooth mashed potatoes. I’ve always hated throwing away the peels. This is a great way to use them, and so easy!"

Smoky air fryer baba ganoush is like hummus' eggplant-y cousin, and it can be served all the same ways as its chickpea-based brethren. (It’s also a terrific addition to a mezze platter.)

Serving suggestions: Air fryer pita chips and/or air fryer falafel

Reader feedback: "Made this baba ganoush tonight served in pita bread with roast vegetables. It was amazing and so easy to make. Will definitely make it again." 

Whether you’re having kids at your party or just folks who are young at heart, vegan pigs in a blanket are sure to please.

Veggie dogs are wrapped in pop-style crescent roll dough, sprinkled with Better Than Bagel seasoning, and air fried until golden.

Serving suggestions: Vegan honey mustard, vegan Thousand Island dressing, or no cook BBQ sauce

Reader feedback: "These are so easy to make and my kids love them! I love the addition of Everything But the Bagel seasoning."

Having a party that’s a little more elevated? Enter vegan arancini.

They’re perfect for making ahead of time, as the base is cold leftover risotto. It’s formed into balls, rolled in breadcrumbs, and then air fried until brown.

Wonderfully decadent, the crisp exterior gives way to a warm, melty interior that’s downright heavenly.

Serving suggestions: Warmed marinara and fried sage leaves for garnish

Reader feedback: "So good. We like these every bit as much as the ones our favorite Italian restaurant makes."

If your guests love briny flavors, they’re sure to devour these fried artichoke hearts. Crispy on the outside and tender inside, they’re a step outside the ordinary.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Garlic and lemon aioli (included in artichoke recipe) or vegan lemon dill sauce

Reader feedback: "These should be served at restaurants!"

Turn a simple tube of prepared polenta into crave-worthy air fryer polenta fries.

By cutting the cornmeal cake into fry shapes, seasoning it, and popping it in the air fryer, you get a wonderfully dunkable appetizer.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Barbecue sauce, marinara, or chipotle black bean dip

Reader feedback: "These are so good. A nice alternative to french fries. Very easy to make in the air fryer."

Crunchy asparagus fries are ideal for spring get-togethers. The delicate spears are coated in panko breading and air fried until golden.

Dipping sauce suggestion: Spicy chili crisp dipping sauce, creamy onion and garlic dressing, or vegan sriracha mayo

Reader feedback: "We have been enjoying asparagus at our house often lately and this variation is a crowd favorite for sure!"

Fried zucchini is wonderfully crisp and dunkable once breaded and air fried. It’s toasty on the outside and tender in the middle.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Vegan ranch dressing, creamy onion & garlic dressing, or spicy chili crisp dipping sauce

Reader feedback: "I love making these in the air fryer! This a great way to enjoy zucchini."

Beer battered pickles always win raves. They get beautifully crisp in the air fryer with an addictive amount of salt, tanginess, and crunch.

For easy party prep, make them ahead of time and then just reheat in the air fryer. This delectable air fryer appetizer is a guaranteed hit.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Vegan ranch dressing, vegan sriracha mayonnaise, creamy onion & garlic dressing, vegan dill pickle dip (for maximum pickle flavor)

Reader feedback: "These are so much fun to make and seriously addictive."

Attention spicy food lovers, you’ve got to make these vegan jalapeño poppers for your next party.

Stuffed with vegan cream cheese, coated in panko breadcrumbs, and air fried, they’re the perfect combo of creamy, crispy, and spicy.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Vegan ranch dressing or onion and garlic salad dressing

Reader feedback: “These were so simple and yet so tasty!”

Perfectly golden air fryer summer squash is coated in batter and panko, seasoned, and air fried. It’s a delicious appetizer that always wows.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Vegan onion & garlic dressing, vegan ranch dressing, spicy chili crisp dipping sauce, or cocktail sauce

Tofu satay is a protein-packed, flavorful appetizer that’s filled with the flavors of coconut milk, garlic, lime, and curry.

Plus, since it’s served on a stick, your guests will have a hand free for cocktails.

Dipping sauce suggestion: Peanut sauce

Reader feedback: "Both the marinade for the tofu and the dipping sauce were excellent. I will definitely be making this on a regular basis."

Restaurant-style vegan toasted ravioli feels fancy, but it’s easy to make using fresh or frozen dairy-free ravioli. Seasoned with basil and oregano, it’s ready to eat in under 25 minutes.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Warmed marinara, vegan pesto, cocktail sauce, or vegan ranch dressing

Reader feedback: “I saw this recipe and thought it looks so delicious and couldn’t wait to try it. What a fantastic bonus when it turned out to be a favorite of my husband's too. I’ve made it at least 10 times now.”

Breaded air fryer green beans are a tasty alternative to french fries. Coated in batter and seasoned panko, who knew green beans could feel so decadent?

Dipping sauce suggestions: Spicy chili crisp dipping sauce, creamy onion and garlic dressing, vegan sriracha mayo, or vegan ranch dressing

Air fryer gnocchi is an easy appetizer to prepare, thanks to store-bought shelf stable gnocchi. This seasoned gnocchi gets beautifully crispy in the air fryer.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Warmed marinara, onion & garlic veggie dip, cilantro chimichurri sauce, or cilantro basil pistachio pesto 

Reader feedback: "This is a great snack or side dish! I love finding new reasons to use our air fryer."

Vegan fried shrimp is made with bite-sized hearts of palm pieces. These delectable bites are coated in seasoned panko breadcrumbs, and air fried until beautifully crisp.

Dipping sauce suggestion: Homemade cocktail sauce

Reader feedback: "Thank you so much for this recipe. My husband doesn’t even like real shrimp, and he said they were so good, it didn’t even need a sauce."

If you love umami, heat, and crunch, you’ve got to make a batch of chili crisp Brussels sprouts.

Ready from start to finish in 20 minutes, they get perfectly browned and tender in the air fryer.

Reader feedback: "These are perfectly crispy and delicious Brussels Sprouts!"

Make your guests swoon with vegan fried olives. A delicious mix of briny and cheesy, they are hand-stuffed with non-dairy feta, breaded, and air fried.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Lemon garlic aioli or vegan ranch dressing

Reader feedback: "This recipe is a winner!”

Light and flaky vegan crab cakes are made with a mixture of artichoke hearts and chickpeas. These air fried cakes are an elegant starter that immediately reads as fancy.

Dipping sauce suggestions: Vegan lemon-dill caper sauce, cocktail sauce, sriracha mayo, or vegan hollandaise

Reader feedback: "Excellent recipe. Easy to put together and the taste and texture is perfection. I used my air fryer and they turned out great. This will become a regular in our household."

This crispy gochujang Brussels sprouts appetizer packs a wallop of flavor.

The sauce gets in all of the Brussels sprouts' nooks and crannies. It’s an entirely craveable dish that keeps you going back for another bite.

Reader feedback: "This was FANTASTIC!!!! The perfect blend of head, umami, and tang."

This brightly colored hummus gets its vibrant hue from air fried beets. Even people who don’t typically love beets are won over by this beet hummus recipe.

Serving suggestions: Air fryer pita chips, focaccia, olive bread, or crunchy veggies.

Reader feedback: "Beautiful recipe, thanks. Beet hummus is in my top two favorite hummus recipes. Followed the recipe to the letter. This needs no tweaks. When delicious and nutritious is enhanced by the beauty of the dish, what more could one ask? Many thanks!"