Air fryer mushrooms are a delicious, umami-rich side dish that’s a little crispy around the edges and tender inside.
Seasoned with garlic, thyme, rosemary, and a splash of balsamic, they are easy to prepare in about 15 minutes.
One of the things I like most about my air fryer is how it simplifies my everyday meals. Great for hands-off cooking, I can tend to other dinner components while the air fryer does the rest.
This is especially true for easy air fryer side dishes like roasted mushrooms with garlic and herbs. The air fryer gets cremini or button mushrooms beautifully browned and toasty with a succulent center.
They’re seasoned with balsamic vinegar for tang, minced garlic for savory flavor, and dried herbs for warmth.
Air fryer roasted mushrooms take just 15 minutes start to finish, making them ideal for busy weeknights. (They go perfectly with a simple but hearty meal like artichoke pesto pasta and garlic bread.)
In this post:
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe.
Mushrooms: Cremini mushrooms have a deeper flavor, but white button mushrooms work just as well. Look for mushrooms that are firm, plump, and dry with no signs of spoilage.
Avocado oil: Oil works as a carrier for the seasonings and helps with browning. For easy coverage, I like to use oil spray, but the liquid version is fine too. (Simply pour it over the mushrooms in a bowl and toss to combine.)
Balsamic vinegar: This adds a bright, tangy acidity that balances, lifts, and sharpens the richness of the mushrooms. Just a splash makes the mushrooms taste more vibrant.
Seasonings: Dried rosemary, dried thyme, and salt.
Garlic: To help the garlic infuse into the marinade, use a garlic press or zester grater. If you don’t have those gadgets, mince finely.
Step by step instructions
This section shows how to make this recipe at a glance with process photos of the steps. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.
1. Clean the mushrooms with a damp cloth to remove any dirt. Then cut large mushrooms into quarters and smaller mushrooms in half for roughly equal sized pieces.
2. Put the mushrooms into the air fryer basket. Spray with oil, add a pinch of salt, and air fry at 400 degrees for 8 minutes, stopping once to shake the basket for even air frying.
Remember: Every air fryer runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own air fryer. Adjust as needed.
3. While the mushrooms cook, combine the following in a mixing bowl:
- Balsamic vinegar
- Dried thyme
- Dried rosemary
- Garlic
Then transfer the air fried mushrooms to the mixing bowl, add another spray of oil, and use a large spoon to combine, evenly coating the mushrooms.
To mince the garlic, I like to use a Microplane zester or garlic press. It makes the garlic almost like a paste, which means better dispersion & absorption of flavor.
4. Transfer the mushrooms back to the air fryer. Air fry another 2 to 4 minutes, until golden brown and a little crisp on the edges. Transfer to a serving dish, taste, and add another pinch of salt, if necessary.
Make it your own
You can make these air fried cremini mushrooms your own by varying the ingredients:
- Replace avocado oil with any neutral-flavored cooking oil
- Use red wine vinegar instead of balsamic
- Use granulated garlic instead of freshly minced
- Replace dried thyme and rosemary with your favorite Italian seasoning blend
Serving suggestions
Beautifully browned air fryer mushrooms are a delicious side dish with any of the following main courses:
- Stuffed vegan acorn squash with sausage and apple
- Vegan eggplant parmesan sandwich
- Crispy vegan schnitzel
- Air fryer vegan stuffed peppers with rice
- Baked tofu with lemon and rosemary
- Mini vegetable pot pies with chickpeas
- Baked farro with tomatoes and herbs
- Seitan piccata
- Mediterranean pasta with tomatoes and vegan feta
Storage & reheating instructions
Store leftover mushrooms in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep for about 3 days.
Reheat in the air fryer, microwave, or warm pan with a little oil. If they've dried out at all, add another spritz of oil and/or splash of balsamic.
If you try this recipe and love it, let me know! Leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It truly makes my day and is such a help!
📖 Recipe
Air fryer mushrooms with garlic and herbs
Ingredients
- 8 ounces mushrooms cremini or white button
- Spritz of avocado oil spray plus more as needed
- Pinch of salt plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 cloves garlic minced, grated, or pressed
Instructions
- Clean mushrooms with a damp cloth. Then cut large mushrooms into quarters and smaller mushrooms in half.
- Put the mushrooms into the air fryer basket, and spray them with oil, and add a pinch of salt. Air fry at 400 degrees for 8 minutes, stopping once to shake the basket for even air frying.
- In a mixing bowl, combine balsamic vinegar, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and garlic. (For the garlic, I like to use a garlic press or zester style grater, so that it's almost paste-like & easy to combine with the other ingredients.)
- Move the air fried mushrooms to the mixing bowl, add another spray of oil, and use a large spoon to combine the mushrooms with the vinegar mixture.
- Transfer the mushrooms back to the air fryer. Air fry another 2 to 4 minutes, until golden brown and a little crisp on the edges.
- Once the air fryer mushrooms are done, transfer to a serving dish. Taste, and add another pinch of salt, if needed.
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