Air Fryer Mushrooms
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Air fryer mushrooms are the side dish I lean on when dinner needs a vegetable fast, since they’re ready in under half an hour and cook mostly on their own while I finish the main course. The circulating hot air gives them crispy, golden edges and tender, garlicky centers with just one quick shake of the basket.
It’s official, cooking mushrooms in the air fryer is the best way to prepare them. Why? Because air frying mushrooms is faster than oven roasting or making stovetop sautéed mushrooms. There’s less to cleanup, and they use less oil, which is why this garlic mushrooms recipe is a favorite of mine.
It’s for these same reasons I absolutely love cooking eggs, zucchini, sweet potato fries, and even pork tenderloin in my air fryer!
Why This Recipe is a Family Favorite
This recipe wins over mushroom skeptics! Before you rule out the idea of air fryer mushrooms, give them a try. The rich, buttery bites change minds, even for people who usually push mushrooms to the side of their plate.
Learn how to cook anything in your air fryer with our free cook time chart!
Even better, this air fryer mushrooms recipe uses only three ingredients, and they’re all pantry staples! This means, you likely already have what you need to make a batch tonight without a trip to the store.
The recipe works with any mushroom variety, which makes them easy on the budget. Just buy whatever’s on sale!
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my important mom-tested cooking tips for making this garlic mushrooms recipe! I’ve made this countless times, so I can save you from a failed attempt.
- Cut evenly sized pieces. Larger mushrooms need more cooking time than small ones. Halve most of them and quarter any especially large ones so everything finishes at the same time, instead of some pieces overdone and others underdone.
- Don’t skip the preheat. Even if your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting, turn it on and give it about five minutes. Mushrooms that land in a hot basket start browning right away instead of sitting there releasing liquid.
- Dry them well. If you rinse your mushrooms, pat them completely dry before tossing them with oil. Extra water steams the mushrooms and keeps them from browning.
- Start with fresh mushrooms. The fresher the mushrooms, the better the flavor and texture. Look for firm caps without slimy or dark, wet spots.
- A little touching is okay. Mushrooms shrink down so quickly that some crowding won’t hurt, as long as they’re in one layer. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, cook them in batches.
Ingredients
You’ll want to add these ingredients to your grocery shopping list:
I always pick up a package of baby Bella mushrooms (sometimes labeled as cremini) on my weekly grocery run, and white button mushrooms are a close second. Honestly, this method should work well with any type of mushroom you like.
Using fresh garlic or frozen garlic is my preference, but garlic powder works if that’s what you have on hand. Just know, if you are using dried garlic, you won’t need very much—about one-third of the amount of fresh garlic the recipe calls for.
The oil is where you can match the mushrooms to the rest of dinner. I use sesame oil when the main dish has Asian flavors, like beef and broccoli stir fry. I go with olive oil for Italian or American meals, like grilled bruschetta chicken. Avocado oil works great too.
For a little extra flavor, toss in a splash of balsamic vinegar or coconut aminos with the oil. Then finish with a sprinkle of green onions or fresh parsley.
How to Make Air Fryer Mushrooms
The air fryer cooks with convection, which makes it a fantastic tool for anything you like a little crispy without a lot of oil. Learn more about air frying and print my Air Fryer Cook Times Chart!
For the full instructions, see the recipe card! ⬇️
Jump to Recipe
- Prep the mushrooms. While the air fryer preheats, slice the mushrooms in half and mince the garlic. Toss them in a bowl with the oil, salt, and pepper until everything is coated.
- Add them to the basket. Pour the seasoned mushrooms and garlic into the hot air fryer basket.
- Shake and finish. Shake the basket partway through, then keep cooking until the mushrooms are browned and cooked through. Garnish with green onions or parsley and serve!
Make it kid friendly: Let the kids pick the flavor! Set out the sesame oil and the olive oil and let them choose between the Asian and Italian versions. Tossing the mushrooms with a big spoon is a great job for little helpers too, since there’s no knife involved.
What to Serve with Garlic Mushrooms
These go great next to air fryer tilapia, cranberry chicken, or a juicy air fryer filet mignon (my favorite steak!). They make a tasty burger topping too!
Air Fryer Mushrooms Recipe FAQs
Many people say not to wash mushrooms because they absorb water and will get soggy. Not true! Well, not completely true. Mushrooms were built to resist water, but their gills (the underside of the mushroom cap) do absorb water.
Compared to other mushrooms, portabella (or baby portabella in this case) mushrooms will absorb a moderate amount of water, but only when submerged.
I recommend giving your mushrooms a quick brush with moist paper towels, or rinse them quickly under a stream of water, then pat them dry. Alternately, you can use a mushroom brush to gently brush and wash them! Whichever you prefer is A-okay!
Yes! Small button or baby bella mushrooms can go in whole. Plan on a few extra minutes of cook time, and check that they’re tender all the way through before serving.
You can! Sliced mushrooms cook faster and get extra crispy. Start checking them early so they don’t dry out.
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container, or to a bowl tightly covered with plastic wrap. Store them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. I do not recommend freezing cooked mushrooms.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F, then add leftovers to the air fryer basket. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until heated through and beginning to crisp up again.
After you make this recipe, please give it a star rating below and comment to let me know how it went!
Air Fryer Mushrooms
Video
Ingredients
Garlic Mushrooms
- 16 ounces baby bella mushrooms
- 1.5 Tablespoons oil of choice see variations below
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic
Asian-Inspired Variation, all optional
- 1 Tablespoon coconut aminos
- 1.5 Tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 green onions sliced
Italian-Inspired Variation, all optional
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1.5 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley minced
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, turn to 400 degrees and wait about 5 minutes for it to come to temperature.
- Meanwhile, cut the mushrooms in half and mince the garlic.
- Add the 16 ounces baby bella mushrooms, 1.5 Tablespoons oil of choice, ¼ teaspoon salt, and 2 cloves garlic (minced) to a large bowl. If using the optional 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar or 1 Tablespoon coconut aminos, add that in as well. Mix well to coat the mushrooms with the oil and seasonings.
- Once the air fryer is hot, pour the seasoned mushrooms into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Although the mushrooms may touch (they'll shrink a lot during cooking), be careful not to overcrowd the basket too much.
- Close the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes, then stop to gently shake the basket or use a spatula to turn them. Air fry again for another 5-7 minutes, checking near the end of the cook time to make sure they aren’t overcooking.
- Transfer the cooked mushrooms to a serving bowl or dish, garnish with 2 green onions or 1 teaspoon fresh parsley (if using), and serve!
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
2026 Update: This recipe is still a favorite of ours! It's been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and include extra cooking tips. We hope you love it as much as we do!
