Made from just four ingredients, these Air Fryer Oyster Mushrooms can be enjoyed as a savory snack, a flavorful appetizer, a complementary side dish, or a versatile addition to any dish. It’s a plant-based delight guaranteed to win over everyone, even those skeptical of mushrooms.
I’ve got this air-fried oyster mushroom recipe that’s a game-changer. Seriously, it’s like vegetarian chicken wings. You’ll end up making it all the time and wishing you’d made more.
They’re super quick to make, awesome as a snack or a side. Throw in some dried onions and fresh garlic, and you’ve got yourself some seriously tasty mushrooms.
They’re great for anyone looking to cut down on meat—they’ve got a meaty texture and with some panko or breadcrumbs, you might even trick yourself into thinking you’re eating chicken.
One of the best things is you can make a bunch at once and keep them in the fridge. They last a few days, so you can easily reheat them for a quick wrap or taco.
Even my friends and family who usually steer clear of mushrooms have been won over by this recipe.
Trust me, they’re that good.
🤚 How to Choose Oyster Mushrooms?
When I go for oyster mushrooms, I look for ones that aren’t too wet or dry and have a nice, even creamy white color.
I steer clear of any with red or green spots. They should feel firm, not slimy, and be nice and plump without any wrinkles. And if the cap’s still on there, that’s a good sign.
🔪 How to Clean the Oyster Mushrooms?
Since oyster mushrooms usually grow on wood, they’re not typically dirty. But, washing them under water’s a no-go; they soak it up and turn mushy.
I just give them a gentle wipe with a paper towel to get any dirt off.
🥘 Ingredients and Substitutes
- Oyster Mushrooms. Aim for the best ones—no blemishes and a nice creamy color. Sometimes, I’ll grab blue oyster mushrooms because they add a subtle seafood vibe that’s just perfect with everything else. But remember, they’re smaller, so they cook faster in the air fryer. Another solid choice is king oyster mushrooms. Just chop them evenly so they cook through without any raw middle parts.
- Olive Oil. It not only brings out the mushroom flavors but also gets those spices to stick and bloom.
- Dried Onion. I’m all about dried onions for that creamy aroma boost. If you don’t have any, it’s not the end of the world; just skip them.
- Fresh Garlic. Not a fan of the sharp bite of fresh garlic? Go for granulated garlic for a gentler flavor.
- Seasonings. I stick to simple salt and pepper to let the mushrooms shine. But hey, if you’re feeling adventurous, throw in some chili flakes, thyme, parsley, or oregano to mix it up.
👩🍳 Step-by-step Directions
Before we begin, if your mushrooms are a bit dirty, just give them a quick wipe with a dry paper towel.
Pro Tip: Don’t wash the mushrooms. Trust me, they soak up water like a sponge and turn all mushy, which totally messes with their taste and texture.
Quick Note: Tear the mushrooms into roughly even pieces by hand. It helps them cook all nice and even.
Grab a big bowl so you have plenty of room to mix. Toss your mushrooms in there and throw all the spices on top.
Stir them around until they’re all evenly coated with the oil and spices.
Then, get them into the air fryer basket.
Quick Note: Don’t cram the basket. If you’re cooking a lot or have a small air fryer, do a few batches to keep everything crispy and evenly cooked.
Set your air fryer to 400°F / 200°C and let them cook for about 12 minutes.
Halfway through, give the basket a good shake to move the mushrooms around for an even cook.
Just Remember: Cooking times can vary because air fryers are all a bit different. This timing is based on using a Cosori Air Fryer 5.8QT.
And if you’re serving these as a side or just snacking on them straight, finishing with some chopped parsley on top never hurts.
🍽️ How to Serve the Air-Fried Oyster Mushrooms?
If you plan to serve them in addition to other recipes, consider adding them in a wrap, sandwich, burrito, pasta, salad, or toss the oyster mushrooms in enchiladas or tacos.
As you can see, this recipe is very versatile and it goes well in a lot of dishes.
Dipping Sauces to Serve the Oyster Mushrooms?
If you plan to enjoy the air-fried oyster mushrooms as a quick snack, I highly recommend you to serve them near your favorite dipping sauce.
If you don’t know with what you can combine the oyster mushrooms, I will leave you below a few suggestions that you can’t go wrong with:
🏆 Expert Tips. What to Pay Attention To?
- Skip the water rinse; mushrooms turn into sponges and you’ll lose all that tasty texture. Just brush off any dirt with a dry paper towel.
- If you’re not sure about your knife (because mushrooms and steel don’t mix well—they’ll turn brown), just tear them apart with your hands. Plus, you’ll make sure they don’t start looking funky.
- Aim to tear the mushrooms into similar sizes. It’s all about getting them to cook evenly.
- Like your mushrooms on the crispier side? Just tack on a few more minutes in the air fryer.
- Dried onions are the way to go here. They pack more flavor punch without making the mushrooms soggy.
- Before you toss them into the air fryer, make sure to mix the mushrooms with dried onions, fresh garlic, and a good glug of olive oil. This gets them all crispy and perfectly seasoned.
- Keep an eye on them while they cook. Giving them a flip halfway through ensures they get that even, golden crispiness all around.
🍽️ Storage Tips
After letting my air-fried oyster mushrooms cool off, I pop them into an airtight container and stash them in the fridge. Making sure that container’s sealed tight is key to keeping them from getting soggy.
They’ll last in the fridge for about 3-4 days. After that, they’re not the best, quality-wise.
If I’ve got a lot, I split them into smaller containers. This way, I can just grab and reheat what I need without the whole batch losing its mojo from the cold every time.
🌡️ Reheating
Microwave
Zapping them in the microwave for a minute or two does the trick when I’m in a hurry. Just gotta watch them so they don’t turn into rubber.
Air Fryer
To get that crispiness back, the air fryer’s my go-to. I heat it up to about 350-375°F, toss the mushrooms in for a few minutes, and give them a shake halfway through. Works like a charm.
Oven
The oven’s another solid option. I heat it to 350°F, spread the mushrooms on a baking sheet, and give them 5-7 minutes. They come out nice and crispy.
Stovetop
For a quick fix, I sometimes heat them up in a skillet with a splash of oil. Just a few minutes over medium-high heat gets them crispy again.
Quick Note: Reheating them too much can dry them out or mess with the texture. If you’ve got a bunch, it’s better to reheat them in smaller portions.
🤔 Answering Your Questions:
Can I swap in fresh onions for dried onions?
Sure, you can use fresh onions, but I usually go with dried ones. They pack a bigger flavor punch without making the mushrooms soggy.
What about using different mushrooms?
Absolutely, feel free to experiment with other mushroom types. But in my experience, oyster mushrooms are top-notch for getting that perfect crispy texture in the air fryer.
Don’t have an air fryer?
No worries. Just pop the mushrooms in the oven at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes or until they get crispy.
How long do these crispy mushrooms last?
They’re definitely at their best right out of the air fryer. If you’ve got leftovers, stick them in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 2 days. When you’re ready for round two, a quick blast in the air fryer heats them up and brings back the crispiness.
📋 Recipe Card:
4-ingredient Air Fryer Oyster Mushrooms
Equipment
Ingredients
- 13 oz Oyster Mushrooms
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Dried Onions
- 1 Clove Garlic
Instructions
- Tear those oyster mushrooms into roughly even pieces by hand.13 oz Oyster Mushrooms
- Toss them in a big bowl, drizzle with oil and sprinkle your spices, then give them a good mix until they're all coated.13 oz Oyster Mushrooms, 2 tablespoon Olive Oil, ¼ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper, ½ teaspoon Dried Onions, 1 Clove Garlic
- Spread the mushrooms out in the air fryer basket, making sure they're not on top of each other.
- Fire up the air fryer to 400°F and let them cook for about 12 minutes.
- When they're done, throw on some chopped parsley to add a fresh pop of color and flavor.
Quick Note
I highly recommend reading the entire recipe to find more tips and notes about this recipe. Read Full Recipe ⇑
Notes
- Don’t rinse the mushrooms; they soak up water and get all mushy. Just wipe off any dirt with a paper towel instead.
- Forget the stainless steel knife; it’ll make them go brown. Just tear them up with your hands so they’re roughly the same size.
- Don’t cram your air fryer. Space them out a bit and leave some room for the spices to do their thing. That way, the hot air can circulate properly and crisp them up evenly.
Jeremy
We enjoyed this very much. I made it almost exactly to the recipe (just added a few more garlic cloves) and they turned out great.
Julie
Very nice recipe! it was so easy to make and they turned out soo good!
Suee33
So easy and very tasty, just do not over cook. Thank you