Can you make air fried breaded mushrooms without a deep fryer?

Yes, and this recipe proves it. By using a spritz of oil and the double-breading method, you build a crust that browns and stays crisp in the air fryer. The dry, circulating heat pulls moisture out slowly so the coating sets and the mushroom inside stays tender, giving you that deep-fried texture, without the deep frying.

How long should I cook air fried breaded mushrooms to get the crust right and the middle juicy?

Timing depends on mushroom size, but as a general rule: air fry at 400 °F for about 10 minutes, flip, mist again, then cook another 5–10 minutes. Larger mushrooms may need full 20 minutes; smaller ones less. The key is an even single layer (don’t overcrowd) so the hot air flows freely and the crust crisps fully.

What’s the best way to ensure the coating sticks to the mushrooms and stays crunchy in the air fryer?

The trick is in the sequence. Set up three bowls: one with vegan egg (JUST Egg), one with flour, and one with a mix of panko and crushed sriracha peas. Dip each mushroom into the egg, then flour, back into the egg, and finally into the panko mixture. That second dip gives the coating structure so it clings, crisps, and holds up beautifully in the air fryer without peeling or turning soggy.

Crispy Air Fried Mushrooms | Olives for Dinner

Name: Crispy Air Fried Mushrooms
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup vegan mayo; 2 stalks celery, finely diced; 1 large clove garlic, grated on a microplane; 12 oz. mushrooms, stems removed (white or brown works best); 3/4 cup JUST Egg (liquid vegan egg substitute); 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1 cup sriracha peas, finely ground in a food processor; 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs; cooking spray (neutral oil)

Description

Crispy, golden, and wildly satisfying—these air fried mushrooms might be the best thing to come out of your air fryer yet. Each one has a perfectly textured crust made from crushed sriracha peas and panko, wrapped around a tender, juicy mushroom. Dunk in our celery-garlic mayo and you get everything at once: crunch, heat, and a cool creamy finish that just works.

Ingredients

For the celery-garlic mayo

1/2 cup vegan mayo
2 stalks celery, finely diced
1 large clove garlic, grated on a microplane

For the mushrooms

12 oz. mushrooms, stems removed (white or brown works best)
3/4 cup JUST Egg (liquid vegan egg substitute)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sriracha peas, finely ground in a food processor
1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
cooking spray (neutral oil)

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Instructions

To make the celery-garlic mayo

In a small bowl, combine vegan mayo, celery, and garlic.
Stir until evenly mixed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

To prepare the mushroom coating

In one bowl, pour the JUST Egg.
Place the flour in a second bowl.
In a third bowl, combine the ground sriracha peas and panko breadcrumbs.

To bread the mushrooms

Working with one mushroom at a time, dip it into the JUST Egg, then into the flour, shaking off excess.
Dip it again into the JUST Egg, then coat generously in the panko + crushed sriracha pea mixture. This process gives the coating structure so it fries up thick, crisp, and golden.

To air fry

Arrange the coated mushrooms in a single layer in your air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece for airflow.
Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes.
Flip, mist again with a touch of oil, and cook for another 5–10 minutes, or until golden and crispy on all sides.
The mushrooms are done when the coating is firm and crackly and the centers are tender.

To serve

Serve the crispy air-fried mushrooms immediately with the celery-garlic mayo for dipping.

Notes

Storage & Reheating: These reheat beautifully: return to the air fryer at 375°F for 3–5 minutes until crisp again. Leftover celery-garlic mayo keeps for up to 3 days in the fridge; stir before serving.
Don’t overcrowd: For best results, air fry in a single layer—overcrowding leads to steam instead of crisping.
Cook timing: If using smaller mushrooms, reduce cooking time slightly (check around the 8-minute mark).
Sriracha pea smarts: These add heat, salt, and crunch. Find them in most Asian grocery stores (like H Mart) or online.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Appetizer, Snack
Method: Battered, Air-Fried
Cuisine: American