Easy Air Fryer Fennel (3 ingredients!)

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Crispy on the edges, tender and sweet in the middle, there is no quicker, more delicious way to cook fennel than this Easy Air Fryer Fennel recipe!

Close up of air fryer fennel on platter.

Disclosure: I only recommend products I use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Why I Love This Easy Air Fryer Fennel Recipe

This method this roasted fennel in the air fryer is so delicious and simple. It is:

Crispy on the edges

Soft & Sweet in the middle

Vegan

Quick

Easy

Healthy

High Fiber

Low Calorie

Dairy-Free

Gluten-Free

Paleo Friendly

Keto Friendly

Whole 30 Friendly

What is Fennel?

Fennel is a flowering plant species in the carrot family. A perennial herb with feathery leaves and white flowers, fennel is indigenous to the Mediterranean, though it grows naturally around the world.

Fennel has a black licorice taste, similar to anise. All parts of the fennel are edible: the bulb, stalks, fronds, flowers, and seeds.

How to Cook Fennel in Air Fryer: Step by Step

The method is simple! The key to cooking air fried fennel is learning how to cut fennel first.

Cutting Fennel for Air Fryer

First, clean the fennel bulb. Then cut off the stalks.
Carefully cut off the dirty bottom of the bulb. Be sure not to cut too far, as you want the bulb to remain intact.
Cut the fennel bulb in half. Then cut each half into wedges, being sure to keep the center stalk intact for each wedge. You will have 6-8 pieces total, depending on the size of your fennel bulb.
Place wedges in a bowl and add oil and salt. Stir to combine.

Air Frying Fennel

Transfer wedges to air fryer.
Set air fryer to 390 degrees for 12 minutes.
Check fennel every 5 minutes, tossing or turning with tongs to ensure even cooking.
Your fennel may be done at 12 minutes, or you may want to add another minute. You are looking for crispy, slighted charred fennel on the edges, with a tender and sweet middle.
Serve as a side dish, atop a salad, or snack on it as is!

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SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Starter or Side Dish: Fennel makes an elegant appetizer or side dish. Garnish with black pepper, fresh lemon, or parsley. Serve alongside a dip like Spicy Tahini Sauce or Zesty Herb Sauce.

Salads: Air fryer fennel is a delicious addition to salads. Simply allow to cool, chop into bite-sized pieces, and throw them in!

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

The most important equipment needed for this recipe is an air fryer. While there are dozens of reputable air fryers on the market, we absolutely love our 5.5 quart Ninja Air Fryer. So much so that we are eyeing the Ninja Double Air Fryer (2 basket)!

FAQs

Is fennel better roasted or raw?

Both are delicious! If you like the taste of black licorice, try it raw! Shave or thinly slice bulb and add to salads or enjoy raw wedges on a crudités platter with your favorite veggie dip. For a sweeter, milder licorice flavor, roast or air fry bulb wedges for fennel that is crispy on the outside, tender and sweet on the inside.

What can I do with fennel stalks and fronds?

Both fennel stalks and fennel fronds can be eaten raw or cooked. To enjoy raw, cut stalks into thin slices and add to salads for a tasty, licoricey bite. The fronds are a wonderful fresh herb in a salad…gorgeous and herbaceous. They can also be air fried, fried, roasted, steamed, stewed, or braised along with the bulbs.

What part of fennel can you not eat?

All parts of fennel can be eaten: the bulb, stalks, fronds, seeds, and flowers. You may want to cut off the bottom of the bulb that is brown from growing in the ground.

Curious how to cook fennel quickly?

The quickest way to cook fennel is to fry or air fry it.

FOR MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES, CHECK OUT:

Please, let me know what you think of this easy fennel recipe once you try it by rating and commenting below!

Cheers!

-Jenn