We made a batch of crispy air fryer artichoke hearts (from canned) the other day and it was such a fun snack. Lightly breaded they are the best part of the air fried artichokes really don’t you think?
“Fried” marinated artichoke hearts in the air fryer are so addicting! We used an already marinated can to prepare these bites of goodness so they were done in about 20 minutes start to finish. A favorite easy air fryer recipe my kids ask for over and over again.
I don’t know about you but I could eat the middle of this vegetable probably on a daily basis. Yes, they are that good. Never had them? OH MY how you are missing out y’all. Yes you can make Instant Pot artichokes and enjoy the center that way, but easier yet you can buy just that part!
What are Fried Artichoke Hearts?
Whether you get them plain or marinated in and pickled, this is a great way to prepare these as a fun snack. Breaded like fried zucchini and deep fried or air fried like we show you here gives these bites a crispy texture I know you and your party guests will love. 😉
Marinated Artichoke Hearts Air Fryer
You can see the can we used here below. You can find a decent range of quality and pricing for them for sure. Marinated artichoke hearts are probably my favorite and typically come in a tall jar instead of canned, but the same idea. These are great breaded and air fried vs. deep fried in a bunch of oil.
Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Artichoke Hearts
These can definitely be made in a Ninja Foodi or any brand however with this brand of multi cooker you will need to use the lid that is not attached. The button that pairs with this to make them crispy is the one that says air crisp.
How do you bread artichoke hearts?
You want to dip them into something wet to get the coating to stick well. The best option for this is a whisked egg. If you needed another option you could brush with some mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt instead.
These are coated with breadcrumbs and fried with a bit of olive oil so they are bite size and crispy is the best snack ever. You can crush your favorite crackers, use Italian or Panko bread crumbs to coat. You are going to need a few shallow dishes and:
Honestly the seasonings you add into the breading is up to you. Old Bay will amp it up and I use that often with a lot of “fried” foods I make, not just seafood. 1 teaspoon will do you good. You could even add some grated parmesan cheese or Italian seasoning if you wanted, those would be a great additions.
How to Get Breading to Stick
Similar to how we made our air fryer zucchini chips you’ll want to set your pieces on a few paper towels first to absorb the excess moisture, that is #1 thing to remember. Then set out an assembly line of sorts with your ingredients. That will make it easier to dip into the egg, and get your crumbs to stick to each piece well.
I didn’t actually preheat the air fryer beforehand for these but I almost always do at the beginning. This was to make it a bit easier to add them since it took a little bit to coat them all. The heat radiating from the air fryer basket would’ve gotten to me too if I did so I skipped that this time.
How to Get Them Crispy
As always you want to ensure each piece is laid flat and not overlapping others. This will ensure a nice crispy crunchy outside. Drain hearts from your can or jar, set aside on a few paper towels and pat dry to absorb excess moisture on the outside. This will help the breading stick better. Same goes for other air fryer appetizers made this way.
You only need a light spray to “fry” in this magic machine to get them crispier. We have a lot of other air fryer vegetables you can try that way too. When you flip to the other side you can spray again lightly to make a deeper golden brown.
Dipping Sauces
Many like to serve these with a variety of yummy dipping sauces. I mean they are great as is without anything, just popped into your mouth but I agree with them. Our favorites are probably; Fry sauce, Ranch dressing or dip in our Bang Bang sauce
Air Fryer Artichoke Hearts Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 2 shallow bowls
Ingredients
- 14.5 oz artichoke hearts, canned, marinated, halved or quartered, drained
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Drain artichoke hearts from can or jar, set aside on a few paper towels to absorb excess moisture on the outsides. This will help the breading stick better.
- In a small bowl whisk milk and eggs together.
- In another bowl combine breadcrumbs and all seasonings, stir together.
- Dip each heart piece into egg mixture, then dredge into bread crumbs so they are nicely coated.
- Spray inside of air fryer basket with non stick spray and lay coated pieces inside NOT overlapping. Spray tops lightly with olive oil.
- Close drawer and cook at 370 degrees F for 12 minutes or until outsides are golden brown.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Want to make some lightly breaded protein to go with these for a complete meal? Try our KFC copycat air fryer fried chicken breast that is to die for. They make a great duo together, especially if you have kiddos.
How to save leftovers
I will say that “fried foods” don’t save well because they need to be refrigerated and that makes the once crispy batter soggy. You can crisp up again in the air fryer but it will never be the same.
