Turnip fries air fryer style are healthy alternatives to Ninja Foodi French fries but just as delicious. Vegetables seasoned crispy and crunchy snacks cooked in your hot air countertop appliance in no time.
If you haven’t tried air fryer turnip fries they turn out great. VERY low carb and keto friendly snack you can enjoy with ketchup. You may even be able to fool your kids because they get as crispy as potatoes with a bit of sweetness. One of many easy air fryer recipes we love. (affiliate links present)
Ninja Foodi Turnip Fries
We made Ninja foodi fries with potatoes right when we got that pot. It doesn’t matter what brand machine you have, they all work basically the same. The biggest difference is the size of the basket, that’s pretty much it. The biggest thing to remember is to load them in a single layer so they crisp up nicely.
Even frozen french fries in air fryer turn out just like at the restaurant I tell you. There is nothing my Cosori can’t do well.
If you love extra crispy food and quick recipes, here are some resources to start with:
- My Favorite models are this Cosori or for a dual machine, the Foodi.
- You can find more Ninja Foodi recipes here as well; bookmark them both!
- It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. this is how to preheat air fryer first.
- Here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
Air Fryer Turnip Fries
Every vegetable I have made into finger foods like this works basically the same. You really don’t need any breading per say but could if you wanted to like our air fryer zucchini fries. These are similar to air fryer carrot fries we have enjoyed in the past, you should try those as well sometime.
The seasoning choices are always up to you but what was used is listed below. Change it up to ones you love or try this combination and vary from there. This is what you’re going to need to cook turnip sticks.
Ingredients
- Fresh turnips, peeled and sliced
- you can use other veggies this way too like our air fryer jicama fries
- Olive oil will get them crispy and allow the seasonings to stick well
- Chili powder will add a bit of heat, use dry Sriracha to make spicy
- Garlic powder and onion powder would work well too for flavoring
- Salt and pepper are just the basics
Using olive oil spray is important in order to get the outsides nice and crisp. Use this a few minutes before the end of the cook time or every time you shake the basket.
What is the best way to eat turnips?
Well we say to air fry them is best but you can also eat them raw. If you make veggie trays often this is a great addition that may be new to your guests. Dipped in ranch just like carrots or broccoli it may be a new flavor your kids might enjoy too.
You’ll want to peel the outside as that isn’t very edible. Then slice it into sticks or thin slices and brush or toss with olive oil to keep moist. Bake in the oven, deep fry or the best way is to cook turnips in air fryer like we did here.
Yes, we have done this time and time again with jicama, turnips and carrots too. It is a fun new way to season veggies and get them crispy. A great way to get kids to try new flavors and enjoy as a side dish.
What does a turnip taste like?
If you eat it raw you may think that is a bit too bitter. When cooked though it changes to sweeter in flavor which is typically more desirable. It is hard to compare it to something else as it has a nutty earthy taste that is distinct to this purple root vegetable.
Crispy Turnip Fries
You could make these on the sweet side instead of savory like we did here. If you wanted to go that direction I might use 1/3 cinnamon and 2/3 sugar mixture and toss after the oil adheres to the outside.
For any sort of air fryer vegetable recipe you really want to eliminate as much water from the outsides as possible. The easiest way to do just this is to grab a few paper towels and make them thick. After you slice them lay them on top. Once all are done roll them up and gently press down. This will do the trick.
As you know oil and water don’t mix and you want it to in order to get crunchy. The more water is left the softer they will stay no matter how long you cook them. Of course you can re-season them when done, just like fries.
There is a complete recipe and instructions below but here is a quick rundown of how easy they really are to make.
How to Make Homemade Turnip Fries
- Peeling the turnips is a must. Then slice them into 1/3″ sticks just like potato fries. Lay on a few paper towels and roll up to get rid of the water left on the outside so they are as dry as possible.
- In a bowl add these and olive oil (or avocado oil) + your seasonings. Toss to coat. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Pour into the air fryer basket and cook for 6-8 minutes. Flip the fries halfway thru until they are as tender as you’d like them to be on the inside and golden brown on the outside.
How long to air fry turnip fries
The timing will vary depending on the thickness. The thinner they are the faster they will get tender on the inside and crispy on the outside of course. Keep a bit less than 10 minutes set aside for 1 batch to be done though.
We have a bunch of french fry dipping sauce choices we love like homemade fry sauce, ranch and ketchup of course. Make some air fryer spam fries and these for a finger food kinda’ afternoon.
Want to try another easy side dish? Try chicken fries in air fryer sometime. These are homemade as well with fresh meat which adds protein to the mix. Make them together for the funnest dinner your kids will rave over.
If you were to make baked turnip fries on a baking sheet in your oven you’d use the same temp. but it may take a bit longer. You still want to use a spatula to rotate your fries in the oven so they get crispy on both sides. Depending on the size you will likely get 2 servings out of each one, so keep that in mind.
I will say that these don’t keep great, but if you do make sure to enjoy them the next day. You can throw them into your AirWave for about 2 minutes to warm them again and get them crunchy again.
Turnip Fries Air Fryer
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 knife
Ingredients
- 1 turnip, peeled and sliced 1/3" sticks
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Peel and slice turnip into 1/3" sticks like french fry sized. Lay on a few paper towels and roll up to eliminate water left on the outside so they are dry.
- In a bowl add them plus the olive oil and seasonings. Toss to coat. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Pour pieces into basket and cook for 6-8 minutes tossing halfway thru until they are as tender as you'd like them to be on the inside.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.