These Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes are the perfect Southern appetizer or side dish you can easily make at home. They have a flavorful coating outside and tangy inside, making these air-fried green tomatoes a perfect addition to any meal.
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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
Living in the South, I've eaten so many fried green tomatoes that I'm surprised it's taken me so long to write a blog post about them. Fried Green Tomatoes are a specialty, as they showcase the unique ability to transform simple green tomatoes into a mouthwatering treat.
Traditionally, people dredge green tomatoes in egg wash, flour, and cornmeal and then fry them in oil until the outside is crisp. If you've been following me, you know I'll use the air fryer rather than frying in oil if it gives similar results to frying.
Of course, if you don't have an air fryer, feel free to pan-fry these in some oil until they are golden brown on both sides.
If you love Southern tomato recipes, you'll love this classic Southern Tomato Sandwich.
Ingredients Needed
Ingredient Amounts and full recipe instructions are in Printable Recipe Card at the bottom of the post.
- Green tomatoes - The main ingredient. Green tomatoes are unripe tomatoes that are firm and have a tangier taste than ripe red tomatoes.
- Kosher Salt - Used to draw out moisture from the tomatoes and enhance overall flavor.
- Cornmeal and all-purpose flour - This combination gives the tomatoes a crispy, crunchy coating.
- Eggs and hot sauce - The eggs act as a binder while the hot sauce provides flavor. Use a mild hot sauce for the best results.
- Paprika, garlic powder, and seasoned salt - To season the dish.
- Cooking spray - To lightly spray the tomatoes so they become crispy and golden brown
Tools Needed
- Air fryer
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- 3 shallow bowls
- Whisk
- Paper towels
- Cooking spray
How to Make Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes
Prep your tomatoes by slicing your green tomatoes into ¼-inch thick slices. Sprinkle them lightly with salt and let them sit for 15-20 minutes. This helps draw out any excess moisture. Pat the slices dry with a paper towel before moving on to the next step.
Set up your dredging station. You'll need two shallow bowls. In one bowl, whisk together the eggs and hot sauce. Combine the flour, cornmeal, paprika, garlic powder, and seasoned salt in another bowl.
Dip each tomato slice into the egg mixture first, then into the flour mixture, making sure each slice is well-coated on both sides.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Once preheated, place the breaded tomato slices into the basket in a single layer, ensuring they don’t overlap. Air fry for 5 minutes. Open the basket, spray the tomatoes with cooking spray, flip them over, spray the other side with cooking spray, then close the basket and cook for another 5 minutes.
Remove the tomatoes from the basket. Cook the remaining tomatoes in batches after dredging.
Serve as is or with your favorite dipping sauce.
Make ahead and Storage Options
These are best served hot and fresh when made. However, if you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them back into the air fryer at 360°F (182.22°C) for a few minutes until heated through and crispy.
What to serve these with?
I love to eat these for breakfast, on the side of scrambled eggs and bacon. You can also serve them as an appetizer or snack, on a BLT, or as the tomato in a tomato sandwich.
Tanya's Top Tips and Tricks
- Slice the tomatoes into ¼-inch pieces. Any thicker than this and they may not cook evenly.
- These taste amazing with remoulade sauce, ranch, or spicy mayo.
- If you prefer a thicker, crunchy/crispy crust, use seasoned panko breadcrumbs rather than the cornmeal and flour mixture.
- I use a hot sauce that isn't too spicy in this recipe. Stick to a mild hot sauce for the best flavor without overpowering the dish with too much heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Green tomatoes are unripe tomatoes that have not yet turned red. They are firm and have a tart, slightly tangy flavor, which makes them ideal for frying.
I don't recommend it. Green tomatoes are firmer and hold up better during cooking. They provide that perfect tartness, which is key to this dish.
Nope! The skin helps keep the tomato intact and adds a bit of extra texture.
Absolutely! Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
I hope you love these fried green tomatoes as much as we do. Looking for More Southern Appetizers? Try These Out:
If you’ve tried this recipe or any other on my blog, please rate it and leave a comment below! I love hearing from you and seeing how your dishes turn out. Happy cooking!
Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes
Ingredients
Instructions
- Slice tomatoes into ¼-inch thick slices, sprinkle with salt, and rest for 15-20 minutes. Pat dry.
- Meanwhile, set up a dredging station with two bowls, eggs & hot sauce in one bowl, cornmeal, flour & seasonings in another.
- Dip each tomato slice in egg mixture, then flour mixture, making sure each slice is coated on both sides.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Arrange tomato slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 5 minutes. Open the basket and spray the slices; flip the slices and spray the other side with cooking spray.
- Close the basket and air fry for another 5 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Continue to cook the remainder of the slices in batches,
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Taryn says
I love my air fryer and I hate the mess deep frying makes so I thought I'd try this recipe for fried green tomatoes and it was delicious with the exact crisp I was looking for! I have bookmarked this recipe so I can make them again! Thank you!!!!
Tanya says
Thank you so much, Taryn! I appreciate the feedback. So happy you liked the recipe 🙂