Air Fryer Artichokes

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If you love crispy, creamy artichokes, then this Air Fryer Artichokes recipe is one of the easiest ways to make a delicious appetizer. This restaurant-quality hors d’oeuvre air fries in under 15 minutes for crispy tips and a perfectly cooked artichoke heart. Use your favorite sauce for dipping.

Cooked artichoke halves on a large plate with butter for dipping.

I like to keep my recipes super simple, and that’s exactly how this air-fried artichoke recipe was created. No need to turn on the oven or use a steamer when you can quickly cook this vegetable as an easy snack, appetizer, or side dish for your main meal.

Have you always wanted to try cooking artichoke but are not really sure how to eat it? It’s not as intimidating as it looks, and I cover How to eat an artichoke in this article.

What is an artichoke?

An artichoke is a thistle, but is commonly referred to as a vegetable and prepared just the same. It is the edible part of the immature flower bud of an artichoke before the flower blooms.

It’s not known to be an easy vegetable to prepare, but this Air-Fryer recipe for cooking a whole artichoke will prove that it doesn’t have to be intimidating or difficult to work with. Take extra steps if needed to prepare your whole artichoke, but simplicity can still result in the tastiest results.

Basket of a table top convection oven with 4 artichoke halves cooked crispy.

What does artichoke taste like?

An artichoke taste similar to asparagus and brussels sprouts. It has a mild nutty, earthy taste and the texture of the artichoke heart is smooth and creamy, just like the edible parts of the leaves.

Why I love Air Frying Artichokes

Making artichokes taste as if they came from a restaurant is easier than you think. That’s why I love using my air fryer to make tasty recipes at home.

So easy! – Take the guesswork out of learning how to cook an artichoke in the air fryer with this easy recipe. The prep takes under five minutes as we skip a lot of the extra, sometimes unnecessary, prep work. Simply cut in half, remove the choke, season, and air fry.

Restaurant quality – Are artichokes something you only ever order when going out to eat? Then you will LOVE cooking artichokes in the air fryer! The results are just as good as if you ordered from a restaurant.

Best appetizer – This is one of those recipes that you can prepare at the last minute and have ready in under 20. Guests can pick at the leaves, enjoy the best part which is the heart, and dip it in their favorite sauce, even if it’s just melted butter.

Artichokes in the basket of an air fryer.

Ingredients

The ingredients to make this air fryer artichoke recipe are but a few. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Globe artichokes – If serving as an appetizer, you can use one artichoke per 2 guests, or half an artichoke each. If serving as a side dish, you can use half or a whole artichoke per person.
  • Lemon juice – use freshly squeezed lemon all over the artichoke. This adds a citrusy flavor that is so delicious with the earthy artichoke but also helps the artichoke from browning once cut. As soon as you have cut the thistle open, squeeze the lemon juice all over before oxidation starts, which is immediate!
  • Seasonings – salt and pepper, but feel free to add your own seasoning to taste.
  • Olive oil – This coats the artichoke and crisps up the leaves while it cooks.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Cooked aritchokes before being removed from basket.

Tips for Cooking Artichokes

Here are some tips for cooking artichokes so you get the best results every time. These can be used for any cooking method.

Choose a fresh artichoke. How do I know if an artichoke is fresh? There are a few things to look for when picking your artichoke, and to examine before cooking if you are not preparing right away. If the tips of the leaves are split or dry, or if the artichoke globe is soft and spongy when squeezed, then it is not fresh and you should choose another one. You want the artichoke to be firm with the leaves still tight against each other.

Prevent browning. Once you cut into the artichoke, it will immediately start to brown from the oxidation. You can slow this process down by adding an acid, like lemon juice.

Cut off the tips. While it’s not completely necessary to do this, as you aren’t eating the tips, for safety reasons trimming the tip of each artichoke leaf is a way to prevent the sharp ends from scratching or pricking you.

Remove the Choke. Unlike cutting off the tips of the artichoke, removing the choke is necessary. It is inedible and can cause damage if consumed. Why can’t you eat the choke of an artichoke? They can become a choking hazard as they are small pin-like clusters and are not pleasant to consume.

Close up after being cooked.

How to Store Cooked Artichoke

Cooked artichoke is best when eaten freshly cooked, but you can store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

More Appetizer Recipes

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Air Fryer Artichokes

It's so easy to make Air Fryer Artichokes and they cook in under 15 minutes for a quick appetizer to dip in melted butter or your favorite dipping sauce.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer artichokes
Cooking Method: Air Fryer
Diet: Gluten-Free, Keto / Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 100kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 whole artichokes
  • 1 lemon
  • 1-2 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Recommended Kitchen Tools (click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe)

Instructions

  • Using a sharp knife, cut off the stem of the artichoke at the base. Then cut off about 1 inch from the top. Slice in half lengthwise.
  • Use a spoon to remove the fuzzy choke.
  • Squeeze lemon juice over all sides of the artichoke halves, then brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  • Place the bottom of the basket and return to the air fryer. Set the temperature to 350 degrees F and the time for 15 minutes and cook.
  • Use tongs to remove from the air fryer and enjoy with melted butter.
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Nutrition

Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 274mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
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