With their signature tang, golden crust, and perfect crunch, air fryer fried green tomatoes are a lighter version of a Southern classic. Enjoy this simple side dish or appetizer with your choice of dipping sauces.
We're lucky enough to have fried green tomatoes as an all-year-round side dish at a storied local restaurant so I haven't needed to make them at home, but once I got the bug about air frying them, I had to see it through.
Known for their tangier flavor and firmer texture than their rosier counterparts, you'll mostly find green tomatoes sliced and fried with a cornmeal coating. You get an exterior crunch with a center that's tart and soft with give, but not mushy like red tomatoes would be.
A good number of traditionally pan-fried dishes fare well in the air fryer, like fried polenta and Italian zucchini fritters, though some fall short - I'm talking about you, mashed potato cakes. Thankfully these air fryer fried green tomatoes come through with a seriously thick and crisp coating. Just what we want!
Some homemade versions include panko for a fluffier texture and extra bit of crunch, but I've modeled these air fryer fried green tomatoes after that Southern U.S. institution - all cornmeal, good seasoning, no frills.
Recipe Ingredients
Here is an overview of the ingredients you'll need to make fried green tomatoes in the air fryer. You'll also need a sprayable oil to coat the tomatoes for cooking, or your favorite neutral-flavored cooking oil to brush on them. All of the specific measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Green Tomatoes - Firm and tangy, these are simply unripe tomatoes that turn red when ripe. These aren't green heirloom tomatoes, which are green when ripe, or tomatillos. Pick ones that are as fully-green as possible as they'll be the most firm, though a slight tinge of red (seen above and in the sliced photo below) is fine.
Flour - Dredging the green tomato slices in flour helps absorb our enemy here - moisture - and gives the milk/egg something to adhere to.
Egg & Milk - Milk thins out the beaten egg so it's not too gloopy. Buttermilk is a gold standard for Southern recipes like this, but regular milk is fine, too.
Cornmeal - Fine ground cornmeal is ideal for a uniform coating. That said I have used medium grind when it's all I've had and blitzed it in the food processor to break it up some, but there still were some larger bits in the mix. Still good, though!
Spices - Your favorite pre-made Cajun or Creole seasoning would work well here (adjust the salt as needed), but my go-to fried green tomatoes seasoning mix is garlic powder, sweet paprika, and cayenne pepper. Add more than a pinch of cayenne if you'd like the heat, or leave it out entirely.
Use Green Tomatoes Quickly
It seems silly to call out, but even off the vine, green tomatoes will continue to ripen.
One of my bunch rolled further back into my unlit pantry where it escaped notice for several days. It surfaced bright red and juicy with give when squeezed - perfect for a salad, but not slicing, breading, and frying.
Plan to air fry green tomatoes within a few days of purchase/picking.
Air Frying Green Tomatoes
Slice and salt the tomatoes.
Slice tomatoes at most ¼-inch thick. Salt both sides of the slices and let them sit on a wire rack for 20 minutes. This helps them release moisture. Place a paper towel underneath to soak up the drips.
Prepare your breading station.
Set up three bowls: one for flour, one for the beaten egg and milk mixture, and the other for the seasoned cornmeal. Make sure they're wide enough for a tomato slice to dip in flat, but not so large in size that the coatings will be spread too thin.
Bread the tomato slices.
One by one, fully coat each tomato slice in flour (knock off excess), then dip fully in the egg/milk, then coat thoroughly with seasoned cornmeal. Lightly press the cornmeal mixture into the tomatoes to help it stick. Repeat for all and set them on a sheet of parchment paper.
Cook until crisp.
Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray, then arrange tomato slices into a single layer (you'll likely have to cook in batches). Brush or spray the tops with oil, then air fry at 375°F for 6-8 minutes. Flip, brush/spray again, and air fry for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Serve immediately.
Dipping Sauces for Fried Green Tomatoes
This may be a hot take, but while I find fried green tomatoes tasty, I equally love them for their accompanying dipping sauces. Usually mayo-based and zipped up with some flavor or another, I served the air fryer green tomatoes seen in these photos with the first two sauces.
- Comeback sauce - This Southern staple combines mayo with ketchup/chili sauce (I prefer using just chili sauce for extra kick), Worcestershire, hot sauce, and pantry this-and-that for an all-purpose dipping sauce great for fried foods and burgers.
- Lemon aioli - This is a personal favorite on everything from a prosciutto sandwich to crab cakes. My recipe, linked in that sandwich post, is a cheater's version that starts with prepared mayonnaise so there's no raw egg).
- Remoulade sauce - Comeback sauce-adjacent, this tangy sauce often leans Cajun in flavor with mayo, pickles, herbs, and spices. Some variations also include horseradish or hot sauce. I've noticed store-bought remoulade that piqued my interest (Duke's) but haven't tried it yet myself.
- Ranch dressing - Stir in hot sauce or Cajun seasoning for a quick from-the-fridge option.
Tips and Tricks
- Can't find green tomatoes? Not every store carries them, though it might be worth asking the produce department. My local Southern U.S. chain grocery store started carrying a small but steady stock of them after I inquired.
- Achieve extra crunch. I've tested air fryer fried green tomatoes by replacing half of the cornmeal with panko breadcrumbs. Delicious! It lessens the cornmeal flavor but results in an extra crispy coating, so it's just a matter of personal preference.
- Don't spray tomatoes with cooking spray. Use straight-up spray olive oil (like in an oil mister) or brush with a thin layer of olive oil for the best flavor. I tested a few slices with olive oil cooking spray (how convenient, right?) and while they crisped nicely, the flavor suffered. Reserve the cooking spray for greasing the air fryer basket.
If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating and a comment review in the recipe card below!
Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 2 green tomatoes about 3 inches in diameter
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt for salting the tomato slices
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk or buttermilk
- 1 cup cornmeal fine grind recommended
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt for seasoning the cornmeal
- ½ teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
- Pinch of ground cayenne optional
- Neutral-flavored cooking oil for brushing or spraying
- Comeback sauce for serving
Instructions
- Slice off and discard the very top section of each tomato with the stem end. Cut the tomato into slices no thicker than ¼-inch (a little thinner is even better).
- Lay the tomato slices in a single layer on a wire rack set over paper towels or a dish towel. Evenly sprinkle half of the ¾-teaspoon kosher salt on the top side of the tomato slices, then flip each over and sprinkle the bottom side with the reamining half of the ¾-teaspoon kosher salt. Let the tomatoes sit for 20 minutes, then pat dry very well to wick away as much moisture as you can.
- Prepare your breading station while the tomatoes are salting. Place flour in one shallow bowl, beat the egg with the milk in another, and whisk together the cornmeal, garlic powder, paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, pepper, and cayenne in a third.
- Working with one tomato slice at a time, coat it fully in the flour (knock off any excess), then dip it into the beaten egg/milk until fully moistened. Lastly press it into the cornmeal until thoroughly coated. Place the breaded tomato onto a sheet of parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the slices.
- Spray your air fryer basket generously with cooking spray. Arrange breaded tomato slices in it in a single layer (you'll likely need to work in batches). Spray the top sides with neutral-flavored cooking oil, or lightly brush with oil.
- Air fry at 375°F for 6-8 minutes, then flip each tomato slice over and spray or brush the now top sides with oil. Air fry again for 5-7 minutes, or until golden-brown and crisp. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Want even more crunch? Replace up to ½ cup of the cornmeal with panko breadcrumbs for a lighter texture/flavor.
- Time Variation - Different air fryer models can cook differently, so I gave a range versus an exact cook time. This recipe was tested on an air fryer/toaster oven combination.
- Batch Cooking - Breaded green tomato slices may begin to show moisture patches the longer they sit before being air fried. If that happens, press them again into the cornmeal mixture just prior to cooking.
- Reheating - Crisp leftover fried green tomatoes in the air fryer on a low temperature and check often to make sure they don't overly toast.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
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