Easy Air Fryer Bok Choy: Quick & Healthy Asian-Inspired Side Dish
Admittedly, bok choy is a staple whenever ramen night rolls around in my kitchen. But now that I’ve mastered making air fryer bok choy, it’s become an absolute game-changer! This vibrant green vegetable transforms in the air fryer, cooking up perfectly in under 10 minutes. The result? Tender stems and slightly crispy leaves, ready to be tossed into your favorite dishes or savored as a delightful side all on its own!
What Exactly is Bok Choy?
Bok choy, sometimes known as pok choi or pak choi, is a fascinating variety of Chinese white cabbage. This cruciferous leafy green belongs to the diverse Brassica genus, a family that also includes popular vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. Its widespread use in Asian cuisine, especially Chinese cooking, speaks volumes about its versatility and delicious flavor.
Distinguished by its thick, crunchy white stems and broad, dark green leaves, both parts of the bok choy plant are entirely edible and offer a delightful contrast in texture. It boasts a mild, slightly peppery flavor, making it incredibly adaptable for various culinary applications. You’ll find it complementing stir-fries, adding depth to soups, providing a crisp bite in salads, and serving as a tender steamed vegetable.
Beyond its culinary appeal, bok choy is also exceptionally nutritious. It’s a powerhouse of essential vitamins, including A, C, and K, along with vital minerals such as calcium, potassium, and folate. Incorporating bok choy into your diet is an excellent way to boost your intake of these health-promoting compounds.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Air Fryer Bok Choy Recipe
Once you experience how wonderfully the air fryer cooks bok choy, it’s destined to become one of your go-to cooking methods! The process is incredibly simple: just clean, cut, season, and let your air fryer handle the rest. Forget about constantly monitoring the stove to get that perfect tender-crisp texture – the air fryer delivers consistent results with minimal effort.
- Effortless & Fast: The air fryer makes preparing this vegetable unbelievably quick. In under 10 minutes, you’ll have perfectly cooked bok choy, freeing up your time for other meal prep or simply to relax.
- Perfect Texture Every Time: Say goodbye to soggy or overcooked greens. The air fryer circulates hot air, creating beautifully tender stems and slightly crisped, flavorful leaves that add a satisfying bite to any meal.
- Incredible Versatility: Whether you prefer whole baby bok choy, halves, quarters, or even smaller chopped pieces for soups and stews, this recipe accommodates all. This flexibility means it can seamlessly integrate into countless dishes.
- Seasoning Customization: While we’re featuring an irresistible Asian-inspired seasoning blend, the beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability. You can easily tailor the flavors to your preference, treating bok choy like any other versatile cabbage variety. Experiment with herbs, spices, and sauces to complement your main course perfectly. We’ll offer plenty of suggestions below!
- Diet-Friendly: This air fryer bok choy is naturally vegetarian, gluten-free, and low-carb, making it an excellent choice for a wide array of dietary needs and preferences. It’s a wholesome addition to almost any meal plan.
- Minimal Cleanup: Compared to stir-frying or sautéing, the air fryer keeps oil splatters to a minimum, ensuring an easier cleanup process after cooking.
Quick + Easy Recipes
straight to your inbox
Ingredients List
Gathering your ingredients for this air fryer bok choy recipe is simple, requiring just a few common items that deliver big on flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 large bok choy (or about 4 baby ones)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp sesame oil (optional, but highly recommended for an authentic Asian flavor)
- 1 tsp garlic powder (or 1-2 cloves fresh minced garlic for a stronger punch)
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to your personal preference)
- ½ tsp black pepper (freshly ground is always best)
- ½ tsp ground ginger (optional, adds a warm, aromatic note)
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds (black or white, for garnish and a nutty crunch)
Ingredient Tips and Notes for Best Results
- Choosing Your Bok Choy: Look for bok choy with vibrant green leaves and firm, crisp white stems. Avoid any with yellowing leaves or soft spots. Baby bok choy is often more tender and can be cooked whole, while larger bok choy benefits from being cut.
- Seasoning Flexibility: The beauty of this recipe is how easily you can customize the flavors. Feel free to adjust the amounts of garlic, salt, pepper, and ginger to suit your taste. For an adventurous twist, consider swapping these for other herbs and spices.
- Asian Flavors: Try five-spice powder, a dash of low-sodium soy sauce or tamari, hoisin sauce, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat.
- Herbal Infusions: Thyme, oregano, or a hint of rosemary can give it a Mediterranean flair.
- Exotic Spices: Curry powder, turmeric, or a touch of lemongrass powder can transport your taste buds to different parts of Asia.
- For a Kick: A drizzle of sriracha or a sprinkle of chili flakes will add a welcome warmth.
- Sauce It Up!: After air frying, you can elevate your bok choy with a finishing drizzle of your favorite sauce. This is also a great way to adjust the heat or sweetness. I love using some sesame ginger dressing for a tangy, umami boost. Other fantastic options include Thai peanut sauce, my homemade Microwave Teriyaki Sauce, a simple lemon-garlic dressing, or even a spicy mayo.
- Cutting Bok Choy for Air Frying: How you cut your bok choy impacts cooking time and texture. For very large bok choy, quartering it lengthwise is ideal. Medium-sized bok choy can be halved, and small baby bok choy can be left whole. Remember, thinner pieces will cook faster and crispier, while thicker cuts will remain more tender. Adjust your cooking times accordingly.
How to Cook Bok Choy In the Air Fryer: A Step-by-Step Guide
Achieving perfectly cooked, tender-crisp bok choy in your air fryer is remarkably simple with these easy steps:
- Prepare Your Bok Choy: Start by thoroughly rinsing your bok choy under cold running water. It’s crucial to clean well between the leaves and stems, as dirt and grit tend to accumulate there. After rinsing, gently pat the bok choy dry with paper towels. Excess moisture can prevent browning and crisping in the air fryer. Depending on the size of your bok choy, cut it lengthwise into halves or quarters. If using baby bok choy, you can often leave them whole.
- Season the Bok Choy: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, optional sesame oil (for that extra depth of flavor), garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and optional ground ginger. Once well combined, use a basting brush or similar tool to spread this aromatic mixture evenly over all surfaces of the bok choy. This ensures every bite is packed with flavor. Tip: If you don’t have a brush, simply drizzle the mixture over the bok choy and use your hands or a spoon to coat it thoroughly.
- Air Fry to Perfection: Carefully arrange the seasoned bok choy in a single layer within your air fryer basket. A slight amount of overlap is generally acceptable, but avoid overcrowding to ensure even cooking and crispiness. Set your air fryer to 320°F (or 325°F if your model offers that setting) and cook for 6-8 minutes. For uniform browning, consider pausing halfway through the cooking time to flip the bok choy. Cook until the stems are tender and the leaves are slightly browned and crisp, but not burnt.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooked, carefully remove the air fryer bok choy to a serving plate. Generously sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for added texture and nutty flavor. This is also the perfect moment to add any desired additional toppings or sauces, such as the delicious sesame ginger drizzle pictured. Serve immediately and savor the tender-crisp perfection!
What to Serve With Air Fryer Bok Choy
Air fryer bok choy is incredibly versatile and makes a fantastic addition to a wide range of meals. Its mild flavor and tender-crisp texture complement both rich and light dishes. Here are some ideas to inspire your next meal:
- Asian-Inspired Meals:
- Ramen or any noodle dish
- Rice bowls (white, brown, or fried rice)
- Stir-fried vegetables with your favorite protein
- Alongside Air Fryer Frozen Spring Rolls, Potstickers, or Dumplings (like Bibigo Dumplings in the Air Fryer)
- With Kimchi for a fermented kick
- Proteins & Main Courses:
- Grilled chicken, especially with a savory glaze (e.g., Honey Sriracha Chicken in the Air Fryer)
- Shrimp, either grilled, sautéed, or air-fried (try it with Air Fryer Shrimp and Crab Toast)
- Crab or other seafood
- Fish, like Swordfish Steak in the Air Fryer
- Pork, such as pork loin or tenderloin
- Tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian option
- Eggs, whether scrambled, fried, or in an omelet
- Soups & Salads:
- Adds a fresh, green element to any soup, especially clear broths or miso soup.
- Chopped and added to a hearty salad for extra crunch and nutrients.
Whether you’re looking for a quick and healthy vegetable side or an ingredient to elevate your main course, bok choy fits the bill beautifully. It works well as a vibrant complement to various proteins and can even be a delicious filling for wraps or a fresh component in grain bowls.
Recipe FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What Is Air Fryer Bok Choy?
Air fryer bok choy is a delicious, simple, and highly nutritious dish created by cooking bok choy in an air fryer. This method offers a convenient and healthier alternative to traditional stovetop cooking, resulting in wonderfully tender stems and beautifully crispy, slightly charred leaves. It’s known for its quick preparation and minimal oil usage, making it an ideal choice for a healthy weeknight side.
How Do You Prepare Bok Choy for Cooking in the Air Fryer?
To prepare bok choy for the air fryer, start by thoroughly washing the bok choy under cold running water. Pay special attention to the base and between the leaves, as dirt often accumulates there. Trim off the very ends of the stems and separate the leaves if they are very large, or cut the bok choy into halves or quarters lengthwise (for larger heads). For baby bok choy, you can often leave them whole. Crucially, pat the bok choy completely dry with paper towels before seasoning and air frying to ensure it crisps up properly.
What Seasonings and Flavors Pair Well With Bok Choy?
Air fryer bok choy is incredibly versatile and pairs well with a wide array of seasonings and flavors. Our recipe uses a classic combination of garlic powder, ginger, salt, pepper, and sesame oil. However, you can easily experiment with others:
- Asian-inspired: Soy sauce, hoisin sauce, five-spice powder, chili flakes, rice vinegar.
- Mediterranean: Lemon juice, olive oil, dried oregano, a sprinkle of Parmesan.
- Spicy: Sriracha, Gochujang, or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Herbal: Fresh chives, cilantro, or a touch of dill can add a fresh twist.
The key is to use a good quality oil to help the seasonings adhere and promote browning.
Can You Cook Other Ingredients Alongside Bok Choy in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can certainly cook other ingredients alongside bok choy in the air fryer, provided they have similar cooking times or are added in stages. Great companions include thinly sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, small cubes of tofu, or shrimp. For ingredients with longer cooking times, you might want to pre-cook them slightly or add them to the air fryer a few minutes before the bok choy. Always ensure the air fryer basket isn’t overcrowded to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking.
Is Air Fryer Bok Choy Healthy?
Absolutely, air fryer bok choy is widely considered a very healthy and nutritious dish. Bok choy itself is a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate vegetable packed with an impressive nutritional profile. It’s an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, along with essential minerals like calcium, potassium, and beneficial dietary fiber. Air frying is a light cooking method that requires significantly less oil compared to traditional frying or sautéing, further enhancing its health credentials. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy a nutrient-dense vegetable.
What Are Some Serving Suggestions for Air Fryer Bok Choy?
Air fryer bok choy is incredibly versatile as a side dish, complementing almost any main course. It pairs wonderfully with grilled meats like chicken, beef, pork, or fish. It’s also an excellent addition to plant-based meals, such as with grilled tofu or tempeh. Consider adding it to stir-fries, noodle dishes, or grain bowls for a nutritious boost of greens. For an appealing presentation and extra flavor, garnish with toasted sesame seeds, sliced green onions, or a final drizzle of a complementary sauce.
Recipe Pro Tips for the Best Air Fryer Bok Choy
To ensure your air fryer bok choy comes out perfectly every time, keep these expert tips in mind:
- Dealing with Long Bok Choy: If you’re working with very long bok choy, don’t worry about fitting it perfectly straight in the air fryer. You can gently lay the pieces in a curved fashion, or even tuck the leafy ends underneath the stems. This technique helps the leaves stay slightly less crispy and more tender, if that’s your preference.
- To Flip or Not to Flip?: Flipping your pok choi halfway through the cooking time is optional. If you desire even browning and crispiness on both sides, a flip is recommended. However, if you prefer one side to be more browned and the underside to remain softer and juicier, you can skip the flip. As mentioned, tucking the leaves under the stem will also keep them softer and more succulent rather than crisp, so choose the option that aligns with your texture preference!
- Air Fryer Variations & Testing Doneness: My bok choy was perfectly cooked after 7 minutes in my Ninja air fryer, without any preheating. It’s important to remember that exact cooking times can vary significantly between different air fryer brands and models, as well as the size and thickness of your bok choy, and your desired level of crispiness and browning. Always use the suggested time as a guideline and check for doneness frequently, adjusting as necessary. The stems should be tender when pierced with a fork, and the leaves should be slightly wilted with some crispy edges.
- Avoid Overcrowding: This is a golden rule for air frying! Placing too much bok choy in the basket at once will steam rather than crisp it. Air needs to circulate freely around each piece. If you have a large batch, cook it in two or more smaller batches to ensure every piece gets that desirable tender-crisp texture.
- Preheating Your Air Fryer: For most vegetables, preheating the air fryer isn’t strictly necessary and can sometimes lead to the outside cooking too quickly before the inside is tender. For bok choy, starting with a cold air fryer basket allows for a gentler cook, achieving that perfect balance of tender stems and slightly crisp leaves. If your air fryer preheats very quickly, you might not notice a significant difference.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Proper storage and reheating ensure you can enjoy your delicious air fryer bok choy long after it’s freshly made:
- Storing Leftovers: Any leftover bok choy should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will keep well for up to 4 days. For longer-term storage, allow the cooked bok choy to cool completely, ensure it is as dry as possible to prevent freezer burn, then seal it in freezer-safe bags or containers. It can be frozen for up to 6 months. Freezing in individual portions can be convenient for adding directly to soups or stir-fries later.
- Reheating for Best Texture: To reheat bok choy while maintaining some of its original texture, the air fryer is your best bet. Place it back in the air fryer basket and cook for 2-3 minutes at 320°F. Keep a close eye on it, especially the leaves, to prevent them from burning. Alternatively, you can microwave it for around 1 minute on high, or gently warm it in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat with a tiny bit of oil or water. If you’re adding it to a soup or stir-fry that’s already cooking, you can simply toss the cold leftover bok choy directly into the hot dish to warm through.
More Delicious Cabbage Recipes from the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Cabbage Wedges: Easy Roasted Vegetable Delight!
Parmesan Crusted Cabbage: Savory Air Fryer Slices Recipe!
Air Fryer Cabbage and Onions: 15 Minute Vegetable Side!
Secret Air Fryer Red Cabbage Recipe for a Colorful Crunch
Air Fryer Cabbage and Potatoes: Easy Vegetable Side Dish!
Air Fryer Cabbage and Bacon: Southern Style Fried Delight
Final Thoughts on Air Fryer Bok Choy
As you’ve seen, making bok choy in the air fryer is incredibly simple, yielding results far superior to traditional methods. The air fryer cooks it to perfection, achieving that desirable balance of tender stems and delightfully crisp leaves, all without the constant attention required by stovetop cooking. It’s a truly hands-off and convenient way to prepare this fantastic vegetable.
Whether you choose to cook it whole, in halves, quarters, or chopped into smaller pieces, air fryer bok choy is wonderfully versatile. It makes an excellent standalone vegetable side dish, but it’s equally good as a healthy and flavorful addition to soups, salads, stir-fries, and numerous other main courses. Its mild, peppery flavor profile ensures it complements a wide variety of cuisines.
This particular recipe, seasoned with garlic and sesame, offers a perfect Asian-inspired flavor that works beautifully on its own. Moreover, it naturally caters to various dietary needs, being vegetarian, gluten-free, and low-carb. It’s truly a dish that offers both health and incredible taste.
If you’re a true fan of cabbage and eager to explore more delicious flavor profiles and cooking methods, then be sure to delve into my extensive collection of Air Fryer Cabbage Recipes for even more inspiration!
Easy Air Fryer Bok Choy
Equipment
-
Air Fryer
-
Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 Large bok choy (pok choi) cabbage (or about 4 baby bok choy)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ Tsp sesame oil (optional)
- 1 Tsp garlic powder (or fresh minced garlic)
- 1 Tsp salt (or to taste)
- ½ Tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- ½ Tsp ground ginger (optional)
- 1 Tsp toasted sesame seeds (black or white)
Instructions
-
Rinse your bok choy well (dirt likes to get in between the leaves and stems) and then cut into halves or quarters if needed, depending on the size1 Large bok choy (pok choi) cabbage
-
In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, sesame oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and ginger, and then use a basting brush (or similar) to spread the mixture over the bok choy. Tip: if you don’t have a brush, just drizzle it over top and even it out with a spoon or your hands1 Tbsp olive oil, ½ Tsp sesame oil, 1 Tsp garlic powder, 1 Tsp salt, ½ Tsp black pepper, ½ Tsp ground ginger
-
Place the cabbage into the air fryer in a single layer (a small amount of overlap is alright). Cook on the air fry setting at 320°F (or 325°F depending on your available settings) for 6-8 minutes, pausing halfway through to flip them if desired, until tender (but not burnt)
-
Remove to a serving plate and sprinkle with sesame seeds, and any additional toppings or sauces desired (pictured with sesame ginger sauce drizzle). Enjoy!1 Tsp toasted sesame seeds
Notes
- All the seasonings are adjustable to taste and can be swapped for other herbs and spices if you prefer. Try five spice powder, soy, hoisin sauce, thyme, lemongrass, curry powder, turmeric, or sriracha for some heat!
- You can also drizzle any of the sauces over the top for a finishing touch (or to adjust heat levels). Some good choices include sesame ginger dressing, Thai peanut sauce, sriracha, spicy mayo, or teriyaki sauce!
- For very large bok choy I usually cut it into quarters, but for medium sized ones halves are fine (and baby can be left whole). The cooking times will vary slightly based on the size of your cabbage, so just adjust as needed
- If you have very long bok choy, you can lay the pieces into your air fryer curved, or just tuck the leaves underneath (which will help them stay less crispy as well)
- Flipping your pok choi is optional actually. If you only want the top side browned and prefer a softer underside, you can cook it on just one side. As noted above, tucking the leaves under the stem will keep them soft and juicy instead of crisp, so choose your preferred option!
- My bok choy was perfectly cooked after 7 minutes in my Ninja air fryer, without preheating. Exact cooking times will vary between air fryers, different sizes of bok choy, and desired level of crispiness and browning, so adjust as necessary
- Store leftover bok choy in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer term storage, cool completely, ensure it is dry, then seal and freeze for up to 6 months. Feel free to portion it into small bags for adding directly to soups!
- To reheat bok choy, air fry for 2-3 minutes at 320°F, but watch it closely so the leaves don’t burn. It may also be microwaved for around 1 minute on high, or warmed in a pan on the stove. You can also add cold leftover bok choy directly to a soup or stir fry that’s cooking
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and size of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Did you try this recipe?
Mention @TheDinnersDoneQuick or tag #dinnersdonequick! for even more!
Pin Recipe
Leave A Review
