Air Fryer Side Dishes for Thanksgiving and Christmas

The oven is the busiest appliance on Thanksgiving and Christmas. An air fryer takes the pressure off. It turns out crispy potatoes, blistered green beans and caramelized vegetables in 8–22 minutes, often while the turkey rests. Here are the best sides to make in it, with times for each and a simple plan for the big day.

Air fryer side dish times

Side dish	Temperature	Time
Roasted potatoes, 1-inch chunks	400°F205°C	18–22 min
Baby potatoes, halved	400°F205°C	15–20 min
Sweet potato cubes	400°F205°C	15–18 min
Green beans, fresh	380°F195°C	8–10 min
Brussels sprouts, halved	375°F190°C	15–18 min
Cauliflower florets	390°F200°C	12–15 min
Carrots, sliced	380°F195°C	12–15 min
Asparagus	400°F205°C	6–8 min
Mushrooms, halved	380°F195°C	8–10 min

Shake the basket halfway for all of them. For bread on the side, crescent rolls take 7–9 minutes at 320°F160°C and frozen biscuits 12–16 minutes at 330°F165°C. For more foods, see the full air fryer cooking times chart.

A timing plan for the holiday

A turkey needs to rest for 30–40 minutes before carving, which is the perfect window for air fryer sides. Here’s a plan for a single-basket air fryer:

1. The day before: cut the potatoes and store them in cold water in the fridge. Trim the green beans and cut the Brussels sprouts or cauliflower, and store them in bags.
2. 15 minutes before the turkey comes out: dry and season the potatoes, and start the first batch at 400°F205°C.
3. When the turkey comes out: move the potatoes to a sheet pan in a 200°F93°C oven. Start the Brussels sprouts or cauliflower. The oven is free now for casseroles, or bake the rolls in it. You can also make crescent rolls in the air fryer in 7–9 minutes.
4. As carving starts: cook the green beans last. They take just 8–10 minutes, so they go to the table hot.

With a dual-basket air fryer, cook two sides at once and use the sync setting so they finish together.

The best air fryer sides for Thanksgiving

• Maple cinnamon sweet potatoes: caramelized cubes with a maple butter glaze. It’s a lighter alternative to a casserole.
• Garlic parmesan green beans: ready in 10 minutes. There’s also a small-batch green bean casserole.
• Crispy roasted potatoes: crisp outside and fluffy inside, with far less oil.
• Roasted cauliflower: a lighter option for low-carb and vegetarian guests.
• Brussels sprouts: halved and tossed with oil and salt, then finished with a drizzle of balsamic or maple syrup and some crispy bacon.

Christmas additions

For Christmas dinner, add roasted carrots glazed with honey after cooking, or asparagus with lemon and parmesan (400°F205°C, 6–8 minutes). Start the meal with a platter of deviled eggs made from air fryer hard boiled eggs.

Cooking for a small crowd

For 2–4 people, the air fryer can make the whole holiday meal. Cook an air fryer turkey breast first, then two sides while it rests. Use the turkey cooking time calculator to plan when to start.

Tips for air fryer holiday sides

• Prep ahead, cook at the last minute. Cut vegetables keep for 1–2 days. Most sides are best within 30 minutes of cooking.
• Don’t overfill the basket. A single layer browns, and a crowded basket steams. It’s better to cook two quick batches.
• Add glazes and cheese at the end. Maple syrup, honey and parmesan burn if they go in at the start.
• Reheat leftovers in the air fryer. Most sides come back crisp in 3–5 minutes at 350–375°F175–190°C. See our reheating guide.