Parsnip fries, made in the air fryer, are a great way to change it up from traditional french fries. They are surprisingly easy to make, very healthy, and WW friendly. And the lemon pepper gives these air fryer parsnip fries a welcome zing. However, if you don't have an air fryer, you can still bake these in the oven!
They make an easy side dish or snack and pair really well with sandwiches or burgers. Parsnips are a root vegetable that's in season from late summer through the winter in most places. But this is a great recipe for any time of year. This air fryer parsnip recipe was inspired by my sweet potato fries.
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🥘Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this delicious air fryer parsnips recipe!
- fresh parsnips
- lemon pepper affiliate link- this type has garlic powder and onion powder for extra flavor
- cooking oil spray *I use Avocado oil (Chosen Foods brand)
- salt
*see recipe card for quantities
*NOTE: Spray your parsnip fries (and anything you put in the air fryer) with a light spray of cooking oil, but do NOT use an aerosol cooking spray with propellants (like Pam). This can cause damage to the surface of your air fryer and cause the coating to flake off and potentially onto your food. *The label will tell you whether it has propellants or not
🔪Instructions
Peel, cut parsnips in half, and slice parsnips with a french fry cutter/chipper.
*Although a chipper is ideal because it cuts the fries evenly and easily, if you don't have a chipper, you can use a knife, but be very careful because parsnips are hard to cut through
Spray the bottom drawer of the air fryer or the bottom of the air fryer basket, depending on the type of air fryer you have.
Spray a few squirts of cooking oil spray on top of the fries.
Then sprinkle half of the salt and lemon pepper on the raw fries.
Air fry parsnips at 390 degrees F (198 degrees C) for 15 minutes. *Use match cook if you're using a 2-drawer Ninja Foodi
When done, shake, spray again (2 squirts or so) and add more lemon pepper and salt and cook for 8-10 more minutes. *you may need a bit longer if they are not cooked through (soft inside) and don't yet have crispy edges. They take a little longer than sweet potato fries
**Cooking time will vary, depending on the type of air fryer you have and how thick you cut your fries. I set my air fryer for shorter times (I have a Ninja Foodi dual drawer), and check my food regularly to ensure it's not overcooking.
Hint: You can spray with oil again and add more lemon pepper and salt at the end, if you desire. *The additional squirt of oil will help the extra salt and lemon pepper stick
TO BAKE:
*Use 3 tablespoons of olive oil instead of cooking oil spray.
- Preheat oven temperature to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C). (with baking sheet inside)
- Place cut, raw parsnip fries in a large bowl, add olive oil, salt, and lemon pepper, and toss to coat.
- Spread on a preheated baking sheet, in a single layer, and bake for 20-25 minutes or until slightly crisp and cooked through (a fork can easily go through)
- If they are still not crisp enough on top for your liking (and you like really crispy fries), but they're browned on the bottom and cooked through, then turn the oven up to broil (500 degrees F) and cook for about 2 more minutes, keeping a close eye on them to ensure they don't burn.
*Note: these will be higher in calories and WW points than the air fryer version
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Cooking Oil Spray - I recommend using avocado or canola oil spray (non-propellant) for your air fryer, as they have high smoke points and a subdued flavor that does not interfere with the flavor of your food
- Spicy - add some cajun seasoning
- Add-ons - you could also sprinkle on Italian seasoning, sea salt, parmesan cheese, or black pepper if you prefer.
- Dip - you can use ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce, aioli, or mayonnaise mixed with sriracha, and my Garlic Mayo Dipping Sauce goes well with parsnip fries.
- Lemon Pepper - if you don't have lemon pepper, check out this post on substitutes for lemon pepper!
🥗 Main Dishes (that go well with parsnip fries)
Parsnip fries make a great side dish for a main course such as:
- tuna burgers (with canned tuna)- shown below
- Air Fryer Roast Chicken (with lemon, rosemary and garlic)
- sloppy joes
- chicken breast burger
- tuna melts
- salmon fillet burgers (with frozen salmon)
🍽Equipment
Using an air fryer to make parsnip chips is a great alternative to using a deep fryer! You will need an air fryer for this recipe. And depending on the type you have, the cooking time may vary. I have a Ninja Foodi and I LOVE it! I did a lot of research before I bought my Ninja Foodi dual zone 2 basket 8 quart air fryer, (affiliate link)- 9 months to be exact. Yeah, I know, I could have had a baby in that amount of time, but I'm glad I researched it so thoroughly because I got the perfect air fryer for my family and my budget. It's the best countertop kitchen appliance I have ever owned! Some people like the basket-style air fryer, but I prefer the drawers because I can cook more than one thing at a time (and thanks to the smart finish, for different times and temperatures).
I also purchased stainless steel tongs with silicone tips (affiliate link) so I don't damage the non-stick coating on my air fryer.
🌡️Storage
Store leftover parsnip chips in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. You can freeze them but they shrivel a little when reheated.
Reheat: heat in the microwave for 1- 2 minutes, depending on the power of your microwave.
👪 Serving Size
This parsnip air fryer recipe makes 4. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🔢WW Points
This recipe for air fryer parsnip chips is Weight Watchers friendly @ 0 WW points.
💭Top tip
If you have leftover parsnips, grate them up and freeze them. Then you can use them in dishes such as my Ground Turkey Shepherd's Pie!
❔ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, parsnip chips, especially done in the air fryer are lower in calories and carbs, and higher in fiber than potatoes or sweet potatoes.
So if you're looking for a healthy snack or you just want to switch things up, then you'll love these air fryer parsnip fries!
⭐ Reviews
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📋 Air Fryer Parsnip Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 6-8 medium - sized parsnips
- ½ teaspoon lemon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 5-6 squirts avocado oil spray
Instructions
- Peel, cut in half, slice parsnips with a french fry cutter/chipper. *If you don't have a chipper, you can use a knife, but be very careful because parsnips are hard to cut through
- Spray the bottom drawer of the air fryer or air fryer basket, depending on the type of air fryer you have.
- Spray a few squirts of cooking oil spray on top of the fires, sprinkle half of the salt and lemon pepper on the raw fries.
- Air fry at 390 degrees F (198 degrees F) for 15 minutes. *Use match cook if you're using a 2 drawer Ninja Foodi
- When done, shake, spray again (2 squirts or so) and add more lemon pepper and salt and cook for 8-10 more minutes. *you may need a bit long if they are not cooked through (soft inside) but check regularly*My parsnip fries took longer than sweet potato fries did (which was 20 minutes in total)
Garnish:
- You can spray again and add more lemon pepper and salt at the end, if you desire. *the additional squirt of oil will help the extra salt and lemon pepper stick.Serve with ketchup or any dipping sauce you like!
TO BAKE:
- *Use 3 tablespoons of olive oil instead of cooking oil spray.*Note: these will be higher in calories and WW points than the air fryer version
- Preheat oven temperature to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C) . (with baking sheet inside)
- Place cut, raw parsnip fries in a large bowl, add olive oil, salt, and lemon pepper, and toss to coat
- Spread on a preheated baking sheet, in a single layer, and bake for 20-15 minutes or until slightly crisp and cooked through (a fork can easily go through)
- If they are still not crisp enough on top for your liking (and you like really crispy fries), but they're browned on the bottom and cooked through, then turn the oven up to broil (500 degrees F) and cook for about 2 more minutes, keeping a close eye on them to ensure they don't burn.
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