Metairie • New Orleans • Kenner • Southeast Louisiana
Can You Use Olive Oil in an Air Fryer? Easy Back-to-School Dinner Ideas
Yes, you can use olive oil in an air fryer. A light coating can add flavor, help seasonings stick, and make busy school-night dinners much more interesting.
Can you use olive oil in an air fryer? Yes. For many common air-fryer foods, a small amount of olive oil is all you need.
Right now, that makes the air fryer especially useful. Families around Metairie, New Orleans, Kenner, Jefferson, and Lakeview are once again juggling homework, practices, activities, and weeknight traffic.
Fortunately, dinner does not have to become another chore. Instead of making the same plain chicken or vegetables, you can use flavored olive oils to build flavor before the food even starts cooking.
Quick Answer
Can You Put Olive Oil in an Air Fryer?
Yes, you can put olive oil on food before cooking it in an air fryer. However, use a thin coating rather than pouring oil into the basket. Olive oil can help food brown, help seasonings stick, and add flavor. Above all, follow the temperature and safety instructions for your specific air fryer.
Fast Dinner, Better Flavor
Why Olive Oil Works So Well for Air Fryer Cooking
Air fryers cook food by circulating very hot air. Because of that, you do not need to submerge the food in oil like you would with traditional deep frying.
Instead, lightly coating the food can help create better browning. In addition, the oil gives salt, herbs, spices, and other seasonings something to cling to.
For safe cooking, the USDA also recommends leaving enough room in the air-fryer basket for hot air to circulate. In addition, use a food thermometer to verify that meat and poultry reach a safe internal temperature.
Olive Oil Myth Buster
“I Thought You Couldn’t Cook With Extra Virgin Olive Oil?”
You can cook with extra virgin olive oil. However, its smoke point varies with the olive oil’s quality, grade, freshness, and composition.
Therefore, the key is to use sensible temperatures and avoid overheating any cooking oil. For normal home cooking, quality extra virgin olive oil can be a useful and flavorful option.
If you want to learn more about why olive-oil quality matters, Old Metairie has also put together a guide explaining the difference between cold-pressed and regular olive oil.
How Much Olive Oil Should You Use?
Start small. For a basket of potatoes, vegetables, or similar ingredients, about 1 to 2 teaspoons may be enough.
First, put the food in a mixing bowl. Next, add the olive oil and seasonings. Then, toss everything until each piece has a thin, even coating.
If the food still looks dry, you can add a little more. However, the goal is to coat the food, not soak it.
DIY Air Fryer Trick
Use the Olive Oil to Change the Entire Flavor
You do not need a completely different recipe every night. Instead, start with the same basic chicken, potatoes, shrimp, or vegetables and change the oil.
As a result, one basic dinner can take on several different flavors without adding much extra work.
For example, Garlic makes dinner savory, while Lemon brightens seafood and chicken. Meanwhile, Rosemary gives potatoes an herb-forward flavor. Tuscan Herb creates an Italian-inspired meal, and Chipotle adds smoky heat.
Busy Night Inspiration
Easy Air Fryer Dinners for Busy School Nights
These are flexible dinner ideas rather than complicated recipes. Therefore, follow your air fryer’s instructions for cooking time and temperature, then use the olive oil to make each meal your own.
Easy Side Dish
Garlic Olive Oil Crispy Potatoes
First, halve baby potatoes. Next, toss them with a small amount of Garlic Infused Olive Oil, sea salt, black pepper, and paprika.
Then, air fry until the potatoes are browned outside and tender inside. Finally, finish with Parmesan and chopped parsley if you have them.
Why this oil works: Old Metairie’s Garlic Infused Olive Oil is made with Certified Ultra Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil. In addition, it pairs well with potatoes, vegetables, poultry, seafood, marinades, and more.
Louisiana Favorite
Lemon Olive Oil Air Fryer Shrimp
For a bright Louisiana-style dinner, toss peeled shrimp with Lemon Fused Olive Oil, garlic, pepper, and your favorite seafood seasoning.
Then, serve the shrimp with rice, salad, roasted vegetables, or French bread. As a result, you get a fast dinner that still feels special.
Why this oil works: Old Metairie’s Lemon Fused Olive Oil pairs beautifully with shrimp, scallops, chicken, fish, marinades, salads, and vegetables.
Weeknight Main Dish
Tuscan Herb Chicken Bites
First, cut boneless chicken into bite-size pieces. Then, toss the chicken lightly with Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil, salt, and pepper.
Next, air fry according to your appliance directions. Before serving, check the chicken with a food thermometer.
Finally, serve it over pasta, rice, salad, or vegetables. Because the flavor is already built into the oil, you can create an easy dinner without a long ingredient list.
Simple Swap
Rosemary Sweet Potato Fries
Start by cutting sweet potatoes into fries. Then, toss them with Rosemary Fused Olive Oil, sea salt, pepper, and a pinch of smoked paprika.
Next, spread them out so hot air can circulate instead of piling the fries on top of each other. As a result, they have a better chance to brown evenly.
Why this oil works: Old Metairie’s Rosemary Fused Olive Oil is made with fresh rosemary. It also pairs well with poultry, pork, lamb, vegetables, and roasted potatoes.
Use What You Have
Crispy Air Fryer Green Beans
Toss fresh green beans with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then, air fry until they reach the texture you like.
After cooking, add Parmesan or a tiny drizzle of balsamic vinegar for extra flavor.
Even better, you can use the same method for broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or asparagus. Therefore, this is a good technique to keep in your back pocket for busy nights.
A Little Heat
Smoky Chipotle Air Fryer Corn
First, brush corn lightly with Chipotle Infused Olive Oil before cooking.
Afterward, finish it with lime juice, cilantro, and a little cheese. The result is a smoky side dish that works well with chicken, tacos, burgers, or seafood.
DIY Dinner Rescue
“Clean Out the Fridge” Air Fryer Vegetables
Got half a zucchini, some mushrooms, a bell pepper, broccoli, or an onion that needs to be used? Instead of letting those vegetables go to waste, turn them into an easy air-fryer side.
First, cut everything into similar-size pieces. Next, toss the vegetables with an olive oil you like, plus salt and pepper. Finally, air fry in batches if needed.
This is where having two or three flavored olive oils in the pantry becomes especially useful. As a result, you can change the flavor without changing the vegetables.
Dinner Shortcut
Think of Flavored Olive Oil as Part of the Seasoning
Instead of reaching for the same bottle every night, choose the oil based on the meal. For example, Garlic works beautifully with potatoes, while Lemon complements seafood. Meanwhile, Rosemary loves roasted vegetables, Tuscan Herb works with chicken, and Chipotle brings heat.
Finish Strong
Add Balsamic After Air Frying
Olive oil does not have to do all the work. Instead, cook the food with olive oil and add balsamic vinegar after it comes out of the air fryer.
As a result, you get a sweet-tart finish without adding too much moisture during cooking.
For example, try balsamic over Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, chicken, salmon, shrimp, or roasted fruit.
Air Fryer Olive Oil Do’s & Don’ts
Local Metairie Tip
Taste Your Olive Oil Before You Choose
If you are not sure whether your family would prefer Garlic, Rosemary, Lemon, Tuscan Herb, Chipotle, or another flavor, you do not have to guess.
Instead, Old Metairie Olive Oils & Vinegars offers free tastings at 103 Focis Street in Metairie, Louisiana.
Tell us what you usually cook—shrimp, chicken, fish, potatoes, vegetables, pasta, salads, or something else. Then, we can help you find an oil that fits the food you actually make at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Air Fryer & Olive Oil FAQ
Can you use olive oil in an air fryer?
Yes, you can use olive oil in an air fryer. Lightly coat the food with olive oil before cooking. As a result, the oil can add flavor, help seasonings stick, and encourage browning without deep frying.
Can you use extra virgin olive oil in an air fryer?
Yes, extra virgin olive oil can be used for many air-fryer recipes. However, use temperatures appropriate for the food and follow the instructions provided by your air-fryer manufacturer.
How much olive oil should I put on food before air frying?
A light coating is usually enough. Start with about 1 to 2 teaspoons for a basket of vegetables or potatoes. Then, toss thoroughly and add more only if the food still looks dry.
Can flavored olive oil be used in an air fryer?
Yes, flavored olive oils work well in many air-fryer recipes. For example, Garlic, Lemon, Rosemary, Tuscan Herb, Chipotle, and other oils can season food while providing the light coating needed for cooking.
Is olive oil spray better than pouring olive oil on food?
Either method can work, but tossing food in a bowl gives you excellent control. First, add a small amount of olive oil. Next, toss until the food is evenly coated. Then, transfer it to the air fryer. Also, check your appliance instructions before using any aerosol spray inside the basket.
What is the best olive oil for air fryer potatoes?
Garlic or Rosemary olive oil are excellent choices for air fryer potatoes. For example, Garlic adds a savory flavor, while Rosemary Fused Olive Oil gives potatoes a classic herb-forward taste.
What olive oil is good for air fryer shrimp?
Lemon Fused Olive Oil is an excellent choice for air fryer shrimp. Its citrus flavor pairs naturally with shrimp, scallops, fish, and other seafood. In addition, Garlic Olive Oil can be a good savory alternative.
Can I put balsamic vinegar in the air fryer?
It is usually easier to add balsamic vinegar after air frying. As a result, you can add balsamic flavor without introducing excess liquid while the food is trying to crisp.
What foods can I air fry with olive oil?
Olive oil works with many common air-fryer foods. For example, try it with potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green beans, zucchini, mushrooms, corn, chicken, shrimp, salmon, and other vegetables or proteins.
Where can I buy olive oil near Metairie and New Orleans?
Old Metairie Olive Oils & Vinegars is located at 103 Focis Street in Metairie, Louisiana. The shop offers extra virgin, fused, and infused olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars, gourmet foods, and free in-store tastings. In addition, products are available online.
Keep Cooking
Keep Exploring Old Metairie
Ready to keep experimenting? Explore new combinations, learn more about quality olive oil, or shop for a flavor that makes dinner easier this week.
Explore Olive Oil & Vinegar Pairings
Make Weeknights Taste Better
Find an Olive Oil Your Family Will Actually Use
Visit Old Metairie Olive Oils & Vinegars and taste extra virgin olive oils, fused oils, infused oils, and balsamic vinegars before choosing your favorites. That way, you can bring home flavors you already know you enjoy.
103 Focis Street • Metairie, Louisiana 70005
(504) 354-1275
