If you are looking for an easy side dish recipe, this Air Fryer Rutabagas recipe is sure to please. The rutabagas are crisp on the outside yet soft and flavorful on the inside. All you need are four simple ingredients ot make this recipe. They make a great side dish, and they are wonderful in soups and stews. If you have never tried rutabagas, this is a great recipe to get introduced to them.
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❤️ Sandi’s Recipe Summary
The Quick Bite: Rutabagas are a delicious alternative to potatoes. They make a great side dish with beef, chicken, and fish, and add delicious flavor to soups and stews. They hold their shape while cooking, just like a carrot.
Rutabagas may be the most underused root vegetables, and many people are not sure how to make them. I see them at the grocery store and at farmers’ markets, but rarely in recipes. They have a mild, almost sweet flavor, and they pair beautifully with parsnips, another root vegetable.
I encourage you to purchase one and try it. This is a really easy recipe created to show off rutabaga’s flavor. They are a great alternative to potatoes! You can also mash them like in my Mashed Rutabagas recipe. These air-fried rutabagas pair nicely with my Grilled NY Strip Basil Steak recipe.
If you want to try an easy way to use rutabagas to see if you like them, I often include them in my Grandma’s Chicken Soup. I have a lot of delicious gluten free side dish recipes for you to try. Let me know which is your favorite!
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Rutabagas – You can find them in many sizes at most grocery stores. They are root vegetables, so you may find them more in the fall and winter months.
- Italian Seasoning – I buy a pre-blended mix, but you can combine thyme, basil, chopped rosemary, and oregano to make your own.
- Oil – Since we are using an air fryer, it is important to use an oil with a high smoking point. Read more about high smoke point oils to use in the air fryer.
If you are trying to decide on what air fryer to get, I have a great list of the best air fryers for gluten free.
How to Cook Rutabagas in the Air Fryer (Step-By-Step)
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 375º F. I used a Ninja Foodi air fryer, but there are a lot of great brands of air fryers.
Step 2: Wash the rutabagas and place them on a clean cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut them into cubes. Place them into a large mixing bowl. You can peel the rutabaga or leave the peels on, as I did.
Step 3: Drizzle oil, salt, ground black pepper, and dried herbs over the rutabaga cubes. Toss to coat them all. I used avocado oil, which is a good oil to use for high heat. (See the ingredient notes section above for more information on high-heat oils.)
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Step 4: Air fry the rutabagas for 18-20 minutes. At the midway point, about 10 minutes into cooking, carefully open the air fryer and mix the cubes up with metal tongs. This will help them brown on all sides. If you have a large air fryer, the extra space helps it crisp. (Note the actual cook time may vary depending on how large your cubes of rutabagas are.)
Step 5: Remove the cooked rutabagas from the air fryer to a serving bowl. Serve hot.
Store any leftover rutabagas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Oven Directions:
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make these roasted rutabagas in your oven. Here are the directions:
- To oven-roast rutabagas, preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Place the seasoned rutabagas onto a greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes, turning the rutabagas midway so they brown on all sides.
- As with the air fryer, baking time may vary depending on the size of your rutabaga cubes.
Serve these air-fried rutabagas with:
- This Air Fryer Cod is an easy recipe. If you have a dual-zone air fryer, you can cook them at the same time.
- You can serve them with this ketchup glazed Gluten Free Meatloaf. The ketchup glaze flavor pairs well with the rutabagas.
- The sweetness of Gluten Free Sloppy Joes is another good pairing with the air-fried rutabagas.
More Gluten Free Air Fryer Recipes:
I am a big fan of cooking in my air fryer. It saves time, which is huge on those busy weeknights. If you use your air fryer often, I have some great recipes to try. Here are some of our favorites:
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Roasted Rutabagas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups rutabagas diced, see note
- 2 tablespoons oil * see notes
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (a mix of thyme, rosemary, and basil usually)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400º F.
- Place the washed rutabagas on a cutting board. Cut the rutabagas into cubes. Place 3 cups rutabagas in a large bowl. Peeling the rutabagas is optional.
- Add the 2 tablespoons oil, 2 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning. Toss to coat.
- Add the rutabagas to the air fryer and cook for 9-10 minutes. Open and stir the rutabagas so all sides cook evenly.
- Cook for an additional 9-10 minutes. The actual baking time will vary by the size you make your cubes.
- Serve this side dish hot.
Notes
- When cooking in the air fryer, it is important to use an oil that has a high smoking point. Some oils are not meant to be heated at high temperatures, and they will taste rancid after cooking in the air fryer. This is a good resource to see which oils have a high smoking point.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep fresh for up to 4 days.
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SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!
It did this recipe pretty close as was stated. I seasoned with garlic powder,S$P, paprika and basil. I used about 1 Tbsp of Avocado oil to coat.i had small chunks. I have a tabletop airfryer. I preheated at 375 for 5 mins. Tossed in my chunks which ended up as. Single layer. Perfect for me. I then set it for 15mins. Half way through I tossed them around and continued. They were delicious. They have so much more flavor than boiling. I will definitely make this again!!
I am so glad you loved this rutabaga recipe, Ann. I have to say, I will never boil them again either…they are much better crisp!
Most store bought rutas are wax coated::: PEEL THEM.
Great idea, Fred.