I admit that bok choy is nearly always included when it’s ramen night in my household. Now that I’ve figured out how to make air fryer bok choy, it’s even easier! They cook up perfectly in under 10 minutes, ready to be added to another dish or served as a side dish on their own!
Bok choy, is a variety of Chinese white cabbage, and is also sometimes referred to as pok choi or pak choi.
It is a type of cruciferous leafy green vegetable that belongs to the Brassica genus, which includes cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. It is widely used in Asian cuisine, particularly in Chinese cooking.
Bok choy has thick, crunchy white stems and dark green leaves, both of which are edible. It has a mild, slightly peppery flavor and a crisp texture, making it versatile for use in stir-fries, soups, salads, and steamed dishes.
It is also highly nutritious, being rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, potassium, and folate.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
The air fryer does such a great job of cooking bok choy, it will be one of your new favorite cooking methods! Just clean, cut, season, and that’s it – the air fryer will do the rest for you. No more tending the stove to get them just right!
You can cut up your pok choi into smaller pieces if you want to use them in soups and stews, but they’re equally good split into halves or quarters and roasted. I love that they’re so versatile in that way.
While I’m including Asian inspired seasonings for my bok choy to serve as a side dish, you can season yours any way you like! Treat them similarly to any other type of cabbage and add herbs, spices, and sauces to complete your meal. Don’t worry, I’ll mention some options below!
In addition, this air fryer bok choy is naturally vegetarian, gluten free, and low carb, making it a suitable option for many different dietary needs!
Ingredients List
1 large bok choy (or about 4 baby ones)
1 Tbsp olive oil
½ tsp sesame oil (optional)
1 tsp garlic powder
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)
Ingredient Tips and 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). I’m using some sesame ginger dressing today, but Thai peanut sauce or my homemade Microwave Teriyaki Sauceare other great choices!
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
Step By Step 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 size
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 hands
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 drizzle). Enjoy!
What to Serve With Bok Choy
Soups
Salad
Ramen
Noodles
Rice
Stir fried vegetables
Grilled chicken
Shrimp
Crab
Fish
Pork
Eggs
Spring rolls
Potstickers
Dumplings
Kimchi
There are lots of different things you can serve with bok choy! It works well as a side dish to various proteins, and can be a filling or a side to soups, salads, and rolls of various kinds.
Air fryer bok choy is a delicious and nutritious dish made by cooking bok choy in an air fryer, as opposed to the traditional stovetop method.
It’s a convenient and healthy way to prepare this leafy green vegetable, resulting in tender stems and crispy leaves.
How Do You Prepare Bok Choy for Cooking in the Air Fryer?
To prepare bok choy for cooking in the air fryer, start by washing the bok choy thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
Trim off the ends of the stems and separate the leaves. Pat the bok choy dry with paper towels, and cut into smaller pieces if desired before seasoning and air frying.
What Seasonings and Flavors Pair Well with Air Fryer Bok Choy?
Air fryer bok choy pairs well with a variety of seasonings and flavors, including garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, chili flakes, and lemon juice.
Experiment with different combinations to create your desired flavor profile.
How Do You Cook Bok Choy in the Air Fryer?
To cook bok choy in the air fryer, toss cleaned bok choy with your desired seasonings and arrange it in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry for 5-8 minutes at a temperature of 320°F – 330°F (depending on available settings), flipping it halfway through, until the bok choy is tender and the leaves are crispy.
Can You Cook Other Ingredients Alongside Bok Choy in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can cook other ingredients alongside bok choy in the air fryer, such as sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, tofu, or shrimp.
Just be mindful of the cooking times and adjust as needed to ensure all ingredients are cooked evenly.
Is Air Fryer Bok Choy Healthy?
Yes, air fryer bok choy is generally considered a healthy and nutritious dish. Bok choy is low in calories and carbohydrates but rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium and fiber.
Air frying requires minimal oil, making it a lighter cooking method compared to frying or sautéing.
What Are Some Serving Suggestions for Air Fryer Bok Choy?
Air fryer bok choy can be served as a side dish alongside grilled meats like chicken, tofu, or fish. It can also be added to stir-fries, noodle dishes, or grain bowls for a nutritious boost of greens.
Garnish with sesame seeds or sliced green onions for added flavor and presentation.
Recipe Pro Tips
If you have very long bok choy, you can lay the pieces into your air fryer curved, or 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
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover bok choy in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer term storage, cool completely, 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. Feel free to add cold leftover bok choy directly to a soup or stir fry that’s cooking
It’s so easy to make bok choy in the air fryer, and it comes out tender with just the right amount of crisp on the leaves. No more tending it over the stove!
You can cook it up whole, in halves, or even cut up for quicker use in soups, salads, and other dishes. Bok choy makes a great vegetable side dish, but is equally good as a filling for more foods!
This recipe with sesame and garlic is the perfect standalone option, and keeps it vegetarian, gluten free, and low carb too, so it fits a variety of different dietary needs!
If you really love cabbage and want to explore more flavor profiles, then enjoy my collection of delicious Air Fryer Cabbage Recipes!
Easy Air Fryer Bok Choy
This air fryer bok choy recipe will have your Chinese cabbage perfectly cooked in under 10 minutes! It comes out tender crisp and ready to serve as an Asian inspired side, or to be added to another dish.
1Largebok choy (pok choi) cabbage(or about 4 baby bok choy)
1Tbspolive oil
½Tspsesame oil(optional)
1Tspgarlic powder(or fresh minced garlic)
1Tspsalt(or to taste)
½Tspblack pepper(or to taste)
½Tspground ginger(optional)
1Tsptoasted 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 size
1 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 hands
1 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
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I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
