Air Fryer Garlic Portobello Mushrooms

Once you try air fryer mushrooms, you may never want to cook portobello mushrooms any other way. This simple method gives them a lightly crisp outside while keeping the inside juicy, tender, and full of flavour.

This air fryer mushroom recipe is especially good with garlic butter. The butter melts into the gills of the mushrooms, carrying the garlic and parsley into every bite. It is quick enough for a weekday meal but tasty enough to serve as a starter, side dish, or vegetarian main.

Garlic butter portobello mushrooms are versatile and work well for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, appetizers, starters, side dishes, or a satisfying snack.

The earthy flavour of portobello mushrooms pairs beautifully with rich garlic butter. Fresh parsley adds colour and a fresh herbal note, while a final pinch of salt and pepper brings the whole dish together.

How to cook Mushrooms in the Air Fryer

📖 Step by Step Recipe

This post was updated on 09/03/2025, with the recipe card placed higher on the page for a better user experience.

Continue reading for extra tips on making perfect air fryer mushrooms, along with ingredient swaps and serving ideas.

Ingredients

For the best air fryer garlic mushrooms, choose simple, good-quality ingredients. This recipe uses portobello mushrooms, oil, butter, garlic, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper to create a rich and savoury dish with very little effort.

Mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms, sometimes spelt portobella mushrooms, are large flat mushrooms with a deep, earthy flavour. Their size makes them perfect for air frying, and their gills hold the melted garlic butter beautifully.

If you cannot find portobellos, large cremini mushrooms, also known as baby bella mushrooms, can be used instead. They are the same variety picked earlier, so they are smaller, but you can cook more of them to make up the portion.

When choosing mushrooms, look for ones with a slightly curved edge. This helps hold the garlic butter in place as it melts during cooking. This recipe is not suitable for chestnut mushrooms or white button mushrooms.

Oil

Oil helps the outside of the mushrooms cook evenly and prevents them from drying out in the air fryer. Spray oil is convenient, but you can also brush on olive oil, sunflower oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil.

Garlic

Fresh garlic gives the mushrooms a fragrant, savoury flavour that works perfectly with butter and parsley. If you do not have fresh garlic, garlic puree can be used instead. Adjust the amount to suit your taste.

Fresh Parsley

Fresh parsley adds colour and a light herbal freshness. If you only have dried parsley, use less because dried herbs are stronger in flavour. Fresh coriander or chives can also be used for a different herb finish.

Butter

Butter gives the mushrooms richness and helps carry the garlic and parsley through the dish. Room temperature butter is easiest to mix. For a substitute, use margarine or a plant-based butter alternative.

Salt and Pepper

Season the cooked mushrooms to taste. You can also add extra herbs or spices if you want to change the flavour.

Equipment

You will need an air fryer to cook the mushrooms. A pastry brush is useful for coating the mushrooms evenly with oil. You will also need a small bowl, a chopping board, and a knife for preparing the garlic butter.

Instructions

These air fryer garlic mushrooms are quick to prepare and cook in just 8 minutes. The overview below explains the method, and the recipe card above includes the exact quantities.

Preparation

To clean the mushrooms, wipe them gently with damp kitchen paper to remove any soil. Avoid soaking them, as mushrooms absorb water easily.

Brush or spray a little oil over the mushrooms, coating the surface evenly. This helps the outside cook nicely and stops the mushrooms from becoming dry or wrinkled.

Cooking

Place the mushrooms in the air fryer basket with the rounded cap side facing up. Cook for 4 minutes at 200℃/400℉.

Make a Garlic Butter

While the mushrooms are cooking, mix the softened butter with chopped garlic and fresh parsley in a small bowl.

Turn

After the first 4 minutes, carefully turn the mushrooms over so the stem side faces up.

Add the garlic and herb butter to the stem and gill area of each mushroom. Continue cooking for another 4 minutes at 200℃/400℉, then remove from the air fryer and serve.

The total cook time is 8 minutes. If you prefer crispier edges, cook the mushrooms for a little longer.

Season and Garnish

Finish the air fried mushrooms with salt, pepper, and a little extra fresh parsley for colour and flavour.

Serving Suggestions

Garlic portobello mushrooms can be served in many ways. They are delicious as a starter, a vegetarian main, a side dish, or a topping for salads, pasta, and pizza.

They are shown here served with Barnsley lamb chops, pea puree, and air fried sweet potato fries.

Main Course

Serve these mushrooms as a main meal with garlic bread slices and tomato and mozzarella salad. They also pair well with air fryer baby potatoes and air fried corn on the cob.

Side dish

Serve garlic portobello mushrooms with grilled meat, fish, or tofu for a rich and satisfying side dish.

Burger

Place a garlic portobello mushroom in a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, and your favourite sauces to make a satisfying vegetarian mushroom burger.

Salad Pasta or Pizza

These mushrooms look impressive served whole, but they can also be sliced or chopped. Add them to salads, pasta dishes, or pizza for extra flavour.

These air fryer mushrooms are simple, quick, and full of garlic butter flavour.

Storage

Allow cooked mushrooms to cool completely to room temperature before storing. Place them in an airtight container or food bag and keep them in the fridge. Reheat and eat within three days.

Reheating

Reheat air fryer mushrooms in the air fryer, oven, pan, or microwave until warmed through.

Here is a look inside the cooked mushrooms after they have been cut in half.

FAQs

We hope you enjoy these air fryer mushrooms. They are quick to make, packed with garlic butter, and easy to serve in many different ways.