Crispy Fried Okra

This is the crispiest and BEST Fried Okra Recipe! This post includes cooking instructions for air fried okra, deep fried okra, pan fried okra and oven fried okra.

It took me WAY too long to try okra! Okra was not something that I grew up with. I can’t say I was even aware of it until I was a young adult. But don’t worry, I have more than made up for the lack of fried okra in my early life. It’s a favorite food for my husband so we make it quite a bit, especially in the summer months.

” Yum! Perfect easy recipe. I made a sriracha mayo to dip them in.” – Jordan

Breading the okra is my favorite way to enjoy it. The crunchy, salty breading balances out the bite that okra provides. Although this southern okra recipe is mostly served in the South, you can find it on plenty of menus here in the Midwest, too. It’s delicious served with pickled items like these Pickled Green Tomatoes!

To make prepping this recipe easy, I use prepared Cajun seasoning from the store. You can also make your own homemade Cajun seasoning!

It’s actually pretty easy to do, using only standard spices like paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. And of course, if you make your own seasoning, you can adjust the flavor for your taste.

“I love your recipe for fried okra never made it before, we all loved it. I will be making it again for sure.” – Betty

When is Okra Season?

Okra is ready to be harvested about 2 months after it’s planted. In Missouri, that means we have fresh okra in late June, July and August. If you don’t garden, it’s usually a very affordable vegetable to purchase at the farmer’s market or grocery store!

We pick the okra pods from our garden when they’re 2-3 inches long. If you have smaller pods, reduce the cook time by just a bit to compensate for their size.

“It was so good!! Can’t wait to make it again!”– Missy

FAQ’s

Can I use Frozen Okra to make Fried Okra? 

Yes, of course! I have used a bag of PictSweet frozen okra to make this recipe. But, you will need do thaw it first to get the coating to stick well. Before coating with the egg and flour/cornmeal mixture, be sure to completely de-thaw the sliced okra. It will have a slimy texture, and be a little gross to touch. That’s normal, and totally okay. It will still be delish!

Once thawed, you will need to pat the okra with paper towels several times to get it as dry as possible before proceeding. You can also use this method to fry green beans. These are delicious dipped in ranch dressing or hot sauce!

Is Okra Good for You?

YES! Okra is a very nutritious vegetable. It’s full of vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants. It helps your digestion and is packed with Vitamin C! 

Fried Okra Nutrition Information

If you are an occasional dieter like me, you know how hard it is to estimate the calories and nutritional content of foods you fry at home! A little oil is retained in the breading, but it’s very hard to accurately estimate how much oil is retained. These are the calories I generally use:

In one cup of deep fried okra or pan fried okra, there are about 175 calories, 13 grams of carbs, and 9 net carbs.

If you air fry or bake your okra instead, the calories are reduced by about half, with one cup having 80-90 calories. 

What oil should I use to deep fry okra?

For deep frying, try peanut oil. It has a super high smoke point!

For pan frying, I recommend avocado oil, canola oil or vegetable oil.

Do not use olive oil as it does not have a high enough smoke point for frying.

Flour Substitution Ideas for Okra Breading

For crispy gluten-free okra, use a gluten-free flour substitute. I like Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 blend.

If you want to make keto okra or paleo okra, try subbing chickpea flour.

How to Air Fry Okra in the Air Fryer

Want to have crispy fried okra with less oil? I’ve got you! Air Fryer fried okra is a healthier alternative to traditional fried okra. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.

Storing Leftover Fried Okra

If you have leftovers, store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To help the leftovers crisp back up, try reheating them in the air fryer or under the oven broiler.

Made these in the air fryer and with frozen pre-cut okra – turned out great!” – Corrine

I hope that you love this Southern fried okra recipe! If you end up making it, I’d love to hear how it went for you in the comments below.

Love this Air Fryer Okra recipe? I think you’ll also enjoy my Deep-Fried Cajun Turkey or these Air Fryer Chicken Thighs!