Air Fryer Recipe
BBQ Jackfruit Bites
BBQ Jackfruit Bites are a delicious vegan snack that mimics the texture of pulled pork and are easy to make using an air fryer.
Ingredients
- 1 can of young green jackfruit in water (400g, drained)
- 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Method
- Drain and rinse the canned jackfruit, then pat dry and shred it to resemble pulled meat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine shredded jackfruit with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Preheat air fryer to 180°C (356°F). Spread seasoned jackfruit in the air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes, shaking halfway through.
- Transfer air-fried jackfruit to a bowl, add BBQ sauce, and toss until fully coated.
- Place sauced jackfruit back in the air fryer and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Why this works in an air fryer
Patting jackfruit dry lets the air fryer’s fast convection dehydrate ragged edges before the BBQ sauce goes on. The first cook drives off canning liquid and sets a fibrous, pulled texture; the second cook reduces the sauce so sugars lightly caramelise instead of steaming the jackfruit soft.
Equipment notes
Assumes a 4–5 litre basket with the jackfruit spread in a loose single layer; in a single-drawer model shake well halfway and after saucing, while in a dual-zone air fryer use one drawer only or split evenly and check 2–3 minutes earlier because the thinner layer dries faster.
Common pitfalls
- Jackfruit looks wet and pale after 15 minutes? It was not dried enough or is piled too deep; blot with kitchen paper, spread it out, and cook 3–5 minutes more before adding sauce.
- Edges are blackening during the final 5 minutes? The BBQ sauce is high in sugar or the pieces are too exposed; drop to 160°C and stir after 2 minutes to prevent scorching.
- Texture is mushy rather than shredded? The core pieces are too large; pull them apart with forks before cooking and trim any very firm triangular core sections smaller.
- Sauce slides off and pools in the basket? The jackfruit surface is still damp; cook unsauced until tacky and dry at the edges, then toss with sauce in a bowl rather than pouring it directly into the basket.
Variations & substitutions
- Use a smoky chipotle BBQ sauce for more heat; check early in the second cook as darker, sweeter sauces catch faster.
- Swap smoked paprika for Cajun seasoning; reduce added salt because many blends are already salty and can concentrate as the jackfruit dries.
- Add 1 teaspoon neutral oil before the first cook for crisper edges; it helps conduct heat but can make the finished bites slightly richer.
- Use pineapple or mango BBQ sauce for a sweeter version; cook the sauced stage at 160°C if it contains a lot of fruit sugar.
Storage & reheating
Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, then reheat in the air fryer at 170°C for 4–6 minutes, shaking once, until hot and slightly tacky at the edges.
Nutrition
Calories: 150
