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This air fryer fried olives recipe is a diabetic-friendly, low-carb appetizer made with black olives, parmesan cheese, and almond flour, designed for anyone looking for a crispy snack without traditional breading and ready in about 15 minutes.

These air fryer fried olives are crispy on the outside, warm on the inside, and made without flour or breadcrumbs. The coating is simple, low-carb, and cooks quickly in the air fryer. They’re perfect as an easy appetizer or snack and pair well with a garlic aioli or dipping sauce.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Made in the air fryer for even cooking
  • Low-carb and diabetic-friendly with no flour
  • Crispy, golden brown texture without deep frying
  • Ready in under 15 minutes

Fried Olives

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Servings: 3

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup black olives pitted and drained
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup almond flour
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Olive oil spray or avocado oil spray
  • 1 –2 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese cut into very small cubes

Method
 

  1. Drain the olives and pat them completely dry with paper towels. Removing moisture helps the coating stick and keeps the olives crispy
  2. If using mozzarella, cut low-moisture mozzarella into pea-sized cubes. Stuff one small cube into each olive. Place olives in the freezer for 10–15 minutes to prevent cheese from leaking during cooking.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk the egg.
  4. In a separate bowl, mix the parmesan cheese, almond flour and spices
  5. Dip each olive into the egg wash, then roll in the parmesan mixture, pressing gently so the coating adheres evenly.
  6. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Lightly spray the basket with oil.
  7. Arrange olives in a single layer and spray lightly on top.
  8. Air fry for 6–8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden brown and crisp.

Notes

We tested this recipe with both plain and mozzarella-stuffed olives and found that drying the olives thoroughly and freezing stuffed olives briefly produces the crispiest results. For best texture, use finely grated parmesan rather than shredded cheese.

Tips for Best Results

  • Pat olives very dry before coating
  • Use finely grated parmesan for even crisping
  • Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket
  • Freeze stuffed olives to prevent cheese leaks
  • Serve immediately for best texture

Variations & Substitutions

  • Keto: Use only parmesan and omit almond flour
  • Spicy: Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne or chili flakes
  • Italian-style: Add ½ teaspoon dried oregano or basil
  • Pan-fried: Fry in shallow oil over medium heat for 2–3 minutes per side
Can you make fried olives in the air fryer?

 Yes. This recipe was designed for the air fryer and cooks evenly when shaken halfway through.

Are fried olives diabetic-friendly?

This version is diabetic-friendly because it uses almond flour and cheese instead of breadcrumbs or flour.

Can you stuff fried olives with mozzarella?

Yes, but low-moisture mozzarella works best and should be frozen briefly before cooking.

 Do fried olives need flour?

No. This recipe uses parmesan cheese and almond flour instead of regular flour.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these air fryer fried olives with garlic aioli, ranch dip, or spicy mayo. They pair well with other low-carb appetizers like stuffed mushrooms or charcuterie skewers.

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