The first time I made Jamie Oliver air-fried stuffed olives, I wasn’t planning to impress anyone I just wanted something salty, crispy, and delicious. What I didn’t expect? My whole family devoured them in minutes. These stuffed olives are now a regular request around here, especially when I need a quick, crowd-pleasing air fryer appetizer that feels a little fancy (but takes almost no time).
Inspired by one of Jamie Oliver’s stuffed olives recipes, this version is crispy on the outside, packed with a punchy, umami filling, and made in the air fryer so you skip the deep-frying and keep things simple. Add a little parsley, lemon zest, and my personal twist (a pinch of paprika!), and you’ve got your new favorite snack.
Jamie Oliver Air-Fried Stuffed Olives
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Mixing Bowl
- Sandwich Bag (for piping)
- 3 Small Bowls
- Air Fryer
- Tongs
Ingredients
Stuffed Olives
- 20 pieces Large Green Queen Olives pitted, drained, and patted dry
- 4 fillets Anchovies finely chopped
- 1 clove Garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest freshly grated
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley finely chopped, plus more for garnish
- 0.25 cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 large Egg beaten
- 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes for extra crunch
- 1 tablespoon Anchovy Oil from the anchovy jar (optional, for coating)
Instructions
- Finely chop the anchovies, garlic, lemon zest, and parsley together on a cutting board until they form a rough paste.
- Transfer the filling to a sandwich bag and snip off one corner to use as a piping bag.
- Pipe the filling into each pitted olive and press gently to close the olive around the filling.
- Set up a breading station with three bowls: one with flour, one with beaten egg, and one with breadcrumbs (mixed with anchovy oil, if using).
- Dredge each stuffed olive in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, ensuring they are fully coated.
- Place coated olives in the fridge for 10 minutes to help the coating set.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the olives in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and crisp.
- Remove and sprinkle with extra chopped parsley. Serve warm with lemon wedges if desired.
Let me show you how to make your own Jamie Oliver air-fried stuffed olives at home, with a few shortcuts and family-style secrets along the way.
Why Jamie Oliver Air-Fried Stuffed Olives Are My New Summer Tradition
I’ve been obsessed with Jamie Oliver air-fried stuffed olives ever since I spotted them in one of his videos. I’ve always loved olives, but stuffing them and crisping them up in the air fryer? Genius. No greasy mess, no turning on the oven, and totally snackable.
These are the kinds of recipes that make people look at you like you’re a kitchen magician. But don’t worry you don’t need a magic wand, just good ingredients and a little love.
Whether you’re hosting a summer picnic, need a pre-dinner bite, or just want something savory with crunch, this air fryer appetizer delivers.
The Simple Ingredients That Make Jamie Oliver Air-Fried Stuffed Olives Shine
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this stuffed olives recipe shine:
- Large green queen olives (pitted) – Look for the meaty Spanish kind. Make sure they’re dry so the filling and coating stick.
- Anchovy fillets – These bring the bold, salty flavor. Or swap for sun-dried tomatoes for a vegetarian take.
- Garlic clove – Adds a sharp, savory kick.
- Lemon zest – Brightens everything up. Use organic if you can.
- Fresh parsley – For color and freshness.
- Breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes – I love the extra crunch cornflakes add. And don’t forget: stale bread works great too.
- Egg & flour – For dredging and getting that golden crust.
Optional extras I sometimes throw in: a few capers, chili flakes, or fennel seeds for a sweet licorice note.
How to Make Jamie Oliver Air-Fried Stuffed Olives Like a Pro
- Make the filling.
Finely chop anchovies, garlic, lemon zest, and parsley together until you have a rough paste. You can use a food processor, but I prefer doing it by hand it just feels more homemade. - Stuff the olives.
Scoop the filling into a sandwich bag and snip the corner to pipe it into each olive. Don’t overstuff just enough to fill the center and let the olives close up again. - Set up your breading station.
Bowl one: flour. Bowl two: beaten egg. Bowl three: breadcrumbs (or crushed cornflakes). Add a spoonful of anchovy or sun-dried tomato oil to the crumbs for extra flavor. - Coat the olives.
Roll each stuffed olive in flour, dip in egg, then coat with breadcrumbs. Press gently so everything sticks. - Air fry!
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place olives in a single layer in the basket. Cook for 12 minutes, shaking halfway through until golden and crisp. - Serve hot.
Sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon wedges. We eat them right out of the basket they never make it to the plate.
My Favorite Twists on Jamie Oliver Air-Fried Stuffed Olives
- Use sun-dried tomatoes instead of anchovies for a vegetarian version of these Jamie Oliver air-fried stuffed olives it’s still packed with umami.
- Add heat with a pinch of chili flakes or cayenne to the filling.
- Make a big batch. These reheat beautifully in the air fryer for 2–3 minutes at 300°F.
- Freeze for later. Bread them, lay them on a tray, freeze, then transfer to a bag. Air fry straight from frozen (just add 2–3 minutes).
Tips to Perfect This Air Fryer Appetizer Every Time
- Dry the olives well before stuffing. Moisture makes the coating slip off.
- Use stale bread to make your own breadcrumbs it gets extra crispy and prevents food waste.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Give the olives space to crisp up.
- Rest the breaded olives in the fridge for 10–15 minutes before cooking. It helps the coating set.
These tips have helped me get consistent results every time I make Jamie Oliver air-fried stuffed olives, and now you can too.
Why This Stuffed Olives Recipe Is Always in My Summer Rotation
There’s something about serving a tray of Jamie Oliver air-fried stuffed olives that makes people pause. They’re small, yes but mighty in flavor. You can’t eat just one. Trust me, I’ve tried.
This stuffed olives recipe is the kind of dish I make when I want to show a little love without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s quick, it’s flavorful, and it’s become a signature in my summer spread.
And the air fryer? It turns what used to be a tricky appetizer into an easy weeknight snack. I’ve even made them for Sunday movie nights no one complains when these show up on the coffee table.
Tag Me If You Try Jamie Oliver Air-Fried Stuffed Olives
If you give these Jamie Oliver air-fried stuffed olives a try, let me know! I’d love to see your version whether you added your own spin, used a different filling, or just ate them all before they hit the plate (been there).
Food is joy. Food is family. Food is sharing what you love with the people you love and this one checks every box.
