Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
Get into the fall season with this tasty recipe for Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds. These savory crunchy seeds are nutritious and totally addictive!
Next time you carve a pumpkin or you make an Air Fryer Pumpkin, be sure to save the seeds!
Roasting them is a great way to reduce waste especially if you like roasted pumpkin or make pumpkin puree. The seeds are delicious roasted and you can make them both savory and sweet. When you roast them in the air fryer they have a wonderful crunch and nutty flavor.
I like to toss them in sea salt but you can toss them in your favorite spice blend or for a sweet take you can toss them in cinnamon sugar. No matter the flavor profile, crunchy Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds make a great snack!
Why You Need This Recipe
- The air fryer makes the seeds perfectly crunchy. Since an air fryer is essentially a small convection oven the hot air circulates around the food and allows it to get crispy.
- Pumpkin seeds are full of nutrients including magnesium and zinc. They’re also a great source of plant-based protein which makes them a healthy snack.
- You can customize them however you like. The only two things you must have are pumpkin seeds and oil otherwise you can swap out the seasonings as you please.
Key Ingredients
Pumpkin seeds – This recipe is for about 1 cup of pumpkin seeds. If you have more you can always do it in two batches. Make sure to dry the pumpkin seeds using a paper towel after cleaning them so the oil will stick to the seeds. See my related recipe for how to make Air Fried Roasted Pumpkin.
Olive oil – Olive oil will help the seasoning stick as well and encourage them to crisp up. You can also use avocado oil, butter or vegan butter in its place. Avoid using vegetable oil. Butter (or vegan butter) is a good option if you want to make them sweet with cinnamon and sugar.
Sea salt – Pumpkin seeds taste delicious with just sea salt but you could also add chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder or just use your favorite seasoning blend.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Steps
Step One
Remove the seeds from a fresh pumpkin. Place the seeds and strands into a colander and rinse the seeds until they’re clean.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Two
Pour the clean pumpkin seeds onto a double layer of paper towels and pat dry. Don’t leave the seeds on the paper towels longer than 30 minutes or they will stick to it.
Step Three
Transfer the seeds to a mixing bowl and combine with the olive oil and sea salt then stir well.
Step Four
Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil and cut 4 to 6 slits into it. This will allow the hot air to circulate around the seeds and keep the seeds from falling out of the basket.
Pour the seeds into the air fryer and set the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Stop and shake the basket once during the cooking process to promote even cooking.
The pumpkin seeds will be crunchy and slightly brown when they are finished. Serve immediately or store them in an airtight container to snack on later.
I hope your family loves this crunch snack as much as might does!
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- This recipe can easily be doubled or even tripled depending on how many seeds are in your pumpkin.
- Roasted pumpkin seeds are the crunchiest when eaten right after they are roasted. However, you can store them in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Feel free to get creative with your seasonings. You can use smoked paprika, dried garlic, or even ground cinnamon and brown sugar.
- Some air fryers need to be preheated. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s guide for your specific air fryer model to determine if it needs to be preheated.
Recipe FAQs
I love to eat them as a snack but they also taste great as a topping for salads, soups, or roasted vegetables. They can add a nice sweet or salty crunch and they add some protein too!
If it’s a sugar or pie pumpkin you can cut it into chunks and toss it with oil and make air fryer pumpkin or roast it. You can also use the stringy inside for compost so nothing gets wasted!
If you have a large pumpkin, you may need to cook your fresh pumpkin seeds in two batches to avoid overloading your air fryer basket.
More Healthy Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes with Cinnamon
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips with Parmesan
- Air Fryer Delicata Squash
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash with Cinnamon
Or, check out my entire index of healthy air fryer recipes.
Don’t Miss These Air Fryer Resources!
Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
Get into the fall season with this tasty recipe for Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds. These savory crunchy seeds are nutritious and totally addictive!
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh pumpkin seeds (about the amount from one small pumpkin)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Remove the pumpkin seeds from a fresh pumpkin. Place the seeds and any stringy material from the pumpkin in a colander. Rinse the mixture until the pumpkin seeds are clean.
- Pour the rinsed pumpkin seeds onto a double layer of dry paper towels and pat dry.
- Transfer the dried seeds into a mixing bowl. Add the olive oil and salt and stir to combine.
- Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil and cut 4-6 small slits into the paper or foil to help the hot air circulate.
- Pour the pumpkin seeds into the basket and set the temperature to 350°F for 20 minutes.
- Stop and shake the air fryer basket once during the cooking process.
- The pumpkin seeds should be crunchy and slightly browned when they are done roasting.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
- This recipe can easily be doubled or even tripled depending on how many seeds are in your pumpkin.
- Roasted pumpkin seeds are the crunchiest when eaten right after they are roasted. However, you can store them in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Feel free to get creative with your seasonings. You can use smoked paprika, dried garlic, or even ground cinnamon.
- Some air fryers need to be preheated. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s guide for your specific air fryer model to determine if it needs to be preheated.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Air fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 134
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 195.3 mg
- Fat: 12.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.3 g
- Fiber: 1.3 g
- Protein: 6.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.
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Such a fun fall recipe!