Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a convenient and healthy way to cook foods. One of the many things you can make in an air fryer is roasted peppers. Roasting peppers brings out their natural sweetness and enhances their flavor. It’s a great way to add delicious flavor to sandwiches, salads, pasta dishes, and more. Follow this simple guide to learn how to roast peppers perfectly in your air fryer.
Why Roast Peppers in an Air Fryer?
There are several benefits to using an air fryer instead of the oven to roast peppers:
- It’s faster – Air fryers can roast peppers in 15-20 minutes while the oven takes 45 minutes to an hour.
- Uses less energy – Air fryers are more energy efficient than firing up the big oven.
- Even cooking – The hot air circulates around the peppers leading to even roasting on all sides.
- Adds flavor – The quick hot air roasting caramelizes the natural sugars in the peppers, enhancing their sweet taste.
- Less mess – Roasting peppers in the air fryer contains the mess to the fryer basket instead of a baking sheet.
Overall, using an air fryer to roast peppers is faster, more efficient, and tastier!
What You Need
Roasting peppers in an air fryer is simple. You just need:
- Air fryer
- Bell peppers
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
That’s it! See the instructions below for amounts and exact steps.
Instructions
Follow these simple steps for perfect air fryer roasted peppers:
- Wash and dry the bell peppers. Cut them in half lengthwise and remove stems, seeds and membranes.
- Coat the pepper halves in olive oil on all sides. Use about 1 tsp oil per pepper half.
- Season with salt and pepper as desired.
- Place pepper halves cut side down in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd.
- Air fry at 400F for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through. The skins should be charred and peppers tender.
- Remove from air fryer and immediately place peppers in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or lid so they can steam for 5 minutes. This helps loosen skins.
- Once cool enough to handle, peel off skins. Slice peppers or keep whole as desired.
- Enjoy roasted peppers on salads, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, and more!
Tips
Follow these tips for the very best results when roasting peppers in your air fryer:
- Use bell peppers with smooth, tight skin for easiest peeling after roasting.
- Trim off any soft spots or blemishes first.
- Remove all seeds and membranes for best flavor.
- Only air fry 2-3 pepper halves at a time to prevent overcrowding.
- Use tongs to flip peppers halfway through roasting.
- Roast different colored peppers separately as they may cook at different rates.
- Allow peppers to steam after roasting to further soften skins for peeling.
- Peel peppers while still warm but cool enough to handle.
- Store roasted peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
Common Questions
What types of peppers work best?
Bell peppers are the best for roasting whole in an air fryer. Their thicker walls hold up well to roasting. Other good options include poblano peppers, sweet banana peppers, shishito peppers, and mini sweet peppers.
Do I need to use oil?
Lightly coating the peppers in oil helps them roast up caramelized and full of flavor. Olive oil works well but avocado or vegetable oil can also be used.
How long does it take?
Whole bell pepper halves take 15-20 minutes to roast in the air fryer at 400F, flipping halfway. Smaller peppers like shishitos may only need 8-10 minutes.
Can you roast already sliced peppers?
It’s best to roast whole pepper halves in the air fryer and then slice them after. The slices will overcook if air fried.
How do I peel them easily?
Steaming the just roasted peppers for 5 minutes before peeling helps loosen the skins for easier peeling.
Recipe Ideas
Don’t stop at just snacking on these tasty air fried peppers! Here are some delicious ways to use your freshly roasted peppers:
- Add to omelets, frittatas or scrambles
- Toss into pasta dishes like pasta salad or fettuccine alfredo
- Layer on sandwiches and paninis
- Chop up in salsa, bruschetta and salad toppings
- Stuff with cheese, rice, meat as appetizers
- Blend into hummus or gazpacho
- Mix into risotto or grain bowl
- Add flavor and color to taco fillings and fajitas
- Roast peppers and onions together for fajitas
- Make a red pepper dip or spread
The possibilities are endless for using roasted red peppers from your air fryer! They add a pop of flavor, color and nutrition to so many dishes.
Nutrition Information
Bell peppers are low in calories and packed with beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Here is the nutrition breakdown for 1 roasted red bell pepper (raw):
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 37 |
| Fat | 0.3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Protein | 1 g |
| Vitamin A | 12% DV |
| Vitamin C | 318% DV |
| Vitamin B6 | 6% DV |
| Iron | 4% DV |
% DV = Percent Daily Value based on 2000 calorie diet
Storing and Freezing
Properly stored, roasted red peppers will last:
- Refrigerator: Up to 1 week in an airtight container
- Freezer: Up to 3 months in freezer bags or airtight containers
To freeze:
- Roast peppers according to recipe.
- Peel, seed and slice peppers.
- Lay slices in single layer on baking sheet and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
- Transfer frozen pepper slices to freezer bags or containers.
- Remove as many slices as needed while frozen.
Roasting red peppers in the air fryer yields deliciously sweet and flavorful results. Follow this easy guide for enjoying these versatile veggies all week long in a variety of dishes.