Enjoy the delicious taste of autumn's favorite squash with this easy Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds Recipe. Crispy, flavorful, and with a hint of spice, these pumpkin seeds are a must-try seasonal snack!
With minimal fuss and a sprinkle of spices, this is a perfect snack that the entire family will love! When you are enjoying your amazing carved pumpkins, you'll have a delicious snack to help you enjoy the mood.
These crispy pumpkin seeds are the perfect way to use up leftovers from these roasted pumpkin wedges.
Looking for more snacks to enjoy during pumpkin carving this Halloween? This Halloween charcuterie board is amazing for spooky get togethers. There's also this Halloween snack mix and Halloween bark for the candy lovers in your life. Wash it down with this apple cider slushie for a fun seasonal beverage!
Jump to:
❤️Why we love this recipe
- A seasonal delight. This recipe captures the flavors of the fall season and is the best way to get a quick tasty fall snack with very little effort!
- An easy and quick recipe. With a cook time of 20 minutes, this is an easy way to enjoy crunchy pumpkin seeds. Plus, you can find everything you need at any local grocery store.
- Economical and zero waste. This easy recipe is a great way to use all parts of a pumpkin and make sure nothing goes to waste. Halloween pumpkin carving will be twice as fun!
- Rich flavor profile. The combination of avocado oil, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper enhances the nutty flavor of the seeds with an added kick.
- Versatile. Seasoned pumpkin seeds can be savory, sweet, or flavored to your personal preference. They are great sprinkled over soups, salads, and other dishes for extra flavor and texture.
🎃Ingredients
Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.
- Whole pumpkins. We used pie pumpkins, but you can use a large pumpkin. We find the smaller size easier to work with. Both sizes have about the same amount of seeds to work with.
Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.
✨Substitutions & variations
Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.
- Oil. If you don't have avocado oil, you can use other oils like olive oil, coconut oil, or melted butter. Choose an oil with a high smoke point if possible.
- Salt. If you don't have kosher salt, you can use sea salt or table salt. Just adjust the amount as table salt is finer and might make the seeds saltier if used in the same quantity.
- Milder flavor. Replace smoked paprika with regular paprika or chili powder for a different flavor.
- Smoky flavor. Swap salt for smoked salt or add chipotle powder for a smokier profile.
- Cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds. For a sweeter version, replace spices with some cinnamon and brown sugar.
- Zesty. For a zesty twist, you can add some lime or lemon zest to the seasoning.
- Herby. Adding in thyme, oregano, or rosemary can give you a herby flavor to this recipe.
- Custom blend. If you have a seasoning blend you enjoy, feel free to mix the seeds with it before air frying!
🔪Prep work
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Measure out the rest of the ingredients.
📋Instructions
Start by removing the pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin. Lay the pumpkin on its side and carefully, use a very sharp knife to cut the top of the pumpkin off.
Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and pumpkin guts into a large bowl. (Image 1)
Wash and dry the pumpkin seeds well with either a paper towel or a kitchen towel. (Image 2)
✨Pro Tip: Make sure that seeds are completely dry for the best crunch! If they are too wet, they will get soggy and chewy in the air fryer.
Pour in the avocado oil and the seasonings of choice. Combine until everything is well coated. (Image 3)
On an air fryer basket or tray, place the seeds in a single layer. (Image 4)
Air-fry the pumpkin seeds for 7 -10 minutes or until golden brown, flipping halfway through. Add more salt if desired and enjoy!
✨Tips & tricks
- Make sure the seeds are as dry as possible for the best crunch. To ensure crispy air fryer pumpkin seeds, make sure they are dry before inserting into the air fryer. This will give you the best crunchy snack possible versus a chewy one.
- Watch the seeds closely. Pumpkin seeds can go from golden brown to burnt very quickly. Keep an eye on them near the end of the process to prevent over-browning.
- Clean the seeds for the best flavor. Clean pumpkin seeds without any pumpkin pulp will create the best result. Wash and rinse completely before cooking them.
Need supplies? Shop our Amazon store! Stock your pantry and find all of our favorite kitchen tools! A Full Living LLC earns a small commission through purchases on our storefront to help support this site.
💭Frequently Asked Questions
if you have leftovers, let them cool completely to room temperature to prevent condensation and store them in an airtight container for up to a week. They don't need to be refrigerated. If you need to make them crispy again, place them in the air fryer for a few minutes at 375°F. Do need freeze.
No, in our opinion, you don't need to soak the seeds before enjoying them. However, if you'd like, you can soak the pumpkin seeds in a mixture of water and salt for 12-24 hours before enjoying. This helps remove some of the membrane on the seeds.
🎃More Recipes To Consider
Did you try this recipe? Make sure to leave a 5-star review below! 🌟 This helps other readers find our recipes and encourages them to try them. Also, be sure to leave a comment with your experience. Follow along, and tag @AFullLiving on Instagram with your photos!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds, cleaned cleaned
- 4 teaspoons avocado oil
- ½ - 1 teaspoon kosher salt (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional and to taste)
- pinch cayenne pepper (optional and to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Cut the top off of the pumpkin, and scoop out the seeds with a large spoon. Separate the seeds from the pumpkin pulp by washing the seeds in water.
- Dry the seeds off well with a paper towel. Toss the seeds with 4 teaspoons of avocado oil, black pepper, salt, and seasonings to taste until well coated.
- Place the seeds on a prepared air fryer tray or in a basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 7-10 minutes, tossing halfway through until golden brown and crispy.
- Add more salt if desired before enjoying and dig in!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Do not freeze. Refrdigeration isn't necessary.
Notes
-
- Make sure the seeds are as dry as possible for the best crunch. To ensure crispy air fryer pumpkin seeds, make sure they are dry before inserting into the air fryer. This will give you the best crunchy snack possible versus a chewy one.
-
- Watch the seeds closely. Pumpkin seeds can go from golden brown to burnt very quickly. Keep an eye on them near the end of the process to prevent over-browning.
-
- Clean the seeds for the best flavor. Clean pumpkin seeds without any pumpkin pulp will create the best results. Wash and rinse completely before cooking them.
Comments
No Comments