Crispy Smoked Paprika Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
These crispy smoked paprika air fryer pumpkin seeds are perfectly crunchy, smoky, and savory. Made in under 20 minutes with simple pantry ingredients, they’re the ultimate fall snack that disappears fast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh pumpkin seeds
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Fresh lime zest from half a lime (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the pumpkin seeds: Scoop seeds from pumpkin, separate from pulp, rinse under cool water, and rub gently to remove remaining pulp.
- Dry the seeds thoroughly: Spread rinsed seeds on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, pat dry, and let air dry for 5 minutes until tacky.
- Season the seeds: In a medium bowl, toss dried seeds with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, cayenne (if using), and lime zest (if using) until evenly coated.
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3 minutes.
- Arrange seeds in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd; work in batches if needed.
- Air fry for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket at the 4-minute mark. Seeds are done when golden brown and sound hollow when shaken.
- Cool completely on a plate or baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before eating. They will continue to crisp as they cool.
- Optional: Taste and adjust salt or paprika before serving.
Notes
Don’t skip drying the seeds thoroughly; wet seeds will steam instead of crisp. Shake the basket halfway through for even cooking. Watch the last few minutes closely as seeds can burn quickly. Let seeds cool completely for maximum crunch. Double the batch as they disappear fast. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Re-crisp in air fryer at 300°F for 2 minutes if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup
- Calories: 180
- Sodium: 290
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 8
Keywords: air fryer pumpkin seeds, smoked paprika pumpkin seeds, crispy pumpkin seeds, fall snack, Halloween snack, healthy snack, gluten-free, vegan