Air Fryer Peanuts in Three Flavours! [No Oil Needed]

Name: Air Fryer Peanuts in Three Flavours! [No Oil Needed]
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 cup raw peanuts (unsalted); 1 tablespoon aquafaba (or neutral flavoured oil); 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon sea salt; 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon coconut sugar (or brown sugar); 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Published: Jul 13, 2022 · Modified: Jun 11, 2022 by Rosa · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

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Three fantastic flavours of air fryer peanuts that taste like they’ve been roasted, but are so much faster to make. Try our salt and pepper, smoky BBQ, and churros flavours! They will not disappoint.

Three bowls of roasted peanuts in three different flavours.

These air fryer peanuts are a fun and delicious snack that you can whip up in just 15 minutes. It’s naturally vegan and gluten-free, making it suitable for most diets.

It was inspired by my oil-free air-fried chickpeas that come with FIVE flavour choices. So if you’re a fan of chickpeas, I highly recommend trying those, also.

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Ingredients + Substitutions
Instructions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Expert Tips
More delicious air fried snacks
📖 Recipe

Ingredients + Substitutions

Here’s what you’ll need to make your air fryer peanuts:

Bowls of peanuts and bowls of seasoning scattered on kitchen counter. — *See recipe card for quantities.*

Raw peanuts: I like to use raw blanched peanuts that have their skins removed. But skin on peanuts work as well.
Aquafaba: To reduce the fat content (there’s enough from the peanuts 😉 ), I use aquafaba (the liquid remaining after cooking dried chickpeas) to replace the need for olive oil. A liquid is needed for the seasoning to stick to the peanuts, so it cannot be skipped altogether. If you don’t mind the extra fat, you may use your preferred oil.
Salt + pepper: For a simple flavour option, choose salt and pepper.
Smoky BBQ seasoning: A combination of smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, makes this a delicious savoury choice.
Churros seasoning: A combo of coconut sugar (or brown sugar) and cinnamon, makes this a fantastic sweet option.

Instructions

(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Place the raw peanuts in a single layer in your basket and air fry for 6-8 minutes. (photo 1)

Bowl with aquafaba, salt and pepper inside.

Meanwhile, add the aquafaba and spice mix of your choice to a small bowl. (photo 2)

Mix well. (photo 3)

Bowl of peanuts with salt and pepper on top.

Then place the peanuts in the bowl and mix to evenly coat. (photo 4)

Return the coated peanuts to your fryer for another 2-4 minutes, until they reach a golden colour, but watch carefully to prevent burning. Then transfer to a bowl, allow to cool slightly, and enjoy.

Hand reaching for roasted peanut in bowl of peanuts.

What if I don’t have an air fryer?

You can make these in your oven with similar results. It will take a little extra time, but follow the same directions.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and begin roasting the peanuts, without any seasoning. Roast for about 10-12 minutes, but watch carefully.

Then remove from the oven and season the peanuts with your choice of spice mix. Return to the oven for another few minutes until golden.

Variations

Want more flavour ideas for this air fryer roasted peanuts recipe? Check out some of these spice mixes! And don’t forget to let me know which flavours you try in the comments section below.

Chili Lime: Skip the aquafaba or oil and use lime juice instead. Then add 1 teaspoon of chili powder, ½ teaspoon of paprika and ¼ teaspoon of salt.
Italian: Use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of dried parsley, and ¼ teaspoon each of dried oregano and salt.
Cajun seasoning: Use 1 teaspoon of paprika, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ⅛ teaspoon each of black pepper, white pepper, onion powder, dried oregano and cayenne.
Ranch: Use ½ teaspoon each of dried parsley and dried dill weed, plus ¼ teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, and salt.
Spicy BBQ: Use 1 teaspoon of paprika, and ¼ teaspoon each of garlic powder, salt, and cayenne pepper.

Equipment

We use a Ninja Foodi 8 quart but any air frying model will work for this recipe, including toaster oven styles.

However, since individual models will cook at different temperatures and speeds, check on your peanuts often, to prevent them from being overdone.

Storage

Keep leftover air fryer peanuts in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Expert Tips

Don’t season the peanuts from the start of cooking, or the spices may start to burn.
If making multiple batches (as you should, to try all the flavours 😉 ), note that subsequent batches will cook a little faster, so watch carefully.

More delicious air fried snacks

If you tried this recipe, please let me know about it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don’t forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to see more delicious food and get all the latest updates.

Buon appetito

Rosa