Air Fryer Peppers
Air fryer peppers turn sweet, soft and lightly charred at the edges in just 10 minutes, with nothing more than a little olive oil, salt and oregano. Cut into strips, they cook evenly in a single layer and need a shake halfway through. Serve them as a side, or pile them into fajitas, wraps, pasta and salads.
- Total
- 18 min
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 13 min
- Serves
- 2
- Per serving
- 130kcal
Why air fryer peppers work
Peppers are mostly water, and a hot, fast-moving current of air drives some of it off quickly. The result is concentrated sweetness and browned edges in a fraction of the time it takes in a conventional oven. It also helps that strips are thin and uniform, so every piece gets the same blast of heat.
Making air fryer peppers
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Cut the peppers Halve the peppers, remove the stalks, seeds and white pith, then slice into strips about 1.5cm wide. Strips of the same width cook at the same speed.
- Season Toss the strips in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, oregano and a few twists of black pepper, so that every piece is lightly coated.
- Preheat Heat the air fryer to 200°C for .
- Cook Tip the peppers into the basket in an even layer, with a little overlap at most. Cook for , then shake the basket or turn the strips with tongs. Cook for another , until soft with browned edges.
- Serve Tip them out straight away. For softer peppers, cook for more. For more char, add and check them often, as the thin edges brown fast.
Ways to serve them
Spoon the peppers onto warm flatbreads with hummus, stir them through cooked pasta with garlic and basil, or add them to fajitas and omelettes. They are also a good side for chicken, sausages and grilled fish, and they taste just as good cold the next day in a packed lunch.
For a main course, try air fryer stuffed peppers. For a quick supper, the strips can be tossed through a pasta with roasted peppers. You can swap the oregano for smoked paprika or cumin, and a pinch of chilli flakes adds some heat.
Common problems and fixes for Air Fryer Peppers
- The peppers come out watery rather than charred.
- The basket was probably overfilled, so they steamed. Keep the strips in a single layer, and cook in two batches if you double the recipe.
- Some pieces are burnt while others are still firm.
- Cut the strips to the same width and shake the basket halfway. Thin tips brown faster, so tuck them under thicker pieces when you refill.
- The peppers taste bland.
- Season before cooking, and finish with a squeeze of lemon or a splash of balsamic vinegar. Red and yellow peppers are sweeter than green ones.
Frequently asked questions about Air Fryer Peppers
How long do you cook peppers in an air fryer?
Strips take 9–10 minutes at 200°C once the machine is hot. Halved peppers take 12–15 minutes, and whole peppers about 15–20 minutes, turned halfway.
Do you need to preheat the air fryer?
It helps. Three minutes of preheating gives the peppers a better char. If your model has no preheat setting, add 2–3 minutes to the cooking time.
Can you air fry peppers without oil?
You can, but they will be drier and the seasoning will not stick. A tablespoon of oil for three peppers is enough.
How do you cook peppers in the oven instead?
Spread the strips on a baking tray with the oil and seasoning, and roast at 220°C (200°C fan), gas 7 for 20–25 minutes, turning once.
How did you like the recipe?
4.7 / 5 · 33 ratings
