Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
Try our crispy spicy air fryer pumpkin seeds for a quick and easy keto snack or savory Halloween treat.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 96kcal
Equipment
- air fryer or oven
Ingredients
- 2 cups pumpkin seeds from fresh pumpkin (DO NOT WASH SEEDS, just knock off the large pieces of pumpkin flesh)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cajun spice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
dried ground - salt to taste (if want to keep cardiac friendly exchange with Mrs. Dash salt alternative)
Instructions
Air Fryer Method
- Pre-heat air fryer to 360 degrees F (182 degrees C). Line your air fryer baking tray with parchment paper for easy clean up.
- When you are ready to carve your pumpkin, do not throw out the seeds. Instead just separate the big parts of pumpkin flesh from the seeds. Do not wash the pumpkin seeds as the little bit of pumpkin pulp on the seeds will add to the flavor. (If you have sensitive skin wear gloves.)Use a sharp knife and be very careful. We like to use a butchers knife with a pointed end to get it started and then cut through the pumpkin keeping your fingers away from the knife to cut the lid off of the pumpkin/squash.
- Place your pumpkin seeds in a bowl. Add the olive oil, Cajun spice, garlic powder and salt to taste and toss well. If you want to keep it cardiac friendly just exchange the salt with a little Mrs. Dash or salt alternative. If you want your seeds more spicy add a little bit of cayenne pepper.
- Lay your seasoned pumpkin seeds in a single layer on your lined air fryer tray. (If desired, add a little shake of salt on top) If you have a small air fryer, you may have to roast the pumpkin seeds in 2 separate batches so that they are not overlapping and get extra crispy.
- Place the pumpkin seeds in the air fryer and roast for 5 mins. Stir pumpkin seeds so that they get toasty and crispy on all sides or shake the air fryer basket and access. The amount of time needed to get your pumpkin seeds perfectly toasty and crispy depends on many factors; size of seeds, size of air fryer and how many seeds you have placed on the air fryer sheet/basket at one time. Pumpkin seeds can go from pale to burned in just a minute so therefore you are going to need to keep a close eye on them after the 5 minute mark. Every few minutes, give your pumpkin seeds a toss or turn. Our pumpkin seeds took 15 minutes to get toasty. Yours may take on 7 or 8 minutes. So keep an eye on them.
- Once your air fried pumpkin seeds are toasty and golden brown on all sides, remove from the air fryer. Enjoy!
Oven Method
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (148 degrees C). Line your baking pan with waxed/baking paper just so that clean up is a snap.
- When you are ready to carve your pumpkin, do not throw out the seeds. Instead just separate the big parts of pumpkin flesh from the seeds. Do not wash the pumpkin seeds as the little bit of pumpkin pulp on the seeds will add to the flavor.
- Place your pumpkin seeds in a bowl. Add the olive oil, Cajun spice, garlic powder and salt to taste and toss well. If you want to keep it cardiac friendly just exchange the salt with a little Mrs. Dash or salt alternative. If you want your seeds more spicy add a little bit of cayenne pepper.
- Place your seasoned pumpkin seeds on your baking sheet in a single layer. Do not overlap as you want the pumpkin seeds to get toasty on all sides. Bake for about 45 minutes or until your seeds are toasty brown on all sides. (VERY IMPORTANT- make sure that you turn and toss your pumpkin seeds every 10-15 minutes so they get toasty brown on all sides. Every oven cooks a little differently so keep and eye on them.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Cajun Spice is a simple mixture of dried paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper and oregano. However, feel free to try any kind of spice variation you enjoy like; Moroccan, taco seasoning, ranch, everything bagel, etc. Have fun!
- Once cooled, store in sealed container for up to 2 weeks. Do not refrigerate.
- Serving size is about ¼ cup.
- The number of seeds in every pumpkin varies by breed of pumpkin or squash and the size of the pumpkin. Our little pie pumpkins had about 1 cup of seeds per each pumpkin for a total of 2 cups of seeds.
- Please note that if your pumpkin has a lot less or a lot more seeds, you may have to adjust the time in the air fryer accordingly. If fewer seeds or smaller seeds, you may need to reduce the time in the air fryer. However, you may have to increase the time if seeds are extra large or more of them.
- In addition, if your pumpkin has a lot more seeds, you will have to increase the amount of seasoning required.
- Every air fryer brand has a different size basket or tray. We have a Cosori brand air fryer. We were able to fit the seeds all on the parchment paper lined baking sheet. If yours is smaller, you may have to cook in separate batches so they do not overlap and can cook evenly.
- We used the special baking tray that comes with the air fryer. A basket with holes will not work out for all the obvious reasons.
- Toss pumpkin seeds midway and often during the cooking process so that they cook evenly on all sides.
- If you have a skin sensitivity, wear gloves while removing the pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 96kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 140mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 126IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg