These Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Roasted Cashews are an effortless, crunchy snack that comes together quickly with minimal hands-on time. Roasting cashews in the air fryer produces evenly toasted, golden nuts with a satisfying crispness.
This simple recipe reliably yields perfectly crisp cashews and explains how long to cook them in the air fryer for the best results.
Perfect for snacking, entertaining, or meal prep, these quick air fryer cashews are a go-to healthy snack. A classic salt-and-pepper seasoning delivers bright, savory flavor.
They make a naturally gluten-free appetizer or snack. Once you learn how to roast cashews in the air fryer, this will likely become one of your favorite homemade nut snacks.
I buy organic, unsalted, unroasted cashews at Costco, but you can also find them in many grocery bulk sections. For best results, use unsalted, unroasted cashews so the seasoning and cooking time work as intended.
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Ingredients
- Raw cashews
- Avocado oil (or another high-heat oil)
- Brown rice flour (or another light flour to help the spices adhere)
- Sea salt
- Nutritional yeast (optional but adds a tangy, savory note)
- Ground black pepper
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
Instructions
Place the cashews in a bowl and drizzle with the avocado oil, tossing to coat the nuts evenly.
In a small bowl, combine the brown rice flour, sea salt, nutritional yeast (if using), ground black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Sprinkle the dry mixture over the oiled cashews and stir thoroughly so the spices stick to the nuts.
Transfer the seasoned cashews to the air fryer basket in a single layer if possible. Spoon any remaining oil and spice mixture from the bowl over the nuts.
Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for a total of 6 minutes, shaking the basket every 2 minutes to promote even browning.
Remove the nuts immediately from the air fryer and pour them into a bowl to cool. The cashews will continue to cook slightly as they cool, so if they look a bit pale at first, they should develop a light golden color within minutes.
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I get many pantry staples from online retailers when local options are limited. Shopping options that offer bulk or organic raw cashews can make preparing snacks like this one easier.
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Air Fryer Salt & Pepper Roasted Cashews (GF, DF)
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- Author: Elaine VanVleck
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This recipe creates a quick, healthy snack. They’re delightful warm straight from the air fryer and store well once fully cooled.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups Raw cashews
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil (or high-heat oil of choice)
- 2 Tbsp brown rice flour (or other light flour)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast (optional)
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
Instructions
Place cashews in a bowl. Pour oil over the nuts and toss to coat.
Mix together the flour and spices, then pour the dry mixture over the nuts and stir thoroughly.
Pour the nut mixture into the air fryer basket and spoon any remaining oil/spice mixture over them.
Cook at 350 degrees for 6 minutes, shaking the basket every 2 minutes to ensure even cooking.
Remove immediately and transfer to a bowl to cool. Nuts will continue to brown slightly as they cool.
Notes
Use an oil rated for high-heat cooking to avoid off flavors or smoking.
The flour helps the spices adhere to the nuts; substitute another light flour if desired.
Nutritional yeast is optional but provides a tangy, savory note often found in store-bought seasoned nuts.
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Gluten Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Roasting nuts in an air fryer is quick and efficient compared with oven roasting. Coat the nuts with oil and your chosen seasonings in a bowl, spread them evenly in the air fryer basket, and roast at the recommended temperature, shaking the basket occasionally for even browning.
Use a small amount of oil, water, or egg whites to help the seasoning adhere. Mix nuts, seasoning, and your binding liquid thoroughly in a bowl so the spices coat each nut before air frying.
