How long to cook pumpkin seeds in an air fryer

At-a-glance cooking parameters

Temperature

350 °F

177 °C

Total time

14 min

per single layer

Shake at

5 min

shake once

Internal temp

—

use visual cue

Pumpkin seeds roast in the air fryer in about 14 minutes at 350 °F (177 °C), shaking the basket every few minutes, until they're golden, puffed and crunchy. The single most important step happens before they go in: rinse off all the stringy pulp and dry the seeds thoroughly — wet seeds steam and never crisp. Toss the dried seeds with just a teaspoon of oil and salt, spread them in a single layer, and pull them while golden because they darken fast at the end and keep crisping as they cool. It's the classic thing to do with the seeds from a carving pumpkin, and the air fryer toasts them faster and more evenly than a sheet pan in the oven. Whole shell-on seeds stay a little chewier; hulled green pepitas crisp up more. Unlike Crispy Chickpeas — the other crunchy roasted snack on the site — pumpkin seeds are smaller, toast faster, and burn more easily, and they're distinct from dried snacks like Kale Chips and Apple Chips. 4 ways to season them: sea salt, cinnamon-sugar, spicy chili-lime, and garlic-parmesan ranch.

Per serving

Approximate values for a single portion of pumpkin seeds (USDA baseline, cooked, includes light air-fryer oil spray).

Calories

130 kcal

Protein

6 g

Fat

6 g

Carbs

13 g

Pumpkin Seeds in popular air fryer brands

Adjusted for how each brand actually heats. Tap a brand name to see every food we calibrate for it.

How to tell it’s done

Done when the seeds are golden, lightly puffed, and crunchy — shake the basket every few minutes so they toast evenly. They crisp up further as they cool, so pull them while they're golden rather than dark. Whole shell-on seeds rattle and sound dry when done; hulled pepitas turn lightly tan and start to pop. Watch the last couple of minutes closely — they go from toasted to scorched fast.

Step-by-step method

1. 1

   Prep

   Bring ingredients close to room temperature. Yes — toss the dried seeds with about a teaspoon of oil and salt so they crisp and the seasoning sticks. Too much oil makes them greasy rather than crunchy; a light coat is enough.

2. 2

   Season

   Season with Sea salt (the classic): just oil and a good pinch of salt for the carving-pumpkin snack., Cinnamon-sugar: toss with a little melted butter, cinnamon and sugar for a sweet version., Spicy chili-lime: chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika and a squeeze of lime after cooking., Garlic-parmesan ranch: garlic powder, grated parmesan and ranch seasoning for a savoury snack mix..

3. 3

   Load

   Arrange the seeds from one pumpkin (about 1 to 1½ cups) in a single layer; serves 2–4 as a snack for best convection airflow.

4. 4

   Cook

   Set the air fryer to 350 °F (177 °C) and cook for 14 minutes total, shaking once at 5 minutes.

5. 5

   Check & rest

   Check the visual doneness cue and serve immediately for best texture.

6. 6

   Store

   Cool completely, then store airtight at room temperature up to 1 week (they stay crispest in the first few days). Re-crisp at 325 °F (163 °C) for 2–3 minutes if they soften. Keep longer in the fridge or freezer.

Watch out for

• !Dry the seeds thoroughly before cooking — rinse off all the stringy pulp, then pat very dry or spread them out to air-dry. Wet seeds steam instead of toasting and never turn crunchy.
• !Spread in a single layer and shake the basket every few minutes; crowded seeds toast unevenly and some stay chewy.
• !Watch the final 2–3 minutes — pumpkin seeds turn from golden to burnt quickly, especially smaller hulled pepitas.
• !Whole shell-on seeds take a little longer and stay chewier in the shell; hulled green pepitas cook faster and crisp more.
• !Light hands on the oil — a teaspoon is plenty for a whole pumpkin's worth of seeds.

FAQ about pumpkin seeds in an air fryer

What temperature should I cook pumpkin seeds at in an air fryer?

Cook pumpkin seeds at 350 °F (177 °C). The convection air at this temperature cooks the food gently — higher temperatures dry it out or scorch the surface.

How long do pumpkin seeds take in an air fryer?

Pumpkin seeds take 14 minutes total at 350 °F (177 °C). Shake the basket once at 5 minutes so both sides cook evenly.

Do you need to shake pumpkin seeds in an air fryer?

Yes — shake the basket once at 5 minutes. Loose pieces (pumpkin seeds) settle into the basket and the bottom layer stays pale unless you redistribute them halfway through.

Do you need to preheat the air fryer for pumpkin seeds?

Preheating is optional for pumpkin seeds — most modern air fryers reach temperature in under 2 minutes and the food's total cook time already accounts for the ramp-up. If you do preheat, reduce the total time by 1–2 minutes and check earlier than usual.