Air Fryer Shishito Peppers Recipe: Blistered and Crispy

Name: Air Fryer Shishito Peppers
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 tsp olive oil; 1 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari); 6 oz shishito peppers

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

It is SO easy to make air fryer shishito peppers! All you need are three simple ingredients, and about 10 minutes time total! Shishito peppers make a delicious appetizer or side dish with their mild and sweet flavor.

blistered shishito peppers in white bowl with lemon wedges

A couple of years ago I was over at a friend’s house for a casual pot-luck dinner party. She was serving blistered shishito peppers as a vegan appetizer.

It was my first time trying this type of pepper. I was expecting a hot and spicy flavor similar to a jalapeño pepper, but what I got was a mild and slightly sweet pepper with a perfect char!

When I was at Trader Joe’s yesterday picking up some fresh veggies, and saw that they had shishito peppers, I picked them up, and put them in my cart!

After a little thought on how to prepare them, it was a no brainer! Air fried shishito peppers would be easy and delicious!

The air fryer is my favorite way to prepare vegetables! It’s so much faster than heating up the oven. Plus, the veggies get perfectly crisp on all sides with just a little oil!

Want to know more about air fryer cooking? Check out my post: Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?

My air fryer squash, air fryer potato wedges, and air fryer buffalo cauliflower are popular, but this has the perfect balance of sweetness and spice!

What are shishito peppers?

They are Japanese peppers! Rather than having a lot of heat, they are mild and sweet in flavor. Although, every once in awhile you’ll get a surprise, and bite into a hot one!

They have become more and more popular in the United States over the last few years, and when in season, you can often find them at your local farmers markets, or grocery stores.

This is the best shishito peppers recipe ever!

Quick and Easy Appetizer
Only 3 Ingredients Needed
Uses less oil than roasting in the oven!
Low Carb and Keto
Vegan and Dairy-Free
Gluten-Free (use Tamari)

Recipe Ingredients

soy sauce, olive oil, and shishito peppers in bowls

Shishito Peppers: These small long green peppers are in found near the other peppers in your grocery store. You’ll need about 6 ounces.

Olive Oil: You don’t need too much olive oil, but enough to help create a nice blistered look. If you leave out the oil, because you’re oil-free, use a bit of water or vegetable broth. You can also sub the olive oil for sesame oil, or coconut oil.

Soy Sauce or Tamari: The soy sauce adds a touch of saltiness. If you are gluten-free use tamari, or simply sprinkle with sea salt.

Tools and Equipment

You’ll need your handy air fryer for this recipe! There are so many on the market to choose from. I recommend getting one with a large basket so that you can spread your veggies in a single layer without having to make multiple batches.

You’ll need a large bowl to toss the peppers in oil and soy sauce. A typical kitchen mixing bowl will do!

How to Make Air Fryer Shishito Peppers – Step by Step

Rinse and pat your peppers dry.

In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil and soy sauce.

olive oil, and soy sauce whisked together in small bowl

Add the peppers to a large bowl, pour the olive oil and soy sauce over top. Using your hands, toss them together to evenly coat.

raw shishito peppers in glass bowl covered in oil and soy sauce

Place the peppers in the air fryer basket in a single layer. This is very important. Do not try to overcrowd your air fryer.

raw shishito peppers in air fryer basket

This will ensure that they get crispy on all sides, and have that gorgeous char look to them!

Set your air fryer cooking temperature to 400 F, and the cooking time to 5 minutes.

There’s no need to toss the peppers halfway through cooking.

blistered shishito peppers in air fryer basket

If they aren’t quite charred to your liking, after 5 minutes, toss, and cook an additional 1-2 minutes, or until you get your desired char.

How to Serve Air Fryer Shishito Peppers

Transfer the peppers to a serving dish.

If you desire sprinkle them with a bit of sea salt, or a touch of cracked black pepper.

You may also like to serve these with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or lime juice for a touch of acidity.

You could also top them with a few sesame seeds if you have them on hand!

A simple dipping sauce might also be nice! I recommend something cool and creamy like this vegan sour cream.

Are they healthy?

High in Vitamin C-One serving of shishito peppers (8 peppers) have 170% of your daily recommended vitamin C.
High in Vitamin A-They also have 80% of your daily recommended vitamin A.
Low in Calorie-When use use less oil, this snack, side dish, or appetizer is very low in calories!

Recipe FAQS

Can you eat the seeds?

Yes, you can eat the seeds! Simply take the pepper, eat the flesh and seeds, in a few bites, and discard the stem.

Will kids like them?

My kids like them! They love peppers! Since these are mild peppers, kids should enjoy them! However, be warned that there might be a few hot ones mixed in!

air fryer shishito peppers in white bowl with wedges of lemon

I hope you enjoy making and eating these as much as I do! Happy snacking!

Check out these other healthy and easy appetizer and side dishes!

If you made this recipe, please comment below and leave a ⭐️ rating. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more family-friendly vegan recipes!

Recipe