Air Fryer Peppers and Onions - Easy and Delish!

Ingredients

Peppers: I used green and red Bell peppers for this recipe. I also added two Jalapenos to the mix.

Onion: Use sweet, yellow, red, or Vidalia onions.

Oil: Use 1 Tablespoon of Avocado oil or Extra Virgin Olive oil.

Salt and pepper to taste

Seasoning of choice. I used half a teaspoon of Vegeta All-purpose seasoning.

How to Make Sauteed Peppers and Onions

• Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (195° Celsius).
• Wash peppers and pat them dry.
• Cut each pepper in half and remove the seeds.

• Cut onions and peppers. Slice them how you prefer. I cut my peppers into approximately 1-inch julienne strips. And slice onions into half-circles. (Picture 2).
• In a large bowl add sliced peppers, onions, oil, salt & pepper to taste and season. 
• Toss all ingredients until fully coated. (Picture 2).
• Transfer veggies to the air fryer basket/tray, and lay them in a single layer. (Picture 3).
• Air fry them for 10 to 15 minutes (toss them every five minutes so that they cook evenly from each side). I did mine for 15 minutes total because I love my peppers and onions charred with beautiful wrinkly skin. (Picture 4).
• Fry them until their desired color and crispiness.
• When done the onions should be translucent and the peppers should be golden brown and slightly crispy.

Ways to Use Sauteed Peppers and Onions

Peppers and onions are a classic combination for a good reason - they not only taste amazing but are incredibly versatile. Sauteed peppers and onions can make up the foundation of many different recipes. 

• I love adding them to an Air fryer omelet or Frittata for a tasty breakfast meal. 
• Put them on top of hot dogs, brats, and other grilled melty sandwiches to jazz up the flavor profile. 
• Incorporate them into your tacos, burritos, or quesadillas. 
• Use them as a topping to pizzas.

What’s the Advantage of Cooking Vegetables in the Air Fryer?

An air fryer is the game changer for veggies. Makes vegetables taste better than they ever did before. 

Since air frying uses a small amount of oil and hot air to cook, the vegetables are cooked quickly and retain more of their natural flavor. While creating their incredible outer crisp and crispy skins. 

This means that the vegetables will taste better and have more nutrients than if they were cooked in a traditional manner. Unlike oven roasting, air frying requires little or no pre-heating or pre-cooking of the vegetables.

Flavor Variations

That’s the beauty of this simple combination, you can have fun playing with different oils and seasonings to suit your tastes.

Try using coconut oil or avocado oil instead of more traditional olive oil.

You can also use spices and seasoning blends to completely change the flavor profile.

Heading in an Asian direction? Try sesame oil with ginger and garlic.

Thinking of a Latin meal? Fajita seasoning or taco seasoning is perfect with avocado oil.

Leftovers

To store any air fryer vegetables, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

Freeze them in a zip-lock freezer bag for up to 2 months

Reheat in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes tossing halfway, to bring the outer crisp back.

Is Bell Pepper Skin Edible?

Yes! It's perfectly safe and even beneficial to add the pepper's protective outer layer to your meal. Peppers' skins provide nutrients such as fiber, and antioxidants. Eating their skin also helps retain their unique taste and adds an extra crunchy texture compared to consuming just the pepper's inside flesh part.

The good news for people who don’t like to eat pepper skin. You don't need to blanch peppers. Once air-fried, pepper skin not only becomes gorgeously crispy and blackened but is fully removable in one easy peel. Once peppers are cooled, the skin should peel away easily. There’s nothing more satisfying than peeling off Bell pepper skin.