Crispy Salt and Pepper Cashews Made in an Air Fryer

These Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Roasted Cashews are a quick, crunchy snack made with minimal effort. Roasting cashews in an air fryer yields evenly toasted, golden nuts with a crisp bite.

This simple recipe guarantees consistently crisp results and tells you exactly how long to cook cashews in the air fryer for the best texture and flavor.

Perfect for snacking, entertaining, or meal prep, these crunchy air fryer cashews are a healthy go-to. A classic salt-and-pepper seasoning adds bold, balanced flavor.

They make an ideal gluten-free snack or appetizer. Once you learn how to make cashews in the air fryer, this recipe will likely become a favorite.

I buy organic, unsalted, unroasted cashews at Costco, but you can also find them at many grocery stores, in bulk bins, or online. For best results, use unsalted, unroasted cashews so the seasoning and timing work as intended.

Looking for more air fryer ideas? Try spicy roasted peanuts, sweet-and-salty roasted cashews, savory herb roasted nuts, or a gluten-free air fryer Chex mix.

Ingredients

• Raw cashews — unsalted, unroasted
• Avocado oil (or another high-heat oil)
• Brown rice flour (or another light flour to help the seasoning adhere)
• Sea salt
• Nutritional yeast (optional, for a tangy, savory note)
• Ground black pepper
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder

Instructions

1. Place the cashews in a bowl and pour the oil over them, tossing to coat evenly.

2. In a separate bowl, combine the brown rice flour, sea salt, nutritional yeast (if using), ground black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.

3. Pour the dry seasoning mixture over the oiled cashews and stir thoroughly so the spices cling to the nuts.

4. Transfer the coated cashews to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spoon any remaining oil-and-spice mixture from the bowl over the nuts.

5. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 6 minutes, opening the basket and shaking or stirring the nuts every 2 minutes to ensure even browning.

6. When the cook time is finished, immediately remove the nuts from the air fryer and transfer them to a bowl or sheet pan to cool. They will continue to darken slightly as they cool; if they look a bit pale right away, that’s normal—they’ll reach a light golden brown shortly.

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