If you’re hunting for a great snack or a simple appetizer, Shishito Peppers made in the air fryer are hard to beat. This quick, flavorful recipe uses only a few ingredients and takes just 3–5 minutes in the air fryer to achieve tender, slightly blistered peppers with a deliciously smoky finish.
Shishito Peppers
Shishito peppers are small, bright green chilies with a thin skin and a slightly wrinkled surface. They cook very quickly and make an excellent appetizer, snack, or side dish. If you’ve seen them at farmers markets, specialty grocery stores, or on restaurant menus, they’re worth trying at home—especially in an air fryer.
These peppers, part of the Capsicum annuum species, are commonly enjoyed in Japan and Korea as a casual bar snack, often paired with a cold beer. Their mild heat and tender texture make them approachable for most palates: most are very mild, but occasionally you’ll find one with a bit more spice, which adds an element of surprise.
Air Fryer Shishito Peppers
Cooking shishito peppers in the air fryer keeps things fast, tidy, and oil-light. You won’t need a heavy cast-iron pan or a grill—just a basket-style air fryer and a few basic tools.
Equipment for Making Air Fryer Shishito Peppers
- Basket-style air fryer
- Tongs or a spatula
Ingredients
- Neutral oil (sunflower, canola, or light vegetable oil)
- Fresh shishito peppers
- Flaky sea salt or kosher salt
- Optional garnishes: soy sauce, toasted sesame seeds, a drizzle of sesame oil, or furikake
Are Shishito Peppers Hot?
Shishito peppers are generally very mild. Most measure between about 50 and 200 Scoville Heat Units, far milder than jalapeños, which typically start around 2,500 SHU. That said, roughly one in ten or twenty peppers can carry a noticeable kick—enough to make your mouth tingle but rarely intense enough to overwhelm. You can’t reliably tell which pepper will be spicy by appearance, so part of the fun is the occasional surprise.
Where Can I Buy Shishito Peppers?
Shishito peppers show up at many grocery stores, specialty markets, and farmers markets, especially in summer and early fall. Stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and regional chains that stock specialty produce often carry them. If you can’t find them at a regular market, a local growers’ stall or a CSA share is a good place to look.
Shishito Pepper FAQ
- Most shishito peppers are mild; about 1 in 10–20 may be moderately spicy.
- They are a popular bar snack in Japan and are often served with beer.
- Shishitos are usually 3–4 inches long, thin-walled, and slightly wrinkled.
- Fresh peppers should be firm, shiny, and free of soft spots or slime.
- A green cap and stem indicate freshness.
- The name “shishito” combines “shishi” (lion) and “tōgarashi” (chili), referring to the pepper’s bulbous stem end.
- They are a good source of vitamins A, C, and several B vitamins.
- Store fresh shishitos dry in a paper or plastic bag in the warmest part of your refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- They are usually green but can also be found in red, orange, or yellow—these are still fine to eat.
- Available year-round in many places, their peak season is summer through early fall.
Air Fryer Cooking Tips
Air frying keeps prep and cleanup minimal while using less oil than pan-frying. A basket-style air fryer is ideal because you can shake or toss the peppers during cooking for even charring. If your air fryer has temperature limits, use the highest setting available and adjust the cooking time slightly.
Shishito Peppers, Air Fryer Style
Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF for 5 minutes.
While it preheats, pierce each pepper from side to side with a skewer or toothpick. This prevents them from bursting while cooking and allows steam to escape.
In a zipper bag or bowl, toss 8 ounces of shishito peppers with about ½ teaspoon neutral oil until lightly coated. Place the peppers in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer if possible.
Air fry at 400ºF for 3–5 minutes, or until the peppers are slightly softened and blistered in spots. Timing varies by air fryer model and how crowded the basket is; check at 3 minutes and add time as needed.
Transfer to a serving plate, sprinkle with flaky sea salt and toasted sesame seeds, and finish with a drizzle of soy sauce or sesame oil if you like. Serve immediately while warm.
Shishito Peppers Air Fryer
Rebecca Lindamood
Equipment
- Basket-style air fryer
Ingredients
- 8 ounces shishito peppers
- ½ teaspoon neutral oil (sunflower, canola, or light vegetable oil)
- Flaky sea salt or kosher salt, to taste
- ½ teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Optional but tasty:
- Soy sauce, to taste
- Sesame oil, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF for 5 minutes.
- Pierce each pepper from side to side with a skewer or toothpick to allow steam to escape.
- Toss peppers with oil in a zipper bag or bowl until lightly coated. Place in the preheated air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 400ºF for 3–5 minutes, until the peppers are softened and blistered in spots.
- Transfer to a plate, sprinkle with salt and sesame seeds, and drizzle with soy sauce or sesame oil if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates. Calculate nutrition with your actual ingredients and portion sizes if precise values are needed.
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