Before it goes in the basket
Deseed and cut into flat-ish strips rather than chunks — a strip lies against the basket and browns on one whole side, while a chunk rolls and touches nothing for long. A little oil, and salt at the end rather than the start.
Step by step
- 1. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) for 2–3 minutes.
- 2. Single layer. Arrange without crowding — air needs to reach every side.
- 3. Cook 10–13 minutes. Shake the basket or flip at the halfway mark.
- 4. Check doneness. Charred spots at the edges with silky, collapsed flesh.
The tip that matters
Mix colors: red and yellow sweeten deeply while green keeps a savory edge.
Why this temperature
390°F is what blisters the skin. Pepper skin is thin and waxy and needs a sharp heat to char in spots; lower and the pepper simply softens without developing the sweetness that comes from those blistered patches.
What usually goes wrong
- Soft but not sweet. No charring. The sweetness comes from blistered spots, which need the full 390°F.
- Watery. Cut too small, or salted at the start. Salt at the end for peppers.
- Skins peeling off. That is the blistering working. Either eat them as they are or peel the skins off after — both are correct.
Times vary — here's why
Air fryers differ in wattage and basket size, so treat 10–13 minutes as a range, not a promise: check early the first time, then note what your machine needed. Quantity matters too — a full basket can add 2–3 minutes, and anything stacked will steam instead of crisp. Converting your own oven recipe instead? Use our air fryer conversion calculator.
FAQ
How long do you air fry bell peppers?
Air fry bell peppers at 390°F (200°C) for 10–13 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway through. Start checking at 10 minutes — models vary.
Do you need to flip bell peppers in the air fryer?
Yes — shake the basket or flip halfway through for even browning.
How do you know when bell peppers are done?
Charred spots at the edges with silky, collapsed flesh.
More vegetables
Eggplant · Kale Chips · Butternut Squash — or see the full air fryer cooking times chart.