Air Fryer Edamame

Air Fryer Edamame is a healthy and delicious snack that is ready in just a few minutes and as simple as opening a frozen bag of soy beans.

The air fryer works its magic again. Air fryer roasted edamame is both a tasty air fryer snack and an easy way for a great source of protein. Make this healthy side dish from your favorite Japanese restaurant (spicy edamame) at home. The air fryer roasts the outside pod of the edamame beans to perfection.

More air fryer snacks

• Air Fryer Chex Mix
• Frozen Biscuits in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Donut Bites

What is Edamame?

Edamame are young, whole soybeans. I used to find the fancy name kind of amusing. But I’ve since learned the edamame is a Japanese word that means “branched bean”. My Dad is a farmer and grew soybeans on his land. I grew up thinking these little beans were food for livestock. But of course soy protein can be found in all sorts of foods and is a staple in Asian cuisine. While the young soybeans are quite tasty, the pods surrounding them are not edible. Air frying the edamame makes the outside pod very simple to remove. The air fryer roasts the whole edamame to perfection, even though it’s been frozen.

Ingredients for air fryer edamame

• Frozen Edamame – this recipe calls for one 16-ounce bag of whole frozen edamame in the pod. I like the Private Selection brand you can find in the freezer section of Kroger grocery stores.
• Oil – My personal preference is to use vegetable oil because of it’s high smoking point. But you could use olive oil or avocado oil or even sesame oil instead.
• Seasonings – This is a personal preference. My recipe seasons the unshelled edamame with lemon juice and sea salt. But feel free to season them with soy sauce, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, curry powder, chili oil and/or black pepper.

Instructions for air fryer edamame

Toss the frozen edamame pods with oil. Add them to the air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in two batches depending on the size of your air fryer. There’s no need to fry them in a single layer, but also don’t crowd them too much! Air fry them at 400 degrees F for 6 minutes. Open the basket and toss them. Then air fry again at 400 degrees F for an additional 6 minutes. Season with lemon juice and salt and serve. Keep in mind that cook time varies depending on the size and brand of your air fryer.

Storage directions

Place the air fried edamame into an airtight container and store them in your refrigerator for up to three days. I don’t recommend re-freezing cooked edamame.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer edamame are a great low-calorie snack. Or serve them as a healthy appetizer with your favorite Asian-inspired meal at home. Here’s some recipe suggestions…

• Crispy Crockpot Orange Beef 
• Grilled Short Ribs with Peanut Sauce
• Asian Maple Sausage Meatballs

Kitchen Tips

• I use a Philips XXL Air Fryer to test all of my recipes on Foodtastic Mom.
• Oil mister for spraying the edamame with oil before frying – I never recommend using a commercial oil spray like Pam in your air fryer basket because it can damage the non-stick coating of the basket.
• Tongs for helping to toss the edamame halfway through air frying

More air fryer recipes

• Air Fryer Apples
• Potato Skins in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Poblano Peppers

This recipe was originally published April 27, 2021 and updated for content December 9, 2023.

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