Air Fryer Parmesan Sugar Snap Peas

Air Fryer Snap Peas are the perfect side dish to any meal. You can also serve these Crispy Parmesan coated roasted Sugar Snap Peas as a healthy snack, and the ease of making these tasty green veggies in the air fryer will make you happy.

Not only are they a healthy way of getting more vegetables into your day, but they’re so easy to make! Serve them with a sauce like Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce, teriyaki sauce or with a dip like tamarind dip, on top of noodles, or as a simple side dish. It’s a versatile recipe that everyone in the family will love!

I first published this recipe in March 2020. I’ve updated it with new information, pictures, and tips for a better user experience.

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3 types of peas: English peas, snow peas, vs. sugar snap peas

There are three main types of pea pods that you’ll see at the grocery store or farmer’s market: English peas, snow peas, and snap peas.

• English peas

English peas, which are also known as shell peas or garden peas are often only seen in the stores from spring through early summer, at least where I live. They have smooth green pods that are curved and plump, and you can see the shape of the peas (seeds) inside. Their pods are very tough and fibrous, and cannot be digested, therefore these peas need to be shelled and are not recommended for this recipe.

• Snow peas

Snow peas have a flat pod with no real pea shapes inside the pod. These pea pods are edible, and are often used for their pods rather than the seeds inside. They’re great in stir frys or salads. Can you roast snow peas? Absolutely you can! Just follow the same instructions as on the recipe card.

• Sugar snap peas

Stringless Sugar Snap Peas are a cross between English Peas and Snow Peas, are sweet and delicious, and the pods are thick, crisp, and crunchy and can be eaten in their entirety, including the pod! These peas do not need to be shelled and are cooked with their pods.

These are the best in this Air Fryer Sugar snap peas recipe!

Are snap peas healthy?

I’m a big believer in vegetables! Eat the rainbow! These peas are a great way to add fiber and nutrition to your day. They’re low in calories while being high in nutrients like protein, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and potassium.

And they’re a great crunchy snack instead of chips or those Harvest Snaps Snack Crisps.

Do I have to prep the peas?

The peas that I get at the store are stringless ready to eat right out of the bag. Of course, you’ll want to read over the bag and make sure that yours are ready to eat as well.

I do like to wash them off under cool running tap water, just to be safe.

If you grab the stringless variety, you don’t even have to cut them to prep them.

That being said, some people don’t like the texture of the pea pod tips (they tend to be a little pointy and hard), so you can cut the tips off of the pea pods before cooking them if you want.

How to remove the strings in pea pods

If you have snap peas with strings, simply hold a small knife in one hand and the snap pea in the other, with the inside curve of the pod facing you. Cut one of the tips of the pod and pull off the tough string that runs along the length of the top of the pod.

How to fix snap peas

Snap peas are really delicious cooked. Roasting brings out a touch of nutty sweetness in the peas, and cooking pea pods is so easy to do in the air fryer.

First, give them a nice wash. Pop the in the colander of a salad spinner, and rinse them off. Then spin them dry.

It’s a good idea to dry off vegetables before roasting them so they don’t steam. If you don’t have a salad spinner, just blot off the excess water with a paper towel or clean cloth towel.

Toss the peas into a bowl and mix with the oil and salt.

Preheat the air fryer, then drop the coated peas into the basket and air fry these vegetables for 7 minutes, shaking half way through.

The important thing when cooking snap peas is to make sure that you don’t overcook them. You want them to be bright green and maintain a nice little crunch.

Overcooked snap peas can end up soggy and slightly bitter.

You’ll know the peas are done when they’re fragrant and have some nice caramelized spots.

Sprinkle shredded Parmesan over the top and return snap peas to the air fryer a minute or so more. If you want these to be vegan, just leave the cheese off, or use a vegan Parmesan.

Can these be prepared ahead? 

I recommend eating these peas soon after preparing them. They will lose much of their crunch as they sit, and since the recipe is so easy and quick, there’s really no need to worry about making them ahead of time.

If you do find yourself with leftovers that you want to reheat, toss them back in the air fryer for a few minutes. You’ll want to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days.

What to do with sugar snap peas

I love snap peas! They have a bright happy green color and their snappy crispy outlook on life makes me happy as well!

I tend to get on snap pea kicks, and will use them in many different recipes. Here are a few of my favorites: Stuffed roasted onions, Creamy skillet peas, Sausage potatoes and snap peas, and snap pea and corn sauté with tuna.

Air Fryer veggies

I love my air fryer, and think it’s one of the easiest and quickest ways to roast veggies.

If you’re looking to add more vegetables to your meals, here are some of my favorites:

Air Fryer Asparagus
Sweet potatoes
Air Fryer Green Beans
Corn on the Cob

Serve these snap peas with a main dish from the air fryer as well, like Air Fryer Sesame Cod Bites or Pepper Jelly Shrimp.

Kitchen tools you may need for this recipe

Air fryer
Mixing bowl
Mixing spoon
Hot pads
Serving plate
Box grater
Oil bottle
Kosher salt jar

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