How To Cook Lentils In An Air Fryer | Easy Crispy Batch

Cooking lentils in an air fryer turns a pantry staple into a crunchy topping, a warm salad base, or a snack you can grab straight from the basket. You just need the right mix of moisture, oil, and heat so they dry out without burning or turning tough.

Lentils bring plant protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and potassium. They fit well in many meals, from packed lunches to late-night snacks, and they keep for a long time on the shelf, which makes them easy to reach for when you want a fast air fryer project.

This article breaks the method into clear parts: choosing the lentil type, pre-cooking or using canned lentils, seasoning, air fryer temperature and time, and safe storage. By the end, you will know exactly how to cook lentils in an air fryer for soft, chewy, or crisp results that match the way you want to eat them.

Lentil Types And Air Fryer Timing

Not every lentil behaves the same once it hits hot air. Brown and green lentils hold their shape, red lentils soften and split fast, and tiny black lentils stay firm and glossy. The table below gives a starting point for different types and uses so you can match your timing to the texture you want.

Lentil Type	Prep Before Air Frying	Typical Time And Temp
Dry brown or green lentils	Simmer in water until just tender, drain very well, cool	375°F for 10–15 minutes, shake every 4–5 minutes
Dry red split lentils	Simmer briefly until soft but not mushy, drain, cool	370–375°F for 6–10 minutes, shake often
Cooked or canned lentils	Rinse, drain, pat dry with a clean towel	375–390°F for 8–14 minutes, shake halfway
Pre-cooked lentils from the fridge	Break up clumps, pat dry, toss with oil and seasoning	380–400°F for 10–16 minutes, shake two or three times
Sprouted lentils	Blanch for a few minutes, drain well, dry on a towel	360–375°F for 6–9 minutes, check often near the end
Lentil patties or balls	Form from cooked lentils and binders, chill to firm	375–390°F for 10–18 minutes, flip or shake once
Leftover lentil stew or curry	Drain in a sieve, press to remove excess liquid	380°F for 8–12 minutes, stir halfway for small clusters

These times assume a basket that is no more than half full so air can move around the lentils. A crowded basket traps steam and leaves the center soft while the top layer dries out too fast. Start near the shorter end of the range, then add a minute or two at a time until the texture feels right in your own air fryer.

Dry lentils need a pot of water before they ever see the air fryer. That pot time builds tenderness and shortens the time in the basket so they can dry and crisp instead of staying chalky. Canned or pre-cooked lentils already have that tenderness, so the air fryer step is all about driving off moisture and building color on the outside.

Nutrition groups describe lentils as both a vegetable and a protein food because they supply fiber, folate, and plant protein in the same scoop. The USDA MyPlate beans, peas, and lentils group uses them in either role, which means a tray of air fried lentils can stand in for croutons or meat in many dishes while still keeping your meal balanced.

How To Cook Lentils In An Air Fryer Step By Step

This section walks through a basic method you can use with brown, green, or red lentils. You can adjust the seasonings and final texture, but the core steps stay the same and work in most drawer or oven style air fryers.

1. Rinse And Pre-Cook The Lentils

Start by rinsing dry lentils under cool running water to remove dust or small stones. For brown or green lentils, simmer in plenty of water for 15–20 minutes until they are tender but not falling apart. Red lentils soften faster, so check after 8–10 minutes. Drain them in a sieve, then spread them on a tray or towel and let them steam dry so extra moisture can escape.

If you use canned lentils, rinse them in a sieve, drain well, and spread them on a clean towel. Press gently to remove as much surface water as you can. This one step makes the biggest difference between soggy and crisp air fryer lentils.

2. Season For Crisp Edges

Move the dry lentils to a bowl. For every cup of cooked lentils, add about one teaspoon of oil with a high smoke point such as avocado, canola, or sunflower oil. Add salt and any spices you enjoy. Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, curry powder, dried herbs, and a pinch of chili powder all work well. Toss until every lentil looks lightly coated without pools of oil in the bottom of the bowl.

3. Set Temperature And Preheat If Needed

Check your air fryer manual, since some models heat almost instantly while others need a short preheat. A starting point for most units is 375°F. Lightly oil or line the basket if sticking is a problem, then spread the lentils in a thin, even layer. Try to keep them in a single layer for the crispest finish, even if that means cooking in batches.

4. Shake The Basket For Even Cooking

Slide the basket into the air fryer and cook for 6–8 minutes. Open the drawer and shake the lentils so the ones on the bottom move to the top. Return the basket and cook in 2–4 minute bursts, shaking each time, until the lentils feel dry on the outside. They will firm up a little more as they cool.

5. Check Doneness And Adjust

Taste a spoonful near the end of the cook time. If you want tender lentils for salads or bowls, stop while the centers stay soft and only the outside has a bit of chew. For snacking, keep going until the lentils are crisp all the way through. Shorten the next batch by a minute or two if you see dark spots or smell scorching.

Once you run one full batch, your air fryer becomes the reference point for every later batch. Note the exact time and temperature that gave you the lentils you liked best so you can repeat it whenever you cook lentils in an air fryer again.

Cooking Lentils In An Air Fryer For Different Textures

The same lentil can feel soft, chewy, or crunchy depending on water content and time in the basket. This section lays out simple tweaks so you can match the bite to the dish you have in mind.

Soft And Saucy Lentils

For a soft base that still holds its shape, keep the simmer step on the longer side and the air fryer time on the shorter side. Aim for lentils that mash easily with a fork but still look like separate grains. Air fry at 360–370°F in a shallow layer just until the surface dries and a light skin forms. Fold these lentils into tomato sauce, vegetable stews, or grain bowls where you want them to soak up dressing or broth.

Chewy Salad-Ready Lentils

For salads, tacos, or wraps, many cooks like lentils with a bit of bite. Stop the simmer as soon as the center is cooked through, then cool and dry them well. Air fry at 375–380°F, shaking every few minutes, until the outside is lightly browned and the center stays moist. These lentils bring texture to leafy salads and sit well next to roasted vegetables or grains.

Crunchy Snacking Lentils

For a snack that feels a bit like roasted nuts, stretch the air fryer time and raise the temperature. Start with very dry cooked lentils, toss them with oil and bold seasoning, and cook at 380–400°F until they feel dry and crackly. Shake often so they toast rather than scorch. Let them cool on a tray before storing, since steam trapped in a closed container softens them again.

Air Fryer Lentil Safety, Storage, And Reheating

Legumes hold moisture and starch, so they need careful handling once cooked. Any batch you do not eat right away should cool quickly and head into the fridge within two hours. Store cooked air fryer lentils in a shallow covered container and use them within three to four days for best quality.

When you reheat leftovers, treat them like any other cooked food. The FoodSafety.gov safe minimum internal temperatures chart recommends heating leftovers to 165°F (74°C) so the center of the food reaches a safe temperature. In an air fryer, that often means heating at 350–360°F for a few minutes, then checking the center with a food thermometer if the lentils were packed in a thick layer or mixed into patties.

If you cook lentils from dry, start with a thorough simmer on the stove so they soften fully before they reach the basket. Undercooked lentils can be hard to digest, and very hard lentils never crisp in a pleasant way. Pre-cooking also lets you salt the water, which seasons the lentils from the inside before the air fryer step adds toasted flavor on the outside.

Flavor Ideas And Ways To Serve Air Fryer Lentils

Once you have the base method down, the fun comes from seasoning and serving. Air fryer lentils pick up spice blends and sauces easily, so a small change in the bowl can give you a new snack or topping without extra cooking time.

Seasoning Ideas For Air Fryer Lentils

Flavor Profile	Seasoning Mix	Best Pairing
Smoky paprika	Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt	Tomato soups, grain bowls, stuffed peppers
Herb and garlic	Dried thyme, oregano, garlic powder, lemon zest	Green salads, roasted chicken, pasta dishes
Curry style	Curry powder, ground coriander, ground ginger	Rice bowls, yogurt sauces, roasted vegetables
Chili lime	Chili powder, lime zest, pinch of sugar, salt	Tacos, lettuce wraps, sliced avocado
Za’atar blend	Za’atar, extra salt if needed, drizzle of olive oil	Hummus plates, flatbreads, chopped salads
Sweet cinnamon	Cinnamon, brown sugar, little pinch of salt	Fruit salads, breakfast bowls, vanilla yogurt
Garlic parmesan	Garlic powder, grated hard cheese, black pepper	Caesar salads, roasted broccoli, baked potatoes

Toss the cooked lentils with seasoning while they are still warm so the spices cling and the flavors bloom in the remaining heat. If you use fresh garlic or cheese, keep the lentils in the fridge and eat them within a couple of days, since these ingredients shorten storage time compared with simple dry spices.

Air fryer lentils work as a crunchy topping for soups, a swap for croutons in salads, or a base for plant-based tacos. You can stir softer air fried lentils into cooked rice, spoon them over baked potatoes, or fold them into a simple tomato sauce for a quick weeknight meal that still feels hearty.

Final Thoughts On Air Fryer Lentils

How to cook lentils in an air fryer comes down to a short list of choices: lentil type, simmer time, seasoning, and basket time. Once you know how those knobs change the texture, you can turn out soft lentils for bowls, chewy lentils for salads, or crisp lentils for snacks without guessing. Start with one small batch, take a quick note on timing in your own air fryer, and you will have a reliable method ready whenever a bag of lentils is sitting in your cupboard.