Healthy Air Fryer Granola (Quick & Easy Recipe!)
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This Healthy Air Fryer Granola is quick and easy to make in just 15 minutes, full of large crispy clusters and downright delicious! It’s naturally sweetened with maple syrup, full of healthy fats and fiber, and great as a nutritious breakfast or snack!
Love homemade granola? Try my High Protein Granola, this Tropical Coconut Pecan Granola, or Peanut Butter Granola next!
Have you ever made granola in the air fryer? If not, you NEED to try this Healthy Air Fryer Granola recipe. It’s a game changer!
Granola is one of my favorite make ahead quick breakfast foods. I always have a jar of homemade granola on hand and bake up a big batch in the oven every few weeks. However, it usually takes about 30-40 minutes to make.
Not only does using the air fryer to make granola cut the cooking time by MORE than half, it yields a granola that is extra crispy, crunchy and full of chunky BIG clusters in just 15 minutes!
The best part is that this air fryer granola is 100% customizable and you can use any of your favorite nuts, seeds, nut butters, etc!
Whether you serve it over Greek yogurt or with milk for breakfast or enjoy it on its own as a healthy snack, I guarantee you’ll love it and will be air-frying batch after batch!
About This Recipe
This Healthy Air Fryer Granola recipe is gluten-free, vegan, free of refined sugars and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. It’s made with simple ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds, and coconut flakes. The healthy fats, protein and fiber in this granola make it filling and satiating.
We have:
- Heart-healthy and wholesome wholegrain rolled oats.
- Crunchy pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and unsweetened coconut flakes.
- Pistachio butter to add a nutty pistachio flavor and creaminess.
- Warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom and ginger.
- Maple syrup as our natural sweetener.
- A tiny bit of oil to help make the granola extra crispy and crunchy.
- Dried blueberries to finish!
I’m completely obsessed with this air fryer granola recipe and can’t stop singing its praises! I actually had a batch of my Carrot Cake Granola in the pantry but ended up finishing the jar of this air fryer granola first!
Table of contents
Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and easy! All you need is 15 minutes, which is less than half the time it takes to make granola in the oven.
- Full of healthy fats and fiber. The nuts and seeds, pistachio butter, coconut flakes, and dried blueberries provide you with healthy fats, fiber, essential minerals and vitamins and will start off your day right!
- BIG clusters! Using pistachio butter and maple syrup as the binding ingredients yields perfect big and crunchy granola clusters that we love!
- Customizable. You can customize it with your favorite nuts and seeds, nut butter and add any add-ins you like!
- Cheaper and better for you than store-bought granola and cereal. Store-bought granola and cereal can be expensive and some have too much added sugars and preservatives. This homemade air fryer granola is budget-friendly and not too sweet. It tastes better than any store-bought granola I’ve tried!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutes
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: Regular wholegrain old fashioned rolled oats. Use gluten-free certified rolled oats if needed.
- Nuts: I used coarsely chopped unsalted raw almonds and pecans. They add a delicious crunch and are full of healthy fats, fiber and protein. You can use any type of nuts you love! Pistachios, walnuts and cashews are other great options.
- Seeds: Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds (pepitas) are my go-to favorite seeds for granola. Any seeds you love can be used. See the ‘Variations’ section below for more suggestions.
- Unsweetened Coconut Flakes: Packed with healthy fats and adds coconut flavors. They crisp up and become beautifully toasted. Substitute with unsweetened shredded coconut.
- Spices: Ground cinnamon, cardamom and ginger add warming notes to this sweet and salty granola.
- Pistachio Butter: Adds a rich, nutty sweetness and creaminess. Also acts as binding agent for our ingredients. I used a roasted pistachio butter with no added sugar or salt.
- Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil: Makes the granola crispy and crunchy! Only a small amount is needed since we’re using pistachio butter. I love the mild savory flavor of extra light tasting olive oil in my granola recipes but melted coconut oil or any neutral flavored oil will work.
- Pure Maple Syrup: Naturally sweetens our healthy air fryer granola without needing brown sugar and helps all the ingredients bind together. Honey can be use instead but note that the granola won’t be vegan.
- Vanilla Extract: For warming vanilla notes.
- Almond Extract: Adds a subtle intensity similar to the flavors of Amaretto. Use more vanilla extract instead if preferred.
- Dried Blueberries: Their sweetness and chewy texture pairs well with the crunchy textures. Substitute with dried cranberries for a sweet and slightly tangy dried fruit option.
Full ingredient list and amounts are in the recipe card below.
How to Make Air Fryer Granola
Below is a visual overview on how to make this recipe. The full recipe with detailed instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Prepare parchment paper. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Crease the edges so that it takes on the shape of the basket. Make sure the sides go up a little so that it’ll be easier to grab onto and pull out later. Remove and set aside. (Note: If you have a parchment paper liner for your air fryer as shown in the pictures, you can use it instead.)
8. Serve! You can enjoy the granola immediately with milk, yogurt or eat it plain as a snack! Or transfer to a sealed airtight container and store in a cool dry area.
Cook’s Tips
- Heat the pistachio butter, olive oil and maple syrup in a pot. Although not absolutely necessary, warming the wet ingredients over medium heat will make them easier to combine with the dry ingredients. The melted pistachio butter will be easier to mix and evenly coat everything. However, it isn’t absolutely necessary and not doing so will simply give your arm a small workout while mixing to break down the pistachio butter! If warming the wet ingredients, stir in the extracts off the heat and then pour over the dry ingredients.
- Don’t stir the granola or attempt to break it while still warm. Wait for the granola to set and cool down to room temperature before breaking into clumps. If you try to break or stir it while still warm, it will become more of a crumbly style granola instead of a granola with big gorgeous clusters.
- Do not preheat the air fryer with the parchment paper inside. Without being weighed down by food, the parchment paper will fly up to the heating element and burn.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. The granola will take more time to become as crispy if not in an even single layer. It runs the risk of burning if you need to air fry it too long. Cook in two batches if needed but avoid overcrowding the basket.
- Purchase disposable air fryer parchment paper liners. They save time and you don’t have to shape and trim parchment paper to fit your air fryer basket every time. They also protect the nonstick coating of the basket, can be used for various recipes (not just this air fryer granola!) and make cleanup a breeze!
Variations
The great thing about this easy homemade air fryer granola is that it’s flexible and customizable to your taste. You don’t have to use the same exact ingredients always! Here are some ideas to switch up the flavors!
- Use different nuts. Unsalted or lightly salted raw pistachios, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, macadamias, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, almond slivers, etc.
- Use different seeds. Chia seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, hemp seeds or even quinoa.
- Make it extra chunky. Use honey instead of maple syrup. It’s stickier and will create larger clusters and more crunchy clumps!
- Use a different nut butter. Peanut butter, almond butter, coconut butter, pecan butter, hazelnut butter, chocolate hazelnut butter or chocolate peanut butter would all taste delicious!
- Add-ins options. Dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apricots, milk or dark chocolate chips or chunks, raisins, or a combination of dry fruits.
- Make it with no added sugar. Although honey and maple syrup are natural sweeteners, they are considered as an added sugar. To make this air fryer granola free of added sugars, use 2 tablespoons of unsweetened applesauce, half a mashed banana and 2 tablespoons of any nut butter. These wet ingredients will serve as the binding agent and will sweeten the granola. Also, be sure to use dried blueberries that are sweetened with apple juice instead of sugar.
- Use a different liquid sweetener. Date syrup, agave nectar (agave syrup) or unsulphured molasses are a few options.
- Add egg whites. It’ll add more protein to the granola and serve as a binding agent to help form crunchy clusters.
Serving Suggestions
- Make granola protein yogurt bowls. I love mixing half a scoop of PEScience Snickerdoodle protein powder (or their Vanilla Gourmet protein into Greek yogurt or a thick Greek style yogurt in a bowl and topping it with this air fryer granola and raspberries. Other fresh fruits like sliced kiwis, strawberries or bananas would also be delicious.
- Add on top of smoothie bowls. It’s so yummy on blueberry and acai smoothie bowls!
- Have it in a bowl with milk. I like it with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but you can have it with any other plant-based or regular milk.
- Sprinkle on top of ice cream. Such a tasty dessert! Words can’t describe how yummy this granola is on top of my Ninja Creami Peanut Butter Protein Ice Cream!
- Bake it up in a quick bread or muffins. Think pumpkin bread, banana bread muffins, etc. Fold the granola into the batter at the end along with your other add-ins.
- Make Greek yogurt parfaits. Layer yogurt, granola and berries in small parfait glasses or mason jars until full. Drizzle with honey if desired and enjoy for breakfast, snacking or dessert!
- Eat it plain. It’s perfect on its own as a healthy snack!
FAQs
Pistachio butter is made with either raw or roasted pistachios, and sometimes with added salt and oil. Pistachio paste (also known as pistachio spread or cream) is smoother in consistency and often has sugar and other flavorings like vanilla added.
You can find pistachio butter online on Amazon or an online shop that specializes in handcrafted small batch nut butters that is local to you. The one I use is made with roasted American pistachios and by a company in Hong Kong (where I live) called The Nutter Company. Their pistachio butter is available in supermarkets here and on their online shop.
Yes, you can and that is what I’ve demonstrated with this recipe! The pros of making granola in the air fryer is that it cuts down the cooking time by half and yields an irresistible crispy and crunchy granola texture. The downside is that you can’t make a large batch like you can with traditional oven baked granola. If you’d like to make a larger quantity, you’ll need to air-fry in batches.
If stored properly in an airtight sealed container in a cool dry area, the granola will last for up to 3 weeks. For longer storage, store the granola in sealed Ziploc bags in the fridge or freezer for 3 months. I recommend freezing small portions in zipper bags so that you thaw only what you need. Note that the granola will become less crunchy and crispy if stored for an extended period in the fridge or freezer.
I don’t recommend using quick cooking oats for making granola. Using quick oats or instant oats will result in a less crispy granola that has more of a powdery and flakey texture. It’s also easier to burn since quick oats are much smaller than rolled oats. In addition, the mouthfeel of granola made with quick oats will not be as satisfying due to the flatter and smaller oat pieces.
I don’t recommend using steel-cut oats to make granola because the texture is too hard. Also, they will require more liquid ingredients since they are more absorbent.
This air fryer granola recipe is vegan as written since it has no honey.
Any air fryer will work to make air fryer granola! Keep in mind that every air fryer runs differently and you may need to adjust the cooking time and temperature if your granola starts to burn or is taking too long to crisp up. If you’re in the market for an air fryer, I recommend a dual drawer one such as this Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer. You can air fry two different foods on different settings and sync them to finish cooking at the same time. They have smaller sized options but this one is great for making meals to feed a family. Also, with two drawers, you can make a larger batch of air fryer granola and not have to air fry in batches!
Multiply the ingredient amounts by 4 and bake this granola recipe in the oven!
1. Combine the ingredients: Mix all the dry ingredients except the unsweetened coconut flakes and dried blueberries in a large bowl first. Then stir in the wet ingredients until evenly combined and everything is lightly coated.
2. Spread: Spread the granola mixture on top of a parchment paper lined baking tray and firmly press down the mixture in an even layer. Bake in a preheated oven at 325°F/165°C for 24-27 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through so that the back is facing the front. This promotes more even baking.
3. Add coconut: Add the unsweetened coconut flakes and bake for a further 4-5 minutes until lightly toasted and browned.
4. Cool and break into clusters: Allow to cool completely, then break into clusters and stir through the dried blueberries.
Alternatively, make any of my several oven-baked granola recipes! Try this Maple Tahini Granola, Peanut Butter Banana Protein Granola or Pumpkin Pie Granola.
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More Granola Recipes
Healthy Air Fryer Granola
This Healthy Air Fryer Granola is quick and easy to make in just 15 minutes, full of large crispy clusters and downright delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 cup / 94 grams Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (use gluten-free certified oats if needed)
- 2 TBSP / 14 grams raw unsalted Pecans – coarsely chopped
- 2 TBSP / 15 grams raw unsalted Almonds – coarsely chopped
- 2 TBSP / 15 grams raw unsalted Sunflower Seeds
- 2 TBSP / 18 grams raw unsalted Pumpkin Seeds
- 2 TBSP / 15 grams Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
- ½ TSP Fine Sea Salt, to taste
- ⅛ TSP ground Cinnamon
- ⅛ TSP ground Cardamom
- 1/16 (small pinch) ground Ginger
- 2 TBSP / 30 grams Pistachio Butter (without added sugar, unsalted preferred)
- 1 TBSP / 12ml Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil (or melted coconut oil)
- 2.5 TBSP / 38ml Pure Maple Syrup (or use honey – note 1)
- ¼ TSP Vanilla Extract
- ¼ TSP Almond Extract
- ¼ cup / 40 grams Dried Blueberries (or cranberries)
Instructions
- Prepare parchment paper: Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper, making sure the sides go up the edges a little so that it’ll be easier to pull out later. Press and crease at the edges so that it takes on the shape of the basket. Use scissors to trim the sides if needed. Remove the parchment paper and set aside. (Note 2: If you have an parchment paper liners for your air fryer, you can use it instead as shown in the pictures above.)
- Combine all the ingredients: Combine the rolled oats, pecans, almonds, sunflower seed, pumpkin seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, fine sea salt, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, ground ginger, pistachio butter, maple syrup, extra light tasting olive oil, vanilla extract and almond extract in a medium bowl (note 3). Mix well to evenly combine and everything is lightly coated.
- Preheat: Preheat the air fryer at 320°F/160°C.
- Spread: Pour the granola mixture onto your prepared parchment paper or parchment paper liner. Use a silicone or rubber spatula to spread and press down in an even layer and flatten the mixture. Hold onto the edges of the parchment paper and carefully place it inside the air fryer basket.
- Air fry: Air fry for 8-10 minutes, pausing and removing the basket to stir the granola at the 5-minute mark. The granola is done when its lightly golden brown and crisp.
- Cool: Allow the granola to sit in the air fryer for 5 minutes and set. Then transfer the basket to a countertop and cool for 1-2 minutes. Carefully lift the parchment paper up by holding onto the edges and place it on a baking tray or countertop. This will help it cool quicker. The granola will crisp up and brown further as it cools.
- Stir through the dried blueberries: Once completely cool, break the granola into clusters of your desired size and stir through the dried blueberries.
- Serve or store: Enjoy immediately! Or transfer to a sealed airtight container and store in a cool dry area for up to 2-3 weeks.
Notes
- Maple Syrup. Honey can be used instead but note that the granola won’t be vegan. Other liquid sweeteners choices are date syrup, agave syrup, or unsulphured molasses.
- Recipe amount. The recipe measurements above are for one batch, which makes approximately six ½ cup servings. In the pictures, I’ve made 2 batches as I have a Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer which has two drawers. If you have a dual basket air fryer, you can click the ‘2x’ button at the top of the recipe card to double the recipe. Divide the granola mixture evenly into both baskets and air fry as per the instructions.
- Parchment Paper Liners: I like using these disposable air fryer liners as they fit my air fryer’s baskets perfectly. Parchment paper works well too but be sure to trim with scissors as needed so that the sides aren’t too high and touching the heating element.
- Heat the pistachio butter, olive oil and maple syrup in a pot. Although not absolutely necessary, warming the wet ingredients over medium heat will make it easier to combine them with the dry ingredients. The melted pistachio butter will be easier to mix and evenly coat everything. However, it isn’t absolutely necessary and not doing so will simply give your arm a small workout while breaking down the pistachio butter! If warming the wet ingredients, stir in the extracts off the heat and then pour over the dry ingredients in the bowl.
- For longer storage. Store the granola in sealed Ziploc bags in the fridge or freezer for 3 months. If storing in the freezer, thaw on the counter overnight and enjoy the next day. I recommend freezing individual portions in sealable zipper bags so that you thaw only what you need. Note that the granola will become less crunchy and crispy if stored for an extended period in the fridge or freezer.
- Nutritional information. Nutrition facts are an estimate and will change with any substitutions. For more accurate measurements per serving, weigh the final air fried granola once cooled and divide the total by the number of servings.
- See the ‘Variations’ section in the post above for ideas on how you can customize this granola recipe and ‘Serving Suggestions’ for multiple unique ways you can serve granola.
- What if I don’t have an air fryer? Multiply the ingredient amounts by 4 and bake this granola recipe in the oven!
- Combine the ingredients: Mix all the dry ingredients except the unsweetened coconut flakes and dried blueberries in a large bowl first. Then stir in the wet ingredients until evenly combined and everything is lightly coated.
- Spread: Spread the granola mixture on top of a parchment paper lined baking tray and firmly press down the mixture in an even layer. Bake in a preheated oven at 325°F/165°C for 24-27 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through so that the back is facing the front. This promotes more even baking.
- Add coconut: Add the unsweetened coconut flakes and bake for a further 4-5 minutes until lightly toasted and browned.
- Cool and break into clusters: Allow to cool completely, then break into clusters and stir through the dried blueberries.
Alternatively, try my High Protein Granola or Peanut Butter Granola and bake it in your oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 197
- Sugar: 8.9g
- Sodium: 49.4mg
- Fat: 10.6g
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22.2g
- Fiber: 2.8g
- Protein: 4.8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
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