Crispy air fryer chickpeas are much better and easier to make than oven–roasted chickpeas. If you have an air fryer, it’s a no-brainer. Use that to make crispy chickpeas.Air frying chickpeas will save you more than 20 minutes compared to oven-roasting them. Also, air fryer chickpeas get more evenly crips without burning, thanks to the constant and even flow of hot air that touches the whole surface of every chickpea.You can use crunchy chickpeas instead of croutons to top your soups or mix in salads. You can also use them to garnish and add some crunch to other dishes, such as our stuffed eggplant or stuffed peppers.They are perfect as a tasty and healthy snack packed with fiber and nourishing plant protein, vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredients
Instructions
Serving suggestions
Other dishes
You can sprinkle a small handful of the chickpeas on top of stuffed vegetables or any other dish that might benefit from some crunch.We adore them on top of our stuffed roasted eggplant with avocado spread, fresh tomato salsa, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
First, rinse and dry the chickpeas with a kitchen cloth before air-frying them. The little oil we use will stick better to their surface if they are dry, making them crispier.Apply the spices after air-frying while the chickpeas are still hot. Some spices burn if added before, ruining the taste of the chickpeas.Store air fryer chickpeas in a loosely closed jar in a dry corner of your kitchen. The next day, air-fry again, for a couple of minutes, to give them an extra crunch.
You can also use dry chickpeas, but you’ve got to soak them overnight and cook them in boiling water until soft (one to two hours). Rinse the canned or cooked chickpeas well under running water, then pat them dry with a kitchen cloth or paper towel before seasoning them with olive oil. If some of their skin comes off, you can discard it.
Oil
We use extra virgin olive oil because we love how it tastes with chickpeas and because it’s stable at high temperatures thanks to its high antioxidant content. Other good, although less flavorful, oils are regular olive oil, canola oil, and avocado oil.
Salt and pepper
Air-fried chickpeas require a bit of salt to taste good (sea salt and kosher salt are our favorites). However, if you are on a low sodium diet, you could make them without salt and increase the spices. Alternatively, you could try replacing the salt with a potassium chloride salt substitute, but talk to your doctor first.We also like to add some freshly ground black pepper.
Spices
Here’s where you can unleash your creativity and come up with your combination of spices. Our tip is to change the spices based on the dish you are serving the chickpeas with. For instance, if you serve them with a butternut squash soup or eggplant soup, you can use curry powder. If you are serving them in a salad, you can add paprika. If you want something a little smokey and spicy, try chipotle powder. That’s my favorite topping for crispy air fryer chickpeas. Other options are taco seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, za’atar, Italian spice mix, dried rosemary, chili powder, grated lime zest, lemon zest, or other seasoning blends. Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas, then pat them dry with a kitchen cloth or paper towel. If some of the chickpea skin comes off, you can discard it. It’s not necessary to remove all chickpea skins unless you want to. Transfer chickpeas to a bowl and season them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss them around with a spoon to coat them evenly in the oil. Place them into your air fryer basket, spread around on a single layer, and air fry for 10 to 15 minutes, until crispy. Shake the air fryer basket every 4 minutes. Note: if you hear some of your chickpeas pop, that’s ok; it can happen depending on the type of chickpeas. Important: cooking time varies considerably based on the air-fryer model. Our Ninja air fryer takes precisely 12 minutes to make perfectly crips chickpeas. In yours, it might take a few minutes longer or less, so keep an eye on the chickpeas at around the 10 minutes mark. Transfer chickpeas to a serving bowl and toss with your spice of choice. You can use one or more spices. Here we are using about a teaspoon each of paprika and garlic powder. You can add more or less of the spice based on your preference.
Soups
Try them on soups instead of croutons. They add taste, crunch, and healthy plant protein to make your soup more nourishing and fulfilling. We love them with our zucchini soup, eggplant soup, and butternut squash soup.
Salads
As with soups, you can use crunchy air-fryer chickpeas to replace croutons in most salads. For example, try our tofu salad, tomato cucumber salad, and shaved Brussels sprout salad.
Variations
Oven-roasted chickpeas
If you don’t have an air-fryer but want to make crispy chickpeas, then you can roast them in the oven. It takes a little longer, but in about 30 minutes, you can get delicious and crunchy chickpeas. Check out our recipe for oven-roasted chickpeas.
More air fryer recipes
More chickpea recipes
Storage
Store leftover chickpeas on the kitchen counter in a jar with the lid loosely closed. They keep for a couple of days. The next day, you can reheat them in the air-fryer for a couple of minutes to make them crunchy again. If you want to keep them for longer, you can store them in the fridge. However, they’ll absorb moisture and get chewy in the refrigerator. Air fry them for 4 to 5 minutes to bring back the crunch.
Air fryer asparagus: for a crunchy and easy serving of asparagusChewy tofu: jerky-like tofu perfect as a topping for salads and pastaQuick green beans: juicy and crunchyTender air fryer eggplant: a versatile veggie for pasta, eggplant salad, and rice saladJuicy air fryer zucchini: an easy 15-minute side dishCrunchy croutons: the easiest way to make croutons with reduced oil
Chickpea saladVegan tuna with chickpeasEasy Chickpea stewQuinoa salad with chickpeasChickpea pasta saladItalian Rice saladCouscous saladEggplant salad
Or see our best vegan chickpea recipes with tips for how to cook with chickpea flour as well.
What to eat with Hummus
35 Ways to Serve Stuffed Peppers
25 Vegan Salads
40 Chickpea Recipes (easy meals)
title: “Air Fryer Chickpeas” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-28” author: “Dona Hughes”
Why You’ll Love Them
They help with appetite control. Pulses, including chickpeas, contain slowly digestible carbohydrates, fiber, and plant based protein, which may work together to help keep you feeling full and satisfied. They could reduce junk food cravings. One study suggests that adding chickpeas to your day may help you make better food choices, particularly when it comes to craving processed snacks. They contain quality protein. Chickpeas contain almost all of the essential amino acids your body needs to build protein. The only one missing is methionine, but you can find that in firm tofu, quinoa, and Brazil nuts, along with animal products, like turkey, beef, or cheese. They may help balance blood sugar levels. In one 12-week study, participants who ate chickpeas every week were shown to have lower fasting insulin levels. They may promote better digestion. Eating chickpeas may help increase frequency and ease of bowel movements (which is a good thing!) and the soluble fiber they contain may help to feed the good bacteria in your gut. They may promote a healthy heart. Chickpeas contain important minerals like magnesium and potassium, which may help to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.
I usually use canned chickpeas for convenience, but you can also cook your own if you prefer. I have tutorials for cooking Instant Pot Chickpeas (my preferred method) and stove top chickpeas, if you want to learn more.
Drizzle the chickpeas with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried oregano. You can use any other spices you like, but this is my go-to seasoning blend because it reminds me of homemade croutons. Pro Tip: You can remove the skins from the chickpeas if you want to, but I like to toss them in the air fryer, too, even when they fall off. They become crispy, just like potato chips! They will be prone to burning, however, so be sure to remove them after 5 to 8 minutes of cooking. 2. Cook. Pour the seasoned chickpeas into the air fryer basket and arrange them in a single layer. The more spread out the chickpeas are, the crispier they will cook, so try not to overcrowd the air fryer basket.
Cook at 400ºF for about 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time to promote even crisping. The chickpeas should look golden when they are done; feel free to add another minute or two of cooking, as needed, since air fryer models can vary. Wondering which air fryer is best? I cover 9 different models that I’ve tested in my own kitchen in my air fryer review. 3. Enjoy! Serve these chickpeas warm right away for a delicious taste & texture. I think crispy chickpeas are best served soon after cooking, within an hour or so, as they can dry out as they sit. (And they develop a very strange texture when chilled in the fridge– it’s dry and oddly chewy, all at the same time.) Luckily, since these chickpeas cook in just 10 minutes, it’s not too difficult to make them fresh when you’re in the mood for a crispy snack or soup topping. These are my favorite topping for Roasted Tomato Soup!
More Air Fryer Recipes
Looking to get the most out of your air fryer? Try these!
Air Fryer Fries Crispy Air Fryer Homestyle Potatoes Air Fryer Broccoli Air Fryer Tofu Perfectly Roasted Air Fryer Cauliflower Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts Air Fryer Chicken Breasts Air Fryer Salmon
If you try these Air Fryer Chickpeas, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like them! – Reader Feedback: What would you like to see me make in the air fryer next?
