Home Recipes by Type Appetizers/Snacks
AFAir FryerGFGluten-FreeDFDairy-FreeVGVegetarian5I5 ingredients or less
4.75
/5
1 hour hr 17 minutes mins
26 Comments
Jump to Recipe
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 01/13/2021
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Crispy and nutritious, air fryer chickpeas are very low in calories, making them a good replacement for calorie-laden chips or nuts. So good on salads, too!
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: An air fryer does an amazing job of crisping up the chickpeas. You’ll love it!
How long it takes: just over 15 minutes; allow an extra hour for drying the chickpeas
Equipment you’ll need: air fryer
Servings: 4
Table of Contents close
- 1 Recipe Overview
- 2 Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Chickpeas
- 3 Chickpeas or Garbanzo Beans
- 4 How To Make air fryer chickpeas
- 5 Flavor Variations
- 6 Storage Tips
- 7 More Air Fryer Recipes
- 8 Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chickpeas
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Chickpeas
Have you tried crispy chickpeas yet? Roly-poly spheres, about the size of a small blueberry, flavorful, sort of chewy and sort of crisp, they are a bit addicting. They make a great snacking companion for your favorite beer or a .
- Totally customizable. There are lots of ways to add flavors to the chickpeas so you never grow tired of these crispy little delights. You buy potato chips in lots of different flavors: barbecue, cool ranch, salt and vinegar, sour cream and onion, and so on. Like chips, you can have crispy chickpeas in pretty much any flavor you dream up.
- Healthy snack. And at only 32 calories per half cup serving, they’re a guilt-free snack. Add to that the nutritional value of chickpeas. They’re a good source of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
- Compact. Chickpeas are inexpensive, convenient, and don’t take up a lot of room in your pantry (I’m thinking of you, bulky bags of chips!).
- Air fryer vs. oven. I’ve been roasting crispy chickpeas in my oven for awhile now. I especially like these cinnamon roasted chickpeas. The oven roasting method is great but it takes a little longer (20 to 30 minutes) and I’d have to say, the chickpeas don’t get quite as crispy as they do in my air fryer. Air fryers have the heat and air circulation necessary to do the best crisping job.
- Salad Toppers. Crisp chickpeas can take the place of nuts or croutons on a salad. I especially love them on this Brussels sprouts salad. Kids love them, too!
Chickpeas or Garbanzo Beans
They are one and the same. I don’t know why they can have such different names but they are exactly the same product.
How To Make air fryer chickpeas
The most important tip I can give you is to dry the chickpeas as much as possible. Dry = crisp! Allow an extra hour to spread the chickpeas on a clean kitchen towel in a single layer to let them air dry before you season and air fry them.
Add seasoning. After the drying time, season the chickpeas with olive oil and your favorite seasoning mix. I have a great one in the recipe below for you to get started with.
Air fry. Toss the chickpeas in your air fryer, and “fry” for twelve minutes, shaking the basket a few times to ensure even cooking.
Serve. Crispy chickpeas are yummy served warm, right out of the air fryer, or at room temperature.
What’s in air fryer chickpeas?
- Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans) – Make sure they’re rinsed and drained well! It’s important to dry them well, just let them sit on a lint-free towel for an hour or two. It’s not important to peel them, but you can if you’d like. You could make a double batch, but you’d want to air fry one can at a time. We like them best fresh.
- Olive Oil – Only one tablespoon is needed!
- Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, and Smoked Paprika – We love this basic but flavorful spice mix, but you’ll see lots of ideas for variations in the recipe card (keep scrolling!).
- Salt and Pepper – Of course!
Flavor Variations
The seasoning mix in the recipe card below is just a beginning point. Chickpeas can be customized in a variety of ways. Here are a few suggestions to get your creative juices flowing.
- Cheesy Italian herb chickpeas: Omit smoked paprika. Instead mix in a tablespoon or two of grated Parmesan cheese (don’t be afraid to use the green can Parmesan, the crumbly texture adheres well to the chickpeas). Add a half teaspoon of dried oregano or Italian seasoning, too. Fry as directed.
- Ranch chickpeas: Omit all the seasoning and add 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning to the chickpeas. Fry as directed.
- Salt and vinegar chickpeas: Omit the seasoning, and instead stir the chickpeas with a tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt. Fry as directed.
- Curry chickpeas: Use melted coconut oil instead of olive oil, and add 1 teaspoon curry powder to the seasoning mix, omitting the smoked paprika.
- Butter flavor: Adding a couple teaspoons of nutritional yeast to any of the recipes will yield a somewhat buttery flavor.
- I’m sure you’re thinking of all sorts of ways now to make your own special flavor!
Storage Tips
Store uncovered! After completely cooling, store crispy chickpeas in a jar or bowl, without a lid, to preserve the crispiness. They need a little air circulation but you can lightly cover the top with a paper towel to keep them clean. The chickpeas will keep a day or two. Keep in mind that they won’t be as crispy as when freshly made.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Recipe
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chickpeas
4.75 from 24 votesPrep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 12 minutes mins
Drying Time: 1 hour hr
Total Time: 1 hour hr 17 minutes mins
4 servings
Print Rate Recipe
Crispy and nutritious, air fryer chickpeas are very low in calories, making them a good replacement for calorie-laden chips or nuts. So good on salads, too!
Ingredients
- 1 can (16 oz.) chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and dried (see note)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Instructions
Heat air fryer to 400ºF. In medium sized bowl, toss chickpeas with oil, salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and black pepper.
Pour chickpeas into air fryer basket, spreading them out as much as possible.
Cook for 12 minutes, shaking 2 or 3 times during cooking time to ensure even cooking.
Notes
- For best results: Before frying, air dry chickpeas on a lint free towel for at least an hour. Or quick dry them in the air fryer for 5 minutes, pour into a bowl with oil and seasonings, mix well, and continue to fry as directed.
Flavor Variations
- Cheesy Italian chickpeas: Omit the smoked paprika. Instead mix in a tablespoon or two of grated Parmesan cheese (don’t be afraid to use the green can Parmesan, the crumbly texture adheres well to the chickpeas). Add a ½ teaspoon of dried oregano or Italian seasoning, too. Air fry as directed.
- Ranch chickpeas: Omit all the seasonings and add 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning to the chickpeas and olive oil. Air fry as directed.
- Salt and vinegar chickpeas: Omit the seasoning, instead stir the chickpeas and oil with a tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt. Air fry as directed.
- Curry chickpeas: Use melted coconut oil instead of olive oil, and add 1 teaspoon curry powder to the seasoning mix, omitting the smoked paprika.
- Buttery chickpeas:A dding a couple teaspoons of nutritional yeast to any of the recipes will yield a somewhat buttery or cheesy flavor.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 0.5cup, Calories: 132kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 606mg, Potassium: 170mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 79IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 41mg, Iron: 1mg
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Author: Rachel Gurk
You May Also Like...
Air Fryer Tofu - Perfectly Crispy!
Air Fryer Potatoes - crispy with hardly any oil!
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Roasted Chickpeas - How To Make Crispy Chickpeas
Reader Interactions
Leave a Review
Kate says
Just cooked up a batch in my air fryer. So yummyReply
Rachel Gurk says
Glad you liked them!
Reply
Marcie says
Absolutely loved these!!! I added ranch seasoning ,steak seasoning, and some parmesan the flavor was great! ThankyouRachel Gurk says
So glad you enjoyed them!
Reply
DIANE says
I JUST LOVE CHICKPEAS, BEEN BAKING THEM FOR SOME TIME AND ADD TO SALADS. THIS RECIPE I’M SHARING WITH MY DAUGHTER ALSO AND I WILL MAKE THESE REAL SOON. THANKYOU
Reply
Rachel Gurk says
I hope you love them!
Reply
Nancy says
What kind of air fryer do u use? Mine doesn’t seem to brown or crisp things like I expect.
Reply
Rachel Gurk says
I use a Cosori and I really love it!
Reply
Helen Meinzinger says
Hi! Gave these a try in my Instant Pot Vortex Plus. Cooked on air fry for 16 minutes at 400 using the rotisserie basket. They are tasty but chewy. Any tips?Reply
Rachel Gurk says
If they’re still chewy, I’d try cooking them a little longer. They’re always a touch chewy/crispy, but they should be pretty crisp.
Reply
Anne says
Turned out great with some Buffalo wing flavored popcorn seasoning I had in the cupboard. I added the nutritional info in My Fitness Pal under “Air Fryer Chickpeas” Rachel Cooks Recipe in case anyone else is tracking food with that app, based on the nutritional info listed on this page.Reply
Rachel Gurk says
So glad you liked this recipe! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Reply
Maneesha says
AH-MAZING recipe, thanks Rachel! I followed your recipe exactly, and this was the perfect crunch plant-based protein addition to my salad! Thank you so much! I’m going to check out your other air fryer recipes as well! Cheers!Reply
Rachel Gurk says
So happy you liked it, Maneesha! They’re so easy and fun to change up with different seasonings. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, it really means a lot to me!
Reply
Mischa (TX) says
These were really good! I made the original ones posted, but plan to try to ranch and other flavors real soon. What a perfect snack! Even my fiancé, who is not big on trying new things, really liked them too! Plan on doubling next time to take to work to stop mindless snacking on chips and other “danger” snacks throughout the day! Thanks for the ideas. Wish I could of uploaded a photo, but we killed them in a few minutes flat!Reply
Rachel Gurk says
So glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review and a comment, it means so much to me!
Reply
Mandi says
I made the ranch ones last night and they were delicious! I am currently dieting and not eating chips is hard, this is an awesome alternative. Thank you for sharing :)Reply
Rachel Gurk says
So glad to hear it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Reply
Dana Krystofek says
Love this snack…just got an air fryer and wanted to experiment with something small. This turned out to be a new favorite snack–I use Carne Asada seasoning along with the oil, salt and pepper….Delicious!Reply
Rachel Gurk says
Oooh I bet that seasoning was delicious!
Reply
Hanna says
Thanks for the recipe! But what changes should I make if I’m using regular raw chickpeas, not the ones in a can?
Reply
Rachel Gurk says
I haven’t made this recipe using dried chickpeas, but you would have to cook them and drain them well prior to using this recipe.
Reply
Connie Van Horne says
This is the best snack/salad topping ever! I made exactly to recipe EXCEPT that I added some cayenne (tiny TINY bit!), red peppers, chipotle peppers and some adobo seasoning to give it a little more southwestern flavor. Oh my gosh! Yum!
One final thing I added during a air fry shake: parsley! There’s a lot of garlicky spice in those extra ingredients … need the parsley to balance it out a bit.Reply
Rachel Gurk says
Your comment made me hungry! I’m so glad you liked the recipe!
Reply
denise says
sounds amazing
Reply
Rachel Gurk says
They’re really good!
Reply
