Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas are quite possibly the easiest of all air fryer recipes! Just 3 ingredients and you’ve got an irresistible snack, salad topper, or soup floater. Use this simple seasoning blend, or choose your own spice adventure.
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Why You’ll Love This Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas Recipe
Quick and Easy. With just 3 pantry ingredients, practically no prep, and 12 minutes of cooking, it really doesn’t get much easier than making air fryer chickpeas.
From Scratch Really is Better. Like Air Fryer Potato Chips, this homemade snack beats what you can buy in a package. You control the ingredients and need very little oil for excellent results (don’t miss these other wholesome snack recipes!).
Budget-Friendly. When you’re watching your grocery budget, chickpeas are a champ. (Psst—I just added a whole category for budget-friendly recipes.) They’re an affordable plant protein that works for everything from Chickpea Blondies to Chickpea Curry and these crispy air fryer chickpeas.
Flavor Options? Endless! Like my Roasted Chickpeas, you can season them any way you like! I use seasoning salt to scratch that crispy-salty snack itch, but basically, anything in your pantry can be used as an air fryer chickpeas seasoning.
So Many Uses. You can eat air fryer chickpeas right out of the basket, and why wouldn’t you when they are so snackable?! If you can resist the temptation, you’ll be rewarded with a crispy topping for salads and soups, a plant-based protein to add to meal bowls, and an alternative to nuts in snack mixes (I use chickpeas in this Chickpea Snack Mix).
How to Make Air Fryer Chickpeas
The Ingredients
Chickpeas. AKA garbanzo beans. I use canned for ease, but if you’ve got the time to cook dried chickpeas for this recipe, it will cost you even less per serving. Use 1 1/2 cups of cooked chickpeas.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. The air fryer requires a small amount of oil to make foods crisp up.
Seasoning Salt. Or any other seasoning you like. I share some of my favorites a little later in this post!
The Directions
Dry. Use paper towels to absorb as much moisture from the chickpeas as possible.
Oil. Toss the chickpeas with 1 1/2 teaspoons of oil.
Add to Air Fryer. Make sure they’re in an even layer.
Cook. Air fry chickpeas at 400 degrees F for 11 to 14 minutes, shaking the basket every 4 minutes.
Finish. Add the chickpeas back to the bowl with the oil, then add the remaining oil and seasoning. Toss to coat and ENJOY!
Air Fryer Chickpea Seasonings
My Go-To Blend. If you don’t have seasoned salt, combine 1/4 teaspoons smoked paprika, 3/4 teaspoons ground chili powder, 3/4 teaspoons ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Cajun Seasoning. For some heat.
Everything Bagel Seasoning. Always a good idea.
Ranch Seasoning. Who needs potato chips?
Taco Seasoning. Makes a tasty addition to this Taco Salad Recipe.
Herbes de Provence. For some French flair.
Storage Tips
To Store. Store leftover air fryer chickpeas in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also store them in a bowl with a paper towel on top to absorb moisture.
To Freeze. This is not a recipe that freezes well.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Chickpeas
Soups. Swap air fried chickpeas for croutons or oyster crackers. They’re especially good in creamy veggie soups like Roasted Carrot Soup and Crockpot Tomato Soup.
Salads. Use these chickpeas for crunch in Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad or BBQ Chicken Salad.
Meal Bowls. Toss a handful of chickpeas onto your next Buddha Bowl.
Hummus. A handful of crispy chickpeas makes a fantastic addition to a bowl of Homemade Hummus or this Beet Hummus.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Dry the Chickpeas Extra Mega Super Well. Here’s my hot take: there are some recipes that say you don’t need to dry chickpeas prior to air frying, but that’s not my experience. The papery skins can really trap moisture, plus oil will seal it in. I strongly recommend drying the chickpeas very well for crispy-crunchy results.
Re-Crisp If Needed. After a few days of storage, your air fryer chickpeas will start to soften a bit. You can put them back in the air fryer for a few minutes to restore their crispiness.
Different Air Fryers Cook Differently. That’s why I suggest checking the chickpeas for doneness after 10 minutes. You don’t want to over-cook your chickpeas—you want a crispy exterior with an inside that’s still a bit soft.
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Air Fryer Chickpeas
You only need 3 ingredients to make this crispy air fryer chickpeas recipe! Ready in minutes, crunchy, flavorful, and great for snacks, salads, and more!
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 12 minutesminutes
Total Time 30 minutesminutes
Servings 4servings
Calories 116kcal
Author Erin Clarke / Well Plated
Ingredients
1(15-ounce) can reduced sodium chickpeasrinsed and drained
2 1/2teaspoonsextra-virgin olive oildivided
1 1/2teaspoonsseasoning saltsuch as Lawry’s, or seasoning of choice*
Instructions
Spread the chickpeas on a double layer of paper towels. Place a second layer of towels on top and rub, drying them as much as you can and removing any skins that come obviously loose. Let air dry for 10 minutes or up to 1 hour (the dryer, the better!).
Transfer the dried chickpeas to a medium bowl. Top with 1 1/2 teaspoons of the oil. Toss to coat. Keep the bowl handy.
Place the chickpeas in your air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry at 400°F for 11 to 14 minutes, shaking the basket every 4 minutes. At the 10-minute mark, check them for doneness—you want the chickpeas to be golden and crunchy outside, but still be a tiny bit soft inside.
Transfer the air fried chickpeas back to the bowl you used previously. Drizzle with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and top with seasoning. Toss to coat (the oil will help the spices adhere to the chickpeas). Let cool, then enjoy as a snack, or add to salads, soups, and more!
Notes
*For a homemade spice blend (my go-to for Roasted Chickpeas), combine 1 1/4 teaspoons smoked paprika, 3/4 teaspoons ground chili powder, 3/4 teaspoons ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Other ideas: Cajun seasoning, Everything Bagel Seasoning, Ranch seasoning…you name it
TO STORE: I find chickpeas stay crispiest at room temperature. Place them in a bowl, then lay a paper towel on top to cover, or store them in an airtight container. Do not put in a ziptop bag (this makes them soggy). Store for up to 1 week.
