Crispy air fryer chickpeas are the tastiest and crunchiest snack you will find. Using the air fryer cuts the cook time down to 15 minutes, and they are so much crispier than in the oven! Vegan and gluten-free, these crispy roasted chickpeas are an awesome healthier snack.
We have been absolutely loving the air fryer to make Honey Lime Air Fryer Shrimp, and Breaded Air Fryer Chicken, but my favorite thing might just be these air fryer chickpeas!
I have always loved the concept of crispy roasted chickpeas, but I have often failed in execution. It always seems like some of them get crispy while others are still chewy. And still others are burned.
Not only that, but you have to wash and dry the chickpeas before roasting, and you have to roast them for quite awhile.
Well, enter the air fryer. GAME CHANGED. No need to dry these chickpeas, and they are ready for your snacking pleasure in 15 minutes. Yup. 15 minutes!
Reasons you’ll ♡ these air fryer chickpeas
- they are truly ULTRA crispy
- no need to dry them
- they are ready 3x faster than oven roasted chickpeas
Video tutorial
Wondering how this recipe comes together? Watch the 1-minute video below! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.
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Let’s talk ingredients
For this air fryer chickpeas recipe you will need:
- chickpeas– use 1 can drained & rinsed OR cook your own Instant Pot chickpeas
- oil– I like to use avocado oil because it has a high smoke point, but extra virgin olive oil works as well
- spices– I am using an adaptation of my favorite homemade fajita seasoning. I advise against using a rub with sugar as during testing, the sugar burned
That’s it! Super duper simple.
Meal prep tips
These air fryer chickpeas are a great meal prep snack. Here are some tips to help with your prep:
- drying– if you’ve made roasted chickpeas in the oven (here’s my oven roasted chickpeas recipe!), you know that drying them is important to get them crispy. This step is fine to skip in the air fryer (yay!)
- air fryer– This is the air fryer model I have, and have no complaints about it! Since all air fryers will cook slightly differently, use the cook time as a rough estimate and check on your chickpeas frequently during the last 5 minutes of cooking
- storage– store these crispy chickpeas in an open bowl or jar to keep them crisp
- serving size– this recipe has been tested with a 19 oz can of chickpeas. I cannot guarantee that the cook time will work for a double batch.
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Can I change the seasoning?
Absolutely! Try one of these 7 dry rub recipes, but do stay away from anything with sugar as in my experience the sugar can burn easily in the air fryer.
How long do these chickpeas last?
You can store them in the cupboard for 1 week or more! Bet they won’t last that long 😉
How can I serve air fryer chickpeas?
We enjoy them as a snack but they are yummy as a salad topper, too. They would be great on this Kale Caesar salad!
More Air Fryer Recipes
This post was originally published in 2018. It has been republished in 2020 with new recipes tips + a video.
ULTRA Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 19 oz can of chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
Instructions
- Heat air fryer to 390°F / 200°C.
- Drain and rinse chickpeas (no need to dry). Toss with olive oil and spices.
- Dump the whole batch of chickpeas in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12-15 minutes, shaking a couple of times.
- When chickpeas are cooked to your liking, remove from air fryer, taste and add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Store in an open container.
Nutrition
Lynda Betabdishoo
I was about to try the crispy chickpeas but noticed that you said several times in the recipe not to use a rub with sugar. The fajita spice mix recipes link for the rub has sugar. Do I leave that sugar out of the spice mix when I’m making it for the chickpeas or is the amount of sugar in the mix recipe low enough that it does not matter?
Denise Bustard
Hi Lynda! I would leave it out. Let me know how it goes!
Jaclyn Valero
Hi! How do you shake the air fryer? Do you turn it off and then shake?
Denise Bustard
Hi Jaclyn! I leave it on, but pull the basket out and shake it back and forth a few times. I put it back in quickly, so hopefully it retains the same temperature 🙂 Hope this helps!
Leia
These are amazing!!!! I used Pam spray instead of olive oil because I’m on WW and wanted them to be a 0 point snack. They are sooooo good!! Thank you for this recipe!
Denise
So happy to hear you enjoyed, Leia! Thanks for reporting back with the spray oil tip 🙂
Jenese Vollman
Sorry this may be a stupid question, but it says store in an open container. Does that mean no lid? And also, how long do they keep like this?
Denise Bustard
Hi Jenese! Yes, just leave the lid off! It’s weird but works. They keep for a long time…2 weeks, probably longer!
Russell
Fantastic! I did the drained and rinsed canned chickpeas 5 minutes in the air fryer with nothing on them to dry them a bit, and then mixed all the spices and oil and followed the rest of the recipe. Also used chilli infused olive oil and skipped the cayenne, and it worked great! Also used a little usb fan to cool them quickly to ensure they crisp up even more. A standard baking cooling rack would work too, just get them out of the hot pan.
Denise
Nice! So happy to hear you enjoyed, Russell! Thanks for leaving a review with such helpful feedback!
Avaleigh
I have soaked chick peas. Do I need to cook them, then air fryer cook them? Or can i air fry them just from soaked?
Denise
Hi Avaleigh! Yes, you need cooked chickpeas for this recipe. However, if you are looking for a recipe to use uncooked soaked chickpeas, this crispy baked falafel is my favorite way to use them: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/baked-falafel-recipe/
Sekar
Hi, quite tasty but the chickpeas are not crispy. They are a bit soft . Any suggestion.
Denise Bustard
Hi Sekar! If they are not crispy, put them back in the air fryer for a few more minutes! All air fryers cook slightly differently and the cook time is just a suggestion 🙂
GouldDaddy
Used trader joes chili lime seasoning…ill never be tempted by another potato or tortilla chip again…loved these.
Denise
That’s so funny that you mention this as I just picked some up while in the US (we don’t have Trader Joe’s in Canada). I’m definitely going to try it!
Rebecca
These were delicious! I even got my picky toddler to try a few.
Denise
Yay! Happy to hear this! Picky toddlers are the toughest of critics 😉
Kim
Hi,
Thanks for sharing your recipe – I’ve tried this along with your sweet potato tots recipe and unfortunately in both instances have been disappointed. 🙁
Both the sweet potato tots and the chickpeas do not come out crispy and has taken 3 times as long to get to even remotely crispy. (40mins for the chickpeas!! on 200 degrees!)
What am I doing wrong?
Denise
Hi Kim! My first question is are you using 200°C or °F? If you are using °F then this is likely why you are having issues. If you are using °C then I would point to differences in air fryer models. THere are just so many models out there that it’s impossible to be 100% on the cook time (but the cook times sound way off for you, so maybe your model cooks slower or lower than mine?) I am using the Philips and highly recommend it!
rick
do you think canned white navy beans would work, just cook a little longer, because of their size?
Denise
Hi Rick! That’s a great question. I worry that they are a little too soft to get crispy. If you try, would you let me know how it goes?
Anne
Delicious and so simple! This has become my favorite air fryer snack!
Denise
I’m so happy to hear this! Chickpeas get so crispy in the air fryer, don’t they?
Miserable Old Fart
Ii don’t yet have an air fryer, so I’m still using the oven, and when doing them in the oven, only oil and salt are added before cooking. But after, my favorite concoction is a good curry powder, added cumin and a touch of chipotle for heat and smokiness. Since it takes about 30-35 minutes at 450 degrees int eh oven, I intend to get an air fryer especially for this, which I make several times a week.
Denise
That sounds delicious! I hope you give them a try 🙂
Bee
I have made them three times with different spices – Moroccan with a touch of haberano olive oil and Tandoori. The last two times I “marinated” the chickpeas with the spices for about ten minutes to absorb the spices. They have been a hit. Even introduced this recipe to my coworker. Thank you.
Denise
I am so happy you’ve enjoyed! I must try marinating mine next time. Thanks for your review, Bee!
Caellen
These are yummy. I had to use smoked paprika, so I halved the amount.
Denise
So glad you enjoyed! I must try with smoked paprika next time!
Ada
Fantastic! I’m on Weight Watchers so i slipped the oil and just used the spices and they address a fabulous” free” snack for me. I will need vet use the oven again! Thanks so much!
Ada
I “skipped” not “slipped” the oil. ☺
Denise
Yay! So happy you enjoyed!
Zizi
OMG! I will never make roasted chickpeas in the oven again. These are INSANE!
Denise
So happy you enjoyed! Thanks so much for your review!
Derick
Air fryers are simply much safer to use.
michelle jadaa
do they stay crispy? ive tried the oven baked ones and they don’t.
Denise
Hi Michelle! I have had the same issue with oven-baked chickpeas…but air fryer chickpeas stay crispy for days! I store them in a container without a lid 🙂
michelle jadaa
yay! thank you for replying im off to try them !