I love making delicious and healthy snacks in the air fryer, like crispy air fryer tofu and these scrumptious air fryer French fries. Yet another one of my favorites are these air fryer chickpeas, and they are even healthier than the other two. These are so, so easy to make and they are certified craveable! All you need are a few ingredients you already have in your pantry. You can cook the chickpeas from scratch, which is desirable to get the perfect texture and keep this recipe free of additives and preservatives, but you can definitely use canned chickpeas as well. Just be sure to rinse and drain them thoroughly. I love making a big box of these and keeping them in the fridge for a guilt-free treat whenever the craving strikes (and it’s often, especially when I know these are around ;))
Why you’ll love these air fryer chickpeas
So yummy. The chickpeas get perfectly roasted in the air fryer and each one emerges crunchy, spicy, tangy and absolutely delicious. I gave these air fried chickpeas an Indian flair with spices like cumin, turmeric and chaat masala. It will become one of your favorite air fryer recipes – you won’t be able to stop popping them! Easy to make. These crispy chickpeas are one of the quickest recipes you will ever make and all you need are pantry ingredients. Toss the chickpeas with powdered spices and you are ready to go. Everyone friendly. This is of course a vegan recipe. And it’s gluten-free, soy-free and nut-free. Kids will love it, mine does, but you will often catch the adults with their hands in the air-fried chickpea jar!
How to make air fryer chickpeas
If using canned chickpeas place them in a colander and rinse under running water. Let them stand a few minutes so they air-dry. Place the chickpeas in a bowl and add the spices–garlic, turmeric, cayenne (or paprika), ground cumin, ground black pepper and chaat masala (or lemon).
Add the rice flour (or cornstarch), vegetable oil and salt. Mix everything until every chickpea is coated with the spices. Place the chickpeas in an air fryer basket. If necessary, work in batches to avoid overcrowding–you preferably want a single layer of chickpeas in the air fryer basket so every chickpea roasts perfectly. I needed to do two batches in my air fryer.
Set the air fryer to 375 degrees F/190 degrees C for 12 minutes. Toss the chickpeas every four minutes so they roast evenly. Eat hot or warm or at room temperature!
Meal prep and storage instructions
Make-ahead: You can cook the chickpeas in advance and store them in the refrigerator. Toss with other ingredients and air-fry. Or make a large batch of these air fried chickpeas and keep them in the fridge in an air-tight container. Refrigerate: The chickpeas will keep in the fridge for up to four days. Freeze: For longer storage, flash freeze the air fried chickpeas by placing on a baking sheet and then freezing. When the chickpeas are frozen store them in a freezer bag or in a freezer-safe container. Reheat: The chickpeas will soften a bit when stored but simply zap them in the air fryer at 375 degrees for 3-4 minutes before eating and they will be as crunchy and crispy as new! You might need to add a couple of extra minutes for frozen chickpeas.
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-Maddie
