Spiced air fried chickpeas are a crunchy, high protein snack that takes just 17 minutes and one can of beans. Drained chickpeas are tossed with cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, turmeric and coriander, then cooked at 400 degrees F in the air fryer until they turn golden and crisp, with a warm, earthy flavor in every bite.
They are a great stand in for chips, croutons or trail mix, and they are easy to customize. You can keep the spices exactly as written, swap in your own blend, or go sweet with cinnamon. Best of all, there is no deep fryer, no oven preheating and almost no cleanup.
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Why This Spiced Air Fried Chickpeas Recipe Works
Air fryers circulate very hot air around the food, which dries the surface of the chickpeas quickly and gives them a crisp shell. Because the beans are small and already cooked, they only need about 12 minutes to go from soft to crunchy.
Drying the chickpeas is the most important step. Excess moisture steams the beans instead of crisping them, so patting them well with a towel before seasoning makes a big difference. A little olive oil helps the spices cling and promotes browning.
Ingredients for Spiced Air Fried Chickpeas
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
How to Make Spiced Air Fried Chickpeas
1. Drain and dry
Drain the chickpeas in a colander, then spread them on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and pat them as dry as you can. Loose skins that come off can be discarded or left in.
2. Season
Add the chickpeas to a bowl with the olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, turmeric, coriander and salt. Toss well until every chickpea is evenly coated.
3. Heat the air fryer
Set the air fryer to 400 degrees F and preheat it for a few minutes if your model needs it.
4. Cook
Spread the seasoned chickpeas in a single layer in the basket. Cook for 12 minutes, pausing to shake the basket every 4 minutes so they cook evenly. A few may pop as they heat, so shake carefully.
5. Cool and store
Let the chickpeas cool for a few minutes, since they crisp further as they cool. Serve warm, or store as directed below.
How to Serve Spiced Air Fried Chickpeas
Eat them straight from the bowl as a snack, or pair them with dips. They are delicious next to roasted garlic hummus, and caramelized onion hummus makes a sweeter, richer dip for the same plate.
Sprinkle a handful over antipasto chickpea salad for extra crunch, or set out a bowl with homemade guacamole for a party snack board. They are also good on soups, grain bowls and salads in place of croutons.
How to Store and Reheat Spiced Air Fried Chickpeas
Air fried chickpeas are crispiest right after cooking. Once cooled, store them in an open container or a loosely covered bowl, because a sealed lid traps moisture and softens them. They are best eaten within a day or two.
If you want to keep them longer, refrigerate them in an airtight container, and expect them to lose some of their crunch. To bring back the crispness, warm them in the air fryer at 400 degrees F for two to three minutes.
Tips and Variations for Spiced Air Fried Chickpeas
Roasted chickpea snacks are a popular extension recipe, and the University of Illinois Extension has a simple version in its Crunchy Chickpea Snacks recipe, which also stresses drying the beans well and refrigerating them if stored longer than a day or two.
Do not overcrowd the basket, since beans piled on top of each other steam instead of crisp. Experiment with other spice blends, such as chili powder and lime, ranch seasoning, or cinnamon and a little sugar for a sweet version. Rinsing the chickpeas first lowers the sodium, but dry them well afterward so they still crisp.
FAQ for Spiced Air Fried Chickpeas
Do I need to rinse the chickpeas?
You can drain them without rinsing, as written, or rinse them to remove some of the sodium. Either way, pat them thoroughly dry before seasoning.
Why are my chickpeas not crispy?
The usual causes are too much moisture, too crowded a basket or too short a cook time. Dry them well, cook in a single layer and add a few more minutes if needed.
Can I make them in the oven?
Yes, but oven roasting takes longer, usually 30 to 45 minutes at a high temperature. Shake the pan now and then so they brown evenly.
Can I use dried chickpeas in spiced air fried chickpeas?
Cook dried chickpeas until tender first, then drain and dry them the same way as canned beans before air frying.
How many servings does one can make?
One 15 ounce can makes about four small snack servings. Double the batch if you are serving a group, but cook in batches so the basket is never crowded.
Spiced Air Fried Chickpeas
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas drained and patted dry
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp sea salt
Instructions
Cooking
- Drain the chickpeas and pat them very dry with a towel.
- Toss the chickpeas with the olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, turmeric, coriander and salt until evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F if your model needs it.
- Spread the chickpeas in a single layer in the basket and cook for 12 minutes, shaking the basket every 4 minutes.
- Cool a few minutes to crisp further. Store in an open or loosely covered container and eat within a day or two.
