Name: Air Fryer Chickpeas - 4 Ways
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Ingredients: 1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed; 1 tsp olive oil; 3/4 tsp smoked paprika; 3/4 tsp coconut sugar ((you can substitute organic cane sugar)); 1/4 tsp (sweet) paprika; 1/2 tsp fine sea salt or kosher salt; 1/4 tsp garlic powder; 1/4 tsp onion powder; 1 1/2 tbsp gluten-free, vegan Buffalo sauce; 1/2 tsp fine sea salt or kosher salt; 1/4 tsp garlic powder; 1/8 tsp white pepper; 2 tsp nutritional yeast; 1/2 tsp fine sea salt or kosher salt; 1/4 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp organic gluten-free, vegan taco seasoning; 1/4 tsp fine sea salt or kosher salt, optional ((use if you find your taco seasoning to not have enough salt))

These Air Fryer Chickpeas make a delicious snack or even a salad or soup topper! Plus, because they're air fried, they come out crispy using minimal oil and are ready in less than 15 minutes! Featuring 4 flavor variations - BBQ, Buffalo, Cheesy and Taco Fiesta, all of which are vegan and gluten-free.

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Bowl of cheesy air fryer chickpeas in front of bowl of taco fiesta air fryer chickpeas on kitchen towel with some chickpeas on the towel

I'm pretty sure the air fryer is my new BFF.

I have been totally obsessed with using it to make all kinds of yummy things...things like these air fryer chickpeas!

Now I know I have a recipe for oven-roasted chickpeas, but being a total chickpea fiend, I just had to try them in the air fryer.

And now I can't stop making them...and eating them! 😉

Grabbing some of the Buffalo chickpeas from the bowl

I love how crispy they come out in the air fryer versus the oven.

And when you make them in the air fryer instead of the oven, you can skip the step of drying the chickpeas on kitchen towels.

But, the best part is that they take half the time to make in the air fryer compared to the oven.

BBQ chickpeas in bowl on kitchen towel with some on the towel

So, what are you waiting for? Let's get fried, air fried that is! 😉

How to Make Air Fryer Chickpeas - 4 Ways

For each of the 4 flavors, you're going to start by preheating your air fryer to 390° F for 3 minutes.

If your brand of air fryer comes with an elevated crisper plate/tray, be sure to insert it into the basket. For example, my Ninja air fryer comes with one and some other brands do as well.

While the air fryer is preheating, drain and rinse a can of chickpeas.

Add the chickpeas to a mixing bowl with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and combine using a silicone spatula.

Then, add them to the air fryer basket.

Chickpeas added to air fryer after being mixed with olive oil

Air fry for 6 minutes at 390° F, shaking the basket halfway through.

Chickpeas in the air fryer after being cooked for 6 minutes

Set the mixing bowl aside because you will need it again. Don't rinse it out.

While the chickpeas are in the air fryer, you can prepare your seasoning mix for one of the following flavor combinations:

1. BBQ Chickpeas

In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, coconut sugar, (sweet) paprika, salt, garlic powder and onion powder.

Seasoning mix for BBQ chickpeas in small bowl

After the chickpeas have air fried for 6 minutes, add them back to the mixing bowl.

Then, add the seasoning mixture and combine using a silicone spatula until everything is well-incorporated.

Chickpeas combined with BBQ seasoning in mixing bowl

Add the seasoned chickpeas back to the air fryer and continue to air fry at 390° F for 6-8 more minutes until desired crispiness is reached, shaking the basket 2-3 times during cooking.

BBQ chickpeas in air fryer after cooking

overhead of BBQ chickpeas in bowl on kitchen towel with some on the towel

2. Buffalo Chickpeas

In a small bowl, combine salt, garlic powder and white pepper.

Seasoning mix for Buffalo chickpeas in small bowl

After the chickpeas have air fried for 6 minutes, add them back to the mixing bowl.

Mix in the Buffalo sauce with a silicone spatula.

Then, add the seasoning mixture and combine with the silicone spatula until everything is well-incorporated.

Chickpeas mixed with Buffalo seasoning in mixing bowl

Add the seasoned chickpeas back to the air fryer and continue to air fry at 390° F for 6-8 more minutes until desired crispiness is reached, shaking the basket 2-3 times during cooking.

Buffalo chickpeas in air fryer after cooking

Overhead of Buffalo chickpeas in small bowl on kitchen towel with some on the towel

3. Cheesy Chickpeas

In a small bowl, combine nutritional yeast, salt and garlic powder.

Seasoning mix for cheesy chickpeas in small bowl

After the chickpeas have air fried for 6 minutes, add them back to the mixing bowl.

Then, add the seasoning mixture and combine using a silicone spatula until everything is well-incorporated.

Chickpeas mixed with cheesy seasoning in mixing bowl

Add the seasoned chickpeas back to the air fryer and continue to air fry at 390° F for 6-8 more minutes until desired crispiness is reached, shaking the basket 2-3 times during cooking.

Cheesy chickpeas in air fryer after cooking

Chickpeas in bowl on kitchen towel with some on the towel

4. Taco Fiesta Chickpeas

In a small bowl, combine taco seasoning and optional salt (depending how much salt is in your seasoning mix).

Seasoning for taco fiesta chickpeas in small bowl

After the chickpeas have air fried for 6 minutes, add them back to the mixing bowl.

Then, add the seasoning mixture and combine using a silicone spatula until everything is well-incorporated.

Chickpeas mixed with taco fiesta seasoning in mixing bowl

Add the seasoned chickpeas back to the air fryer and continue to air fry at 390° F for 6-8 more minutes until desired crispiness is reached, shaking the basket 2-3 times during cooking.

Taco fiesta chickpeas in air fryer after cooking

Taco fiesta chickpeas in bowl on kitchen towel with some on the towel

Serving Suggestions

These crunchy chickpeas not only make a great snack, but they are also perfect for topping salads, soups and power bowls.

I also really enjoy the Buffalo and BBQ chickpeas on top of a baked sweet potato and the Taco Fiesta chickpeas on top of some vegan nachos, while the Cheesy ones are my favorite for snacking. 🙂

Storing the Chickpeas

The air fried chickpeas are best enjoyed right away; however, they can be stored at room temperature in a covered container for up to 5 days. I use a small glass bowl with a lid to store mine.

Once stored, the chickpeas will soften up.

If you want to crisp them up again, you can either reheat them in the air fryer at 390° F for a few minutes until desired crispiness is reached or pop them in a 400° F oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet for about 5 minutes.

More Air Fryer Recipes

overhead of two flavors of chickpeas in glass bowls on a kitchen towel

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Air Fryer Chickpeas - 4 Ways

Course Snack

Cuisine American, Gluten-Free, Vegan

Keyword air fryer, chickpeas, dairy-free, gluten free, vegan

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 12

Servings

Author Sireesha A.

Ingredients

FOR ALL 4 FLAVORS

1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
1 teaspoon olive oil

FOR THE BBQ

¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
¾ teaspoon coconut sugar (you can substitute organic cane sugar)
¼ teaspoon (sweet) paprika
½ teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder

FOR THE BUFFALO

1 ½ tablespoon gluten-free, vegan Buffalo sauce
½ teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon white pepper

FOR THE CHEESY

2 teaspoon nutritional yeast
½ teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder

FOR THE TACO FIESTA

2 teaspoon organic gluten-free, vegan taco seasoning
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt, optional (use if you find your taco seasoning to not have enough salt)

Instructions

FOR ALL 4 FLAVORS

For each of the 4 flavors, start by preheating the air fryer to 390° F for 3 minutes. If your brand of air fryer comes with an elevated crisper plate/tray, be sure to insert it into the basket.
While the air fryer is preheating, add the chickpeas to a mixing bowl with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Combine using a silicone spatula.
Add the chickpeas to the air fryer basket and air fryer for 6 minutes at 390° F, shaking the basket halfway through. Set the mixing bowl aside because you will need it again. Don't rinse it out. While the chickpeas are in the air fryer, you can prepare your seasoning mix for one of the following flavor combinations:

FOR THE BBQ

In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, coconut sugar, (sweet) paprika, salt, garlic powder and onion powder.
After the chickpeas have air fried for 6 minutes, add them back to the mixing bowl.
Then, add the seasoning mixture and combine using a silicone spatula until everything is well-incorporated.
Add the seasoned chickpeas back to the air fryer and continue to air fry at 390° F for 6-8 more minutes until desired crispiness is reached, shaking the basket 2-3 times during cooking.

FOR THE BUFFALO

In a small bowl, combine salt, garlic powder and white pepper.
After the chickpeas have air fried for 6 minutes, add them back to the mixing bowl.
Mix in the Buffalo sauce with a silicone spatula. Then, add the seasoning mixture and combine with the silicone spatula until everything is well-incorporated.
Add the seasoned chickpeas back to the air fryer and continue to air fry at 390° F for 6-8 more minutes until desired crispiness is reached, shaking the basket 2-3 times during cooking.

FOR THE CHEESY

In a small bowl, combine nutritional yeast, salt and garlic powder.
After the chickpeas have air fried for 6 minutes, add them back to the mixing bowl. Then, add the seasoning mixture and combine using a silicone spatula until everything is well-incorporated.
Add the seasoned chickpeas back to the air fryer and continue to air fry at 390° F for 6-8 more minutes until desired crispiness is reached, shaking the basket 2-3 times during cooking.

FOR THE TACO FIESTA

In a small bowl, combine taco seasoning and optional salt (depending how much salt is in your seasoning mix).
After the chickpeas have air fried for 6 minutes, add them back to the mixing bowl. Then, add the seasoning mixture and combine using a silicone spatula until everything is well-incorporated.
Add the seasoned chickpeas back to the air fryer and continue to air fry at 390° F for 6-8 more minutes until desired crispiness is reached, shaking the basket 2-3 times during cooking.

(Please refer to the post above for instructional photographs and other helpful information for this recipe)

Suggested Equipment/Tools

Air Fryer

Notes

The air fried chickpeas are best enjoyed right away; however, they can be stored at room temperature in a covered container for up to 5 days. I use a small glass bowl with a lid to store mine.

Once stored, the chickpeas will soften up. If you want to crisp them up again, you can either reheat them in the air fryer at 390° F for a few minutes until desired crispiness is reached or pop them in a 400° F toaster oven or conventional oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet for about 5 minutes.

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