Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

hand taking some crispy chickpeas out of a bowl.

Air fryer chickpeas turn irresistibly crispy, crunchy, and flavourful with barely any effort. The perfect savoury snack for customizing with your favourite seasonings.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Cooling Time 5

Total Time 25

Servings Servings

Ingredients

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained, rinsed, and dried very well
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1-1.5 tsp all-purpose seasoning, taco seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or your favourite spice blend

Instructions

Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then pat them very dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. The drier they are, the crispier they’ll get.
Add the chickpeas to a medium bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss until evenly coated. Sprinkle over the seasoning and toss again until well coated.
Preheat your air fryer to 390°F if needed. Add the chickpeas to the basket in a single layer.
Air fry for 15 to 18 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes, until golden and crispy. Keep a close eye on them during the last few minutes so they don’t burn.

Let the chickpeas cool in the air fryer basket for 5 to 10 minutes. They’ll continue to crisp up as they cool. Enjoy right away for the crunchiest texture.

Notes

Dry the chickpeas really well before air frying. Any extra moisture will keep them from getting crispy.

Cook in a single layer for the best crunch. Overcrowding the basket can make them steam instead.

Shake the basket every 5 minutes to help the chickpeas crisp up evenly on all sides.

The chickpeas will crisp up more as they cool, so don’t panic if they seem slightly soft at first.

Use a bold seasoning blend since the flavour mellows slightly as the chickpeas cook. Cajun, taco, blackened, and BBQ seasonings all work great here.

These are best enjoyed fresh, but you can re-crisp leftovers in the air fryer for a few minutes before serving.

Nutrition