• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Email Series!

5 Time and Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

Free email series of my best tips!

Visit my other Site: Pancake Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Free Email Series!

    5 Time and Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

    Free email series of my best tips!

  • Visit my other Site: Pancake Recipes

Rachel Cooks®

Easy Healthy-ish Recipes

  • Recipe Index
  • Popular
    • Instant Pot Pinto Beans
    • Green Beans with Bacon
    • Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
    • Roasted Sugar Snap Peas
    • Beef Stew Seasoning
    • Chili Seasoning Recipe
    • Thousand Island Dressing
    • Poppy Seed Dressing
    • Copycat Panera Squash Soup
    • Chocolate Chip Blondies
    • Instant Pot Pork Loin Roast
    • Frosé
    • Best Chocolate Cake
    • Dill Vegetable Dip
    • Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
    • Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Learn to Cook
    • All The Basics
    • Crostini
    • Delicata Squash
    • Butternut Squash
    • Kabocha Squash
    • Spaghetti Squash
    • Guacamole
    • Croutons
    • Snap Peas
    • Baked Potatoes
    • Baked Bacon
    • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
    • Simple Syrup
    • Pickled Red Onions Recipe
    • Toasted Pine Nuts
    • Roasted bone-in Chicken Breasts
    • Poached Chicken
    • Roasted Whole Chicken
    • Easy Cheese Sauce

Dinner Made Easy:

Slow Cooker

5 Ingredients

Grilling

Make Ahead

Sheet Pan

Tacos

Pizza

Home Recipes by Type Appetizers/Snacks
AF Air Fryer GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free VG Vegetarian 5I 5 ingredients or less

Air Fryer Chickpeas – perfectly crispy!

4.79
/5
1 hr 17 mins
26 Comments
Jump to Recipe Video
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 01/13/2021Updated: 06/14/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Chickpeas in a bowl, text overlay reads "air fryer crispy chickpeas, rachelcooks.com"
Chickpeas in a bowl, text overlay reads "air fryer crispy chickpeas, rachelcooks.com"
Chickpeas in a bowl, text overlay reads "air fryer crispy chickpeas, rachelcooks.com"
Chickpeas in an air fryer, text overlay reads "air fryer crispy chickpeas, rachelcooks.com"

Crispy and nutritious, air fryer chickpeas are very low in calories, making them a good replacement for calorie-laden chips or nuts. So good on salads, too!

Crispy chickpeas in a white bowl, overhead view.

Have you tried crispy chickpeas yet? Roly-poly spheres, about the size of a small blueberry, flavorful, sort of chewy and sort of crisp, they are a bit addicting. They make a great snacking companion for your favorite beer or a G & T.

There are lots of ways to customize the flavor so you never grow tired of these crispy little delights. You buy potato chips in lots of different flavors, right? Barbecue, cool ranch, salt and vinegar, sour cream and onion, and so on. I’m sure you have a favorite. I really lean toward salt and vinegar. Well, you can have crispy chickpeas in pretty much any flavor you dream up.

And at only 32 calories per 1/2 cup serving, they’re a guilt-free snack. Add to that the nutritional value of chickpeas. They’re a good source of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Oh, just in case you’re a bit confused, chickpeas and garbanzo beans are the exact same thing. I’m not sure why they have two such different names but that’s just the way it is. 

Chickpeas are inexpensive, convenient, and don’t take up a lot of room in your pantry (I’m thinking of you, bulky bags of chips!).

I’ve been roasting crispy chickpeas in my oven for awhile now. I especially like these cinnamon roasted chickpeas. The oven roasting method is great but it takes a little longer (20-30 minutes) and I’d have to say, the chickpeas don’t get quite as crispy as they do in my air fryer. Air fryers have the heat and air circulation necessary to do the best crisping job.

Eat crispy chickpeas for a snack or add them to a salad. I especially love them on this Brussels sprouts salad but they’d go great on any salad where you would add nuts or croutons. Kids love them, too!

Overhead view of crispy chickpeas in a black air fryer basket.

About these air fryer chickpeas:

This is a very easy snack to make. The most important tip I can give you is to dry the chickpeas as much as possible. Dry = crisp! Allow an extra hour to spread the chickpeas on a clean kitchen towel in a single layer to let them air dry before you season and air fry them.

After the drying time, season the chickpeas with olive oil and your favorite seasoning mix. I have a great one in the recipe below for you to get started with. Toss them in your air fryer, and “fry” for twelve minutes, shaking the basket a few times to ensure even cooking. 

Crispy chickpeas are yummy served warm, right out of the air fryer, or at room temperature. 

Overhead view of a white bowl filled to the brim with golden-brown fried chickpeas.

What’s in air fryer chickpeas?

  • Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans) – Make sure they’re rinsed and drained well! It’s important to dry them well, just let them sit on a lint-free towel for an hour or two. It’s not important to peel them, but you can if you’d like. You could make a double batch, but you’d want to air fry one can at a time. We like them best fresh.
  • Olive Oil – Only one tablespoon is needed!
  • Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, and Smoked Paprika – We love this basic but flavorful spice mix, but you’ll see lots of ideas for variations in the recipe card (keep scrolling!).
  • Salt and Pepper – Of course!

How to make these crispy chickpeas your own:

The seasoning mix in the recipe card below is just a beginning point. Chickpeas can be customized in a variety of ways. Here’s a few suggestions to get your creative juices flowing.

  • Cheesy Italian Herb Chickpeas: Omit smoked paprika. Instead mix in a tablespoon or two of grated Parmesan cheese (don’t be afraid to use the green can Parmesan, the crumbly texture adheres well to the chickpeas). Add a 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano or Italian seasoning, too. Fry as directed.
  • Ranch Chickpeas: Omit all the seasoning and add 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning to the chickpeas. Fry as directed.
  • Salt and vinegar chickpeas: Omit the seasoning, and instead stir the chickpeas with a tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt. Fry as directed.
  • Curry garbanzos: Use melted coconut oil instead of olive oil, and add 1 teaspoon curry powder to the seasoning mix, omitting the smoked paprika. Or try this recipe for curry chickpeas from Cooking Light.
  • Adding a couple teaspoons of nutritional yeast to any of the recipes will yield a somewhat buttery flavor.
  • I’m sure you’re thinking of all sorts of ways now to make your own special flavor!

Storage Tips

After completely cooling, store crispy chickpeas in a jar or bowl, without a lid, to preserve the crispiness. They need a little air circulation but you can lightly cover the top with a paper towel to keep them clean. The chickpeas will keep a day or two. Keep in mind that they won’t be as crispy as when freshly made.

A bowl of chickpeas that have been air fried, black and white linen in background.

Crispy everything!

Air fryers do such a great job of crisping foods without a lot of added oil. They’re fast, too! Try:

  • Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich —  with variations!
  • Air Fryer Apple Fritters with Apple Cider Glaze
  • Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
  • Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
  • Air Fryer French Fries — homemade French fries that are so crispy and good!
  • Air Fryer Falafel — so much healthier than deep-fried!
  • Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
  • Air Fryer Salted Peanuts by Fork To Spoon

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Overhead view of crispy seasoned chickpeas in a white bowl.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chickpeas

4.79 from 19 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Additional Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 hr 17 mins
4 servings
Print Rate Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Crispy and nutritious, air fryer chickpeas are very low in calories, making them a good replacement for calorie-laden chips or nuts. So good on salads, too!

Ingredients

  • 1 can (16 oz.) chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and dried (see note)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Heat air fryer to 400ºF. In medium sized bowl, toss chickpeas with oil, salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and black pepper. 
  • Pour chickpeas into air fryer basket, spreading them out as much as possible.
  • Cook for 12 minutes, shaking 2-3 times during cooking time to ensure even cooking.

Notes

  • Serving size: 1/2 cup.
  • For best results, before frying, air dry chickpeas on a lint free towel for at least an hour. Or quick dry them in the air fryer for 5 minutes, pour into a bowl with oil and seasonings, mix well, and continue to fry as directed.

Flavor Variations

  • Cheesy Italian Chickpeas: Omit the smoked paprika. Instead mix in a tablespoon or two of grated Parmesan cheese (don’t be afraid to use the green can Parmesan, the crumbly texture adheres well to the chickpeas). Add a 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano or Italian seasoning, too. Air fry as directed.
  • Ranch Chickpeas: Omit all the seasonings and add 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning to the chickpeas and olive oil. Air fry as directed.
  • Salt and vinegar chickpeas: Omit the seasoning, instead stir the chickpeas and oil with a tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt. Air fry as directed.
  • Curry chickpeas: Use melted coconut oil instead of olive oil, and add 1 teaspoon curry powder to the seasoning mix, omitting the smoked paprika.
  • Adding a couple teaspoons of nutritional yeast to any of the recipes will yield a somewhat buttery or cheesy flavor.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 132kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 606mg, Potassium: 170mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 79IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 41mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
Did You Make This?Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @RachelCooksBlog. I love seeing what you made!
Share A Photo! Tag on Insta Rate It

You May Also Like...

  • Pile of crispy air fryer tofu, one piece between two chopsticks.
    Air Fryer Tofu - Perfectly Crispy!
  • Crispy potatoes in a blue-rimmed white bowl, with a spoon in the bowl.
    Air Fryer Potatoes - crispy with hardly any oil!
  • A crispy chicken tender being dipped into bbq sauce.
    Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
  • Roasted chickpeas on a wooden spoon, more on parchment lined baking sheet.
    Roasted Chickpeas - How To Make Crispy Chickpeas
Lemon pepper shrimp in a black pan.
Previous Post
Lemon Pepper Shrimp – super easy recipe!
Honey and sriracha glazed shredded chicken over rice, served with steamed broccoli.
Next Post
Instant Pot Honey Sriracha Chicken

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




The maximum upload file size: 1 MB. You can upload: image. Drop files here

  1. Kate says

    December 30, 2022 at 9:22 am

    5 stars
    Just cooked up a batch in my air fryer. So yummy

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 3, 2023 at 10:43 am

      Glad you liked them!

      Reply
  2. Marcie says

    December 7, 2022 at 8:19 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely loved these!!! I added ranch seasoning ,steak seasoning, and some parmesan the flavor was great! Thankyou

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      December 12, 2022 at 8:05 am

      So glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  3. DIANE says

    March 25, 2022 at 12:48 pm

    I JUST LOVE CHICKPEAS, BEEN BAKING THEM FOR SOME TIME AND ADD TO SALADS. THIS RECIPE I’M SHARING WITH MY DAUGHTER ALSO AND I WILL MAKE THESE REAL SOON. THANKYOU

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      March 27, 2022 at 10:30 am

      I hope you love them!

      Reply
  4. Nancy says

    March 2, 2022 at 7:19 pm

    What kind of air fryer do u use? Mine doesn’t seem to brown or crisp things like I expect.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      March 6, 2022 at 9:36 pm

      I use a Cosori and I really love it!

      Reply
  5. Helen Meinzinger says

    January 11, 2022 at 5:53 pm

    4 stars
    Hi! Gave these a try in my Instant Pot Vortex Plus. Cooked on air fry for 16 minutes at 400 using the rotisserie basket. They are tasty but chewy. Any tips?

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 13, 2022 at 6:11 am

      If they’re still chewy, I’d try cooking them a little longer. They’re always a touch chewy/crispy, but they should be pretty crisp.

      Reply
  6. Anne says

    October 10, 2021 at 5:44 pm

    5 stars
    Turned out great with some Buffalo wing flavored popcorn seasoning I had in the cupboard. I added the nutritional info in My Fitness Pal under “Air Fryer Chickpeas” Rachel Cooks Recipe in case anyone else is tracking food with that app, based on the nutritional info listed on this page.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      October 13, 2021 at 12:16 pm

      So glad you liked this recipe! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply
  7. Maneesha says

    September 24, 2021 at 2:02 pm

    5 stars
    AH-MAZING recipe, thanks Rachel! I followed your recipe exactly, and this was the perfect crunch plant-based protein addition to my salad! Thank you so much! I’m going to check out your other air fryer recipes as well! Cheers!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      September 25, 2021 at 2:43 pm

      So happy you liked it, Maneesha! They’re so easy and fun to change up with different seasonings. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, it really means a lot to me!

      Reply
  8. Mischa (TX) says

    August 23, 2021 at 9:46 pm

    5 stars
    These were really good! I made the original ones posted, but plan to try to ranch and other flavors real soon. What a perfect snack! Even my fiancé, who is not big on trying new things, really liked them too! Plan on doubling next time to take to work to stop mindless snacking on chips and other “danger” snacks throughout the day! Thanks for the ideas. Wish I could of uploaded a photo, but we killed them in a few minutes flat!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      August 26, 2021 at 6:13 am

      So glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review and a comment, it means so much to me!

      Reply
  9. Mandi says

    August 6, 2021 at 7:06 am

    5 stars
    I made the ranch ones last night and they were delicious! I am currently dieting and not eating chips is hard, this is an awesome alternative. Thank you for sharing :)

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      August 6, 2021 at 10:30 am

      So glad to hear it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

      Reply
  10. Dana Krystofek says

    July 11, 2021 at 9:56 am

    5 stars
    Love this snack…just got an air fryer and wanted to experiment with something small. This turned out to be a new favorite snack–I use Carne Asada seasoning along with the oil, salt and pepper….Delicious!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      July 12, 2021 at 9:51 am

      Oooh I bet that seasoning was delicious!

      Reply
  11. Hanna says

    July 9, 2021 at 11:26 pm

    Thanks for the recipe! But what changes should I make if I’m using regular raw chickpeas, not the ones in a can?

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      July 12, 2021 at 9:54 am

      I haven’t made this recipe using dried chickpeas, but you would have to cook them and drain them well prior to using this recipe.

      Reply
  12. Connie Van Horne says

    April 11, 2021 at 5:23 pm

    This is the best snack/salad topping ever! I made exactly to recipe EXCEPT that I added some cayenne (tiny TINY bit!), red peppers, chipotle peppers and some adobo seasoning to give it a little more southwestern flavor. Oh my gosh! Yum!
    One final thing I added during a air fry shake: parsley! There’s a lot of garlicky spice in those extra ingredients … need the parsley to balance it out a bit.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      April 13, 2021 at 2:03 pm

      Your comment made me hungry! I’m so glad you liked the recipe!

      Reply
  13. denise says

    January 14, 2021 at 12:38 am

    sounds amazing

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 16, 2021 at 4:45 pm

      They’re really good!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Rachel! Life can be complicated, cooking shouldn't be! I believe that you can put a delicious meal on the table without stressing. It's possible, and I'm here to help. Have a seat at my table...let's chat, eat, and have fun! Read more...

Air Fryer Instant Pot 30 Minutes One Pan Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Slow Cooker Vegetarian 5 Ingredients

Trending

Cooked salmon fillet on a grey-toned plate with cooked asparagus spears. The salmon is being flaked with a fork.

Air Fryer Salmon – easy and delicious!

Pizza pasta being scooped from a pan with a wooden spoon.

Pizza Pasta – 1 pan, 20 minutes

Image of a giant bowl of spaghetti with turkey meatballs.

Baked Turkey Meatballs

Asparagus Panzanella Salad

Seasonal

Beef and vegetable stir fry in a black wok.

Beef Stir Fry With Vegetables

Hot honey chicken sheet pan dinner with honey being drizzled on.

Hot Honey Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Sweet and sour shrimp lettuce wrap garnished with green onion.

Sweet and Sour Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

BBQ Chicken burrito bowl with avocado and sour cream.

BBQ Chicken Bowl

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
Free Bonus!

5 Cooking Secrets to Save Time & Stress

Free email series of my best tips and recipes!

Featured On:

Back to Top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Work with Me
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2023 Rachel Cooks®
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled