Chickpeas are having a serious moment — at least in my kitchen. They’re a snack that, like French fries, rarely disappoints. Toss them in just about any seasoning, cook them with any method, and they’re still delicious. But after plenty of experimenting, I’ve landed on the one appliance that delivers the crispiest results every time: my air fryer.
In just a few minutes, it turns ordinary chickpeas into golden, crunchy bites packed with flavor. The secret? It’s all in the prep. Before you even think about turning on the air fryer, there’s one crucial step you can’t skip: drying the chickpeas thoroughly. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness, so take the time to pat them dry with a towel and let them air out for a bit. Trust me — your snack game will thank you.
When preparing to cook the chickpeas, you’ll need to drain and rinse them. You’ll want to make sure they’re as dry as possible before tossing them in the olive oil and spices and I’ve found the easiest way to do it.
I was recently given this small OXO salad spinner and it has quickly become a kitchen staple. After you thoroughly rinse your chickpeas, pop them in a salad spinner and give them a good spin until they look as close to bone dry as possible. Then you can peek at the water that accumulated at the bottom of the spinner, which is my personal favorite part of the process.
Read more: Meal Plan Your Way to Plenty of Protein With This Helpful Visual Guide
Once you’ve spun the chickpeas a few times, they’re ready to be prepared and cooked. Follow this tip and you’ll never go back to soggy chickpeas again.
Best of all, a can of chickpeas can be purchased for less than a dollar. That, along with a drizzle of olive oil and some spices is all you need for this fast, protein-packed snack. Here’s everything you’ll need.
Ingredients:
- 1 can chickpeas/garbanzo beans
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp harissa
- A dash garlic powder, salt and pepper
How to make air fryer chickpeas:
Step 1: Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then use a salad spinner as described above to dry them.
Step 2: Place the dried chickpeas in a medium-sized bowl and toss them with olive oil, then your spices, until they’re fully coated and have a slightly red tint.
You can use any variation of spices that you like but you will want to ensure your chickpeas are fully coated before cooking them.
Step 3: Place the prepared chickpeas in a parchment-lined air fryer in a single layer.
Placing the chickpeas in the air fryer in a single layer ensures that they will crisp evenly.
Step 4: Cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until they are golden brown, shaking the air fryer basket halfway through the cooking time. After 10 minutes, check to ensure they are your desired crispiness. If you want them crispier, place them back in the air fryer for 2 minutes at a time.
Your chickpeas should have a nice crunch to them when they are done cooking.
Step 5: When the chickpeas are done cooking, serve them by themselves as a snack, on a salad or with a roasted vegetable on the side.
I used this batch of air fryer chickpeas as a topper for a kale salad. The chickpeas added just the right amount of crunch.
