If you are looking for a healthy snack, protein-rich and super tasty, try these crispy chickpeas in an air fryer! In just a few minutes, you can transform simple canned chickpeas into a light and irresistible snack, perfect for munching in front of the TV instead of popcorn and chips or to serve as a nibbler for aperitif.
This crispy chickpeas in air fryer recipe is very easy and requires very little oil: just cornstarch, breadcrumbs, and your favorite spices for a golden, crispy, and flavorful result. I love seasoning them with smoked paprika, but you can customize them with turmeric, curry, chili pepper, oregano, rosemary, or some parmesan.
I had already experimented with a similar recipe, the spiced fried chickpeas, when I did not have an air fryer, and the result was already very good; however, the version I propose today is even crispier and much lighter because it requires little oil. Perfect for those who want a healthy snack without sacrificing taste!
Once tried, I assure you that these crispy chickpeas in an air fryer will become your new obsession: simple, tasty, and infinitely customizable!
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 100.49 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 12.54 (g) of which sugars 0.79 (g)
- Proteins 4.57 (g)
- Fat 3.28 (g) of which saturated 0.27 (g)of which unsaturated 0.08 (g)
- Fibers 3.97 (g)
- Sodium 302.68 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 35 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Crispy Chickpeas in Air Fryer
If you are celiac, besides using gluten-free breadcrumbs, ensure that the cornstarch label states “gluten-free”.
- 15 oz canned chickpeas (drained weight)
- 1 tbsp breadcrumbs (gluten-free for me)
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 pinch salt
- to taste pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (or other spices of choice)
- 1 pinch garlic powder (optional)
- 3 sprays extra virgin olive oil
Tools
The oil sprayer is not essential, but it helps to use a minimal amount of oil.
- 1 Sieve
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Oil Sprayer
- 1 Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Paper
How to Cook Spiced Crispy Chickpeas in Air Fryer
To prepare crispy chickpeas in an air fryer, you can start with dried chickpeas – which must be soaked for at least 12 hours and boiled until cooked – or simply use canned chickpeas. In this case, drain and rinse them well, then transfer them to a bowl. Add the cornstarch first (1) and mix briefly (2). Salt, pepper them, and add smoked paprika (or your preferred spices) and garlic powder (3).
Mix well with a spoon or your hands, then add the breadcrumbs (4). Mix to ensure it sticks to the chickpeas, then spray the whole with 3 or 4 puffs of extra virgin olive oil (5). If you do not have an oil sprayer, you can pour a tablespoon and mix immediately to distribute it evenly (6).
Line the basket of the air fryer with the appropriate perforated paper (7) and distribute the chickpeas in a single layer (8). Cook the crispy chickpeas in the air fryer at 375°F for about 12 minutes, stirring them halfway through cooking. The times may vary slightly depending on the air fryer model, so check them occasionally. When they are golden and crispy, they are ready (9).
Serve the crispy chickpeas immediately as a salty snack to enjoy for a snack or to accompany an aperitif.
Storage
Crispy chickpeas in an air fryer are best fresh, when they are still hot and super fragrant. However, they can be stored for 1-2 days at room temperature, provided they are perfectly dry.
FAQ
Can I bake crispy chickpeas in the oven?
If you do not have an air fryer, you can prepare crispy oven-baked chickpeas as follows: season them as in the recipe outlined above, then transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, trying to arrange them in a single layer. Preheat the oven to 355°F in convection mode and bake them for about 30 minutes, stirring them halfway through to make them brown evenly.
