Description
Crunchy, high-protein chickpea snacks made in the air fryer with simple pantry spices. Ready in under 20 minutes, these healthy snacks are perfect for weeknight cravings and meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cans (15 oz each) canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder or cayenne (optional)
Instructions
- Open cans and rinse chickpeas thoroughly in a colander under cold water to remove starchy liquid.
- Pat chickpeas completely dry using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels; this step is crucial for crispiness.
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F (200°C).
- Transfer dried chickpeas to a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
- Toss chickpeas by hand until evenly coated and no spice clumps remain.
- Spread chickpeas in a single layer in the air fryer basket; do not overcrowd.
- Air fry for 15 minutes, then shake basket or stir chickpeas.
- Continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes, checking every 2 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.
- Remove from air fryer and let cool for 5 minutes to allow them to crisp further.
- Drizzle with lemon juice if using, toss again, and serve immediately.
Notes
Ensure chickpeas are thoroughly dry before cooking to achieve maximum crunch. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary. Shake the basket halfway through cooking for even browning. Let chickpeas cool completely before storing to maintain crispness. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Do not refrigerate as humidity will make them soft.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/4 of
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 7
Keywords: air fryer chickpeas, high protein snack, healthy snacks, vegan snacks, gluten-free snacks, quick snacks, chickpea recipes, air fryer recipes