Air Fryer Crispy Chickpeas Recipe
Crispy air fryer chickpeas with smoked paprika, lemon zest, and golden crunchy edges — a quick 15-minute snack.
Quick Facts
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Canned chickpeas — 2 cans, 15 oz each, drained and rinsed
Olive oil or avocado oil — 1 tablespoon
Smoked paprika — 1 teaspoon
Garlic powder — ½ teaspoon
Ground cumin — ½ teaspoon
Salt — ½ teaspoon, or to taste
Black pepper — ¼ teaspoon
Lemon zest — 1 teaspoon
Optional: grated Parmesan — 2 tablespoons
Directions
1. Drain, rinse, and pat the chickpeas very dry with a clean kitchen towel.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Add the chickpeas and air fry for 5 minutes to remove extra moisture.
3. Transfer the chickpeas to a bowl and toss with oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
4. Return the chickpeas to the basket in a single layer and air fry for 10 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden and crisp.
5. Finish with lemon zest and optional Parmesan, then let the chickpeas cool for 3–5 minutes before serving for the best crunch.
Notes / Tips
Drying the chickpeas well is the key step for crisp texture.
Do not overcrowd the basket.
Lemon zest should be added after cooking for the freshest flavor.
Variations
Spicy Chickpeas: Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper with the smoked paprika.
Garlic Parmesan Chickpeas: Add 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan after air frying.
Ranch Chickpeas: Toss with 1 teaspoon ranch seasoning after cooking.
Lemon Pepper Chickpeas: Skip cumin and add ½ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning.
Taco Chickpeas: Use taco seasoning instead of paprika, garlic, and cumin.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 165
Fat: 5 g
Carbohydrates: 24 g
Protein: 7 g
Fiber: 6 g
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 330 mg
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