Name: Air Fryer Chickpeas
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cups cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained ((about 1-15 ounce can)); 2 tsp seasonings ((I'm using chili lime spice.)); olive oil spray

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Packed with protein and fiber, crispy crunchy air fryer chickpeas are the perfect snack. Add this healthy recipe to your weekly meal prep for a satisfying snack that’s ready when you are!

Side view of air fryer chickpeas in a white bowl with beige napkin. — Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas seasoned with chili lime plus a few other flavor ideas!

Like the popular roasted chickpeas, these air fryer chickpeas are a crunchy, healthy snack that also works as a salad or toast topper! This vegan snack recipe is ready in under 20 minutes and can last more than a week in the pantry. It’s at the top of my list for satiating plant-forward snacks!

Here’s what you’ll need to get started.

Ingredients and equipment

Firm, cooked chickpeas
Oil spray or oil
Seasonings
Preheated air fryer

Overhead view of air fryer chickpeas in a white bowl with beige napkin.

Tips for success

Let the chickpeas dry after rinsing. Wet chickpeas will yield soggy results.

Remove the skins. This is the most tedious part of the recipe. It’s not required but removing the skin does help to achieve the crispiest texture. I’ve done it both ways.

Season while hot. This is the trick to getting the seasonings to stick without wasting lots of oil. After the last shake of the air fryer basket, have a bowl ready so you can season the chickpeas immediately.

Got leftovers? Keep reading for tips on storing your chickpea snack.

Storage tips

Let the chickpeas cool completely. If you try to store them while warm the chickpeas will not stay crispy and will also spoil quicker.

Store in a sealed container such as a jar with a lid.

The chili lime chickpeas will keep about a week. But this depends a lot on which seasonings you add. If you add something like fresh lime, lemon orange zest, expect to eat them sooner since those flavors won’t last and can get bitter over time.

Seasoning ideas

You are really only limited by your imagination when it comes to how you season your chickpeas. I am using Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Seasoning because I like it. It has a blend of chili powder, lime, salt, and a tiny touch of sugar.

For this recipe, use a combined 1 tablespoon of any of these. Just make sure you’re not overdoing it on salt – else you won’t be able to eat them.

Here are a few more ideas:

Fresh thyme, garlic, salt, orange zest
Garlic powder, Italian herbs, salt and pepper
Lemon pepper
Steak seasoning

Ways to enjoy air fryer chickpeas

Add to toast. Crunchy chickpeas are perfect on avocado toast but you can also add them to hummus toast for a double dose.

Enjoy as an anytime snack. Eat them solo or mix with sesame sticks or any other favorite crunchy snack for variety.

Chipotle Chickpea Taco Salad with tortilla overhead

Use as a salad topper. Swap crispy, seasoned chickpeas in for added crunch to your salad. These chili lime ones work well with salads that have tomato, red onion, avocado and salad greens but play around with Mediterranean and other flavors too.

Go here for my Chipotle Chickpea Taco Salad recipe featured above. And if you want more plant-forward snack recipes, be sure to get a copy of my first cookbook, The Plant Love Kitchen!