It’s time to stop tolerating the sad, mushy chickpeas you get straight out of a can. If you aren’t turning them into a legitimate, crunchy snack, you’re missing out on one of the best kitchen hacks of 2026. Chickpeas are something like the potato’s high-protein cousin, and everyone could stand to eat some more of them. Here’s the thing, though: They need to be cooked with high heat to shine.
The air fryer is the absolute best way to accomplish this. But chickpeas aren’t a toss-and-go solution that you can throw in wet and hope for the best. You need a salad spinner or a way to dry them out completely before adding them to the air fryer to get the ultimate crunch. We’re talking obsession-worthy.
That’s pretty much all you need. Drop some oil and some salt and whatever spices you have for some of the best crunchy snacks you’ll ever eat. All this, and it’s super cheap, too. You really can’t go wrong with air-fried chickpeas. Here’s how to make them.
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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 of 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 make sure your chickpeas are fully coated before cooking them.
Corin Cesaric/CNETStep 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.
Corin Cesaric/CNETStep 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.
Corin Cesaric/CNETStep 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.
Corin Cesaric/CNETMore easy air fryer recipes to try
- Chicken wings
- Brussels sprouts
- Whole chicken
- Salmon
- Cheeseburgers
- Hot dogs
