Air Fryer Cajun Chickpeas — It’s no secret that I love to cook. I love experimenting with new recipes and also making the classics. One of my favorites is Cajun chickpeas because it combines two of my favorite things: chickpeas and cajun seasoning! This recipe is super easy to make–and if you’re not an expert in cooking, don’t worry; everything is detailed step-by-step below!–and it will be one of your go-to recipes for a quick snack or side dish. Give this recipe a try today!
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How about this for a healthy snack. Air Fryer Cajun Roasted Chickpeas. If you went through a supermarket 4 years ago, you would never guess that as you fast forward into the future. Ther would be dedicated space to roasted chickpeas. Now, if you head to Whole Foods, you will see a bag of roasted chickpeas selling for about $5.00.
Today, I am giving you an easy way to make roasted chickpeas in the air fryer. Today’s batch is Air Fryer Cajun Roasted Chickpeas.
They are quickly becoming one of the most favorite snacks of people looking for alternatives to chips. They are full of protein and give you that crunch that you are looking for. There are so many ways to flavor chickpeas, and I started doing many flavors due to my youngest, who really loves them.
If you are looking for even more Air Fryer Chickpea Recipes, some of my favorites are AIR FRYER EXTRA CRISPY SPICED CHICKPEAS, AIR FRYER SPICY ROASTED CHICKPEAS, and AIR FRYER SESAME SEED ROASTED CHICKPEAS.
What are Chickpeas?
You probably saw chickpeas in the grocery store, They go by a few names, gram, Bengal gram, Garbanzo, garbanzo bean, and Egyptian beans. Chickpeas are legumes that are used in the many Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisines. They are round, beige in color, and when roasted, or air-fried they become crunchy.
One of the most common questions I get asked if people can not find chickpeas in the store is can I use Garbazono beans inside? Yes, they are the same thing.
Why Are Chickpeas So Good For You?
The reason why everyone is air frying a batch of chickpeas is they are incredibly great for you! They are packed with protein, fiber, and other nutrients. This is a great source of protein for vegetarianism, which is important for bone, muscle, and even skin health. One cup of chickpeas is equal to about one-third of the adult’s protein need per day. This helps you reduce diabetes, helps in bone health, helps lower blood pressure and other health ailments.
Chickpeas and Weight Loss:
These are great for helping you lose weight. Both the protein and the fiber found in chickpeas help you feel full and help you with weight control.
Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Cajun Chickpeas
- Canned chickpeas
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Black pepper
- Onion powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Oregano
- Thyme
How To Make Air Fryer Cajun Chickpeas
Start by draining the chickpeas. Second, drain them really well, Third, place them on a kitchen towel for about 20-30 minutes, to get most of the liquid out. After they are well-drained, add your olive oil, make sure they are well coated, and then toss on your seasoning.
FAQ’s:
I have been air frying chickpeas for several years; I can give you some basic hints that helped me get crunchy chickpeas. They will only stay crispy for long! But for best results, take a few minutes to read the hints.
- Drain the chickpeas. I like using canned chickpeas, they are rather inexpensive, and they are easy to store in the pantry. Drain them well, leave them for about 30 minutes in a colander, let them get as dry as they can.
- After you drain them, place them out to dry on a kitchen towel, leave them for about 20-30 minutes, let as much moisture from the beans get out, this is one of the secrets to getting CRUNCHY air fryer chickpeas.
- Then they need to be coated with olive oil. If the recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of olive oil and you notice they are dry before you add them to the air fryer, they will NEVER get crunchy. So use your own judgment and add more olive oil. Make sure that every chickpea is coated in olive oil; this will help them crisp up.
- Season, season, and season them more. I always add extra seasoning; I like mine flavorful. So, they come out of the air fryer, I am still adding more seasoning, as you eat them, do you think they need more salt? Add more salt.
How To Store:
Now that bad news, you made a great batch, and you didn’t eat them all. What do you do? The first thing, they will stay good for about a day in a sealed container. But, they will slowly start to lose their crunchiness, so by the second day, toss them, and make a new batch.
More Air Fryer Chickpea Recipes:
How about this for a healthy snack. Air Fryer Cajun Roasted Chickpeas. If you went through a supermarket 4 years ago, you would never guess that as you fast forward into the future. Ther would be dedicated space to roasted chickpeas. Now, if you head to Whole Foods, you will see a bag of roasted chickpeas selling for about $5.00.
- 15 ounces canned chickpeas
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoons oregano
- 1 teaspoon thyme
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Start by draining the chickpeas. Make sure they are fully drained.
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Mix in the oil, and then mix in the spices.
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Then spread the chickpeas into the air fryer basket, set the 350 degrees F temperature, and set the 8 minutes. Shake the basket after 4 minutes.
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When the time is up, pour into a bowl. Add some additional salt (about 1/2 teaspoon) and enjoy it!
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Plate, serve, and enjoy!
Tips:
I have been air frying chickpeas for several years; I can give you some basic hints that helped me get crunchy chickpeas.
- Drain the chickpeas. I like using canned chickpeas, they are rather inexpensive, and they are easy to store in the pantry. Drain them well, leave them for about 30 minutes in a colander, let them get as dry as they can.
- After you drain them, place them out to dry on a kitchen towel, leave them for about 20-30 minutes, let as much moisture from the beans get out, this is one of the secrets to getting CRUNCHY air fryer chickpeas.
- Then they need to be coated with olive oil. If the recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of olive oil and you notice they are dry before you add them to the air fryer, they will NEVER get crunchy. So use your own judgment and add more olive oil. Make sure that every chickpea is coated in olive oil; this will help them crisp up.
- Season, season, and season them more. I always add extra seasoning; I like mine flavorful. So, they come out of the air fryer, I am still adding more seasoning, as you eat them, do you think they need more salt? Add more salt.
Don’t Forget To Pin:
These are quite 🔥 but I like them. Took much longer to get crunchy than what is stated in recipe. 1 teaspoon of cayenne is too much but will try again.