Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Chickpeas

Crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside, these Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Chickpeas are the perfect snack on their own, or toss them on top of salads or into a snack mix. Making chickpeas in the air fryer is a quick and easy way to achieve the perfect crispness.

Chickpeas, otherwise known as garbanzo beans, have always been one of my favorite additions to salads, certain chicken dishes and obviously hummus. Truth be told, I can open a can of chickpeas and eat them with a fork. I have always loved their subtle, earthy flavor and somewhat grainy texture. Anyone else with me on that?

Up until now, I have always made my chickpeas in the oven, one sweet and one savory version are particularly my favorites. However, I recently told you all about how much I love cooking things in my new air fryer. It’s honestly one of my absolute favorite appliances. I don’t think a day goes by without making use of it in one way or another. It’s going to be great for summer too as it does not heat up the kitchen. Bring on the warm weather!

Anyway, I used a handful of ingredients in these Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Chickpeas and they are packed with flavor. The understated flavor of the chickpea allows it to take on spice and really let the flavor shine through. And let’s make note of how crispy they turn out! The perfect crunch. Chickpeas as a snack are also great for gluten free or plant-based diets.

One of the tricks to making crispy chickpeas is making sure they are completely dry before adding olive oil and spices. I always rinse my chickpeas and then place them on top of paper towels to dry, blotting the tops with more paper towels.

Once the chickpeas are dry, they are tossed with all the goodness you see here.

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Here I have added the seasoned chickpeas to the basket of my air fryer. You don’t want to overcrowd them. I let each batch air fry for 5 minutes and I give them a shake and air fry them for another 5 minutes or until they are the desired crispness I prefer.

As you can imagine, these play nicely with beer.

They are perfect for your next cocktail party or game night.

There is a secret to keeping the chickpeas crispy after you’ve made them, especially if you want to store them for a couple of days. Air flow is very important so plastic bags are out. Storing them at room temperature in parchment bags keeps the crunch factor alive.

If you are putting to together a snack mix, don’t forget to add these to your ingredient list.

I seriously love my air fryer and all the versatility it has in the kitchen. If you are on the fence about getting one, I hope you finally take the plunge. Besides my Air Fryer Salmon I mentioned above, you can also make these Crispy Buttermilk Parmesan Chicken Tenders or Buffalo Chicken Air Fryer Chicken Legs. Did you know you can make Air Fryer Hot Dogs? They have the perfect snap. I have not tried Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs, but clearly I need to. And Air Fryer Apple Pie Fries sound like a really great idea.

Five years ago I posted this recipe for a Gnocchi-Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich, have you made it yet? It’s time.

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