Craving something crunchy to snack on? It’s so easy to give in to grabbing chips, which aren’t good for you at all, or nuts, which are good for you in small amounts but are so easy to go overboard on. That’s where having a healthy snack — like these air fryer roasted bbq chickpeas — can come in handy!
If you’re a fellow millennial who was slightly obsessed with corn nuts as a teen, you’ll totally love these roasted bbq chickpeas. They’re super flavorful with just the right amount of crunch and savory flavor.
Don’t you just love the healthier air fryer foods you can make without all the oil? Let’s get started on making some roasted chickpeas right now!
Ingredients for Crispy Roasted BBQ Chickpeas
This section is meant to provide an overview of the ingredients required for the recipe. For specific amounts and instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Canned Chickpeas — You’ll need 1 can of chickpeas rinsed, drained, and patted dry.
- Olive Oil — Used to coat the chickpeas before applying the seasonings.
- Seasonings – Smoked paprika, chili powder, and garlic powder are the seasonings we used. You can add salt if you want, but we find that canned chickpeas generally have enough salty flavor without additional salt.
How to Make Roasted Chickpeas in the Air Fryer
This section provides a brief overview of the instructions but the steps are not detailed. For exact step-by-step instructions, refer to the recipe card below.
You can use this roasting technique to make any flavor of roasted chickpeas you want, because you don’t apply the seasonings until after they’re roasted. Make these bbq chickpeas first and then try the same idea with Ranch seasoning (or combine the two, if you want).
Step 1: Drain and rinse the canned chickpeas. Pat them dry gently with a paper towel.
Step 2: Air fry the chickpeas in a pre-heated air fryer at 400F. Shake them every few minutes to keep them from sticking or burning.
Step 3: Pour the cooked chickpeas in a bowl to let them finish drying for about an hour.
Step 4: Add a little olive oil to the bowl, tossing the chickpeas to coat.
Step 5: Sprinkle in the seasonings — smoked paprika, garlic powder, and chili powder. Stir to coat the chickpeas (or put a lid on the bowl and shake gently).
Step 6: Store roasted chickpeas in an airtight bowl or jar for up to a week. No refrigeration necessary!
Tips and Tricks for Making Air Fryer Roasted Chickpeas
- Use an air fryer liner (or parchment paper) to make cleanup easier.
- Don’t skip on patting the chickpeas dry with a paper towel. If too much moisture is present, you’ll end up steaming the chickpeas, which will make them soft rather than crispy.
- Save the aquafaba (the liquid from the chickpeas). It’s so useful, especially in baking! You can find loads of handy uses for it here.
Additions and Substitutions
- Swap out the seasoning: Try ranch, salt and vinegar, or even a sweet option with cinnamon and sugar. There are so many possibilities! You could also try them with your favorite pre-made seasoning blends.
- For a spicier kick: If you love heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or increase the chili powder.
- Sweet and smoky variation: A bit of brown sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup before roasting can add a sweet note to balance the smokiness of the paprika and chili powder.
BBQ Air Fryer Chickpeas Recipe FAQ
Can I double the recipe?
You sure can! Just make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary to give the chickpeas enough space to cook up nice and crunchy.
What type of chickpeas work best?
For the best results, use canned chickpeas for this air fryer bbq chickpeas recipe. They’re already cooked and just need to be drained and dried before popping into the air fryer. If you prefer, you can use chickpeas you’ve cooked yourself, just make sure they’re well-cooked and firm.
Can I make these air fryer roasted chickpeas with different flavors?
Absolutely! While this BBQ flavor is delicious, you can easily swap out the BBQ seasoning for other flavors like ranch, spicy chili, or even a simple salt and vinegar. Just substitute the seasoning and follow the same cooking instructions.
Air Fryer BBQ Chickpeas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 15.5 oz can chickpeas
- ½ tsp olive oil
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
- Dump the chickpeas in a colander, rinse, and gently pat dry with paper towels.
- Air fry the chickpeas for 14 minutes, shaking the basket every 3-4 minutes.
- Once the chickpeas are finished cooking, pour them into a bowl, and allow them to dry for 1 hour.
- Add olive oil to the bowl of chickpeas, and gently stir to coat.
- Mix the seasonings together in a small bowl, then pour over the chickpeas and stir well to combine.
- Store for up to 1 week in an airtight jar.
Notes
- Make roasted chickpeas with other seasonings to experiment with flavors. Ranch seasoning is awesome!
Nutrition
