My Budget-Friendly Air Fryer Guilty Pleasure Snack

CNET

a day ago

Chickpeas are having a moment -- at least in my household. To me, they're like the French fry in the sense that they're delicious no matter what appliance they're cooked in. However, I've found one cooking appliance that never lets me down when it comes to making my favorite high-protein snack: the air fryer.
When cooked correctly, chickpeas are crispy, savory and endlessly customizable. An air fryer helps transform ordinary chickpeas into a golden, crunchy snack in under 15 minutes. But there's one trick you have to follow before you even think about hitting that air fryer button: make sure the chickpeas are bone dry.
After rinsing and draining the chickpeas, pop them in a salad spinner and give them a good spin until they look as dry as possible. If you don't have a spinner, you can spread them out on a pan and use paper towels to soak up the moisture, then allow them to air dry for a few minutes.
Once they're dry, it's time to cook them up. Best of all, a can of chickpeas can be purchased for less than a dollar. That, along with a drizzle of olive oil and some spices is all you need for this fast, protein-packed snack. Here's everything you'll need.
Read more: Meal Plan Your Way to Plenty of Protein With This Helpful Visual Guide
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 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 you will want to ensure your chickpeas are fully coated before cooking them.
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Step 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.
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Step 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 when they are done cooking.
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Step 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.
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More easy air fryer recipes to try