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Learn to air fry chickpeas in a Ninja Foodi (AKA garbanzo beans)! This Ninja air fryer chickpeas recipe is fast, cheap, easy, and makes a delicious snack! Learn how long does it take to cook chickpeas in Ninja Foodi with my step-by-step directions. These crispy garbanzo beans are suitable for vegan, vegetarians, and gluten free diets. Let Ninja roasted chickpeas become your new favorite way to get some plant-based protein in!
These Ninja Foodi garbanzo beans are so simple and healthy. With only 5 ingredients, you might already have everything you need to make them in your pantry.
We’re essentially making seasoned dehydrated chickpeas here. Canned chickpeas are precooked, and we’re just drying them out in the Foodi. What you get are crunchy garbanzo beans that are the perfect portable snack for after school, post-workout, or hiking trips.
I’ve got tips on making extra crispy roasted chickpeas below, if that’s how you like them. Or keep them on the softer side to use in curry, wraps, or tacos. It’s up to you!
⭐ How to Make Ninja Air Fryer Chickpeas
To air fry chickpeas in a Ninja Foodi, you need these ingredients:
- Canned chickpeas (one 15½ oz can or 1¾ cups cooked chickpeas)
- ¼ cup grainy mustard
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil (or another cooking oil, like canola oil or extra virgin olive oil)
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Get a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post!
I don’t recommend making air fryer chickpeas no oil. The little bit of oil in this recipe helps the chickpeas to crisp up more.
Using a mustard with sugars (like honey mustard) may impact the cooking time. I’d keep an extra close eye on things if you go this route. The added sugars may cause the chickpeas to burn before they get crispy.
You also need a bowl, spoon, and a Ninja Foodi for this recipe. I use a Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL 8-quart with an air fryer basket and an air fryer crisping lid (AKA tendercrisp lid). If you use another air fryer, such as the Instant Vortex, you may need to adjust the cooking time.
Here are the step-by-step instructions:
- Rinse and drain the chickpeas in a colander, then spread them out on paper towels in a single layer to get them dry.
- Mix the chickpeas, mustard, oil, onion powder, and garlic powder together in a bowl. The mixture should not have much moisture if the chickpeas were drained well.
- Preheat the Ninja Foodi air fryer to 375F (190C) for 5 minutes. Place the chickpeas in the hot air fryer basket.
Can you believe it’s time to cook already?
⏲️ Ninja Air Fryer Chickpeas Cooking Time and Temperature
How long to cook chickpeas in the Ninja Foodi? What temperature to cook chickpeas in Ninja Foodi? Chickpeas take 15-18 minutes on the air fryer setting at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190C).
Remember to use the air fryer basket set inside the ceramic-coated interior pot with the crisper lid for this recipe. After 10 minutes of air frying, stir the chickpeas around and then air fry 5 more minutes. At this point, they should be crisp on the outside and tender in the middle.
To make extra crispy chickpeas in the Ninja Foodi, air fry 2-3 more minutes. Be sure to watch them closely so they don’t burn.
Hot tip! When you stir the chickpeas, try to get the ones on the edges of the air fryer basket to the middle and vice versa. This will help the batch crisp up more evenly.
😋 Air Fryer Chickpeas Seasoning
You have lots of options for flavoring chickpeas if you don’t like how I’m seasoning them. For example, make air fryer curry chickpeas for spiced air fried chickpeas with Indian flavors. (Yum!)
Here are some other ideas for flavoring air fryer canned chickpeas:
- Garlic and herb
- Taco seasoning or chili powder
- Ranch salad dressing seasoning
- Garam masala
- Cumin
- Curry powder
- BBQ seasoning
- Cinnamon sugar
- Simple salt and pepper
- Italian seasoning (or use a blend of Mediterranean herbs)
- Parmesan cheese
- Buffalo sauce
- Dill
- Salt and vinegar
Keep in mind that seasonings with sugar may burn more easily. (You may want to add seasonings like cinnamon sugar after making your air fryer recipes.) Using a sauce rather than a dry seasoning may also impact the cooking time.
❓ Why are my roasted chickpeas not crunchy?
You can make roasted chickpeas softer or firmer by adjusting the cooking time. It is that easy. Be careful though- cooking too long can result in rock-hard chickpeas that are rough on the teeth!
If cooking for extended periods is not getting your chickpeas roasted as you would like, I have one more suggestion. Try drying the unseasoned chickpeas out in the oven or Foodi first, then seasoning them and putting them in the oven or Foodi again.
I’ve heard that this method will get you closer to the crispness of the store-bought chickpeas. Chickpeas roasted using this method may be drier and hold up better during longer storage.
🌡️ Do air fried chickpeas go bad?
Ninja Foodi chickpeas are perishable; they don’t store well and are best eaten fresh. Though you can store them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, they tend to get soggy. I don’t recommend freezing these chickpeas for the same reason.
🌮 Ways to Use Chickpeas
Wondering how to use chickpeas? My favorite way to use these chickpeas is to enjoy them as they are for a snack. Here are some other ideas to make chickpeas into a meal:
- Make a Ninja Foodi chickpea curry
- Chickpea tacos
- Add to wraps and sandwiches
- Blend into a dip like hummus (don’t cook chickpeas extra crispy if you do this)
- Soup or salad topping
Watch How to Make It!
Ninja Air Fryer Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans Time and Temp)
Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas 15½ ounces/439 grams
- ¼ cup grainy mustard (see ingredients section of article for tips)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Rinse and drain the chickpeas in a colander, then spread them out on paper towels to get them dry.
- Mix the chickpeas, mustard, oil, onion powder, and garlic powder together in a bowl. The mixture should not be liquid-y if the chickpeas were drained well.
- Ninja Foodi directions: Preheat the Ninja Foodi air fryer to 375°F (191°C) for 5 minutes. Place the chickpeas in the hot air fryer basket. Air fry for 10 minutes, stir the chickpeas around, and then air fry 5 more minutes. To make extra crispy chickpeas in the Ninja Foodi, air fry 2-3 more minutes. Be sure to watch them closely so they don’t burn. Let them cool to room temperature before eating.
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). At almost 300 calories for a relatively small serving, this is quite a hearty snack. This is the sort of thing that’s great to make as a healthy snack for growing children. I find the batch always disappears quickly when I make it! Chickpeas are not a good fit for keto and other very low carb diets since they are high in carbohydrates. That said, the carbs in chickpeas are “good carbs” with a low glycemic index. Here are some more benefits of this chickpeas Ninja Foodi recipe:- High fiber: Chickpeas are packed with heart-healthy fiber that helps to improve your digestion and your blood cholesterol levels. (Just don’t forget that it’s possible to get too much of a good thing! Start slow if you normally don’t get much fiber in your diet.)
- Plant-based protein: These garbanzo beans are a protein-packed treat for the mustard lovers out there. If you’re looking for ways to get more vegan protein in your diet, try snacking on these!
- Saves money: Both dried and canned beans tend to be cheaper than meat (per calorie). If you are looking to save money on your grocery bill, try eating more chickpeas, beans, and lentils.
- Minimal oil: Chickpeas come out crispy in the Ninja Foodi without using a lot of oil. The dry moving heat from the Ninja Foodi tendercrisp lid crisps foods similar to frying, but with no oil (or mess).
- Fast cook time: Chickpeas air fry in the Ninja Foodi in only 15-18 minutes. It’s a much faster cooking method than roasting chickpeas in the oven (which takes 45-55 minutes).
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
FAQs
Why are my chickpeas popping in the air fryer?
I’ve never had this issue with any of my air fryers, but it’s normal for the occasional chickpea to pop in the air fryer.
Can you use the Ninja Foodi to pressure cook chickpeas?
How long does it take to cook chickpeas in a pressure cooker? Pressure cook dried chickpeas in the Ninja Foodi for one hour on high pressure. I recommend soaking dried chickpeas overnight before pressure cooking. Discard the bean soaking water, and use fresh water to cook the chickpeas.
How do you cook dried chickpeas in Ninja Foodi?
The best way to make Ninja Foodi dried chickpeas is to pressure cook them. (So much faster than a slow cooker!) As mentioned above, the chickpeas should be soaked overnight before pressure cooking for one hour. Cover the chickpeas with about an inch of water. The water level should be between the min and max lines on the Foodi.
Can chickpeas be eaten raw?
Chickpeas must be cooked before eating. You cannot safely eat chickpeas raw. Canned chickpeas have been previously cooked, which is why it’s safe to eat them straight from the can.
Can I cook chickpeas without soaking?
Canned chickpeas do not need to be soaked. It’s ok to skip soaking dried chickpeas before cooking, but this may lengthen the cooking time. Some other things that can impact how long chickpeas take to cook include the hardness of your water and how old the chickpeas are.
👨🏾🍳 More Chickpea Recipes (Not Curry)
Looking for recipes using chickpeas? Try these flavorful chickpea snacks:
- Roasted Garbanzo Beans Recipe
- High Calorie Chickpeas for Weight Gain
- Popcorn Substitute Ideas
- Falafel Gyro Recipe
Also, be sure to check out our entire collection of Ninja Foodi Recipes while you’re here!
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
Another terrific chickpea recipe! Great tip about drying them in the oven to shorten the cooking time! Have you considered doing a curry or garam masala version?
I haven’t but it sounds like a terrific idea! Considering I just purchased a giant bag of dried chickpeas, I may have to try this soon. 🙂
Looking forward to the recipe!