Air Fryer Tajin Chickpeas

Pinterest Hidden ImagePinterest Hidden Image

Crunchy, spicy and packed with protein, these Air Fryer Tajin chickpeas are the perfect healthy snack to munch on when you’re hit by a mid-day hunger pang. 

All you need is 3 ingredients, under 5 minutes of prep time and your trusty Air Fryer to make this addictive snack. Best of all, it’s gluten-free and vegan too- just like my favorite Tajin nuts.

crunchy air fried chickpeas sprinkled with Tajin seasoning, served in a cup.

Over the last year, I have taken myself on a quest of trying out homemade versions of different spice mixes and seasonings from around the world. My homemade Tajin seasoning got a lot of love, and I explored a whole lot of recipes featuring it. 

And while Tajin tastes incredible when sprinkled on a juicy fruit (take my Mango con Tajin for example), using the spicy seasoning on nuts and seeds is my personal favorite take. So of course, I had to try making some Tajin nuts and seeds but I didn’t just stop there. 

Quick Look: Air Fryer Tajin Chickpeas

  • 🔪 Prep time: 5 minutes.
  • ⏲️ Cook time: 10 minutes.
  • 👪 Servings: 2.
  • 📋 Main ingredients: Chickpeas, Tajin seasoning, and olive oil.
  • ♨️ Cooking method: Pat chickpeas completely dry 🡢 toss with olive oil 🡢 air fry for 10–12 minutes, shaking halfway 🡢 sprinkle with Tajin seasoning while warm 🡢 toss to coat and serve.
  • ⭐ Difficulty: Easy.
  • 🥣 Serving ideas: Enjoy as a crunchy snack, serve as part of a Mexican-style snack platter along with some Texas toothpicks, or add to salads and bowls for extra crunch and protein.
Jump to:

What's So Great About the Recipe?

  • They are absolute flavor bombs and have an amazingly crispy and crunchy texture- perfect for munching. Team them up with some Tajin popcorn if you’re looking for another easy snack. 
  • You’ll need just 3 ingredients and a few minutes of hands-on time to make these! It doesn’t get any easier than this! 
  • There’s a ton of ways you can put these crunchy spiced chickpeas to use- I love adding them to my salad bowls whenever I run out of my crunchy salad topper.

Recipe Ingredients

ingredients for the Air Fryer Tajin chickpeas recipe.

Chickpeas: I used soaked, cooked chickpeas here. Use canned chickpeas if you want to make things quicker.

Tajin seasoning: Take a few minutes to make your own Tajin seasoning, or use the store-bought version. Either works great! 

Olive oil: Just a little, to help the seasoning stick to the chickpeas. Use habanero infused oil for a spicy kick, or lemon infused oil for a bit of citrusy zing.

See recipe card for quantities.

Substitutions & Variations

  • Use different seasoning mixes to try different versions of Air Fryer roasted chickpeas. Try my homemade peri peri seasoning or easy garlic bread seasoning. 
  • Add a dash of cumin powder to the mix to lend the chickpeas a bit of an earthy flavor and aroma. 
  • If you don’t have Tajin seasoning, look for chili lime seasoning or Mexican seasoning in the spices aisle. 
  • Add an extra kick of heat to the chickpeas by sprinkling some paprika or cayenne into the mix, and a dash of sea salt too- I do this when I make hot honey roasted peanuts.

How to Make Tajin Chickpeas in Air Fryer

Step 1: Pat dry the chickpeas to remove any moisture from the surface.

Step 2: Transfer chickpeas in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket, and drizzle some olive oil over them. Toss well to make sure all the chickpeas are coated well. 

Step 3: Air fry for 10-12 minutes, giving them a quick shake midway through the cooking time, around the 5 minute mark.

Step 4: Remove in a bowl and sprinkle Tajin seasoning over the warm chickpeas. Toss well to coat. Serve immediately or store for later. 

Top Tip

To make cleanup easier, line the Air Fryer basket with parchment paper or liners. 

Air Fryer Tajin chickpeas served in a small cup.

Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe

  • Make sure you drain away any excess liquid and pat dry the chickpeas well to remove all traces of moisture before you start to coat them in the Tajin. This is important, as it helps the chickpeas have that crispy and crunchy texture. 
  • Avoid overcrowding the Air Fryer basket with too many chickpeas. Leave some room for the hot air to circulate through the basket, and shake the basket a few times to get the chickpeas to crisp up on all sides and to keep them from burning. 
  • Once they’re done, allow the air fried chickpeas to cool down completely and then transfer them to an airtight container. I always do this when I make my Indian masala peanuts too.
  • If you want the chickpeas to have a more intense Tajin flavor, sprinkle some more of the seasoning on them right after they’re out of the Air Fryer. 

How to Serve Air Fryer Tajin Chickpeas

Enjoy these Tajin chickpeas on their own, or team them up with another crunchy snack if you’re making them for movie night or a house party. I love putting together a whole Mexican-style snack table featuring these, a Mexican salsa like cucumber pico de gallo or avocado pico de gallo and some nachos or tortilla chips. 

And if you’re like me, and ended up making a huge batch of the spiced chickpeas, you can add them to your simple salad bowl for an extra protein boost- I love adding it to my favorite chickpea egg salad. It's either these chickpeas or my all-time favorite chili lime pepitas.

A black cup filled with crunchy and spicy roasted chickpeas.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Can I make Tajin spiced chickpeas in the oven?

You can! To make oven-roasted chickpeas, spread the seasoned chickpeas on a lined baking sheet and bake them at 425 degrees for about 20-30 minutes. 

My roasted chickpeas have softened. How do I fix them?

Revive your roasted or air fried chickpeas and bring back their crunch by popping them in the Air Fryer for a few minutes.

How will I know the chickpeas are cooked?

Check the Air Fryer basket at the 10 minute mark to see if the chickpeas are browned and crunchy. If they’re not, add them in again for a few minutes. 

How do I store leftover air fried Tajin chickpeas?

Store your leftover Tajin roasted chickpeas in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days, if not longer. 

More Snack Recipes

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

If you tried this Tajin chickpeas recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

Air Fryer Tajin Chickpeas

Looking for an easy and healthy snack? Try these crunchy Air Fryer Tajin chickpeas. They're naturally gluten-free and vegan-friendly too!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 2 servings
Calories 331 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups chickpeas
  • 2 tablespoon Tajin seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Pat dry the chickpeas to remove any moisture from the surface.
  • Transfer chickpeas in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket, and drizzle some olive oil over them. Toss well to make sure all the chickpeas are coated well.
  • Air fry for 10-12 minutes, giving them a quick shake midway through the cooking time, around the 5 minute mark.
  • Remove in a bowl and sprinkle Tajin seasoning over the warm chickpeas. Toss well to coat. Serve immediately or store for later.

Notes

  • To make cleanup easier, line the Air Fryer basket with parchment paper or liners. 
  • Make sure you pat dry the chickpeas well to remove all traces of moisture before you start to air fry them.  
  • Don't overcrowd the Air Fryer basket with too many chickpeas. Leave some room for the hot air to circulate through the basket, and shake the basket a few times to get the chickpeas to crisp up on all sides and to keep them from burning.

Nutrition

Calories: 331kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 15gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 477mgFiber: 12gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 44IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 5mg
Tried this recipe? Share a photo of what you made on Instagram and tag us @uniquecooks or hashtag it #uniquecooks
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating