Craving a snack for movie night? Here’s a high-protein snack that’s quick and easy to make: Honey roasted chickpeas in air fryer. In fact, you can swap out the usual popcorn for this honey coated ‘chickpea popcorn’!

Here are some things you’ll need for this recipe:

• Air fryer

• Oil mister

• Chickpeas

• Honey

• Cinnamon

• Coconut oil

Why make honey roasted chickpeas in air fryer?

This ‘chickpea popcorn’ is a really easy snack that you can make in under 15 minutes. It requires only 5 ingredients, most of which you’ll probably have lying around in your pantry!

In addition to being a healthy sweet treat that you can munch on, this is a great high-protein vegetarian snack you can enjoy on a plant-based diet.

Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are rich in protein, so it’s a great ingredient to incorporate into your diet if you’re looking to have more protein-rich vegetarian meals.

When it comes to high protein air fryer snacks, this honey roasted chickpeas recipe is hard to beat!

Why is this snack called chickpea popcorn?

Look at them! These beauties look like popcorn’s smaller, caramelized cousin! And just like popcorn, they’re sweet (but not overly so) and addictive too.

So, if you’re looking for a high protein popcorn alternative for your movie nights, give these honey chickpeas a try!

How to make honey roasted chickpeas in air fryer

When I say this is easy to make, I really mean it!

Here’s how you make this recipe:

1. Start off by preheating your air fryer.

You wouldn’t put cake batter or a piece of meat into a cold oven. Likewise, don’t put anything into a cold air fryer! Always preheat your air fryer and bring it up to temp before putting any food inside. Preheat your air fryer to 190°C/375°F for 5 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, prep your chickpeas.

For this recipe, I use canned chickpeas. Open the can, drain the liquid out and wash the chickpeas. After that, pat them dry with paper towels and then remove their outer skin.

3. Put all your ingredients into a bowl.

Add your chickpeas into a bowl along with coconut oil, honey, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Use a tablespoon to add the coconut oil, then the honey. This way, the honey slides right off the spoon, making clean-up much easier. Mix everything together well.

4. Grease the air fryer basket.

Don’t skip this step! Using an oil mister helps to ensure that the chickpea popcorn doesn’t stick to the fryer, and makes cleaning up later on easier as well. Alternatively, you can line your air fryer with perforated parchment paper instead to prevent sticking.

5. Air fry the chickpeas.

Put the chickpeas in the air fryer and cook for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Be sure to shake the air fryer basket once or twice during the cooking process. This helps the chickpeas to cook evenly and not stick to the bottom of the basket.

6. Enjoy honey roasted chickpeas in air fryer!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are canned chickpeas already cooked?

Yes! Canned chickpeas are already cooked, so you can eat them straight out of the can! However, it’s best to rinse them first before eating to remove any excess sodium. Once you do that, you can eat them as is, or roast them in the oven or air fryer.

How do you cook chickpeas in an air fryer?

First, wash your canned chickpeas thoroughly and pat them dry with paper towels. Next, remove the outer skin before seasoning and roasting in the air fryer. Make sure to grease your air fryer basket to prevent the chickpeas from sticking.

Why are my roasted chickpeas chewy?

This might be because you didn’t remove the outer skin of the chickpeas before roasting. Leaving the skin on allows water to get trapped inside, causing the chickpeas to steam rather than roast. To get crunchy chickpeas, remove the outer skin before roasting.

Why are chickpeas good for you?

Chickpeas are a great high protein food source, especially for vegetarian and vegans. Roasted chickpeas, for instance, is a good high protein snack to satisfy the munchies. Plus, chickpeas are also loaded with vitamins and minerals such as choline, folate, magnesium, potassium, iron, vitamins A, E and C.

Are roasted chickpeas healthy?

Yes! Roasted chickpeas are loaded with protein, fiber, and healthy carbs, making them a good snack option for when you have the munchies.

Can I put parchment paper in the air fryer?

Yes, you can. Using parchment paper prevents food from sticking to the air fryer basket and makes cleanup easier. However, parchment paper can disrupt air flow in your air fryer, so opt for perforated parchment paper instead, or simply grease your basket with an oil mister.

Here are more air fryer tips for beginners to ace your air frying game!

What is the difference between garbanzo and chickpeas?

There’s no difference, as they’re the same thing! In some parts of the world, it’s called garbanzo beans, and in others, they’re called chickpeas. So if a recipe calls for 1 cup of garbanzo beans, and you can only find canned chickpeas at the supermarket, don’t freak out!

Do chickpeas cause gas?

Chickpeas tend to cause bloating and gas due to their high fiber content. However, people tend to tolerate canned chickpeas better than dried chickpeas. If canned chickpeas are giving you gas, make sure to rinse them off thoroughly before using.

Conclusion

Roasting chickpeas in air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a nutritious snack. Honey roasted chickpeas with cinnamon are especially yummy! These popcorn chickpeas are slightly sweet and very addictive.

So next time you’re having a movie night, make these air fryer cinnamon chickpeas as a quick, high-protein, guilt-free snack!

If you tried this recipe, please rate and comment below! We’d love to hear from you.