Crispy Air Fryer Falafel: Quick Homemade Chickpea Patties

If you usually fry falafel in a deep fryer or skillet, you can also make excellent falafel in an air fryer!

This vegan air fryer falafel recipe is simple, flavorful, and uses basic pantry ingredients: chickpeas, herbs, and spices. It works well for lunch or dinner and makes a tasty plant-based main or snack. Ready to learn how to make air fryer falafel? Let’s cook in the bistro kitchen.

Great Plant-Based Falafel Recipe

I previously shared a pan-fried falafel recipe cooked in oil. Air fryer falafel won’t brown as deeply as pan-fried or deep-fried versions, but it uses far less oil while still delivering great flavor and a satisfying texture. These falafel have a pleasant bite and are an excellent plant-based option that won’t leave you missing meat.

Serve these falafel alone, with a fresh salad, inside pita bread, or wrapped in a tortilla. Add a salsa or tahini sauce and you have a complete, satisfying meal. The recipe is fully vegan and works with either canned chickpeas or dried chickpeas soaked overnight.

How To Use Dried Chickpeas For Falafel?

If using dried chickpeas, measure 1 cup (about 250 g) and cover them with cold water in a large bowl. Soak overnight; they will swell and roughly double in size and weight. For the best texture, remove the thin translucent skins before processing — this helps improve flavor and prevents a gummy mixture. I remove skins whether I use canned or soaked chickpeas.

What You Need For This Recipe

Prepare the following ingredients before you start:

• Chickpeas (canned or dried)
• Small chili pepper
• Red shallot
• Onion (½)
• Garlic (2 cloves)
• Parsley (fresh or dried)
• Cumin powder
• Coriander powder
• Fresh chives
• Salt
• Vegetable oil (for brushing or spraying)

See the recipe card below for exact measurements and yield.

How To Make Air Fryer Falafel

Follow these steps to prepare and cook falafel in the air fryer:

1. If using dried chickpeas, soak them in plenty of cold water overnight.
2. Alternatively, rinse and drain a can of chickpeas.
3. Peel the chickpeas (remove skins) and place them in a food processor.
4. Roughly chop the onion, shallot, and chili pepper and add to the processor with garlic, herbs, and spices.
5. Include the chili pepper and seeds if you like a bit of heat — the large volume of chickpeas keeps the spice balanced.
6. Add parsley and chives (fresh or dried) and salt to taste.
7. Pulse until the mixture resembles wet sand — stop before it becomes smooth like hummus.
8. Shape the mixture into nine balls, then flatten them slightly into small patties.
9. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (198°C) for about 3 minutes. An air fryer grill pan works very well for this recipe.
10. Brush or spray both sides of each falafel with oil and place them on the grill pan or in the basket.
11. Air fry 7 minutes, flip, then air fry another 7 minutes until golden and firm.
12. Remove and serve immediately.

Serve Falafel With

These falafel are great on their own but pair beautifully with:

• Fresh salad (greens, cucumber, tomato)
• Pita or flatbread
• Tahini or yogurt-style sauce (use plant-based yogurt for vegan)
• Salsa or roasted tomato sauce
• Soft buns or garlic bread for a twist

Can You Make Air Fryer Falafel Ahead Of Time?

Yes. Because this recipe is plant-based and contains no dairy or meat, falafel stores well and is convenient to prepare in advance.

How To Store Falafel

Let falafel cool completely before storing. Options:

• Refrigerator – place in an airtight container for up to 3 days to prevent drying out.
• Freezer – freeze in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer or oven.

How To Reheat Falafel?

Reheating is quick and simple:

• Air fryer – preheat to 300°F and warm for about 5 minutes or until heated through.
• Oven – preheat to 325°F, place falafel on a parchment-lined sheet, and heat for about 10 minutes.
• Skillet – warm in a lightly oiled cast-iron or nonstick pan for a few minutes until heated.
• Deep fry – briefly fry in hot oil for about 1 minute to crisp up if desired.

Why Is My Falafel Falling Apart?

Common causes and fixes:

• Canned chickpeas – they can be softer and more likely to fall apart than properly soaked dried chickpeas. If using canned, drain well and remove excess liquid.
• Translucent skins – remove those skins from each chickpea to improve texture and cohesion.
• Texture – the blended mixture should resemble wet sand. If it’s too dry, add a tablespoon of the reserved soaking water or aquafaba. If too smooth, pulse less to avoid hummus-like texture. The mixture should hold together when shaped.

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Air Fryer Falafel

Yield:
9

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Cook Time:
14 minutes

Total Time:
24 minutes

Yes, you can turn chickpeas into falafel using an air fryer. This easy recipe produces flavorful falafel that are slightly less browned than deep-fried versions but still delicious. Serve as a snack or a full meal with pita and salad.

Ingredients

• 1 can of chickpeas or 250 grams of dried chickpeas
• 1 small chili pepper (whole including the seeds)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 red shallot
• ½ onion
• 1 tablespoon parsley powder (or fresh parsley)
• 1 tablespoon cumin powder
• ¾ tablespoon coriander powder
• 1 tablespoon fresh chives
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Drain and skin the chickpeas. Place them in a food processor with roughly chopped onion, shallot, chili, garlic, herbs, and spices.
2. Pulse the chili (including seeds if desired) for a mild kick.
3. Add fresh parsley and coriander if using.
4. Season with salt and pulse until the mix resembles fine, wet sand.
5. Watch carefully to avoid over-blending; the mixture should not become smooth like hummus.
6. Form 9 balls and flatten each slightly into a small patty.
7. Preheat the air fryer to 390℉ (198℃) for 3 minutes. Brush or spray patties lightly with oil on both sides.
8. Place patties in the air fryer basket or on a grill pan. Cook 7 minutes, flip, then cook another 7 minutes until golden and firm.
9. Remove and serve immediately.

Notes

If using dried chickpeas, soak them in a large bowl covered with plenty of water overnight. Drain before using.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 9
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 87Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 65mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 5g

Please note: Nutrition information is provided for reference and may not be exact.