Air Fryer Falafels with Canned Chickpeas

You’re going to love this Air Fryer Falafel recipe that yields golden and crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked falafels without having to fry them in oil!

Whether you eat them as a side, place them on top of a salad, or turn them into a falafel sandwich, these bite-sized balls are delish!

What is Falafel?

Traditional Falafels are typical of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. They are fried ball-shaped bites made out of chickpeas and spices filled with flavor.

Falafels can be enjoyed on their own, served with Tzaziki sauce or hummus, inside a pita, on top of a salad, or in a Mediterranean bowl.

Falafels with Canned Chickpeas

Many recipes call for dry chickpeas, which need to be soaked overnight, so using canned chickpeas makes this recipe fast and simple!

You literally add everything to a food processor, and before you know it, the air fryer is loaded, and the falafels are being cooked to perfection.

I’m constantly on the hunt for fast and healthy foods, and this is why falafel is on my radar. The added chickpeas are high in fiber which helps with gut health, and I love that they have calcium which is great for bone strength!

Not a fan of chickpeas? Try this falafel recipe without chickpeas.

Falafel Ingredients

This simple list of ingredients is all you need to make the best falafel balls! Check that you have the following and print the recipe below:

• Canned chickpeas: rinsed and drained.
• Chopped parsley: One small bunch should do the trick.
• Cloves garlic: it all gets chopped up, so if you buy it minced, use that.
• Small onion or large shallot: they’re cousins, both work.
• Oats: used as the binding agent to hold the ingredients together, can be substituted with bread crumbs.
• Cumin: Such a great flavor enhancer for Middle Eastern dishes.
• Paprika: Smoked paprika would also be delicious.
• Salt: for seasoning.
• Coriander: This is optional.
• Lemon: Fresh lemon juice adds a nice citrus taste.

How to Make Falafels in the Air Fryer

Cooking falafels in the air fryer is a great way to make them healthier since we won’t be using oil to fry them and achieve a terrific crispy texture that, when baked it’s hard to achieve.

Here are the simple steps to make this recipe, which you’ll find in detail in the printable recipe card below:

1. Make the falafel dough
   Simply add all the ingredients to the food processor, pulse, and watch it turn into a dough-like mixture -no chopping required!
2. Shape the dough into falafel balls
   Remove the blade from the food processor and begin to form small rounded balls. Set them aside on a piece of parchment paper or plate.
3. Preheat the air fryer
   5 minutes at 400F will help you start with a nice hot air space to achieve that golden look and crispy texture you love.
4. Air fry the falafel balls
   Air fry the falafels for 8 minutes at 350F, open the air fryer basket, flip, and air fry for another 6 minutes, more or less, depending on how big you make them.
5. Repeat and serve
   Repeat the process with the remaining falafels, and serve immediately.

Can You Make Falafels Ahead of Time?

The falafel mixture can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to be air fried or frozen for up to 1 month.

When you’re ready to cook them, simply remove them from the fridge or thaw them out on the counter for about 10 minutes.

Leftover falafels should be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They can be enjoyed cold or reheated in the microwave or the air fryer at 325F for 5 minutes.

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