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Cooking falafel in the air fryer gives you perfect falafel that’s crispy outside, fluffy inside, and lighter than deep-fried options. This recipe’s super easy to make thanks to the canned chickpeas, making it a great option for a low-effort meatless meal.

Overhead view of a bowl of air fryer falafel with a cucumber and tomato salad on a table with a napkin.

♨️ What Makes This Recipe So Good

Um, everything about this recipe is good! Falafel has a ton of incredible flavor. Fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, and dill; garlic and onion; crushed red pepper flakes. PLUS, it’s a protein-packed meatless option that isn’t difficult to make and is great for meal prep.
Air fryer falafel in particular is great because it uses significantly less oil to get fluffly-yet-crispy results. Traditional falafel is deep fried, and while it does get even crispier that way, it uses a good bit of oil to make that happen. If you’re looking for a lighter option, this is it!
Most falafel recipes use dry chickpeas soaked for hours, which makes the falafel crispier. We’re using canned chickpeas instead, so the recipe takes much less time since there’s no soaking needed. Canned chickpeas are mushier than dried & soaked ones, so they won’t have that same crunch, but they’re still delicious.

👩🏼‍🍳 Chef’s Tips

When you’ve got the falafel in the air fryer, check on them pretty frequently to make sure you don’t overcook them – especially if your air fryer runs hot or if the falafel seem almost-ready when you flip them over. All air fryers behave differently so you may not need as much time with yours as I did with mine.
Don’t skip the chill time! (Important advice in life and in falafels.) Chilling the falafel mixture helps it stick together better when you roll it into balls, saving you a ton of frustration.
If you’re still having trouble rolling the mixture because it’s too sticky, try wetting your hands a little first. Don’t go overboard – you don’t want the falafel to end up soggy. Just a little should help make things a little easier.

Close-up of air fryer falafel with a bite taken out.

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Sam Guarnieri

Sam is a travel, food, and fitness enthusiast from the New York metro area who loves creating new and inventive recipes. Her love of food goes all the way back to her early childhood, cooking alongside her mom and Nonna – the two best cooks she knows! She's a big believer that good-for-you food can still explode with flavor and (most importantly) be easy to make. When she's not in the kitchen, Sam can usually be found planning her next vacation, spending time outdoors, or bingeing the latest Netflix docu-series.