• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Me
    • Work With Me
    • Disclosure
  • Recipes
  • Kitchen Music
  • Travel
  • SUBSCRIBE

Foodtastic Mom logo

Home » Recipes » air fryer » Air Fryer Falafel

July 24, 2022

Air Fryer Falafel

Pin
Share
Tweet
Jump to Recipe
Air Fryer Falafel | Foodtastic Mom #airfryerrecipes #airfryerfalafel via @foodtasticmom

For a healthy meal prep option, try Air Fryer Falafel. It’s crunchy, tasty and easy to make with canned chickpeas instead of dried chickpeas.

air fryer falafel plated with a Greek inspired chopped salad (cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, feta and olives, parsley, plus some naan bread and hummus for dipping
Pinterest Save

I really enjoy falafel as a restaurant or take-out treat. But I tried a boxed falafel mixture at home once and was not a fan. Since I’ve had such resounding success with my air fryers, I decided it was time to create an Air Fryer Falafel Recipe.

I did a lot of research before attempting this green-hued delicacy. For flavoring, I took some inspiration from this recipe. But I decided that with my specific falafel dough mixture, I could save a lot of time by using canned chickpeas instead of soaking dried chickpeas overnight.

But what I think is even better about my recipe is that these falafel are absolutely perfect for meal prep. You can make a double batch, freeze them and then cook them from frozen. Keep scrolling for complete instructions. You are going to absolutely love this healthy falafel recipe!

air fryer falafel plated with a chopped salad with a glass of white wine on the side, plus pita bread triangles and a bowl of hummus

Why falafel works best in the air fryer

This falafel recipe is vegan. Falafel is a good source of fiber and protein. The hot air circulation of the air fryer basket mimics deep frying, minus all the extra oil/grease. So your air fryer helps to make falafel a truly healthy treat. And the texture of these falafel is so much better than baking them in an oven.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Falafel

  • Chickpeas – also known as garbanzo beans, drain them well but reserve some of the liquid
  • Chickpea Water – when whipped it’s known as aquafaba and can be used as an egg substitute. For the falafel recipe the water helps to blend all the ingredients together in the food processor.
  • Olive Oil – adds fat and flavor. 
  • Lemon Juice – adds bright, citrus flavor which compliments the spices which are warm and earthy.
  • Parsley – to save on prep, I love using this brand of lightly dried herbs, found in the produce section. You are welcome to use fresh instead.
  • Cilantro – omit the cilantro if you have the gene which makes it unpleasant for you!
  • Garlic – I like to use shortcuts when I can and keep a tube of garlic paste in my fridge. Use fresh garlic cloves if you prefer.
  • Red Onion – use both in the falafel dough and in a salad to serve with them.
  • Sesame Seeds – I just love the flavor and texture toasted sesame seeds add to falafel.
  • Cayenne Pepper – omit the cayenne if you don’t like heat, or add a little more if you do!
  • Coriander – although its seeds come from the cilantro plant, the coriander provides a warm and spicy flavor.
  • Cumin – tastes earthy and warm with an edge of citrus, blending well with all the other flavors.
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Flour – helps to form the chickpea dough. Use gluten-free flour if you need to.
  • Panko Bread Crumbs – also helps to form a cohesive dough.
  • Baking Powder – helps to keep the falafel crispy on the outside.

a picture of all the ingredients to make air fryer falafel - chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, garlic, red onion, sesame seeds, cumin, coriander, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon, olive oil, flour, Panko breadcrumbs and baking powder

Instructions for how to make Air Fryer Falafel

Making the dough is the most tedious (time consuming) part of making the air fryer falafel patties. But it’s so simple once you have everything prepped and measured! 

Into a food processor, add all the ingredients EXCEPT FOR the flour, Panko, baking powder and chickpea water. Pulse until smooth. Add a little chickpea water as needed to help with blending.

Whisk together the flour, Panko and baking powder. Transfer the blended chickpea mixture to a clean bowl. Add the flour mixture and stir with a spatula. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 30 – 60 minutes.

picture tutorial for how to make the chickpea dough for air fryer falafel

Use a cookie scoop to help form the dough into 10 balls. Gently flatten them with your hands until they are a smooth patty shape.

picture tutorial for how to make air fryer falafel patty

Place the falafel in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Brush them lightly with olive oil. Fry them at 375 degrees F for about 12 minutes, or until they are puffed and lightly browned.

air frying the falafel

Serving Suggestions

  • As pictured, with fresh veggies like tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, olives, feta cheese and tahini sauce or dressing
  • With warm pita bread or naan bread and hummus
  • Tzatziki Sauce for dipping
  • Homemade Tabouli
  • As a falafel sandwich in a wrap or pita
  • With a side dish of rice like this Lemon Rice
  • Greek Rice Salad

showing a close up of an air fryer falafel patty, drizzled in tahini sauce

Pro Tips 

Falafel is often served with tahini dressing or tzatziki sauce. But to get my kids to try it here at home, I served it with ranch dressing for dipping. And they liked it!

Freezing instructions for air fried falafel

Place the patties in a single layer on a plate or cookie sheet. Be sure and place some parchment paper or wax paper in between the falafel and plate to keep it from sticking. Put the falafel in the freezer for about four hours, then transfer the falafel to a freezer-safe, Ziploc bag for up to one month.

air fryer falafel patties ready to be frozen

Can air fryer falafel be cooked from frozen?

I tried it and was so tickled by how well these falafel cooked from frozen! And the cooking instructions are basically the same. Place the frozen falafel in a single layer into the air fryer. Brush lightly with olive oil. Cook at 375 degrees F for 12-14 minutes.

Can I use cooking spray in an air fryer?

I never recommend using cooking spray in your air fryer! Over time, it will damage the non-stick coating of your air fryer basket. I always use a silicone pastry brush to lightly coat my food with vegetable oil. Or in the case of air fryer falafel, extra virgin olive oil.

Can I put my air fryer basket in the dishwasher?

Yes, as long as the manufacturer instructions tell you that your air fryer basket is dishwasher safe. There are four separate parts to my air fryer basket (Philips XXL). I can’t imagine not being able to put mine in my dishwasher. It makes clean-up so easy!

Storage Directions

Place the already air fried falafel into an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Or in the freezer for up to one month.

How to reheat falafel in the air fryer

Place the leftover falafel (already cooked) into the air fryer. Reheat at 350 degrees F for 3 – 4 minutes. 

taking a bite of air fryer falafel

Kitchen Tools

  • I own a Philips XXL Air Fryer and test all of my recipes in it.
  • For a single recipe of air fryer falafel, a 3 or 4-cup capacity food processor will work.
  • This is the small cookie scoop I used to help shape the falafel.
  • To make multiple batches of this recipe, you’ll need at least an 8-cup capacity food processor.
  • Use a silicone pastry brush to lightly oil your falafel before air frying.

More Air Fryer Recipes

  • Feta Cheese Egg Rolls
  • Air Fryer Garlic Bread
  • Hasselback Potatoes
  • Air Fryer Pork Chops
  • Air Fried Chex Mix
Air Fryer Falafel | Foodtastic Mom #airfryerrecipes #airfryerfalafel #mealprep
Print Pin
5 from 11 votes

Air Fryer Falafel

For a healthy meal prep option, try Air Fryer Falafel. It's crunchy, tasty and easy to make with canned chickpeas instead of dried chickpeas.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean
Keyword air fried falafel, air fry falafel, air fryer falafel, air fryer falafel recipe, falafel air fryer, falafel air fryer recipe, falafel recipe air fryer, healthy falafel recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Resting Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 32 minutes
Servings 5
Calories 171kcal
Author Foodtastic Mom

Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 15.5 oz Chickpeas
  • 2 tbsp Parsley
  • 2 tbsp Cilantro
  • 1 tbsp Garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp Red Onion
  • 2 tbsp Sesame Seeds toasted
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 1/2 tsp Cumin
  • 1/2 tsp Coriander
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 tbsp Chickpea Water use more if needed
  • 2 tbsp Flour
  • 2 tbsp Panko Bread Crumbs
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder

Instructions

  • Drain the can of chickpeas, but reserve about two tablespoons of the water.
  • Into a food processor, add the drained chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, garlic, red onion, sesame seeds, lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper and cayenne.
  • Cover and begin to pulse the mixture on low. Add one tablespoon of the chickpea water and switch to high power for about 20 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the food processor bowl, using a spatula.
  • Blend again for about 20 seconds. Add one more tablespoon of the chickpea water if necessary. Scrape down the sides of the food processor container again and blend the chickpea mixture until smooth.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, Panko breadcrumbs and baking powder. Transfer the blended chickpea mixture to a clean bowl. Add the flour mixture and stir with a spatula, until you have a smooth, cohesive dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 30 - 60 minutes.
  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Use a small cookie scoop to help form the dough into 10 balls. Gently flatten them with your hands until they are a smooth patty shape. (see pictures above, in the post)
  • Place the falafel in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Brush them lightly with olive oil. Fry them at 375 degrees F for about 12 minutes, or until they are puffed and lightly browned. It is not necessary to flip them.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 590mg | Potassium: 235mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 197IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 1mg

Foodtastic Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program (Amazon Associate), an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Any highlighted, clickable Amazon link you see is an affiliate link that I may earn advertising fees on when you click to purchase.

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of Foodtastic Mom. Be sure to PIN to Pinterest and print this recipe!

Air Fryer Falafel | Foodtastic Mom #airfryerrecipes #airfryerfalafel #mealprep

Pinterest

Pin
Share
Tweet

Found In: air fryer

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amy says

    July 24, 2022 at 5:52 pm

    5 stars
    I have been loving my air fryer as well! I totally love this recipe and am glad I can use my fryer for it!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      July 25, 2022 at 12:41 pm

      Always love to hear from a fellow air fryer fan. Thanks!

      Reply
  2. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

    July 25, 2022 at 3:02 am

    5 stars
    Cooking the falafels in an air fryer is a great idea, especially when it’s so hot outside. These are one of my favourite snacks.

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      August 02, 2022 at 12:07 pm

      Mine too! And yes, I especially love using my air fryer in the summer months.

      Reply
  3. Dijana says

    July 25, 2022 at 3:25 am

    5 stars
    I’m so glad I found this easy falafel recipe! I’m not a fan of boxed falafel mixtures, either, so this was a real revelation!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      July 25, 2022 at 12:42 pm

      Thank you! It was a real revelation for me as well. I had been pondering creating my own recipe for falafel for a long time. I was a bit intimidated to try it. But SO happy I did!

      Reply
  4. Ieva says

    July 25, 2022 at 3:40 am

    5 stars
    First time I made falafel in an air fryer, and I was not disappointed! The chickpea mixture was really tasty with all the fresh herbs, and the outside crisped up whilst cooking – just how we like it! Great vibrant green colour too!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      August 02, 2022 at 12:07 pm

      What a great review to receive. Thank you, I appreciate it very much!

      Reply
  5. Kathleen says

    July 25, 2022 at 2:41 pm

    5 stars
    Oh do these falafel sound delicious! I’ve never had some of these spices in a falafel before and am excited to try it. Really love that they are made in the air fryer. Can’t wait to dig in.

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      August 02, 2022 at 12:06 pm

      Thank you, enjoy!

      Reply
  6. Kelley says

    July 25, 2022 at 2:56 pm

    5 stars
    These were so good and easy! Was great in a pita with tzatziki! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      August 02, 2022 at 12:06 pm

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  7. Tayler Ross says

    July 25, 2022 at 3:03 pm

    5 stars
    I’m a big fan of falafel, but I’ve never made it myself. This recipe looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      July 27, 2022 at 11:08 am

      I look forward to hearing what you think after you try them. Enjoy!!

      Reply
  8. Mirlene says

    July 25, 2022 at 3:10 pm

    5 stars
    I have a can of chickpeas in my pantry and wondering what to make with them. I’m glad I found this recipe. Now I can make some falafels for my kids to snack on!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      July 27, 2022 at 11:07 am

      Perfect! So glad you found my recipe!

      Reply
  9. Caroline says

    July 25, 2022 at 3:20 pm

    5 stars
    I love the idea of cooking them in the air fryer to make them both quicker and that bit healthier. And great with all the herbs etc.

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      August 02, 2022 at 12:06 pm

      Definitely a bit healthier, but still so delicious. Thanks for stopping by Caroline!

      Reply
  10. Dana says

    July 26, 2022 at 9:25 am

    5 stars
    These came out perfect! I skipped the cilantro because I’m one of *those* people who tastes soap when they eat cilantro, haha. The crisp on these bad boys is incredible!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      July 26, 2022 at 10:26 am

      Haha, I know several of *those* people personally, so I always mention it to make sure no one has an unpleasant eating experience. So happy you enjoyed the falafel without the cilantro!

      Reply
  11. Chris David says

    July 27, 2022 at 3:42 am

    I loved this recipe so much . It’s really awesome

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      August 02, 2022 at 12:05 pm

      Thanks Chris, I appreciate it!

      Reply
  12. Ruth Grindeland says

    October 06, 2022 at 11:18 pm

    5 stars
    I made this last night and I wanted to let you know how much I loved it. The outside and inside textures were absolutely perfect.

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      October 11, 2022 at 1:23 pm

      So happy to hear this, Ruth. Thanks for sharing your experience with my recipe!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About Foodtastic Mom

jill
My name is Jill and I share simple and delicious, family-friendly recipes. I want you to feel super in YOUR kitchen!

Most Popular Recipes

clubhouse sandwich plated with potato chips and dill pickle spear
Crock Pot Frozen Turkey Breast | Foodtastic Mom #crockpotturkeybreast #crockpotrecipes #howtocookfrozenturkeybreast
holding a perfect old fashioned cocktail
Ultimate Pizza Dip | Foodtastic Mom #pizzadip #slowcookerpizzadip #crockpotpizzadip
a bowl full of cooked, shredded chicken breast, cooked in the Crock-Pot
Air Fryer Apples | Foodtastic Mom #airfryerrecipes #airfryerapples #applerecipes
simply delicious chicken and dumplings overhead view in bowl
French Strawberry Cake | Foodtastic Mom #frenchstrawberrycake #cakerecipes #strawberrycake
Sign up for FREE recipes straight to your INBOX!

SUBSCRIBE

© 2023 Foodtastic Mom • Privacy Policy