Skip Salt And Pepper: Add A Packet Of This Seasoning To Canned Chickpeas For A Crunchy Snack

When you're feeling snacky, there's no munch that hits the spot quite like a crispy, salty treat. We're not talking about Cheetos, Lays, or even any of the dear, departed entries on the list of discontinued potato chips — we're talking about canned chickpeas that are roasted in the air fryer for 10 minutes or so, then tossed in ranch seasoning for a healthy, delicious nosh. If you're interested in turning a pantry staple into the tastiest snack you've maybe never tried, let us introduce you to the process.

One can should be plenty for an individual snack, or you can make more than one serving for a sharable portion. Remember to lay the legumes out in a single layer and don't crowd them, as that will interfere with proper crisping. (In case sourcing the can is an issue, keep in mind that chickpeas and garbanzo beans are the exact same thing.)

The real secret sauce behind the success in this preparation is that packet of ranch dressing. When your chickpeas are done in the air fryer, they'll be crispy and eminently poppable. At this point, toss or spray your chickpeas with a light coating of olive oil and then immediately roll them in ranch seasoning so that the powder clings to the chickpeas. There's big flavor in that little packet, and we think you'll find the resulting chickpea snacks incredibly crunchy and very craveable.

We know that baking soda is the key to making silky hummus from canned chickpeas, but are there similar tricks that will improve your crunchy chicks? Turns out that the answer is a resounding "yes!" We've read that just draining the chickpeas may not be sufficient for the crispiest specimens, since residual moisture can cling stubbornly to the legumes. Patting your chickpeas with a paper towel can get them nice and dry for the very best texture in the air fryer. Furthermore, roughing up the skins a bit with that same paper towel can have a pleasant effect on their crispiness as well. Roasted chickpeas don't necessarily keep well, so try to nom them up the same day that you cook them.

This brings us to another cheat code for crispy chickpeas. If you don't have an air fryer or just prefer to use your oven, you can technically bake the chickpeas and get the same result, so long as you understand the process will take longer. You want high heat (425 degrees Fahrenheit is a good starting point) and about half an hour of cooking time. We might open the oven door and shake the tray a time or two during the cooking to ensure even browning and no burned spots. Speaking of different ways to get to the finish line, you also don't need a commercial ranch seasoning powder to achieve these treats. A blend of buttermilk powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, a touch of sugar, and some dried herbs can have a similar effect without paying for a ready-made product.