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These easy chickpea nuggets are the ultimate vegetarian finger food. Healthy and so simple, learn how to make vegetarian nuggets from scratch. One-bowl nugget recipe in under 30 minutes!
I like making healthy meals that taste great, but I am also incredibly lazy. So lazy that when cooking, I always try to use as few utensils as possible. And if it is just one bowl even better. That’s why I love this easy chickpea nugget recipe!
I came up with this easy vegetarian nugget recipe last night. Craving something tasty but still healthy, I decided to turn a can of chickpeas into nuggets. Made with a bunch of simple ingredients, these easy chickpea nuggets are ready in under 20 minutes. They are perfect for an easy healthy appetizer or side dish that satisfies your fast food cravings.
Ingredients for chickpea nuggets
This easy chickpea nugget recipe is so simple. It calls for a handful of wholesome ingredients that you probably already have in you pantry.
- Chickpeas: this vegetarian nugget recipe uses canned chickpeas, but you can also replace with home-cooked chickpeas.
- Egg: one fresh egg will bind the dough and make finger-licking chickpea nuggets.
- Chickpea flour: replace with oat flour, gluten-free if it is necessary.
- Olive oil: use extra virgin olive oil for the best taste and nutritional properties. Or replace with avocado oil, canola oil, seed oil or any oil you like.
- Salt and seasonings: sea salt, onion powder, garlic powder and smoked paprika.
- Breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs: opt for gluten-free breadcrumbs if it is necessary.
Gluten-free nuggets with chickpeas
Making gluten-free chickpea nuggets is embarrassingly simple. All you have to do is using chickpea flour as a flour and replacing normal breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs. All other ingredients are already gluten-free!
How to serve vegetarian nuggets
Here are some ideas on how to serve these homemade vegetarian nuggets with chickpeas.
- Pair your nuggets with a salad or your favorite vegetables.
- Use these nuggets as a filling for your wraps, maybe with a yogurt sauce and avocado as well!
- Dip in a selection of sauces.
- Side with potatoes (I love oven-baked sweet potato wedges).
- Add these homemade vegetarian nuggets to your nourishing bowls.
- Eat them just like chicken nuggets!
How to make chickpea nuggets without blender
Start by draining and rinsing the canned chickpeas, then add to a bowl. Using a fork or potato masher, mash the chickpeas.
Add to the mashed chickpeas one egg, olive oil, seasonings and chickpea flour (or oat flour). Stir all ingredients together, until you get a dough.
Form the dough into chickpea nuggets, then dip both sides in the breadcrumbs (or panko breadcrumbs).
Line the chickpea nuggets over a parchment paper covered baking sheet and brush with olive oil. This will give you super crispy nuggets. Finally, bake in hot oven for 12 to 18 minutes, flipping halfway through. Enjoy!
Air fryer vegetarian nuggets
For a quicker recipe, you can make these easy chickpea nuggets in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C (375°F), and once hot air fry your nuggets for 10 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
How to store chickpea nuggets
You can decide to either store cooked or uncooked nuggets. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight food container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. For a longer storage, once they are breaded, put in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, place the vegetarian nuggets on a baking sheet and pop in hot oven for a couple of minutes, until warm and crispy.
More healthy finger foods
Easy Chickpea Nuggets
Ingredients
- 250 grams (9 oz.) canned chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 1 egg
- 50 grams (1/2 cup) chickpea flour or oat flour
- 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp sea salt (or more to taste)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/3 tsp garlic powder
- 1/3 tsp smoked paprika
Breading
- breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven or air fryer to 190°C (375°F).
- Drain and rinse canned chickpeas, then add to a bowl.
- Using a fork or potato masher, mash the chickpeas.
- Add to the mashed chickpeas one egg, olive oil, seasonings and chickpea flour (or oat flour). Stir all ingredients together, until you get a dough.
- Form dough into chickpea nuggets, then dip both sides in the breadcrumbs (or panko breadcrumbs).
- Line chickpea nuggets over a parchment paper covered baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Bake in hot oven for 12 to 18 minutes, flipping halfway through.
