Spicy Vegan Chickpea Nuggets

By Chuck Underwood @brandnewvegan

I've been searching for a vehicle to deliver my newfound love of hot sauces - and these Spicy Vegan Chickpea Nuggets definitely do the trick!

Ever since I started watching YouTube's The Hot Ones, I have become obsessed with trying new hot sauces!

And what REALLY surprised me was that my 12-year-old grandson likes it too! But when I saw that his idea of spicy food was Popeye's spicy chicken wings - I knew I was going to have to make something healthier.

I have several vegan wing recipes already, like these Spicy Asian Cauliflower Wings, but I didn't have a nugget recipe - until now.

I hope you (and my grandson) like them!

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Why I Love These Vegan Chickpea Nuggets

100% Vegan, Oil-Free, and with a little tweaking - Gluten-Free: Like all of my recipes, this recipe is made without any animal products or processed oils and with a few substitutions can be made gluten-free as well.

No Weird Ingredients: Other than some Vital Wheat Gluten which can be found anywhere they sell Bob's Red Mill products, everything you need for this recipe should be readily available at your local big box grocery store.

Comfort Food: Next time that "meat 'n potato" person in your family (we all have at least one), is craving spicy "wings" for the big game - try these instead.

Fast & Easy To Make: You make a simple breading, mix some chickpeas with a few spices, and air fry (or bake). Even the person who hates to cook can make these - seriously!

Notable Ingredients & Substitutions

The Nuggets

Chickpeas

I used canned chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) in this recipe but you can also use dried. You would need to soak them and then cook them first but it is a possibility. If buying canned, I always choose a LOW-SODIUM variety.

Sriracha

I only added this to add a little zip to the nuggets and to offer something a little different from all of the other recipes out there in Internetland. Feel free to substitute your favorite hot sauce, reduce the amount, or omit it completely if you just can't do spice.

Vital Wheat Gluten

This adds a "meatier chew" to the nuggets in my opinion. It is simply a high-gluten flour. However, if you are gluten-free - feel free to substitute with oat flour.

To make oat flour, simply grind some uncooked old-fashioned rolled oats until it is as fine as flour and then substitute 1:1 in this recipe.

The Breading

Aquafaba

If you've never heard of this strange-sounding liquid, it's just the juice from a can of chickpeas. We have all probably opened a can and drained all this liquid out at some time - but strangely enough, it has some cool properties that make it an important ingredient in vegan cooking.

Panko Japanese-Style Breadcrumbs

Many people have asked where you can find oil-free panko breadcrumbs. This is the brand I buy at my local grocery store and they are oil-free. Naturally, being made of wheat they are not gluten-free, so be aware. You can easily substitute any gluten-free breadcrumbs.

*See the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact quantities and detailed cooking directions.

How To Make Spicy Vegan Chickpea Nuggets

Step 1

Open your can of chickpeas and drain, reserving all that liquid (aquafaba). Then place the chickpeas and all the other nugget ingredients into a food chopper and pulse until you have a wet dough. Place dough in a small bowl and gently knead a few times to mix. Set aside.

Step 2

Meanwhile, place the reserved aquafaba into one bowl, and whisk all of the other breading ingredients together in another bowl. I find it easier to bread the nuggets by forming an assembly line.

Step 3

Using a tablespoon as a measurement, gently form about 1 to 1 ½ Tbs of dough into a ball and then flatten it. Dip each nugget first into the aquafaba, and then the breading to coat all surfaces evenly.

Step 4

Arrange the nuggets evenly on a parchment-lined air fryer basket or baking sheet.

Step 5

Air fry (or bake) at 400° F for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Be sure to flip them halfway through the cooking time.

Hint: I like to use the "wet hand / dry hand" method for dredging. Use one hand to dip the nuggets into the aquafaba, and use the other hand to coat the breading. That way, you avoid getting your breading all wet and goopy.

Equipment I Used and Recommend

Although completely unnecessary, these are the items I used to make these vegan chickpea nuggets in no time flat.

Food Chopper - https://amzn.to/3WTKqIM

Air Fryer - Breville Smart OvenAir Fryer Pro - https://amzn.to/3z6eR6u

Parchment Paper - https://amzn.to/3AzduxC

WMKGG 100 PCS Air Fryer Oven Liners, 13 x 12 inch Perforated Rectangular Air Fryer Parchment Paper Disposable Liners for Ninja Foodi Air Fryer, XL Air Fryer, Cuisinart, Breville Toaster Oven

More Spicy Recipes

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

  • Vegan Picadillo (Mexican Hash)
  • Vegan Carne Asada
  • Green Chile Lime Salad Dressing
  • Vegan Molé Poblano
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Spicy Vegan Chickpea Nuggets Recipe

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  • Author: Chuck Underwood
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 15 min
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 Nuggets
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

I've been searching for a vehicle to deliver my newfound love of hot sauces - and these Spicy Vegan Chickpea Nuggets definitely do the trick!

Ingredients

Units

Nuggets

  • 1 (15oz) can chickpeas (save the juice!)
  • 2 Tbs of the reserved chickpea juice (aquafaba)
  • 1 Tbs lemon juice
  • 1 Tbs sriracha (optional)
  • 2 Tbs vital wheat gluten
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ¼ tsp poultry seasoning

Breading

  • ¼ cup Panko Japanese-style breadcrumbs
  • 2 Tbs nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
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Instructions

  1. Open your can of chickpeas and reserve the juice in a small bowl - set aside
  2. In a small food chopper - pulse the nugget ingredients until you have a wet dough
  3. Remove the dough to a bowl and knead a few times
  4. In a small bowl whisk the breading ingredients together - set aside
  5. Using about a tablespoon for measurement - form a small ball of the nugget mixture and shape it into a nugget
  6. Dip the nugget in the aqufaba and then in the breading ensuring an even coating
  7. Place on a parchment-lined air-fryer basket and repeat until you have roughly 12 nuggets. 
  8. Air fry (or bake) at 400° F for about 15 minutes - flipping halfway
  9. Serve with your favorite sauce

Notes

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