Falafel is such a vibrant food, bursting with spices and flavor. The crunchy outside gives way to pillowy goodness inside. Starting with frozen, pre-formed balls only makes things easier! Once you take a bite of Trader Joe’s frozen falafel cooked in the air fryer, you’ll never look back.
Starting with frozen falafel makes things so much easier. No more grinding up chickpeas, seasoning, rolling, and frying! Just pop this pre-formed version into the air fryer in their frozen state, no defrosting required.
They’re ready in just about 10 minutes, making these falafel a quick and easy meal anytime of day. Pair with a side salad or stuff them in a pita for lunch. Serve with some hummus on the side for an easy dipper appetizer. No matter what, they’re going to be crispy and delicious!
What You Need for This Recipe
Trader Joe’s frozen falafel
Sides or dippers (optional)
Ingredient Notes and Suggestions
Falafel. Trader Joe’s frozen falafel is delicious, so that’s why I always grab theirs. However, any other brand (like Aldi or Costco) will work with this same method. If you use mini falafel (like Trader Joe’s mini dill pickle falafel) you’ll want to cut the cooking time down by 3 minutes
Sauces. I typically serve falafel with hummus, tahini, tzatziki, or garlic sauce (but they’re also delicious on their own)
How to Cook Trader Joe’s Frozen Falafel in Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 370°F (or 375°F depending on your air fryer’s options)
Place the Trader Joe’s frozen falafel in the preheated air fryer basket, allowing air space between each one
Cook on air fry setting for 8-10 minutes, pausing halfway through to flip
If they are not as crispy as you’d like, add additional time in 1-2 minute increments
With Trader Joe’s frozen falafel air fryer cooking method, you’ll get perfectly crispy, hot, and delicious falafel in just about 10 minutes! Their standard ones are vegan and gluten free, so they’re suitable for a wide range of diets.
I like to pair mine with a pita and some hummus for an easy workday lunch, but they’re delicious as an appetizer or side as well!
Preheat your air fryer to 370°F (or 375°F depending on your air fryer’s options)
Place the Trader Joe’s frozen falafel in the preheated air fryer basket, allowing air space between each one
3 pieces Trader Joe's frozen falafel
Cook on air fry setting for 8-10 minutes, pausing halfway through to flip
If they are not as crispy as you’d like, add additional time in 1-2 minute increments
Serve with sides, sauces, or in a sandwich!
Sides or dipping sauce
Notes
This cooking method works with Trader Joe’s frozen falafel of course, but is the same for other brands as well, such as Aldi or Costco
If you use mini falafel, you’ll want to cut the cooking time down by 3 minutes
I typically serve falafel with hummus, tahini, tzatziki, or garlic sauce (but they’re also delicious on their own). Stuff them in a pita with lettuce and sauce for an easy sandwich!
A serving is 3 falafel, and you’ll generally get 4 servings in a bag. As long as your air fryer is large enough, cook as many as you want at a time and there’s no need to change cooking time
Don’t add any additional oil during cooking, as the frozen breading already contains enough
8 minutes was perfect in my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Other air fryers may differ slightly on total cook time needed
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
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I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
