Raise your hand if you love falafel! I’ve gone back into the archives to highlight my all-time favorite homemade falafel recipe. Making falafel at home can be tricky, but this recipe is easy.
Six reasons to love this healthy falafel recipe:
- These falafels are golden brown and crispy on the outside. The insides are tender, delicious, and full of fresh herbs.
- They’re baked instead of fried, so they contain significantly less fat than fried falafel. And your house won’t smell like fried food for days. Winning!
- Once your chickpeas are sufficiently soaked, the falafel mixture comes together in no time. If you have someone to help shape the patties, they’ll come together even faster.
- These falafels are gluten free and vegan, so they’re a great party appetizer.
- These falafels freeze well, so they’re a fantastic protein-rich option to keep on hand for future salads and pita sandwiches.
- On that note, this recipe is easily doubled! See recipe notes.
Are you convinced yet? Let’s make some falafel!
How to Make the Best Homemade Falafel
Bake it, don’t fry it. I say this because frying requires a lot of sizzling hot oil, and that scares me. I also don’t have a good vent over my oven to take the fried food smell far, far away. Plus, you can use a reasonably amount of heart-healthy olive oil in the baked version.
Coat your rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. That way, you get a fried effect in the oven, and you don’t have to brush the little falafels individually with olive oil. Winning!
Use dried chickpeas, not canned. Canned chickpeas do not work for falafel. They’re far too wet. If you try to use canned chickpeas instead of dried and soaked chickpeas, you’ll end up with sad falafel pancakes. Some recipes try to counteract the wetness by adding flour, which significantly dulls the flavor and makes the texture more doughy.
Soak the dried chickpeas for at least four hours. If your chickpeas aren’t sufficiently softened, you’ll have unpalatably tough pieces of chickpea in your falafel. There’s just no workaround here.
Choose your dried chickpeas wisely. Try to buy your dried chickpeas from a store with high turnover, because old chickpeas need longer to soften. If you have options, pick the chickpeas that are the smallest, since they’ll soften faster.
Watch How to Make Crispy Falafel
Falafel Serving Suggestions
Serve falafel as an appetizer, wrap it into a pita sandwich, or add it to salad for a protein-rich topping. Falafel goes great with any of the following ingredients:
- Pita bread, warmed or toasted (tear it up for pita “croutons”)
- Fresh greens (such as spring greens or chopped romaine)
- Tomatoes, sliced
- Bell peppers, cut into strips
- Cucumber, thinly sliced
- Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- Raw red onion, thinly sliced, or quick-pickled onions
- Feta cheese, crumbled
- Sauce: Something creamy like tzatziki, hummus, or tahini sauce, and maybe a spicy sauce like zhoug or shatta, too
Here’s a tahini dressing recipe that goes great with this falafel, too:
- 1/4 cup tahini
- Zest and juice of 1 small lemon
- 1 tablespoon white miso
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- Pinch of cayenne
- 1/3 cup water
In a small food processor, combine all of the ingredients and blend well. You can also whisk the ingredients together by hand in a small bowl, just note that you’ll need to chop the fresh herbs and zest more finely than you would if you were using a food processor.
Please let me know how you like these falafel in the comments! I hope you love them as much as I do. ♥
Crispy Falafel
- Author:
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes (plus 4-hour soaking time)
- Yield: 12 falafels 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
This homemade falafel recipe is absolutely delicious, and remarkably crispy! Be sure to allow 4 hours soaking time for the chickpeas, preferably overnight. Then, the falafel mixture is super easy to make in a food processor. Recipe yields 12 to 13 falafels (see notes on how to double).
Ingredients
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup dried (uncooked/raw) chickpeas, rinsed, picked over and soaked for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours in the refrigerator
- ½ cup roughly chopped red onion (about ½ small red onion)
- ½ cup packed fresh parsley (mostly leaves but small stems are ok)
- ½ cup packed fresh cilantro (mostly leaves but small stems are ok)
- 4 cloves garlic, quartered
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon (about 25 twists) freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- With an oven rack in the middle position, preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour ¼ cup of the olive oil into a large, rimmed baking sheet and turn until the pan is evenly coated.
- In a food processor, combine the soaked and drained chickpeas, onion, parsley, cilantro, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Process until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Using your hands, scoop out about 2 tablespoons of the mixture at a time. Shape the falafel into small patties, about 2 inches wide and ½ inch thick. Place each falafel on your oiled pan.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, carefully flipping the falafels halfway through baking, until the falafels are deeply golden on both sides. These falafels keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for several months.
Notes
Adapted from The America’s Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook.
Make-ahead option: I haven’t tried this, but the original recipe notes that the uncooked falafel patties can be refrigerated on a parchment-lined baking sheet, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, for up to 2 hours before baking.
How to double this recipe: Preheat the oven with two oven racks near the center of the oven. Double all of the ingredients. If you have a large food processor (guessing 11+ cup capacity), you can mix all of the ingredients at once. Use two baking sheets, and swap their positions (top to bottom, bottom to top) when you flip the falafel halfway through baking.
Recommended equipment: I love my 11-cup food processor (affiliate link).
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Kirsten Nies
Wow, these are awesome! One recipe made 30 for me and only one broke when I flipped them. I didn’t have green onion, so used sweet onion and smoked the beans overnight. Huge hit with the family. Thank you!!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you were able to enjoy them! I’m sorry one broke. I appreciate your feedback!
Mimi
I think she meant soaked, not smoked the beans, lol
Mona
My batter did not hold together I could not form the patties. I used the spoon to drop it on the baking sheet. But it baked fine and stuck together. Taste was great!
★★★★
Kate
Hi Mona, I’m sorry you had issues forming the patties. Did you process until smooth?
Hilary
I have made these for several years now and they never disappoint! I got an air fryer for Christmas. Has anyone tried to bake these in an air fryer? Oven frying is excellent for this recipe but curious.
Kate
I haven’t tried it, sorry!
Lucas
Have made them in the oven and in the air fryer. Can say without a doubt that the air fryer did a far better job with a fraction of the oil! Cooked at 340 F for 20 minutes, came out a bit overdone but was impressed by how close they resembled a…not as healthy method.
Kerry
They’re delicious in the air fryer!!
★★★★★
Shabina R
I didn’t use this particular recipe. However, I have made falafels using the actifry. I absolutely loved it, it grew in size and they were crispy on the outside and soft inside.
TJ
My first attempt at making falafel failed. But since finding this recipe, I’ve made these at least a dozen times. They always turnout great and my family really enjoys them.
We have also had good luck freezing the uncooked falafel and later partially defrosting then cooking per the C&K recipe directions.
Also, consider using cast iron skillet vice a cooking sheet, it’s easier to clean up, uses less oil and you can cook them a little faster by starting them on the stove top then moving to the oven for a few minutes to warm them through if you are in a hurry.
Over all great recipe. Thanks!
★★★★★
mj
hi–wondering if the premade, uncooked falafels can be frozen with success?
Kate
Hi, I haven’t tried it. Sorry! I find they work best frozen once cooked and cooled.
Fran
Soaked for 8 hours in water with half a teaspoon of baking soda (apparently it helps). They did swell (to double their size) but I might soak for longer next time. Mine were very difficult to put together- too wet, so I added almond flour and processed again until I could just form these into balls (I didn’t want to add too much of the flour because I was scared I might ruin them). By the end they were crisp around the edges and the inside moist, BUT very crumbly and broke up a bit – heaps of crumbs, a lot less falafel balls.
Flavour was good, I added less salt though. They were alright, but I’m going to have to try again and experiment. Thank you !
★★★
Kate
Hi Fran, thank you for sharing. I use baking soda in my hummus, but I didn’t try that here so that could be an issue?
Colette
This is an excellent falafel recipe. I used only 1 tsp of olive oil and baked on a silicone bake sheet. And I added a wee bit of lemon juice for personal preference. Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Colette! Thank you for your review.
Maria
I love all the recipes I have tried from your site! Would it be possible to make these in an air fryer? If so, do you have any suggestions for temperature and bake time? Thanks!
Kate
Hi Maria, I haven’t tried it in an air fyer. Sorry!
Kara
Really liked the flavor, but they were crumbly and fell apart. BUT, after soaking for 4 hours they still seemed hard, so I tried boiling them for a bit. Could that mess up the consistency?
Kate
Hi, boiling likely impacted it as this was designed for the cooking to take place during the baking of the patties. Chickpeas can vary so sometimes they need longer soaking times. I hope you try it again and maybe soak for a little longer (see notes)!
Missy
These are delicious. Mine look NOTHING like you pictures, though. Any tips on how I can get them to hold together better. they break into crumbles when I flip them.
Deanna
I made these tonight for the first time and they were delicious! My husband couldn’t stop eating them and said they were better than eating out at a restaurant! Thank you so much for another great recipe. I made your tzatziki and zhoug sauce as well to eat with the falafels and it was amazing. I’m going to double the batch next time! Thank you.
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! I’m glad he loved it, Deanna. I appreciate your review.
Christy
Thanks so much for this recipe! I made these last night and the whole family loved them! I did make them a couple of hours before dinner and stored them in the fridge until baking. It worked out great!
★★★★★
Amber
These turned out great and really flavourful, however I tripled the recipe and they came out quite salty. 3 tsp was just way too much salt. I have a lot of leftover chickpeas so making a second batch tomorrow and will half the amount of salt. I was worried they would be too wet when i was forming the patties but they cooked up wonderfully.
★★★★
Kate
Hi Amber, I’m sorry to hear they came out salty. It should have been the same flavor even increasing recipe size. Thank you for your feedback.
Kate
I did not like the flavour. Way too much salt and garlic
★★
Kate
I’m sorry you didn’t love this recipe, Kate.
Michael Schiel
Tastes ok. I followed the instructions…patties don’t keep their shape. Had to bake it longer at higher heat too to get it cooked through. My family prefers a recipe where they are less dense, and fluffier too.
★★★
Kate
Hi Michael, I’m sorry you didn’t love it.
Claudette
Love this recipe. Easy, tasty and healthy. I keep them in my freezer for last minute bowls and picnics. Thank you.
Kate
I’m excited you love it, Claudette! Thank you for your review.
Gramma Di
This was very good. I just have a mini food processor so I had to do a few batches and then completed with my stick blender. I also added a tsp of dried mint. Very good and will definitely make again. Thank you.
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Gramma Di! I appreciate your review.
Jennifer
Love these! What’s the best way to reheat them?
★★★★★
Kate
You can gently reheat in the microwave. Thanks for your review, Jennifer!
GT
Can you use canned chick peas?
Kate
This recipe is meant for dried. I hope you try it as written!
Christine Whittington
I usually either get ready-made Falafel from Whole Foods or make it from a mix, which is a huge mess. This recipe is perfect! I soaked the chickpeas for almost 24 hours. We are at 10,l52′ here and everything takes a little longer. ;-) I usually follow recipes exactly, at least the first time, and I did this one as well except that I realized that my husband used up the last of our fresh parsley when he made dinner last night. So I used 1/2 cup freesh Cilantro and a few tablespoons of Penzey’s dried parsley. It turnout fine. I had no trouble forming the mixture into balls or flipping them half way through baking. They were beautiful. We ate them with warm pita, yogurt, diced tomatoes, tahini, kalamata olives and baby greens. We also had crisp frites, which is how one usually gets falafel in Israel! Excellent recipe and our new method of making falafel.
★★★★★
Kate
Made this for the first time. Much easier than I thought it was going to be! Picking the leaves off the herbs is the hardest part. No issues with my mix sticking together. My falafel were a bit dry; I soaked for 8 hrs and cooked for 30 min. Will try again with an overnight soak and cooking only 25 min. (Also, my chickpeas have been around a while, which probably didn’t help.) Served with the tabbouleh and pickled red onions from this site and the flavours where amazing together.
Eman
I have not made this recipe, as a Palestinian I am sceptical of baked falafel BUT the ingredients for the mix are spot on. I keep looking at this recipe though because I do not deep fry, but miss falafel.
Anyways, to make patties, of anything, use a 1/4 cup measuring cup, “line” it with syran wrap, then spoon in the mix, pat down and then pull out and slowly allow the patty to release onto the tray. If you use a 1/4 measring cup do not fill it the whole way, it may be too thick. I think if you had some sort of mini burger shaper that would be an ideal mold. Sahtain, maybe one day I will try it.
★★★★★
Alice
Every time I make this recipe I’m reminded of how good it is! I use a high-powered blender and pulse in batches, using a little extra olive oil if needed. Anyone struggling to form the falafel likely needs to process the mixture smoother (if you want texture though, I’ve mixed half of a batch smooth and half chunky to great success). Also great with some dill or mint thrown into the mix.
★★★★★
Kate
I love to hear that! Thank you for your review, Alice.
Don
Delicious! I’ve gotten a better result soaking the chickpeas for 24 hours than 4. I also use a cast iron skillet instead of the baking sheet, as suggested by a previous commenter.
★★★★★
Matt
I’ve been making similar for a while and have gradually perfected it, but they just aren’t the same as a good middle eastern restaurant.
I’m fine with that – eating out is an occasional treat.
I’ve found a teaspoon of baking powder helps to keep the mixture together, as it can be tricky to get the right consistency – different dried chickpeas, different effects when soaking – there’s so many variables.
Getting the amount of water added to the mix is important, but a bit of baking powder helps with binding – although you have to be careful it doesn’t end up too dry.
If it does, you get a crispy outside – nice – but a dry inside – not so nice.
Fei
This came out perfectly — very tasty, moist, and not hard to make at all in the food processor. Thank you!
★★★★★
Mary
Beat falafel I’ve ever had! I used store brand chickpeas that were probably very old, so I soaked them in hot water, draining and refreshing the hot water every hour or so for four hours. I cooked them in cast iron skillets. They came out great! I wish I’d made a double batch.
★★★★★
Kate
Wonderful to hear, Mary! I appreciate your review.
Anna
Does anyone know if you can freeze any extras? Thanks in advance!
I’m just one person and can’t finish them all in one go. I would love the option to have them for a quick addition to a meal by being able to freeze some.
★★★★★
Kate
Hi Anna! These freeze well once baked. Thanks for sharing!
Patty
This recipe is incredibly delicious!! Easy and scrumptious and healthy. Perfect. Thank you so much!!!
Kate
You’re welcome, Patty! Thank you for your review.
Hana the writer
Hey guys.. try crushed lightly roasted coriander seeds instead of cinnamon and.. place your falafel patties over oiled parchment paper then oil them using a brush dipped in olive oil and pat each with the oily bristles to cover. That is how I made the Indian pakoras in the the oven. Don’t make fat falafels. Stick to the recommendation indicated in this recipe. 1/2 inch is great. Bon appetit
Maggie
These falafel are so good. They taste so fresh and are just like fried.
I added sesame seeds.
They were so delicious! I will make them again!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you loved them, Maggie!
Gail A.
Excellent falafels! So easy to make. I didn’t have any tahini on hand so did a very simple dill sauce. My next batch will be a double so I have on hand in the freezer. Your recipes are amazing Kate.
Thank you so much.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Gail! I’m happy you enjoyed them.
Stacy
This was absolutely the best Falafel! I made it, ate it, loved it and now I want to make more. It is perfection!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy to hear you loved it, Stacy! Thank you for your review.
Falafel Fan
Holy smokes – YUM! I omitted the salt except for a pinch and omitted the cilantro (can’t stand the stuff), but this is an AMAZING recipe that I will gladly make again and again. :-) Thank you for sharing it with us!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you loved it! Thank you for your review.
Liz
Can you used canned chickpeas? Thanks!
Becky
Best new recipe! Wow. Delicious and easy. Mine held together perfectly. True confession – I did sub coriander for cinnamon. My only question is why did it take me so long to find this. Love, love, love it. Thanks
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you love these falafels!
Nicole
Good morning! Very excited to try these out:) I might be overthinking this, but is the 1 cup of chickpeas measured before or after soaking? Thanks!
Kate
Hi! Measure before. I hope you love it!
Janice
This is a great recipe. Made for the first time tonight and these are delicious! My kids loved them too.
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear, Janice! Thank you for your review.