Chickpea Veggie Nuggets (Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free)

This delicious chickpea veggie nuggets recipe is an excellent gluten-free, dairy-free and meat-free alternative to regular chicken nuggets. Plus, these vegetarian nuggets are incredibly quick and easy to make! Crispy and golden on the outside, soft and nourishing on the inside — they’re perfect for kids’ dinners or a healthy snack!

Whenever I hear people talking about making the switch to a meat-free diet, there is always one type of food that everyone typically misses. Fast-food snacks such as burgers and nuggets seem to be the first foods that come to mind when I hear people talk about the meat dishes they crave when following a plant-based diet.

While there are many vegetarian burger and nugget recipes out there, not all of them provide the same crispy, meaty texture or pack in the same amount of protein as regular nuggets. That’s why I love these quick and easy chickpea vegetarian nuggets. They’re packed with protein, very tasty and can be cooked in the oven or air fryer.

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Chickpea Veggie Nuggets Ingredients

• 1 can (15 oz / 400 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 2 medium eggs
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• 1 small zucchini or ½ cup grated courgette (optional, for extra moisture)
• ¼ small onion, roughly chopped
• ½ cup oats (use gluten-free oats if needed)
• 1–2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp dried oregano or Italian herbs
• ½ tsp smoked paprika (or sweet paprika)
• ½ tsp salt (to taste)
• Black pepper, to taste
• Optional: 1–2 tbsp nutritional yeast or grated dairy-free cheese for flavor

How to Make Chickpea Veggie Nuggets

1. Prepare the mix
   • Add all ingredients to a food processor.
   • Pulse until the mixture comes together — you want it slightly chunky, not completely smooth. It should hold together when pressed between your fingers.
   • If the mixture feels too wet, add a bit more oats; if too dry, add 1–2 tbsp of water or olive oil.
2. Form nuggets
   • Scoop about 1 tablespoon of mixture at a time and shape into small nugget shapes (oval or round).
   • Place them on a parchment-lined tray or plate.
3. Air fry
   • Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 3 minutes.
   • Lightly brush or spray the nuggets with olive oil.
   • Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket (don’t overcrowd).
   • Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crisp on the edges.
4. Serve
   • Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce — ketchup, BBQ, or a yogurt-based dip.

Serving Tips

• You can freeze the uncooked nuggets on a tray, then store them in a freezer bag — air fry straight from frozen, adding 3–4 minutes extra cook time.
• If you loved this recipe then you should check out this homemade garlic dip and this yogurt and herb dip recipe – both of these homemade dips are ideal for serving with your nuggets.
• These nuggets also taste great when cooked in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway.
• If you want the nuggets to be softer and not so crispy then reduce the air fryer time slightly (8–9 minutes). If you’re cooking these for toddlers then I’d recommend also decreasing the cooking time slightly so that they are softer and easier for small children to eat safely.