Trader Joe's frozen falafel in air fryer is such a great easy meal. Crispy and golden on the outside and soft and very flavorful on the inside. Easier than making homemade or using a falafel mix, these frozen patties are pretty close to tasting authentic with great flavor and texture. Air fried until perfection, this convenient freezer meal can be on the table and ready to eat in only 5 minutes!

These fully-cooked falafels by Trader Joe's are a naturally vegan and vegetarian meal that is great to eat in wraps, warm pita bread, sandwiches, or on top of salads. Frozen falafels are great to keep on hand because they are fairly inexpensive and are a great source of plant-based protein.

Falafel can be either baked or fried. Fried tastes better and oven-baked is healthier, by cooking these frozen falafel patties in the air fryer you get the best of both worlds.

The air fryer circulates hot air, so your food cooks evenly and quickly without having to use extra oil. You end up with extra crispy falafels in no time, making them perfect for busy weeknight dinners.

a package of trader Joes frozen falafels on the white board

How to cook Trader Joe's frozen falafel in air fryer

Open the package. Evenly spread falafels in the air fryer basket. Do not overcwod the basket. Cook for about 8 minutes or until nicely browned and crispy (details in the recipe card).

Dip cooked falafels in hummus, roll in pitta with vegetable or make a falafel sandwich and enjoy.

What is falafel

Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern dish consisting of ground chickpeas or fava beans seasoned with herbs and spices. The mixture is formed into patties or balls and is either baked or deep-fried until golden brown. They are like chickpea fritters, crispy on the outside with soft flavorful insides.

Fried falafel is a quick "fast food" that is usually served as a sandwich inside of pita bread with cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions, then covered in a tahini sauce.

What does it taste like

Traditional falafel patties are super flavorful and delicious. They are rich, and a little grainy seasoned with lots of fresh herbs like parsley and cilantro and also strong, fragrant spices like cumin, coriander, and plenty of fresh garlic and onion.

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

The frozen falafel patties by Trader Joe's have a few additional seasonings. Tomato, hot chili peppers to give a little spice, and curry powder, all work together to make these falafels even better.

Frozen or dry mix falafels

Trader Joe's has two popular types of falafel- a dry mix and these frozen patties. Which is better will depend on how much time you have.

For the dry mix, all you have to do is mix it with water and shape it to your desired size and shape. After that, you can cook them by pan-frying, deep drying, or baking until golden and crispy. The dry mix has a more authentic falafel flavor, but they take longer to make and cook.

On the other hand, the frozen falafels are already cooked and only need to be heated through. They have a few unique seasonings but are great if you are in a hurry.

Frequently asked questions

Are these frozen falafels healthy?

Frozen falafels can be a healthy choice. Fried foods tend to have extra fat in them, which can be reduced by cooking them in the oven or in the air fryer. Falafels also are full of dense fiber and are a great source of plant-based protein. You can easily add them to a salad for a filling and healthy meal!

Do I need to thaw the falafels before cooking?

The great thing about cooking frozen fried foods is that you don't need to thaw them! All you need to do is put the frozen patties into the air fryer basket and cook!

Is falafel like hush puppies?

Falafel is like a fritter, it is made out of chickpeas, herbs, and spices. It has a texture similar to hushpuppies but with Middle Eastern spices. Hushpuppies are made out of cornmeal and are flavored with Cajun seasoning and are popular in the American South.

Recipe notes

There are 4 servings in the package, about 3 falafels each.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Air fryer needs enough space for hot air to circulate to ensure proper cooking.
Use air fryer liners if you want for easy clean up.
Leftovers. Store falafel leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Lay plastic or glass air tight container with paper towels and place falafels on it as soon as they are no longer warm. Place paper towels between each layer.

More Trader Joe's air fryer recipes

Hope you will like this Trader Joe's frozen falafel air fryer recipe as much as we do. Please rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.

Trader Joes Frozen Falafel in Air Fryer

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 8 minutes

Ingredients

One package of Trader Joe's frozen falafels
hummus

Instructions

Open the package. Evenly spread falafels in the air fryer basket.
Cook at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes.
Dip cooked falafels in hummus and enjoy.

Notes

There are 4 servings in the package, about 3 falafels each.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Air fryer needs enough space for hot air to circulate to ensure proper cooking.
Use air fryer liners if you want for easy clean up.