Trader Joe’s falafel in the air fryer cook in 10 minutes at 350°F, straight from the freezer. Preheat the air fryer first and flip them halfway through, and they come out crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle. I use a lower temperature than most air fryer recipes do, because at 400°F the outside overcooks before the center heats through.
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ℹ️ Introduction
Trader Joe’s fully cooked frozen falafel are the closest thing to homemade I’ve found.
They’re light and fluffy inside, not dense and heavy like some brands, and since they’re already cooked, the air fryer only has to heat and crisp them. There’s no need to heat a pot of hot oil and deep fry.
Shari says ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Made these for a Middle Eastern themed party last night. Timing was good but I did add another 2 minutes. That were really crisp. I also made the Trader Joe’s kibbeh using the same temperature and time ( I put them in the air fryer with the falafel). Thanks!
Trader Joe’s also sells a dry falafel mix that you stir with water and then fry or bake. This post is about the frozen falafel balls. I like them better for their texture, and they’re so easy to make.
For a Middle Eastern spread, set them out with my hummus, muhammara and baba ganoush, plus a plate of batata harra. And if you’re stocking up on Trader Joe’s frozen food, their samosas are great in the air fryer too.
🧂 Ingredients for Trader Joe’s falafel in Air Fryer
💡 Ingredient and Recipe Tips
Trader Joe’s Falafel
Look for Trader Joe’s Fully Cooked Falafel in the freezer section. A bag contains 12, enough for 3 people as a main dish, or more as a snack. Keep them frozen until the air fryer is preheated.
If you use another brand of fully cooked frozen falafel, start with the same time and temperature and check them 2 minutes early.
Temperature and Timing
I cook a lot of frozen food at 400°F, but falafel do better at 350°F. Hotter air browns the outside too fast, and you end up with a dark crust with a lukewarm middle.
If they’re not as crisp as you like when the 10 minutes are up, turn the heat up to 400°F for 2 more minutes. If the centers aren’t hot enough, flip them and cook for 2 more minutes.
Every air fryer runs a little differently, so the first time you make these, check them 2 minutes before the time is up.
Air Fryer Setup
Always preheat. My Cosori has a preheat button. If yours doesn’t, run it empty at 350°F for 5 minutes. Falafel that go into a cold basket don’t crisp as well.
Spread them in a single layer with a little space between each one so the hot air reaches every side. If you’re making more than one bag, cook them in batches instead of stacking them.
Serving Ideas
Stuff the falafel into warm pita for a falafel sandwich, pile them on a salad, or make a falafel bowl over rice, quinoa or farro.
My favorite toppings are lettuce, thinly sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, pickled onion or turnips, fresh cilantro, parsley or dill, and a squeeze of lemon. For sauce, I like garlic or lemon tahini or tzatziki. I also add a touch of harissa. It’s not traditional, but I love the spicy kick.
For a party, set out the falafel and toppings and let everyone build their own pita sandwiches.
Trader Joe’s Dill Pickle Mini Falafel
The dill pickle mini falafel cook the same way as the regular ones, at 350°F, but they’re smaller, so they need 1 minute less. Preheat the air fryer, air fry them for 9 minutes, and flip them halfway through.
❓ FAQs
Cook regular falafel for 10 minutes at 350°F, straight from frozen. Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes first and flip the falafel halfway through.
Cook the dill falafel for 9 minutes at 350°F, 1 minute less than the regular falafel. Preheat the air fryer first and flip them halfway through.
No. I don’t oil the basket or the falafel, and they still crisp up without sticking. If you’d like a little extra crunch, a light spritz of avocado oil works well because of its high smoke point. I avoid canned cooking spray.
Air fry leftover falafel at 350°F for 3 minutes. Until then, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge.
Yes, Trader Joe’s fully cooked falafel is vegan. It isn’t gluten-free, though.
Yes. Use the same time and temperature with the Instant Pot air fryer lid, Duo Crisp or Pro Crisp, or a Ninja Foodi. I tested this recipe in a Cosori basket air fryer and an Instant Pot Duo Crisp.
⏲️ How to Make Trader Joe’s Falafel in Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for 5 minutes. Keep the falafel in the freezer until ready.
- Spread the frozen falafel in the basket in a single layer, with a little space between them.
- Air fry for 10 minutes at 350°F. Halfway through, flip them with tongs or shake the basket.
- Check one. For a crunchier exterior, air fry 2 more minutes at 400°F.
- Serve them hot with your favorite sauce, or tuck them into warm pita.
Trader Joe’s Frozen Falafel in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 package Trader Joe's fully cooked falafel [See Note 1]
Instructions
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F.
- Add the frozen falafels to the air fryer basket and make sure they’re evenly spread out and in one layer.
- Close the air fryer and air fry for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. [See Note 2]
- At the halfway mark, open the lid and use tongs to turn the falafels, or shake the basket. Close the lid and continue cooking.
- When the cooking time is up, open the air fryer and check to make sure the falafels are cooked to your liking. If they're not crisp enough, increase the temperature to 400 degrees and air fry for another 2 minutes, if desired. [See Note 3]
- For falafel wraps: serve in a warm pita bread with any of the following: mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, pickled vegetables, tahini sauce, tzatziki sauce, and fresh herbs.
Notes
Nutrition
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Shari says
Made these for a Middle Eastern themed party last night. Timing was good but I did add another 2 minutes. That were really crisp. I also made the kTrader Joe’s kibbeh using the same temperature and time ( I put them in the air fryer with the falafel). Thanks!
Neena Panicker says
Hi Shari, thanks for your comment. I love Trader Joe’s kibbeh too! Great tip.
Wow says
You never said the actual instructions. Never a time or temp. Don’t care about your essay.
Neena Panicker says
The instructions are on the recipe card at the end of the blog post. If you want to go directly to the recipe card, you can click on “Jump to Recipe” right at the top of the blog post.