Crunchy, satisfying, and packed with protein and fiber, Crispy Roasted Chickpeas make for a delicious snack or meal topper, and we’re sharing 5 flavor variations of these addictive little bites!
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This recipe is…
Chickpeas are having a moment. We always knew that chickpeas (AKA garbanzo beans) were cheap, nutritious, and easy to find in trusty cans at every grocery store in the country. But then…we realized how delicious they can be when roasted to golden brown perfection in our ovens.
Though oven-roasted chickpeas are super versatile, our all-time favorite way to enjoy them is as an afternoon snack. They sate the same craving as a bag of salty chips, but since they’re packed with protein and fiber, they’re way more nutritious. Plus, with 5 variations, you’re bound to find a flavor that speaks to you and your snacking dreams and whatever spices and seasonings you have in your cupboards.
Looking for more healthy and satisfying snacks? Try our Sour Cherry Energy Balls, Chili Lime Oven Baked Plantain Chips, Trail Mix Cookies, and Paleo Apricot Bars.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A crunchy, crispy, and totally satisfying snack that’s packed with protein!
- Only 5 minutes of prep
- Super versatile crispy chickpeas can be used to top salads, soups, stews, and more
- Wallet-friendly: all you need to make a big batch is 2 cans of chickpeas, olive oil, and some seasonings/spices
Crispy Roasted Chickpeas Recipe Ingredients
This recipe comes together SO easily, with just a few thrifty pantry staples. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and swaps) below.
- Chickpeas– two cans of inexpensive chickpeas are the stars of this show
- Sea salt – 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt seasons the garbanzo beans
- Black pepper – 1/4 teaspoon black pepper gives the beans a flavor boost
- Olive oil – 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil coats the chickpeas, and helps transform them into crispy, golden snacks
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
5 Roasted Chickpeas Flavor Variations
Now here’s where it gets fun! We’re not only bringing you the basic (and super tasty!) salt and pepper recipe, but also 5 flavorful variations that are sure to make your taste buds dance! Satisfy your sweet tooth with cinnamon sugar roasted chickpeas and top your salad with the lemon garlic variety! For each of these flavors, stick with the base recipe, and when the chickpeas come out of the oven (nice and crispy, of course!), toss them in the spices and seasonings!
- Lemon Garlic (1 teaspoon garlic powder + 1 tablespoon lemon juice) – tangy and salty, this variation is super tasty to snack on, but also REALLY delicious on top of a salad (like this simple arugula salad)!
- Moroccan (1 teaspoon Moroccan seasoning + 1 tablespoon lemon juice) – sweet and savory, this variation has it all! Moroccan cuisine has such a depth of flavor, and these chickpeas are no exception.
- Cinnamon Sugar (1 1/2 tablespoons sugar + 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon) – for the sweet tooths of the world! If you’re making these, leave out the salt, pepper, and lemon juice in the base recipe. Just toss with the olive oil, cinnamon, and sugar, and roast until crisp.
- Curried (1 teaspoon curry powder + 1 tablespoon lemon juice) – this variety is bold and FULL of flavor. Eat as a snack, or use as a crunchy topping on this Curried Butternut Squash Soup!
- Mediterranean (1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, dried oregano, and dried basil + 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar) – use these as a topper for your favorite pasta – go simple with pasta tossed in EVOO, salt, and pepper, or make your favorite pasta dish (this Italian sausage + kale pasta is a good one!) Either route you take, these crispy chickpeas will add the perfect crispy texture to your dish.
How to Make Roasted Chickpeas
It’s really so simple to make our roasted chickpeas recipe! Here’s how to make them with just 5 minutes of prep time:
Step 1: Start by preheating the oven to 425°F (hot oven = crispy chickpeas!) and lining a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, drain and rinse the chickpeas, and dry them thoroughly. Toss the chickpeas with salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and then spread them out on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 2: Bake the chickpeas for 30-45 minutes, tossing halfway through. Keep an eye on those chickpeas towards the end of the baking time – we want them perfectly crisped, but not burnt!
Step 3: Once crispy, remove the chickpeas from the oven, toss them in your choice of spices + seasonings (see our favorite flavors below), and let them cool slightly. Enjoy!
Tips for Perfect Crispy Chickpeas
- Thoroughly dry the chickpeas first – make sure the chickpeas are thoroughly dried before roasting. We like to pour the canned chickpeas into a strainer, rinse them under a running faucet, and then completely dry them on either a dish towel or paper towel.
- Wait to add the spices – don’t add the spices until the chickpeas are done cooking. We want to taste the spices themselves, and not an over-roasted version of them. Toss the chickpeas in the flavor-boosters post-roast.
- Give the chickpeas room to crisp – make sure your baking sheet is large enough to accommodate the chickpeas with some room in between them. If it isn’t, either roast in batches, or grab a bigger sheet. Overcrowding the chickpeas causes them to steam rather than roast, and results in soggy chickpeas.
- Don’t be afraid to add extra time – if the chickpeas aren’t crispy once the timer goes off, simply toss them and bake for another 3-5 minutes. Don’t overcomplicate it – every oven is a little bit different, and yours may just need a few extra minutes to get those chickpeas nice and crispy.
How to Serve
Serve these addictive snacks hot straight from the oven, or use them as a crunchy topper for salads, soups, and more.
How to Store and Reheat
While the texture is best straight from the oven, you can store any leftover chickpeas in an airtight container at room temperature.
To restore the crunch of leftover chickpeas, reheat them in the oven with a little extra drizzle of olive oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
These crunchy little morsels are SO versatile, you guys! As mentioned above, snacking on these chickpeas is an obvious (and completely delicious) option. You can also serve chickpeas on top of a salad, soup, stew, quinoa/rice bowl, or pasta dish. Basically, if a crouton can do it, a roasted chickpea can do it better! They really do add the perfect amount of crunch and texture. Pick a flavor variation that compliments your meal (or just go with basic salt + pepper), and get to topping.
Truth be told, these crispy chickpeas are at their prime on the day of roasting. While you can absolutely store them in an airtight container at room temperature, know that it won’t take them long to lose their crunch (about 2 days), so make sure to enjoy them relatively quickly!
Other than how good they taste and how cheap it is to make them, the next-best thing about chickpeas is that they satisfy the same craving as other crunchy and salty snacks like potato chips, but they’re much healthier for you. One cup of garbanzo beans boasts 15 grams of protein, and a whopping 12 grams of fiber (that’s nearly half the recommended daily dose of fiber).
If your chickpea snacks are missing their crunch, too much moisture is the culprit. Next time after rinsing the beans, be sure to dry them really well with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. If you have the time, it’s also a good idea to leave them sitting out on the baking pan for an hour or so to let the moisture evaporate. Set the baking sheet on top of your warm oven as it preheats, and that will help evaporate the water even more quickly.
You also want to make sure that the chickpeas have enough room in the pan to let air circulate around the beans, which helps them crisp. If they’re still wet and don’t have any air circulating around them, they’ll steam rather than roast.
More of Our Best Healthy Snack Recipes
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Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
Ingredients
Basic Roasted Chickpeas:
- 2 cans chickpeas, rinsed and thoroughly dried
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Lemon Garlic Flavor:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Moroccan Flavor:
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Curry Flavor:
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Mediterranean Flavor:
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Cinnamon Sugar:
- 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss the chickpeas with the salt, pepper, and olive oil and spread out on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, tossing halfway through, until crisp.
- Remove from oven, toss with spices and lemon juice, if using, let cool slightly, then serve!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
