Are you craving a tasty and nutritious snack that's simple to make? The spicy roasted chickpeas may be just what you need! Packed with protein and fiber, these little bites are a healthy and satisfying option that can be customized with a variety of seasonings. In this post, we'll guide you through the steps to make crispy fried chickpeas in the oven or air fryer and provide some mouth-watering seasoning combinations to try out.
You can create a healthy and tasty snack perfect for any time of day by roasting chickpeas or using them to make a chickpea kale salad. In the next section, we'll provide the ingredients and steps to make your own roasted chickpeas at home.
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💚 Why you will love them
- Quick & Versatile: Perfect for a fast snack or a crunchy salad topping, these chickpeas are a go-to for speedy, versatile cooking.
- Easy Customization: Tailor them to your taste! Easily spice them up or keep them simple. Ideal for any flavor adventure in the kitchen.
- Effortless Cooking: Whether you're roasting, boiling, or frying, chickpeas are straightforward to prepare, making them a must-try for any level of cooking expertise.
🧾 Ingredients
The ingredients that make this delicious and simple snack so tasty are:
- Cooked or canned Chickpeas are the main ingredient in this recipe, providing plant-based protein and fiber and a crunchy texture when roasted.
- Granulated garlic adds a savory and slightly sweet flavor to the chickpeas, enhancing their taste.
- Extra virgin olive oil coats the chickpeas, helping them crisp up in the oven and adding healthy fats.
- Cumin powder adds a warm and earthy flavor to the chickpeas, making them more aromatic and flavorful.
- Sweet paprika provides a mild smoky flavor and a beautiful red color to the chickpeas, making them more visually appealing.
- Cayenne pepper adds a spicy kick to the chickpeas, making them more exciting.
- Salt enhances the dish's overall flavor and brings out the flavors of the other spices used in the recipe.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
- Granulated garlic: If you don't have granulated garlic, you can use garlic powder or finely minced fresh garlic.
- Olive oil: Any neutral-tasting oil, such as avocado oil or vegetable oil, can be used instead of olive oil.
- Cumin powder: Ground coriander or chili powder can be used as a replacement for cumin powder.
- Sweet paprika: Smoked paprika or chili powder can be used instead of sweet paprika.
- Cayenne pepper: Red pepper flakes or hot sauce can be used as a substitute for cayenne pepper.
🍽 Equipment
Here is the equipment needed for making oven-roasted crispy fried chickpeas:
Oven: The oven is used for roasting the chickpeas and making them crispy. It's a convenient and easy way to cook large batches of chickpeas at once.
Air Fryer (option): The air fryer is an alternative method to make crispy chickpeas with less oil. It circulates hot air around the chickpeas, creating a crispy texture without deep-frying.
Baking Sheet: A baking sheet is used to evenly spread the chickpeas in a single layer for roasting in the oven. A rimmed sheet pan is preferred to prevent the chickpeas from rolling off the sheet.
Bowl: A bowl is used to mix the chickpeas with the seasoning and oil. It makes it easier to coat the chickpeas evenly and distribute the spices.
Using this equipment will help you make perfectly crispy and flavorful oven-roasted crispy fried chickpeas, whether you're using an oven or air fryer.
🔪 Instructions
This roasted chickpea recipe involves just a couple of simple steps.
If you're making these chickpeas in the oven, first preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC), and remove any chickpea skins.
Step 1: Place drained chickpeas with all the ingredients in a large bowl and combine until the dried chickpeas are well coated.
Step 2: Toss chickpeas in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Roast chickpeas in the oven for about 25-30 minutes until golden brown, shaking the pan halfway.
Hint: make sure to give the pan a shake every 10 minutes. This will ensure that the chickpeas roast evenly and get crispy on all sides.
Step 3: Adjust and season roasted chickpeas with extra salt and pepper.
Hint: to make air-fryer chickpeas, follow the same steps, only adjusting the cooking times, temperature, and amount of oil, as suggested on the recipe card.
Keep in mind that these substitutions may change the flavor and texture of the final dish, so feel free to experiment and find the combination that works best for you!
💡 Expert tips
For extra crispy roasted chickpeas, pat dry, canned chickpeas dry with a clean towel or paper towel before seasoning them. This will help remove excess moisture and allow the chickpeas to roast evenly and get crispy in the oven or air fryer.
Additionally, be sure not to overcrowd the baking sheet or air fryer basket when cooking, as this can prevent the chickpeas from getting crispy.
📖 Variations
Feel free to use your favorite spices.
Cajun Seasoning: replace the cumin powder, sweet paprika, and cayenne pepper with one tablespoon of Cajun powder. This will give the chickpeas a smoky, spicy flavor that's perfect for snacking.
Indian Seasoning: To make Indian roasted chickpeas, replace the cumin powder, sweet paprika, and cayenne pepper with one tablespoon of garam masala curry powder. This will give the chickpeas a warm, fragrant flavor that's perfect for adding to salads or serving as a savory snack.
Italian Seasoning: To make Italian oven-roasted crispy fried chickpeas, replace the cumin powder, sweet paprika, and cayenne pepper with one tablespoon of Italian seasoning. This will give the chickpeas a savory, herby flavor that's perfect for pairing with a glass of red wine.
❓ FAQ
If your chickpeas are not crispy, there could be a few reasons why:
Too much moisture: If the chickpeas are not dried thoroughly before seasoning, they may have too much moisture and become soggy instead of crispy. Make sure to pat them dry with a clean towel or paper towel before seasoning them.
Overcrowding: If the chickpeas are overcrowded on the baking sheet or air fryer basket, they may not get crispy. Make sure to spread them out in a single layer and leave enough space between each chickpea.
Undercooked: If the chickpeas are not cooked long enough, they may not get crispy. Try roasting them for a few more minutes or increasing the temperature slightly to ensure that they are fully cooked.
Overcooked: On the other hand, if the chickpeas are overcooked, they may become dry and hard instead of crispy. Keep an eye on them while cooking and check on them frequently to make sure they don't burn or become too dry.
🥢 How to serve
You can serve fried chickpeas as a healthy snack with a squeeze of lemon or lemon zest, but we love adding them as a topping and protein component to our Crispy Chickpea and Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing.
If you love your crunchy snacks as we do, you can also serve them as appetizers or snacks in a get-together, along with crunchy oyster mushrooms, vegan cauliflower wings, and roasted squash seeds.
🥡 Storage
To store roasted chickpeas, allow them to cool down completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Please keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat them in the oven or air fryer for a few minutes to restore their crispiness before serving.
Note that chickpeas may lose their crunchiness over time and become slightly softer, but they will still be safe to eat if properly stored and handled.
📚 More chickpea recipes
Looking for easy chickpea recipes?
⭐ If you try this oven-roasted chickpeas recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
🎥 Video
📋 Recipe
Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 15 oz chickpeas
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ⅛ cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Optional
- lemon zest
Directions
For oven-roasted chickpeas:
- If making in an oven, preheat oven to 400 ºF (200 ºC).
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl until the chickpeas are evenly coated with the oil and spices.
- Spread in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, and oven roast for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, shaking the pan every 10 minutes.
Forcrispy air-fryer chickpeas:
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl until the chickpeas are evenly coated with the oil and spices.
- Set the air fryer to 350 ºF (180 ºC).
- Add all the chickpeas to the air fryer basket (I like lining it with parchment paper).Fry for 15 minutes in the air fryer, shaking halfway until crispy and golden brown.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Nutritional Disclaimer
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.
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Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.
As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.
Andrea
These chickpeas are such a great snack! I love all things chickpeas and the crunch and flavor is sooo good oven roasted!