Roasted chickpeas make a great protein-packed vegan snack! Enjoy them on their own, or add them to your favorite healthy dishes for crispy texture.
If you like chickpeas, you’re going to LOVE this roasted chickpeas recipe!
It’s no secret I’m a fan of chickpeas – they’re a great addition to soups, stews, salads, sandwiches, you name it. Not only are they a good vegetarian protein source, but they can also bump up the textural contrast in a dish. If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, though, you know that I’m not a fan of mushy food. Sometimes I’m craving something crispy in a salad, and chickpeas’ soft texture won’t satisfy me.
Enter: roasted chickpeas. They still have all the protein and heartiness of regular chickpeas, but they’ve become an irresistible salty, crunchy ingredient. Even better, they’re a great healthy vegan snack on their own!
How do I make roasted chickpeas?
Roasting chickpeas is simple! Start with three basic ingredients: cooked or canned chickpeas, extra-virgin olive oil, and salt. Then…
- Preheat the oven to 425° and drain and rinse your chickpeas.
- Spread the chickpeas on a kitchen towel and gently pat them dry. It’s essential to make sure they’re totally dry before you toss them with the olive oil – damp chickpeas won’t crisp up in the oven. Discard any loose skins from the outside of the chickpeas.
- Transfer the chickpeas to a parchment-lined baking sheet and toss them with a drizzle of olive oil and generous pinches of sea salt. Spread evenly on the baking sheet.
- Transfer the baking sheet to your preheated oven and roast until crispy. I start checking at 20 minutes, but it can take up t0 30 minutes for them to become really crisp.
- Remove from the oven and, while the chickpeas are still warm, toss with pinches of your favorite spices.
So simple! Your roasted chickpeas are ready to eat.
Tips & tricks for making the best roasted chickpeas!
Here are some of my favorite tips for making great roasted chickpeas.
- Eat them fast! Roasted chickpeas are best day-of, and they lose their crispiness as time goes on. I aim to finish up a batch by the second day for best texture and flavor.
- Store them at room temperature. Don’t refrigerate these guys. They become chewy quickly! I recommend leaving them in a bowl or jar on the counter, loosely covered with a piece of foil.
- Spice them up! I like to toss my chickpeas with spices right as they come out of the oven. Try using a dash of paprika or your favorite spice mix. Chili, curry, or shawarma spices would all be great here. They’re also delicious with Everything Bagel Seasoning!
I made roasted chickpeas! What should I do with them?
Enjoy them as a snack, toss them in a simple salad, or use them in any of these recipes:
- Cherry Tomato Couscous Salad
- Chickpea Shawarma Wraps
- Rainbow Kale Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Tahini Noodles with Carrots & Chickpeas
- Caesar Salad
- Panzanella Salad
- Bright Spring Salad
For more snacks and appetizer ideas, check out this post!
More Plant-Based Proteins
If you love this recipe, try making Crispy Baked Tofu, Marinated Baked Tempeh, or protein-rich lentils next!
Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
Equipment
- Baking Sheets (I use these nonstick ones from USA Pan Bakeware)
Ingredients
- 1½ cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Sea salt
- Paprika, curry powder, or other spices, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the chickpeas on a kitchen towel and pat them dry. Remove any loose skins.
- Transfer the dried chickpeas to the baking sheet and toss them with a drizzle of olive oil and generous pinches of salt.
- Roast the chickpeas for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Ovens can vary, if your chickpeas are not crispy enough, keep going until they are!
- Remove from the oven and, while the chickpeas are still warm, toss with pinches of paprika, curry powder, or other spices, if using.
- Store roasted chickpeas in a loosely-covered container at room temperature. They are best used within two days.
Hi, Should I stir them any as they bake?
Marianne
These crunchy roasted chickpeas are in the giant salad we’re currently enjoying for dinner 🙂 I followed the recipe as written – ended up roasting the chickpeas for 30 minutes. I did stir them around a bit after 20 minutes, and every 3 minutes thereafter. They came out crunchy and delicious!
I’m so glad they came out well!
Do you have any suggestions for a chickpea substitute that would do well in this recipe? I had a thought that white beans might be ok but I’m no chef, so a second opinion would be most appreciated. Have been hunting for healthier options than potato chips for snacking and these look perfect but my husband is allergic to chickpeas.
Perfect! I’m lazy and drained and rinsed the chickpeas, then dumped them between two paper towels to dry. Dividing the peas in half, I put half back in the pea can, poured in olive oil and shook them around and poured them on my cookie sheet. Then did the same with the other half. BAM! I used a blend of smoked paprika, garlic powder, and popcorn salt (it’s really fine.) Bookmarked!
These are delicious and fun to snack on. I tossed them with garlic powder, paprika and curry. Really yummy.
These are so tasty!
I really want to make them again, but my chickpeas did start poppin’ and flyin’ around my oven. Any tips? I want to make them again without losing any soldiers!
My roasted chickpea is not crispy. I have pat dry throughly prior putting into the oven. May I know what other possibilities that it doesn’t crisp up?
Perfect! They are addicting.
So glad you loved them, Julie!
Amazing! Really easy to make and super yummy!
So glad you loved them, Claire!
Hi there! I just wanted to say I just recently found your website and I am loving it! Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing all these wonderful recipes and tips and tricks. It really and truly is appreciated!
Hi Val, thank you so much for your comment! It’s really great to hear that you’re enjoying the recipes and the tips, etc. I hope you continue to enjoy!
Temperature and time are completely wrong.
First of all, ovens in a normal home kitchen never go beyond 250-300 deg. Secondly you don’t even need that sort of temperatures. It’s more 250 deg for around 10-12 minutes
Any chance you are looking at celsius? The recipe is written for Fahrenheit. 425 F is pretty common for ovens!
As Maggie mentioned, you may be mixing it Celsius. 425 F is about 220 C and the timing is pretty accurate. I just did this recipe, averaging about 200 c so not to burn it, and it came out became perfectly crunchy at almost exactly 30 minutes mark.
I’m not sure what country you’re from but many ovens in the US go well above 400 degrees. I think if you are ever finding a recipe online it’s just their oven, they even say that in the description. Hope this helps you, happy cooking!
Can I use canned chickpeas for this? I have some on hand
That’s what I use. They’re delicious.
I recently purchased some chickpea snacks from the grocery store, they were amazing, but the price was kind of high for the amount you get (6.50$ for 5 OZ). This is easy with dried chickpeas, it may take a little longer but worth it if this is one of your favorite snacks. Thank you for the recipe!
I’m so glad you like the recipe, Tessa!
I’m making these with Old Bay on them now!
Hi!! Thanks for the simple and easy to follow recipes. I was wondering if you could make similar snacks from soaked moong bean sprouts and matki bean sprouts(moth bean) in the oven? Looking for snack ideas for my picky eater kid.
Hi Shalaka, I’ve never tried roasting soaked moong bean sprouts or matki bean sprouts before, so I’m not sure how it would work. Great idea, though!
Roasted chickpeas are such a fantastic snack choice! They’re not only packed with protein but also offer a delightful crunch that’s hard to resist. Whether you’re enjoying them straight out of the bowl or sprinkling them over your favorite healthy dishes, their crispy texture adds a satisfying bite. This is the kind of versatile, nutritious snack that can elevate any meal or serve as a guilt-free treat. Perfect for anyone looking to boost their protein intake while keeping things tasty and satisfying!
So glad you enjoyed them!