Sweet and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

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Sweet and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas will become your favorite healthy snack! Satisfy your need to crunch with this easy recipe made in the oven (or an air fryer.)

I've had an obsession with roasted garbanzo beans since I was introduced to them on the South Beach diet many years ago. Luckily, they're still part of a low-carb diet if you don't eat too many of them!

And, that's not easy to do! Garbanzo beans become irresistibly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside once you bake them. That's why they're one of our top healthy alternative to chips!

Are you having a party or watching a ballgame? You'll never regret having a roasted chickpea snack on the appetizer table!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients and Variations
• Directions with Pictures
• FAQ
• Storage/Reheating
• More Snack Recipes Using Chickpeas
• 📋 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It uses pantry staples so you're pretty much guaranteed to always have what you need on hand.
• It's a great plant-based addition to a low-carb diet because chickpeas are high in fiber and protein.
• It's easy to make and most of the cooking time is hands-off.
• You can turn them into a meal! They're perfect on salads and buddha bowls too.

Once you have the basics down, you'll be ready to customize the seasonings to suit your fancy and the occasion.

Ingredients and Variations

Here's what you'll need:

• Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) - Look for a can that is low in salt. Either way, they'll be rinsed which helps reduce the sodium content. If you are starting with dried chickpeas, then you'll need to cook them first.
• Cajun Seasoning - Use any Cajun, Creole or other blend you love. We included our DIY blend in the recipe card so you can make your own.
• Olive Oil helps the spices stick. Canola or avocado oil may be used instead.
• Sweetener - To offset the heat, sprinkle a dry sweetener over the cooked chickpeas and/or mix into the glaze while they bake. We used a stevia sugar/erythritol blend. Brown sugar or cane sugar are fine if you're not concerned about carbs. Wet sweeteners such as honey, agave nectar, or liquid monkfruit drops may be used to sweeten the coating as well.

Directions with Pictures

Below you'll find directions to make this recipe in the oven or an air fryer. Either way, the initial preparation is the same.

Prepare the Beans

1. Drain and rinse chickpeas in a colander. This will eliminate some of the sodium.
2. Thoroughly dry beans. Spread them out on a paper towel and pat them dry. The drier the chickpeas, the crunchier they will be. If you have a little extra time, allow them to air dry for a bit too.
3. Remove loose pieces of skin if desired. Or, leave them on for a little character.
4. Roast chickpeas in a single layer in the oven or air fryer until they're very firm, tossing halfway through.

Coat with Glaze

Once the chickpeas are completely dried out, they're ready for the sweet, spicy outer coating.

1. Mix olive oil and Cajun seasoning in a small bowl. You can add the sweetener now or sprinkle it over the top at serving time. If using a liquid sweetener then stir it into the glaze now.
2. Remove the chickpeas from the oven or air fryer to a bowl. They'll be very hot so be careful removing them. Pour the glaze over the top and stir well to coat each bean.
3. Return the chickpeas to the oven or air fryer and roast about 10 minutes more. They should "rattle" when you shake the pan.
4. Sprinkle sugar over the top and enjoy!

FAQ

Storage/Reheating

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas are best enjoyed right away!

Refrigerator: Store in airtight container for 3-5 days.

Reheat: If desired, reheat in the oven or air fryer for 3-5 minutes.

More Snack Recipes Using Chickpeas

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📋 Recipe

This post was originally published on 1/30/13 and has been updated to improve the reader experience.