Cajun Spiced Roasted Chickpeas (Printable)

Crispy roasted chickpeas seasoned with bold Cajun spices. Vegan, gluten-free, and ready in 45 minutes for a satisfying snack.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chickpeas

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Spice Mix

02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
06 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
07 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
08 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
09 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Pat the chickpeas very dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Remove any loose skins for maximum crispiness.
03 - In a large bowl, toss the chickpeas with olive oil until evenly coated.
04 - Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, cayenne, black pepper, and salt. Toss well to ensure even coating.
05 - Spread the chickpeas in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
06 - Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, shaking the pan or stirring every 10 minutes, until golden and crisp.
07 - Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Chickpeas will become crispier as they cool.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These crispy little nuggets satisfy that desperate craving for something crunchy without the guilt that follows demolishing a bag of potato chips.
  • The spice blend creates layers of flavor that bloom differently with each bite sometimes hitting you with smokiness first, other times with that signature Cajun heat.
02 -
  • The first time I made these, I skipped the thorough drying step and ended up with semi-soft chickpeas that were tasty but lacked that addictive crunch.
  • Leaving them in the oven with the heat turned off and door slightly ajar for an extra 10 minutes after roasting creates an even deeper crispness that holds up better for storing.
03 -
  • If your chickpeas arent crisping properly, your oven may run cool try increasing the temperature by 25 degrees or extend the cooking time rather than giving up on crunchy perfection.
  • Heating the olive oil with the spices in a small pan before coating the chickpeas blooms the flavors and creates an entirely new depth that will make people think youve been cooking all day.

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