Cajun Spiced Roasted Chickpeas (Printable)
Crispy, spiced chickpeas roasted to a perfect crunch with aromatic Cajun seasoning.
# What You Need:
→ Chickpeas
01 - 2 cups cooked chickpeas (1 can, 15 oz), drained and rinsed
→ Seasoning & Oil
02 - 1½ tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
05 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
06 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
07 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
08 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, adjust to taste
09 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
10 - ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
# Steps:
01 - Preheat the 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 extra crispiness.
03 - In a mixing 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 until chickpeas are well coated with the spices.
05 - Spread the chickpeas in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
06 - Roast for 30–35 minutes, shaking the pan or stirring halfway through, until golden, crispy, and fragrant.
07 - Let cool for 10 minutes before serving to allow extra crisping.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The spice blend hits every corner of your mouth at once, like a tiny flavor explosion in each bite
- They keep for days and somehow taste even better the next morning when you find them on the counter
02 -
- Under-dried chickpeas will steam instead of roast, leaving you with chewy, disappointing pellets instead of crunchy snacks
- The cayenne amount is conservative because you can always add more heat but you cannot take it back once it is baked in
03 -
- Double the recipe because a single batch disappears embarrassingly fast
- Use avocado oil if you want a higher smoke point and slightly nuttier flavor