Roasted Chickpea Recipes You'll Want to Snack on Forever

Something magical happens to chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) when you roast them. They turn a gorgeous golden brown and get just as crispy as your favorite potato chips. But because they’re roasted instead of fried, they’re usually healthier than most of the crunchy snacks you’ll find at the store. The legume is also an excellent source of plant-based protein and dietary fiber. Its other beneficial nutrients such as iron, calcium, and potassium are also for good for bone and heart health. For an easy, healthy snack to keep on hand when cravings strike, keep some delicious roasted chickpeas in the pantry. Here are some of our favorite roasted chickpea recipes to make at home.

If you haven't learned how to roast chickpeas before, these basic oven-roasted chickpeas are a great place to start. Grab a can of chickpeas, drain them and then dress them up with hot pepper sauce, coarse sea salt, and paprika. Spread them out on a large baking pan ($20, Bed Bath & Beyond) and after 30 minutes in the oven, you've got crispy roasted chickpeas ready for munching. Each crunchy bite will taste a little fiery, so spice-lovers might have a hard time stopping after just a handful.

Fans of barbecue-flavor snacks (or just barbecue in general) will love these roasted chickpeas seasoned with barbecue spice, paprika, and chili powder. If you don't have any barbecue spice ($4, Target) in the pantry, our homemade BBQ blend would be delicious. These roasted chickpeas are pretty low in fat (5 grams per serving), and you can control just how much spice they have.

Bring on the sweetness! These chickpeas are roasted with brown sugar to turn them into a snack that’s sweet like candy but much better for you. Once they’re roasted to a deep golden brown, no one will be able to resist grabbing a few to try. Though it might be tempting to finish all of them off in one sitting, you can save the leftovers and snack on them for up to a week afterward.

Want to really amp up the flavor in these chili-roasted chickpeas? Instead of store-bought, try making your own chili powder. Our easy recipe (featured right below the main recipe) takes just a few minutes to stir together and uses dried red chile peppers, paprika, cayenne pepper, and a few other spices to bring the heat. Mix the chickpeas with cumin and onion powder before tossing them in the oven. The result is crispy, crunchy, and spicy chickpeas.

Many Indian curries feature chickpeas as the star ingredient. Here the chickpeas are coated in a garlicky-curry blend of spices before roasted in the oven to crispy perfection. If you find yourself reaching for canned chickpeas often (this recipe would require a little less than two cans), you might want to consider making dried chickpeas. The process is a bit longer, but it's a budget-friendly way to get a lot of chickpeas at once.

Test Kitchen Tip: You can store roasted chickpeas freezer for up to 3 months, but it helps to give them a quick 5-minute roast before diving back in to ensure their crispiness.

Here are some sweet and spicy roasted chickpeas you won't be able to stop munching on. The chickpeas roast in a mixture of honey, fresh rosemary, and cayenne pepper, so every bite has the spicy-sweet flavors we crave. This recipe makes nine servings and can stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days after roasting, making it easy to grab and go when you need a quick snack.

Don't let the chickpea love stop there! Utilize those crunchy roasted chickpeas in a healthy veggie side dish, as a soup topper, or as a part of your favorite grain bowl. You can also utilize those protein-rich chickpeas in a delicious vegetarian curry or blend them into homemade hummus.