What Are BBQ Roasted Chickpeas?
BBQ roasted chickpeas are canned chickpeas that get tossed with olive oil and barbecue seasoning, then roasted in the oven until golden and crispy. They’re high in fiber and protein, with a satisfying crunch that makes them a great snack or salad topper. Roasted chickpeas are a great gluten-free, higher-protein plant snack that everyone can enjoy! I really like these because they get you that crunchy salty fix without being greasy like chips.
This recipe is one my kiddos eat and ask for more. They are seriously so crunchy.
The trick I have found to get them to the crunchiest possible stage is to make sure to drain all of the water out of the can and then let them sit on a towel for an hour or so. This way the moisture has time to leave them before you dress them up with the oil and seasonings.
However, if you don’t have an hour they will be a little chewier after you bake/roast/air fry them which is also a fun texture, but might not be what you are looking for.
To sell you even more on the fact that you need to try this for a snack this week is that they are extremely budget friendly to make these yourself! Canned chickpeas are one of the most affordable protein sources you can buy. Combined with pantry spices and a bit of oil, this snack costs less than $2 for the whole batch!
If you really like the cost effective chickpeas and want to include them in more snacks make sure to click here and get my homemade hummus recipe!
Why You’ll Love BBQ Roasted Chickpeas
All you need for this recipe are three ingredients! You need the chickpeas, the oil, and some BBQ dry rub. That is it!
I love chips and maybe you do too. They are so crispy and crunchy and just so satisfying. Well these roasted chickpeas have the exact same feeling but they are way healthier for you. They have that crispy, crunchy, crave worthy texture you are wanting but they have protein, are homemade, and you get to pick the oil you want to use. Check out this article from the Mayo Clinic on how chickpeas are a healthy option.
BBQ Roasted Chickpeas are a snack you can make once and be chomping on all week. If you are going for a whole week of snacks you probably want to make a couple cans of chickpeas, just double or triple the ingredients, you might need to do this anyway if your kiddos get into them like mine do :).
These are a plant-based snack that is also naturally gluten-free! You can easily make these and serve them to anyone you have visiting as they are very allergy friendly.
If you don’t have BBQ rub seasoning in the pantry, no worries! You can use anything really that you have in there or you can quickly make your own blend. Just sprinkle to your hearts content and how seasoned you like your food.
Tips for the Best BBQ Roasted Chickpeas
Really the best tip for roasting chickpeas is to make sure to let them dry out as best as you can. This will really maximize the crunch factor you are going to be able to achieve.
Roasting won’t happen if the sheet pan is too crowded. So if you are batch cooking this recipe and using more than a couple cans you might need to grab a second sheet pan. Also, use a pan with low sides like a jelly roll. If the sides are too tall it will keep the steam in. If you don’t have edges like a cookie sheet you will loose all the little chickpeas because they will roll off.
Stirring or shaking the pan about halfway through the process will keep the peas from getting too crunchy or burnt on one side.
Seasonings sometimes burn when you are roasting items in the oven. You can prevent this from happening by sprinkling it on the chickpeas after you take them out of the oven, but before they completely dry up.
Meal Prep and Storage Tips for BBQ Roasted Chickpeas
This post contains affiliate links, I earn from qualifying purchases.
As always, storing food in an air tight container like this one, will help you keep your food fresher longer. They keep other flavors from entering in the food too.
To make sure you are maximizing your crunch factor, you will want to eat these in 3-4 days after making them. The environment and the humidity can get to them otherwise.
If they start to get a little soggy for your liking you can always reheat or re-crisp the BBQ Roasted Chickpeas in the oven for a few minutes. Just turn it on to 350 and spread them back out on a pan.
Lastly, for meal prep, if you want to use these as “croutons” for you salad to add the little bit of crunch you are looking for keep them separate from the vegetables until you are ready to eat it.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Ingredients
Method
- Drain your canned chickpeas.
- Lay out a kitchen towel and spread the chickpeas on them. Let sit for an hour (if you don’t have time for this skip it, but do towel them dry as best as you can).
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Put dried chickpeas in a bowl and drizzle with the olive oil, and sprinkle with salt.
- Stir or toss until peas are coated.
- Put the chickpeas in the oven and roast fro 20-25 minutes or until they are as crunchy as you would like.
- Take them out of the oven and sprinkle with the seasoning.
- Enjoy as a snack or on top of salads.