Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix

My earliest memory of trail mix is a ziptop bag with peanuts, raisins, and chocolate chips that my aunt packed for me one day when she took me to the zoo. It was my introduction to the miracle that occurs when sweet, salty, chewy, and crunchy combine to create a perfect single fistful. I demolished my bag at alarming speed and have been smitten with it since. My latest trail mix fix: today’s superfood-studded Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix.

This recipe is sponsored by USA Pulses and Pulse Canada.

This Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix shares the same magical salty-sweet, chewy-crunchy qualities I remember from that day at the zoo.

It’s high in protein and fiber and packed with nutritious ingredients, and like the snack mix my aunt so thoughtfully packed for me, it will keep you energized through any adventure.

Note: In addition to watching monkeys and tigers, “adventures” can also include staying awake during painfully dull meetings, navigating overcrowded shopping mall parking lots, and/or refraining from hangry-texting your husband that he left shaving cream splattered all over the bathroom mirror and his slippers in dangerous tripping territory again.

Not that I would know anything about that…

Hanger-prone, munchie-loving individual that I am, crispy roasted chickpeas have long been one of my favorite healthy snacks.

Although I can happily demolish an entire bowl of healthy roasted chickpeas on their own (especially spicy roasted chickpeas like the ones on top of this Caesar Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad), lately I’ve been loving them as a fresh, unique addition to snack mix.

The crispy texture and mild, nutty flavor of roasted chickpeas makes them easy to adapt to a variety of spice blends and other yummy trail mix additions.

For today’s snack mix recipe, I opted for sweet roasted chickpeas by tossing them with cinnamon, a touch of maple syrup, and smoked paprika. The cinnamon and maple give the snack mix warmth and make it feel like a treat, while the smoked paprika adds a light, intriguing background note that will keep your hand reaching back into the bowl for more.

Chickpeas are a member of the pulse family, which also includes lentils, dried peas, and beans. High in protein and fiber, pulses are an affordable, easy way to up the nutritional profile of almost any recipe. For more info, you can check out the Pulses website and sign up for the Half-Cup Habit, in which participants strive to better their diets by enjoying 1/2 cup of pulses three times a week.

With chickpeas as my inspiration, I rounded out the Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix with other superfood ingredients: pepitas and almonds (healthy fats, protein, fiber, and nutrients), dried cherries (antioxidants), and—as you were hoping if we share similar trail mix priorities—chunks of dark chocolate (more antioxidants + best things in life!).

The next time you need a healthy snack (which in my case will be about 15 minutes from now), give this Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix a try. Crispy, crunchy, salty, and sweet, it’s a delicious way to stay energized for any adventure.

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Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix

Yield: 2 1/2 cups

Prep Time:

5 mins

Cook Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

40 mins

Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix. Crunchy cinnamon roasted chickpeas with dried cherries, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and dark chocolate. Easy, healthy, and completely addictive! High protein and packed with super foods, it's the perfect on-the-go healthy snack.

Ingredients

• 1 low-sodium chickpeas — (15 ounces) rinsed and drained
• 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil — melted
• 1/2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika — optional
• 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds — pepitas
• 1/4 cup raw almonds — or pecan halves
• 1/3 cup dried cherries
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Lay the chickpeas on a double layer of paper towels and dry them as much as you can, changing out the towels as needed. Remove any skins that come loose (no need to get them all). Spread the chickpeas in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. (Do not be tempted to add anything to the chickpeas. Starting them out in the oven plain helps them become extra crispy!).
2. Remove the chickpeas from the oven and drizzle with the coconut oil and maple syrup. Sprinkle with the cinnamon, salt, and smoked paprika. Toss to evenly coat (the pan will be hot—be careful!—let cool a few minutes as needed), then return the chickpeas to the oven for an additional 10 minutes.
3. Remove the pan from the oven once more and give it a little shake to rotate the chickpeas. Add the pepitas and almonds to the pan in a single layer. Continue baking until the nuts are toasty and the chickpeas are brown and crisp, about 8 to 10 additional minutes. Place the pan on a wire rack and let cool completely.
4. Once the chickpeas and nuts are cool, add them to a serving bowl. Stir in the dried cherries and dark chocolate chips. Divide into desired portions and store for later or munch immediately!

Recipe Notes

• Store for up to 1 week in an airtight container at room temperature. If you use a ziptop bag, the chickpeas will soften but will still be delicious. If you’d like to keep them extra super crispy, try a parchment paper bag like these or these.
• I do not recommend freezing this recipe, as the chickpeas and nuts become soft.

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Healthy Trail Mix Recipe, High Protein Snack, Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix

All text and images © Erin / Well Plated.

Nutrition Information

Amount per serving (0.5 cup) — Calories: 234, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 203mg, Carbohydrates: 34g, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 13g, Protein: 7g

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I am sharing this post in partnership with USA Pulses and Pulse Canada. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands and companies that make it possible for me to continue to create quality content for you!