theveganbeauty

Perfectly spiced Mexican Chickpeas are roasted to perfection and drizzled in the best creamy cilantro-lime sauce! Serve ’em up in bowls or in lettuce wraps.

Try some of our other favorite recipes with roasted chickpeas like these Vegetarian Gyros or Hummus Wraps.

Mexican Chickpeas

We can’t get enough of these delicious roasted Mexican-spiced chickpeas! They’re deeply savory, crisp on the outside and chewy inside, and totally addicting! We’ve made them so much recently that we have two different ways we like serving them — in a bowl with quinoa or in lettuce wraps!

While it may seem like a dish without meat might not be as filling, chickpeas and quinoa are actually both amazing sources of plant-based protein, making them very satiating. Paired together with the good-for-you fats in an avocado, this is a very well-rounded meal with good amounts of protein, carbs, and good fats.

Recipe Shortcuts/Make Ahead

These Mexican Chickpeas are a meal aimed at being simple with a quick prep time. We’ve got a few shortcuts to ensure a fast prep and quick assembly. 

• Pre-cooked quinoa. If you buy a packet (or two, if you’d like to stretch this to feed more people) of the pre-cooked quinoa, you’ll be amazed how quickly this comes together and how satiating it is. Quinoa is loaded with protein making it a very filling addition to these bowls. Here’s what we use — it takes just 90 seconds in the microwave (or a few minutes on the stovetop).
• Sauce make-ahead. Not really a shortcut, per se, but the sauce does great being made ahead of time. With a sauce already made, dinner comes together that much quicker! Plus, the sauce gets even tastier as it chills, and flavors meld in the fridge.
• Taco seasoning. I’m partial to the homemade seasoning blend on these Mexican Chickpeas, but in a pinch, a packet of taco seasoning will do the job. Or, even better, make your own seasoning packets ahead of time — more on this below.
• Seasoning blend make-ahead. While it does take a few minutes to assemble and measure out the seasoning blend used in this recipe, it is so much better than anything you can find in a store. But I get it– those packets are easy and convenient! And that’s why I’ve started making my own packets. When I make this recipe, I’ll typically make 5 or 6 more batches of the seasoning. Since all the spices are out and I’m measuring anyways, it takes just a few extra minutes. Measure out the spices, put them in labeled individual snack-size bags, and store those packets with your spices. Next time you’re craving Mexican Chickpeas–or any other Mexican-themed dish– they’ll be ready to go. Use the seasoning packets in these Turkey Tacos, Taco-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, or these Loaded Taco Fries.

Cooking the Mexican Chickpeas (Two Different Ways)

For these Mexican Chickpeas, we tested the process of roasting the chickpeas both in the oven and air fryer. While they turn out similarly, the air frier chickpeas make the prep on this recipe so fast. They roast quicker and you don’t have to wait for the oven to preheat. I’m sharing a quick rundown of both methods for cooking chickpeas. If you do have an air fryer, you’ve got to try chickpeas in it! (By the way, here’s the exact Air Fryer I use and love).

To make the chickpeas in the oven: Toss chickpeas, olive oil, and seasonings on a greased tray until well coated; spread the chickpeas out in an even layer on the tray. Roast for 18-22 minutes, tossing or shaking the tray at the halfway mark. (We like them best at 20 minutes.) Roast until they’re crisp, but not hard.

To make the chickpeas in an air fryer: Heat the air fryer to 390 degrees F. Toss chickpeas, olive oil, and seasonings in a bowl until well coated. Add all the chickpeas to the air fryer basket and cook for 10-13 minutes (We like them best at 11 minutes.) or until crisp, but not hard. Shake the air basket at the halfway point to ensure even frying.

Mexican Chickpeas Tips

• Thoroughly dry the chickpeas before adding to the air fryer or oven roasting. Spices won’t adhere well to wet chickpeas, and they’ll end up steaming more than roasting/frying with excess liquid.
• Use an extra-large sheet pan. The bigger the sheet pan, the more the chickpeas can space out, and the better they’ll roast. We use and recommend a 15×21-inch tray — see “quick tip” below!
• Add chickpeas in one even layer. If the chickpeas are overlapping or crowded in the air fryer basket (or sheet pan in the oven), they won’t get that nice browning and crisp exterior. Browning = flavor!
• Enjoy! Roasted chickpeas are best eaten right after they’ve roasted. They tend to get soft and change texture the longer they sit out.
• The cilantro-lime sauce that tops the Mexican Chickpeas relies on a fair amount of lime juice and zest. If you cook with citrus a lot, having a good citrus juicer and microplane becomes invaluable!  

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