You only need four ingredients to make these tasty zaatar chickpeas, an excellent protein and fiber-packed snack for kids! These savory golden chickpeas are ready to be popped into the oven in minutes. If you’re trying to use more non-perishable ingredients and make fewer store trips, you need to try these! Eating healthy at home doesn’t have to be complicated.
I told you all about zaatar seasoning (also known as zahtar or zatar) in my post on zahtar popcorn. If you happen to have a container of this delicious seasoning, I’ve got another snack idea for you!
(And if you haven’t tried zaatar yet, what are you waiting for? It’s a versatile ingredient that you’ll find endless applications for. I’ve been using Pereg’s zahtar seasoning blend, but feel free to use whatever brand you prefer.)
My son is a big fan of roasted chickpeas. As a result, my cheesy and crispy chickpea snack recipe is in the regular snack rotation at my household. I love that they are so easy to make, using common ingredients that I typically have on hand.
This recipe for zaatar chickpeas is a slight twist on the cheesy chickpeas. This time, I decided to stick entirely with non-perishable ingredients from the spice drawer and pantry. I also chose to cook these chickpeas for less time so that they’d be a bit softer.
If you prefer a crispier roasted chickpea, you can cook them a bit longer, of course. Consider trying the recipe as-is and then adding a few more minutes to the cooking time if desired. My family typically likes crispy chickpea snacks but enjoyed the texture difference here.
It’s true: healthy meals and snacks can be easy.
I mentioned at the top of this article that eating healthy at home doesn’t have to be complicated. I promise you that it is true.
This easy snack recipe uses non-perishable ingredients, requires under 5 minutes of preparation, and is delicious! Health-wise, you’re getting fiber and protein from chickpeas, healthy monounsaturated fat from avocado oil, and B vitamins from nutritional yeast.
I highly recommend keeping a well-stocked kitchen and pantry, if possible. This makes it so easy to throw together a wide assortment of health-promoting meals and snacks in a flash.
Long before the quarantine, I always made sure to keep some extra food in the house. Because of this preparation, I was able to cook meals even if there was a blizzard and I couldn’t get to the store.
Having a spare freezer (sometimes you can find one inexpensively on Craigslist) is great for storing frozen vegetables and meats. I know individuals who were able to find space for an extra freezer, even in a small apartment. There’s often a way to fit one in your living space if you want one.
In addition, it’s possible to store many other healthy foods without taking up space in the fridge or freezer. Dry grains, canned and dried beans, dried fruits, dry milk, and canned fish can be kept in the pantry. None of the ingredients used in this recipe needed refrigeration beforehand.
Keeping an assortment of dried herbs and spices in your kitchen can add more flavor to simple pantry ingredients. It’s surprising how little I need to go to the store when I get creative with what I already have.
And now for the disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The calorie information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to this post. Let’s get cooking!
Zaatar Chickpeas (Only 4 Ingredients!)
Ingredients
- 2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed (15½ ounces per can)
- ¼ c nutritional yeast
- 3 T avocado oil (or oil of choice)
- 1 T zaatar seasoning (see recipe notes for details)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Stir the nutritional yeast and zaatar together. Add the oil and stir until you get an evenly combined mixture.
- Put the drained chickpeas in a bowl. Add the zaatar mixture and combine well. The mixture should coat the chickpeas fairly evenly.
- Spread the chickpeas out on your lined baking sheet in a single layer (touching is fine). Bake for a total of 45 minutes, giving them a stir about every 20 minutes. Try to move the ones on the edges of the baking sheet to the middle when you stir. This will help them cook more evenly.
- Let them cool to room temperature before eating. I hope you love this easy snack option!
Notes
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). If you are looking for a high-energy snack, this dish has got your number. On the other hand, at over 300 calories for ¼ of the recipe, this snack isn’t the best choice for fat loss. I usually save this snack for my teenager or enjoy just 1-2 tablespoons over a salad. (It’s a fun topping alternative to croutons!) I used Pereg’s zahtar seasoning blend here. If you are using another blend with more salt, you may want to cut back on the seasoning in this recipe. Canned chickpeas tend to taste a little salty, even after rinsing. As such, I recommend going light on salt-heavy seasonings so that your taste buds don’t get overwhelmed.
Nutrition
Did you try this four-ingredient recipe for zaatar chickpeas? If so, I’d appreciate it so much if you’d leave a rating and a comment below. Five stars mean you really liked it!
Why, I do happen to have a tin of za'atar on my pantry shelf, Summer! In fact, if I get up, walk a few steps and crane my neck...
You've come up with a tasty. nutritious and interesting way of using some of it. Just the latest of the great ideas you parade before us. Four ingredients, too. How enticingly simple!
Oh, unrelated, but I like how you mention being keen on keeping a well-stocked pantry, and taking care to specify you've been at it for years. Well, me too!
More than finding another area of agreement, I'm delighted to read someone who doesn't tie good behavior to the quarantine. These ads get it not-quite-right when they proclaim, "Now, more than ever, family is important."
OK, so what are you trying to say, ad? If I had asked you, pre-quarantine, if family was important, your response would have been, "Meh?"
Glad you can use this one! So I must ask, was this ad something you saw on my site? One of the ad companies I work with doesn't let publishers block ads that aren't a good fit. Unfortunately, I've seen some ads from them that are not the best for a recipe site. 🙁
I'm wondering what the family ad was trying to sell. Life insurance?