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    Home > Recipes > Snacks

    Spicy Roasted Pepitas

    Published: Feb 27, 2023 · by Veronika Sykorova · This post may contain affiliate links · 11 Comments

    1.0K shares
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 10 reviews
    Roasted pepitas in a small green ceramic bowl sprinkled with flaky sea salt.

    These Spicy Roasted Pepitas are perfect for salads, on top of soups, or for snacking! They're roasted in the oven and can be ready in just 20 minutes! They're perfectly crunchy, spicy, and smoky.

    Roasted pepitas in a small green ceramic bowl sprinkled with flaky sea salt.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • How to Serve Roasted Pepitas
    • FAQs
    • More Roasted Nuts and Seeds Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why This Recipe Works

    Quick and easy - This recipe is ready to eat in just 20 minutes! Prepping the pepitas takes no more than 5 minutes and they roast for about 15 minutes. All you need is a few spices, oil, and pumpkin seeds.

    Lots of uses - These roasted pepitas make a delicious savory snack but you can also sprinkle them on salads or on soups, or serve them at parties or game nights as finger food. Try them sprinkled on this Butternut Squash Curry Soup!

    Versatile - The spices used give the pepitas spiciness and smokiness but you can add pretty much any savory spices and they'll be just as delicious! Add various dried herbs, spices, and sea salt based on your preference.

    Roasted pepitas sprinkled with flaky sea salt.

    Ingredients

    • Pepitas - Pepitas are a variety of pumpkin seeds that don't have a shell. They can be found in grocery stores all year round as opposed to the classic beige pumpkin seeds with their edible shells on. You can use either but pepitas are the preferred choice here.
    • Avocado oil - Any cooking oil you'd normally use for roasting veggies or protein will work here but I most often use avocado. It has a natural taste and high smoke point.
    • Garlic powder - Garlic granules are often sold as "garlic powder" which is what I always use and prefer. There's also fine garlic powder which is also fine to use if it's what you have on hand.
    • Smoked paprika - This makes the pepitas flavorful and smoky. You can add less or more of it depending on your preference.
    • Chipotle powder - This one is optional but highly recommended! I add a small pinch and it's enough to make everything spicy with a hint of smokiness. You can also use cayenne powder, chili flakes, or even chili powder. Use cajun spice powder if you don't like things too spicy.
    • Salt - Himalayan pink salt or sea salt are always my go-to. If your salt is very fine, you should use less of it and add more after roasting to taste. I use slightly more coarse pink salt.
    Pepitas and spices laid out on a grey stone background with text overlay explaining ingredients.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Preheat your oven to 350F (175C). Prepare a large baking sheet (I used 13x10”). You can line it with parchment paper if you prefer but it's not necessary.

    Pepitas in a glass bowl with oil and spices.
    • In a medium bowl, mix together the pepitas and avocado oil. I do this first to make sure the seasoning sticks to the seeds. You can also skip this step and mix everything right on the baking sheet but I find it's easier to distribute the seasoning well when it's done in a bowl.
    • Sprinkle the seeds with sea salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and chipotle powder.
    • Mix well to coat evenly with seasoning.

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    Pepitas on a baking sheet before and after roasting.
    • Spread the pepitas on a baking sheet. The more space they have better the crunchier and more toasted they will be.
    • Roast them in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden. Allow the pepitas to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a plate or a bowl. Enjoy!

    Smaller batch tip: If you decide to half the recipe, the seeds won't need as much time to roast because the pan will be much less crowded. ½ cup of pumpkin seeds, will only need about 8-10 minutes.

    How to Serve Roasted Pepitas

    • As a snack - If you're a fan of savory foods rather than sweet, these pepitas are the perfect little snack to have on hand. They don't have to be refrigerated so they're perfect for road trips, school, or work.
    • At parties or game nights - Serve these pepitas alongside chips or other finger foods at game nights or small parties. It's the easiest party snack and always a hit!
    • On salads - Roasted nuts and seeds are the perfect crunchy topping for salads! Try it on this Mango Quinoa Salad with Chipotle Dressing (pictured below), Delicata Squash Baby Kale Salad with Balsamic Fig Vinaigrette, or this Kale Sweet Potato Salad with Sundried Tomatoes. They're all amazing! The quinoa one is especially my favorite.
    Mango quinoa salad topped with avocado slices on a large serving plate with wooden serving spoons on the right side.

    FAQs

    What's the difference between pepitas and pumpkin seeds?

    Pepitas are a variety of pumpkin seeds that don't have shells and can be eaten raw. Regular pumpkin seeds have a beige shell that's edible but has to be roasted before eating. I prefer pepitas for this recipe because they are available all year round.

    What does "pepitas" mean?

    "Pepitas" means "little seeds of squash in Spanish.

    Can I make this with other seeds or nuts?

    Yes, you can use any seeds or nuts you prefer. The cooking time will vary based on their size.

    Roasted pepitas in a small green ceramic bowl sprinkled with flaky sea salt.

    More Roasted Nuts and Seeds Recipes

    Below are three variations of roasted nuts similar to these roasted pumpkin seeds. If you like simple savory snacks, definitely give them a try! The cajun ones are definitely my favorite! You can take inspiration from them and use the spices on pumpkin or sunflower seeds if you can't have nuts or if you prefer seeds. To see all the latest snacks, head over to the Snacks category.

    • Cajun Roasted Nuts
    • Chipotle Roasted Nuts
    • Garam Masala Roasted Pecans
    Print

    📖 Recipe

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    Roasted pepitas in a small green ceramic bowl sprinkled with flaky sea salt.

    Spicy Roasted Pepitas

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 10 reviews
    • Author: Veronika | thehealthfulideas
    • Prep Time: 5 mins
    • Cook Time: 15 mins
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 1 cup 1x
    • Category: snacks
    • Method: oven
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Description

    These Spicy Roasted Pepitas are perfect for salads, on top of soups, or for snacking! Ready in just 20 minutes! They're spicy, smoky, and savory.


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 cup pepitas (or pumpkin seeds)
    • 2 tsp avocado oil
    • 1 tsp coarsely ground sea salt or Himalayan pink salt
    • ½ tsp smoked paprika
    • ½ tsp garlic powder (garlic granules)
    • ⅛ tsp chipotle powder (or to taste, optional)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat your oven to 350F (175C). Prepare a large baking sheet (I used 13x10”).
    2. In a medium bowl, mix together the pepitas and avocado oil.
    3. Sprinkle with sea salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and chipotle powder.
    4. Mix well to coat evenly with seasoning.
    5. Spread the pepitas on a baking sheet. The more space they have better they’ll toast.
    6. Roast in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden.
    7. Allow the pepitas to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a plate or a bowl. Enjoy!

    Notes

    You can line the baking sheet with parchment paper but it’s not necessary.

    If you make a smaller batch, the cooking time will change too. Half batch only needs 8-10 minutes.

    Store the roasted pepitas in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.

    Would you like to save this recipe?

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    Did you make this recipe?

    Comment and rate the recipe below and tag @thehealthfulideas on Instagram with the hashtag #thehealthfulideas, I'd love to see what you made!

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    1.0K shares

    Comments

    1. Bernice says

      February 27, 2023 at 12:52 pm

      I found your recipe just in time... as I was cleaning out the pantry and wondering what to do with the giant bag of pepitas. This was the perfect and tastiest way to use them up!

      Reply
    2. Silvia says

      February 28, 2023 at 5:31 pm

      I always have a bag of pepitas at home, and I was also happy to see I had all the rest of the ingredients, including the avocado oil! So I made them and not they are my new favorite in salads.

      Reply
    3. Elizabeth says

      March 01, 2023 at 10:47 am

      I love the idea of using these to top on soups! Sounds very tasty! Thanks for the recipe share! Excited to give these a try!

      Reply
    4. Christy says

      March 02, 2023 at 3:30 pm

      The perfect soup topper for sure! I love putting these on either pureed butternut squash, pumpkin or carrot soup for some crunch.

      Reply
    5. Kathryn says

      March 02, 2023 at 7:14 pm

      These roasted pepitas make the perfect snack! They are packed with flavor and it was so perfect when I was craving something savory!

      Reply
    6. Veronika says

      March 03, 2023 at 9:27 am

      What a great idea! I made these spicy pepitas yesterday and added them to a salad. They add so much flavor and texture, everyone loved it ;)

      Reply
    7. Elaine says

      March 03, 2023 at 11:50 am

      Such an easy AND delicious recipe. I could easily enjoy these all day long LOL Just need to learn how to stop! :-)

      Reply
    8. Tammy says

      March 03, 2023 at 11:52 am

      Yess! I love these! I just did this the other day...such a good snack and a perfect topper for salads too :D

      Reply
    9. Pam says

      March 05, 2023 at 2:26 pm

      These are so easy and they taste amazing! I love to use them on salads and sprinkled on soups! Of course, just snacking on them too!

      Reply
    10. Tristin says

      March 05, 2023 at 3:06 pm

      I made these for my kids for an after school snack, but I ended up snacking on them all day because they were so good, lol. Next time, I will make a double batch.

      Reply
    11. Carolyn Blaine says

      July 25, 2023 at 5:40 pm

      Very tasty snack! Hard to stop eating these…was a little hesitant to make these with a little “heat,” but they were delicious. This recipe is a keeper 😊

      Reply

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    A photo of a young woman in a white and red striped shirt with a white backround.

    Welcome!

    I'm Veronika and The Healthful Ideas where I share original plant-based recipes for every day cooking and popular classics with a healthy twist.

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    A photo of a young woman in a white and red striped shirt with a white backround.

    Welcome!

    I'm Veronika and The Healthful Ideas where I share original plant-based recipes for every day cooking and popular classics with a healthy twist.

    More about me

    Latest Recipes

    • Colorful creamy pasta salad with diced veggies and two lemon wedges in a low bowl with a beige rim and with a fork on the right side.
      Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad
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