Friends, do you ever wonder how restaurants transform seemingly simple salads and bowls into beautiful and complex dishes? Delicious dressings are one part of the answer, and crunchy toppings are the other! The solution for stepping up your salad game: Chili Lime Roasted Pepitas! Not only do they transform salads and bowls, but they’re also super snack-able!
These crunchy, roasty-toasty goodies happen to be oil-free and require just 1 pan, 5 ingredients, and 15 minutes to prepare! Say hello to endlessly versatile, absurdly easy, nutrient-packed seeds. Let us show you how it’s done!
What Are Pepitas?
The word “pepita” comes from the term pepita de calabaza which means “little seed of squash.” And it’s very fitting because pepitas are the seeds from a pumpkin or other type of squash (source). But unlike pumpkin seeds leftover from carving a pumpkin, pepitas are green and do not have a white shell around them as they’ve been hulled.
How to Roast Pepitas
The first step is to coat the pepitas in your favorite seasonings, plus something that helps them stick. For this version, we included tangy lime, sweet and sticky maple syrup, smoky chili powder, salt, and optional cayenne for some heat.
If you want to play around with the flavors, you could try curry powder, za’atar, or your favorite spice mix along with oil to help the spices stick and salt for added flavor. Or go for a sweet version with pumpkin pie spice, coconut oil, salt, and maple syrup!
Once the seeds are coated, bake them for 7-12 minutes at 300 F (150 C) or until they become darker in color and puff up slightly, giving them a super satisfying crunch!
We hope you LOVE these roasted pepitas! They’re:
Crunchy
Zingy
Roasty
Sweet & savory
Quick & easy
& Super versatile!
Snack on these goodies for a boost of energy and minerals including magnesium, phosphorous, and zinc. Or enjoy them on salads and bowls or anything else that would benefit from a crunchy topping!
More Delicious Recipes with Pepitas
- Minty Watermelon Cucumber Salad (Vegan)
- Baked Quinoa Black Bean Falafel
- Vegan Pumpkin Caramels
- Pumpkin Maple Pecan Granola
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Chili Lime Roasted Pepitas (5 Ingredients!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup pepitas (raw shelled pumpkin seeds)
- 1 ½ Tbsp lime juice
- 1 ½ tsp maple syrup
- 2 tsp chili powder blend (NOT chili flakes or cayenne pepper)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 – 1/4 tsp cayenne (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 F (150 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- To the prepared baking sheet, add all ingredients (pepitas, lime juice, maple syrup, chili powder, sea salt, and cayenne (optional)). Mix with clean hands or a wooden spoon to evenly coat the pepitas with spices. Spread them into a relatively even layer — it’s okay if they’re not perfectly even (the result will be tasty pepita clusters)!
- Bake for 7-12 minutes or until the pepitas are lightly browned, stirring halfway. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. The flavors will intensify as they cool.
- Let cool completely before storing in a sealed container at room temperature for 4-5 days or in the refrigerator or freezer for up to 1 month.
Video
Notes
*Inspired by Foolproof Living.
Marta says
Did this with hemp hearts when I ran out of pepitas. Yummy! 320* for 14 minutes. Thx for the idea!
Thank you for sharing, Marta!
Kathryn Robinson says
Really delicious 😋
The whole family enjoyed them.
Yay! Thanks, Kathryn!
Sierra says
Delicious! An addictive snack :)
they seemed a little wet after the recommended time so I tossed them and spread them out on the pan again and continued baking in 5 minute intervals under they were more dried out. I’ll be making these again this week, great to have on hand! Thanks!!
Woohoo! So glad you enjoyed, Sierra. Thanks as always for the great review!
Genevieve says
I made these yesterday. Super quick and easy and very tasty! I was wondering however if they should still be wet after baking? I think I may have been expecting a drier snack. Maybe I should have baked them longer (I did 13 minutes).
Thank you for sharing your experience, Genevieve! They should be completely dry when done baking, so it does sound like they needed a bit more time. Did you make any modifications?
Laura says
Do you think it would taste okay to use my regular chili powder (Fiesta brand light chili powder) vs making your blend? It’s a blend of spices & chili powder, not just pure chili powder.
Yes, that’s fine!
Laura says
Thank you for the quick response. Can’t wait to make these!
Betsy says
My pepitas are already salted…would these work if I just eliminate the added salt?
That should work!
Jelena says
These seeds are not hulled,they are like that inside the pumpkin! In my country we make oil out of them which is pretty pungent and it goes great with cooked beans,like a salad dressing. This chilli/lime combo is awsome!!
Interesting! Thanks for sharing, Jelena!
Luci says
I prepared the recipe as written. After 10 minutes in the oven at 300 degrees the seeds were wet vs crunchy. After tasting I sprinkled some smoked paprika and baked 2 minutes longer. These are delicious!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing your experience, Luci! xo
Angela says
This sounds like it may be good for chickpeas too!
Oooh, yes! Love that idea, Angela!