Make these extra-crispy chickpea hummus bites when you need a healthy, satisfying crunch. Stuffed with melted cheese and served with guacamole, they’re incredibly delicious!
Consider the humble chickpea. It’s a staple of vegetarian and vegan diets everywhere, filled with protein and fiber, and brings a toothsome texture that works with so many different recipes. Stew them in curries, roast them as a snack, top your salads with them, or grind and fry them as falafel. Case in point: this recipe for cheesy spicy hummus roasted chickpea bites is one prime example of how versatile chickpeas can be.
I love this recipe because I love finger foods, and unlike many finger foods, this one contains protein AND fiber. These little hand-held cheesy snacks, meant to dip in zingy guacamole, are perfect to serve as appetizers or snacks on a game day or at a dinner party. That said, serve them anytime, for any reason. Recently, I had them (and some French fries, ahem) for a “girl dinner.” The crunchy outside is so perfect paired with the melty, cheesy middle, and the creamy guacamole dip really pulls the bite together. Wherever your life takes you, bring these cheesy, spicy hummus-roasted chickpea bites with you.
Are Cheesy Spicy Hummus-Roasted Chickpea Bites Healthy?
Yes! In addition to the fiber and protein that come with the chickpeas, these snacks are low in fat and calories. The cheese adds some calcium. Guacamole adds healthy fats, but if you’d like to lower the fat and calories, you can leave out the guac. Overall, this is one of the healthier snacks you’d see on a game-day snack buffet! It’s also worth saying, this recipe is gluten-free and vegetarian.
Make Your Own Hummus
If you’re not a huge fan of store-bought hummus but you really love the hummus you get at Mediterranean restaurants, try making your own—it’s a lot easier than you might think. You’ll already be pulling out your food processor to make the cheesy bites anyway. All you’ll need is (more) chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, tahini, and lemon juice. Check out FFF’s favorite Homemade Hummus Recipe.
How To Make And Store
You can roast and grind your chickpeas and grate and cube the cheese up to 2 days ahead of time. Simply store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge until you’re ready to bake the bites. You can store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat them in the oven at 425°F for 10-15 minutes until crispy, or in the air fryer at 350°F for 4-5 minutes until crispy.
Serving Suggestion
Serving these delicious bites as part of a game-day platter? Other delicious finger food ideas include these tasty Teriyaki Chicken Wings, a rich and creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip with some crisp veggies, and these tender Grape Jelly Meatballs.
Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas (13 ounces) drained and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/4 teaspoons cumin
- 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper
- 10 ounces roasted garlic hummus 1 container
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 16 1/2-inch cubes cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons cilantro minced
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- Cooking spray
- Guacamole for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F.
- Dry the rinsed chickpeas well with paper towels. Remove any papery skins that fall off the chickpeas. Add chickpeas to a medium bowl.
- Drizzle the olive oil, cumin, and smoked paprika onto the chickpeas and toss to evenly coat. Spread them onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake the chickpeas for 15 minutes, then stir. Bake them another 15 minutes until they are golden brown and crunchy. Let cool for a few minutes.
- Once cooled, put the chickpeas into a food processor and process until crumbly.
- In a large bowl, mix together the hummus, grated cheddar cheese, and cilantro. Add the lightly-beaten egg to the hummus mixture, then add in the chickpea crumbles. Stir until evenly mixed. Your mixture will be quite wet.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and drop 16 heaping tablespoon-sized balls of the hummus mixture onto the prepared pan. Reserve a little bit of the mixture to help seal the bites after you put the cheese in.
- Press each cheese cube into the center of each ball. Then, use your fingers to press the hummus batter around the cheese, and close off the hole. Repeat for all the bites. If your hands get messy, wash your hands every few bites. If any bites have some of the cheese cube visible, use the remaining mixture to seal the tops.
- Spray the bites with cooking spray and bake for 20 minutes. Then, spray them again and bake an additional 6-8 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve hot with the guacamole to dip.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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