Treat yourself to these scrumptious Roasted Pepitas! This delicious snack is so easy to make, and you'll love the seeds' nutty flavor and wonderful, crunchy texture. They make the BEST snack and a great topping, too!
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Ginnie's Take
I'm a huge fan of pepitas, which are a special, hull-free pumpkin seed variety. These green seeds have a lovely, tender texture, and when baked, they become super crispy. You can buy pepitas that have already been roasted, but I like to buy them raw, so I can make homemade Roasted Pepitas. This tasty snack couldn't be easier or faster to make, and it's fun experimenting with different seasonings!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Delicious - Pepitas seeds have a delightful nutty flavor and a great crunchy texture. The recipe is also fun to customize. You can enjoy the salted pepitas as-is, or stir in your fave spices. You'll find lots of seasoning ideas below!
- Easy to Make - Unlike pumpkin seeds from a jack-o'-lantern, raw pepitas are ready to cook. Just mix them with oil, spices, and salt, then oven roast, dry roast, or air fry. It's so simple and fast!
- Great Snack + Topping - Pepitas are available year round, so you can enjoy this yummy treat in any season. I like snacking on them, and they also make a tasty topping for salads, soups, oatmeal, and more!
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Ingredients
You need just to few basic ingredients for this easy recipe:
- Seeds - You'll need raw pepitas seeds for this recipe. Look for them in your grocery store's nut section.
- Olive Oil - The seeds are mixed with extra virgin olive oil before baking. The oil helps crisp the seeds and also helps the seasonings stick.
- Spices + Salt - Season the seeds simply with kosher salt, or get creative with different seasonings (I like garlic powder). You'll find lots of ideas in the Variations section below!
This recipe is naturally vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, gluten free, and nut free, so everyone at your table can enjoy it!
How to Roast Pepita Seeds
Roasting pepitas is super easy! Simply place the seeds on a large baking sheet, then add oil, seasonings, and salt. Mix well, then bake until toasted and crisp.
It really is that easy! You can also dry roast pepitas (without oil) in a skillet, or air fry them. Learn how in the Variations section below.
Variations
This Roasted Pepita Seeds recipe is easy to customize with different ingredients and flavorings! Here are a few ideas to try:
- Dry Roasted - You can dry roast the pepitas in a skillet, if you'd prefer. Simply heat the pepitas in a medium or large frying pan (depending on the amounts of seeds) over medium heat. Stir the seeds frequently, cooking them until they are toasted and crisp (about five to seven minutes).
- Air Fryer - Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees, then add the oiled and seasoned pepitas. Cook them, stirring every minutes, for about seven to ten minutes total.
- Oil - Replace the olive oil with a neutral flavored cooking oil, such as vegetable, canola, or avocado.
- Spices - Season the season with different spices, such as garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, curry powder, cayenne, pumpkin spice, cajun, apple pie spice, and more. Check out my Baked Pumpkin Seed recipe for even more flavoring ideas! I usually to add about ½ to 1 teaspoon of spices per cup, but you can add them to taste.
Serving Suggestions
Toasted Pepitas make the best snack, but you can use them in other ways, too:
- Breakfast - Add them to a bowl of oatmeal, yogurt parfait, chia pudding, or açaí bowl for a little crunch.
- Dinner - Top pasta with the seeds, or add them to grain + veggie bowls.
- Salads -Sprinkle them over (or mix them into) salads.
- Soup - Use them as a crispy garnish for a bowl of creamy soup.
Storage
Store leftover Roasted Pepitas in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for about two weeks.
Related Recipes
If you loved this pepita seed recipe, make sure to try my go-to my go-to Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe, as well! And I've got all sort of creative flavors to try too, like Pumpkin Spice Pumpkin Seeds and Ranch Pumpkin Seeds, too. If you're looking for more pepita ideas, these are some of my favorite recipes:
- Start your day with this scrumptious Pumpkin Seed Granola! You'll love its warm fall flavor.
- This tasty Pumpkin Seed Salad Dressing has a wonderful sweet-savory flavor. It's so tasty on this Kale Apple Salad!
- They make an excellent crispy addition to this cozy Roasted Pumpkin Quinoa Salad and this vibrant Superfood Salad.
- If you're a snacker, this delightful Tropical Trail Mix recipe is a must try!
P.S. Did you know that you can roast winter squash seeds, too?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Pepitas are a special type of pumpkin seed that comes from Styrian or oilseed pumpkins. They grow without hulls, are green in color, and have a tender texture.
Pepitas means pumpkin seeds in Spanish, which can be slightly confusing. Just keep in mind that for this recipe you need green, hull-free pepita seeds, not pumpkin seeds from a jack-o'-lantern.
Pepita seeds are a nutritious snack. They contain protein, antioxidants, minerals, and healthy fats. Check out this article from WebMD for more information about the benefits of eating pepitas.
Pepitas is a Spanish word that's pronounced peh-pee-tahs. Listen to the pronunciation here.
Roasted Pepita Seeds
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw pepita seeds
- ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (1 ½ teaspoons)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
- other seasonings of your choice (see note)
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place 1 cup pepitas on a baking sheet, then drizzle with ½ tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste), plus any other seasonings of your choice. Mix well.
- Bake seeds for 13 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp, stirring every 5 minutes.
- Let seeds cool before eating. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
