These roasted lentils are delightfully crunchy and packed with flavors! High in protein and fiber, they make the perfect savory snack. You only need 5 ingredients, and both air fryer and oven instructions are included.
Lentils are highly nutritious, and we love sneaking them into our daily meals. Some of our go-to lentil recipes include red lentil tortillas, lentil carrot soup, and Instant Pot dal.
Lentils are a must-have pantry staple for us. This budget-friendly pantry staple is highly nutritious, packed with both protein and fiber.
I have been loving these roasted lentils for a while now. Like my roasted black beans and air fryer potato slices, they are a great healthy, low-effort savory snack option.
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💚Why you will love roasted lentils
- Crunchy, savory, and incredibly delicious
- Quick to make with just 5 ingredients
- Nutritious and packed with fiber and protein
- Stores well, making it great for meal prep!
🧂What you will need
- Lentils - Go with green (French) lentils, black lentils, or brown lentils. Red and orange are NOT recommended, as they turn mushy easily. Either canned lentils or homemade lentils will work.
- Oil - I am using light olive oil, but any neutral-tasting oil (like canola, sunflower seed, avocado) will work.
- Seasonings - Keeping it simple here with garlic and onion powder, but you can experiment with other herbs and spices or spice blends (like Cajun, taco, or BBQ).
🔪How to make
Step 1: Place lentils on paper towels or a tea towel to remove excess moisture.
Step 2: Combine lentils along with seasonings. Mix until well combined.
Step 3: Spread lentils on a lined baking tray.
Step 4: Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until browned. Allow roasted lentils to cool completely before enjoying.
💡Roasting lentils in air fryer
Line air fryer basket with parchment paper, then spread seasoned lentils in an even layer. Cook for 10-15 minutes at 180C/350F, giving the basket a shake every few minutes.
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✔Helpful tips
- Careful not to overcook lentils - If cooking lentils from scratch, they should be al dente. Overly mushy lentils don't crisp up as well.
- Avoid overcrowding baking tray - Arrange in a single layer to ensure that they cook properly.
- Careful not to burn - Lentils are small and burn easily when overbaked. Keep a close eye after 20 minutes. They are done when crispy on the edges.
- Serving suggestions - It's great as its own as a snack or added to trail mixes. Or use it to top salads and soups (like pumpkin potato soup or protein pasta salad).
❄️Storing and meal prep suggestions
- Make a bigger batch - Double or triple this recipe. You might have to bake in 2 trays, or in batches if your oven is small.
- Storing lentils - Roasted lentils can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for a week or refrigerated for 2 weeks. Let lentils cool completely before storing.
- Revive stale lentils - Simply reheat stale lentils in the oven for 3-5 minutes to help regain their crispiness.
🍽More high protein snacks
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📖 Recipe
Crunchy Roasted Lentils
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can green lentils or cooked from dry (around 1 ½ cups cooked)*
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 150C/300F. Place cooked lentils on a paper towel or dish towel and gently pat dry.
- In a large bowl, place all ingredients and toss until seasonings are well distributed.
- Spread lentils evenly on a lined baking tray.
- Bake for 25-35 minutes until browned, stirring it every 10 minutes to ensure even cooking. Keep a close eye on the last minute of cooking to prevent lentils from burning.
- Let them cool down before serving!
Notes
- Careful not to overcook lentils - If cooking lentils from scratch, they should be al dente. Overly mushy lentils don't crisp up as well.
- Avoid overcrowding baking tray - Arrange in a single layer to ensure that they cook properly.
- Careful not to burn - Lentils are small and burn easily when overbaked. Keep a close eye after 20 minutes. They are done when crispy on the edges.
Save this recipe!
Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.
Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
Rebecca says
Hi I was wondering if you knew how to make salt and vinegar lentils. I really loved your recipe, I prepared as written.
Thank you!
Jim Mee Sha says
Happy to hear that! You could try adding a tablespoon of vinegar of choice to the lentils before roasting them.
Beth says
Thank you so very much for I bought some BBQ flavored lentils twice then they never got them again. They are addictive! I love the texture! I'm so glad you shared this!
Erin says
Used brown lentils, truffle oil and sea salt and it was easy and delicious! Thank you for the stellar method!
Toria says
I made this with dried yellow lentils. I added chilli, paprika, garlic and onion powder but salt flakes. Came out delicious. Thank you.
caroline says
A simple, delicious, and healthy snack. Thank you!
Jim Mee Sha says
Happy to hear that!
Cindy says
Great recipe! I like the versatility so I can adjust the seasonings to the type of salad. Thanks for sharing!
Jim Mee Sha says
Happy to hear that!
Joan says
Yum and so easy!
Laura says
Wonderful, easy and delicious. A fan from Spain 🙂
Meesha says
Really happy to hear that!😁
Rose says
Hi Meesha, I’d like to try these, they look delish. How many dried lentils do I need to make 1 1/2 cups cooked? Thanks for your help and I’ll rate after making.
Meesha says
You will need around 3/4 cup of dried lentils to make 1 1/2 cup.😁
Jenn K says
How long do you cook your lentils? Do you soak your lentils first?
Meesha says
I recommend referring to the section "how to cook lentils" in this post! I go into details on how to cook lentils either using an Instant pot or on stove. Hope this helps!
Charlene Eredics says
Could you use Trader Joes steamed lentils?
Meesha says
Yes, you definitely can 😉
Jade says
Have you cooked in an air fryer? Time and temp?
Meesha says
No, I have yet to try it myself. But I think you can try cooking it at 325F for 10-12 minutes. Do let me know how it turns out! 😊