Chili Lime Pepitas – Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

These Chili Lime Pepitas are crunchy, spicy, tangy and just a little sweet. Made with pumpkin seeds, fresh lime, chili and maple syrup, they take about 15 minutes and can be roasted in the oven or air fryer.

Eat them by the handful, add them to salads and grain bowls, or put out a bowl with drinks and appetizers. They are especially good for fall, Thanksgiving and holiday entertaining.

A delicious healthy snack or a crunchy topping on your salads and avocado toasts that's crispy, salty, spicy, and sweet.

These little seeds are a great source of protein and have a good range of nutrients. It is easy to make and lasts a few days when stored in an air-tight container. You can bake it in the oven or the air fryer.

I know I say addictive a lot, but this has to take the throne for it, and I have proof. The very first time I made it, I dropped the whole tray on the ground. It was quite messy and I will spare you the details but let's just say the whole batch of roasted pumpkin seeds was finished by me.

I always crave salty snacks, and it's so easy to open a packet of chips and gobble them up in under 1 minute. Yes, we have all been there and are there several times a week(if not day ).

The other day, I decided to test out overeating. This means I will eat healthy snacks before my stomach starts growling. That way, I will not eat junk. I will keep you updated on my overeating experiment.

One of the things I made for myself is these spicy, crunchy, salty with a hint of sweet pepitas. It's essentially all things I crave but in a healthier form.

If this kind of spicy snack is your jam, try Airfryer Sweet & Salty Edamame, or if you like to have healthy, sweet snacks, these snicker dates will rock your world!

Another effortless snack is air-fried crispy pita chips. Serve it with spicy sriracha lime aioli.

Why You'll Love These Chili Lime Pumpkin Seeds

• Ready in about 15 minutes
• Oven and air fryer instructions
• Sweet, spicy and tangy from maple syrup, chili and fresh lime
• Easy to adjust the heat from mild paprika to spicy cayenne
• Great for snacking or entertaining — serve them in snack bowls, add them to charcuterie boards or sprinkle over salads
• Easy to make with Tajín if you already have chili-lime seasoning at home

Pepitas vs Pumpkin Seeds

Pepitas are the green, shelled kernels inside pumpkin seeds.

For this recipe, I use raw, unsalted pepitas — the flat green pumpkin seeds you can buy in most grocery stores.

You can also roast whole pumpkin seeds scooped from a pumpkin, but because they still have their white shell, they will need a different roasting time.

So if you want the quick 8–12 minute version below, use shelled pepitas.

Ingredients for Lime Chili Pepitas

Here are the simple ingredients you need to make this delicious recipe

• Pepitas or Pumpkin Seeds
• Chili
• Lime
• Maple Syrup or Honey
• Salt

See the recipe card for quantities.

Pepitas

Use raw, unsalted pepitas for this recipe.

These are the green shelled pumpkin seeds you will usually find in the nuts and seeds section of the grocery store.

Avoid pre-roasted or salted pepitas because they can become too salty or overcook during roasting.

Chili

You can use almost any powdered chili depending on how spicy you want the pumpkin seeds.

Mild: paprika or Kashmiri chili powder
Medium: gochugaru or regular chili powder
Spicy: cayenne pepper

I sometimes use gochugaru because I love its slightly smoky, fruity heat.

Lime

Fresh lime juice gives these pumpkin seeds their tangy flavor.

I like using fresh lime rather than bottled juice.

For even more lime flavor, you can also add a little fresh lime zest after roasting. It gives you that bright citrus flavor without adding more liquid to the crispy seeds.

Can I Use Tajín?

Absolutely.

Tajín is particularly good on pumpkin seeds because it already combines chili, lime and salt.

If using Tajín, start with about 1 teaspoon, taste the mixture and add more if needed.

Because Tajín already contains salt and lime flavor, reduce the additional salt and adjust the fresh lime juice to taste.

For an even stronger chili-lime flavor, sprinkle a little extra Tajín over the pepitas after roasting.

Ingredients Substitutions

Most of the ingredients listed in the recipe are pretty simple. However, for whatever reason, if you do not have them on hand, here are some common substitutions.

• Pepitas- This recipe would work with any similar-sized nuts and seeds, such as sunflower seeds. Here is a detailed post on how to make air-fried crispy peanuts.
• Lime Chili mix- You can change the dressing to anything you have at hand, from simple salt and pepper to curry powder.
• Oil- Feel free to use any kind of oil you have at hand. Coconut oil, Avocado oil and sesame oil will work.
• Maple Syrup- A small amount of maple syrup adds sweetness, but its main job here is helping the chili seasoning cling to the pepitas. Honey works equally well if you don't need the recipe to be vegan.

How to Make Chili Lime Pepitas

Step 1: Season the Pepitas

Add the raw pepitas to a bowl with olive oil, lime juice, maple syrup, chili and salt.

Toss until all the seeds look evenly coated and slightly shiny.

Taste one before roasting.

Remember that the seasoning will taste slightly stronger after roasting, so don't overdo the salt at this stage.

Step 2: Oven Roasted Chili Lime Pepitas

Preheat the oven to 300°F/150°C.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spread the seasoned pepitas out in a single layer.

Bake for 8–12 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Watch them closely towards the end because pumpkin seeds can go from toasted to burnt quite quickly.

Remove from the oven and let them cool completely. They become crispier as they cool.

If you want extra lime flavor, add a little fresh lime zest once they come out of the oven.

In just 15 minutes, you can relish a wholesome, healthy meal without extensive preparation, planning, or post-meal cleanup.

Air Fryer Chili Lime Pepitas

Preheat the air fryer to 300°F/150°C.

Spread the seasoned pepitas in the air fryer basket in an even layer.

Air fry for about 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.

Let them cool completely before eating or storing.

Hot Tip

For a really easy version, use Tajín instead of separate chili powder.

Add a little before roasting and another light sprinkle after roasting for an extra chili-lime kick.

Chili Lime Pepita Variations

Tajín Pumpkin Seeds

Use Tajín as your main seasoning and reduce the additional salt.

Extra Spicy Pepitas

Add cayenne pepper along with the chili powder.

Smoky Chili Lime Pepitas

Use smoked paprika or chipotle chili powder.

Honey Chili Lime Pepitas

Swap the maple syrup for honey.

Sweet Cinnamon Pepitas

Skip the chili and lime and use extra maple syrup with cinnamon and a pinch of salt.

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Storage

Let the roasted pepitas cool completely before storing them.

Store them in an airtight jar or container at room temperature for about 5–7 days.

If they are still warm when you put them away, condensation can form inside the container and they will lose their crunch.

How to Serve Chili Lime Pepitas

Most of the time, I just eat these straight out of the bowl.

But they are also fantastic sprinkled over salads, soups, avocado toast and grain bowls.

Add them to homemade trail mix or put out a bowl with drinks when you're entertaining.

They also work really well on a charcuterie board because the spicy, crunchy seeds give you something completely different from the usual nuts and crackers.

These are also an easy snack to make for Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas parties and holiday drinks. Put a bowl out with your appetizers or add them to a holiday charcuterie board — they can be made ahead and require almost no last-minute work.

If you like easy snacky recipes like these, try my Air Fryer Sweet & Salty Edamame or Air Fryer Roasted Peanuts next. For something sweeter, my Protein Date Energy Balls and Date Snickers are both easy make-ahead snacks that are perfect for lunchboxes, afternoon cravings or keeping in the fridge for the week.

If you make this chile lime pepitas, please leave a review. I appreciate every rating and review comment!

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