Bits and Bites with Chickapea Penne
Nothing says comfort on cold days like homemade bits and bites. Fill up those lunch boxes, pack it on-the-go, or keep it around the house for a quick protein packed snack. This recipe is gluten-free, vegan and can be made nut-free of desired by substituting the peanuts.
Penne Bits and Bites
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours and 5 minutes
- Course: Snack
- Cuisine: Canadian
- Servings: 12
Ingredients:
- 1 package Chickapea Penne noodles
- 2 Tbsp salt, for cooking pasta
- 1 cup salted vegan butter, melted
- 2 Tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp Tabasco sauce
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 ½ Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp- 1 Tbsp salt (personal preference)
- 3 cups gluten-free cheerios
- 2 cups gluten-free pretzel sticks
- 2 cups blanched, salted shelled peanuts
- 3 cups rice Chex
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 250°F
- Cook the Chickapea Penne al dente, (heat 16 cups of water and 2 Tbsp of salt in a large pot over high heat until boiling. Add pasta to the water, decrease heat to maintain a gentle boil. Stir and cook pasta for 5 minutes)
- Drain pasta and rinse with warm water
- Pat the pasta dry
- In a large roasting pan combine the Cheerios, pretzels, peanuts, Chex and Chickapea penne
- Mix the Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt to taste into the melted butter
- Pour the butter mixture over the dry cereal and pasta and stir well to coat evenly
- Cook the mixture in the oven for 2 hours, stirring the bits and bites every 20 minutes to ensure even cooking
- Allow the bits and bites to cool completely before storing or serving
- Enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
- The wizard’s gluten free, vegan Worcestershire sauce was used in this recipe
- Any neutral flavored cereal or cracker of choice can be added or substituted in this mixture with reasonable ease
- Many popular cereals come in vegan a gluten-free options. Make sure to check the label
- To make this recipe nut-free, the peanuts can be substituted for seeds such as pumpkin or left out