Chili Lime Roasted Almonds {Gluten Free, Paleo, Low Carb, Keto}

These Thai Chili Lime Almonds are a healthy, delicious copycat of the famous Trader Joe's snack.  Simple to make, low carb and so yummy!

I was at Trader Joe's recently and spotted these Thai Chili Lime Almonds.  They sounded delicious and I knew I had to make something similar.

I think most people assume that everything they sell there is super healthy. While most of it is very nutritious and balanced, you still have to be vigilant and read all of your ingredient labels.

Ingredients DO matter. It's not just about the calories and macros, everyone.

I like to have healthy snacks on hand to prevent overeating a bunch of garbage. If you are looking for more recipes for nutritious snacks, you will love this Roasted Chickpea Trail Mix, Candied Pecans, Coconut Almond Butter Bites and these Chocolate Truffles!

As delicious as the Trader Joe's ones look, there were a lot of ingredients in there I didn't recognize.  Check it out:
INGREDIENTS: Almonds, Tom Yum Powder (Maltodextrin, Salt, Sugar, Chili, Lemon Extract, Paprika, Lemongrass, Garlic Powder, White Pepper, Yeast Extract, Citric Acid), Lemongrass, Kaffir Lime Leaves, Rice Bran Oil, Salt.

I left out a bunch of the additives and chose to make my roasted almonds with good old, quality ingredients.  And I could not stop eating them.

Who needs all of the extra nonsense anyway? Not me.

And especially speaking of maltodextrin, I am definitely avoiding that additive. Maltodextrin is high on the glycemic index (GI), meaning that it can cause a spike in your blood sugar. No thank you, I am not looking to unnecessarily spike my blood sugar. 

Those who are diabetic and even pre-diabetic should be very careful of products with added maltodextrin. This is why you should always read the entire ingredient labels. It's very important.

I like spicy foods and these almonds have a nice little kick.  Only one of my kids liked the spiciness of these (he's the one that likes hot sauce too!) but I have faith the others will convert when they are a little older.  The lime juice added with the maple syrup (or low carb, sugar free sweetener)  gives them the perfect sweet balance.

And who doesn't love sweet and spicy?

Recipe Tips

Just because they are healthier  than other spiced nuts in the grocery stores, it doesn't mean they are low calorie.  Nuts are naturally high in fat, but they are filled with the good, heart-healthy fat.  They are also high in calories so watch your portions.

 If I were you, I'd divide these babies up into individual portions.  They are THAT good.

That's what I do with all types of nuts or granola or anything that is made in a big batch with lots of portions. It really does make life easier and helps to prevent overeating. And trust me, you can definitely overeat these.

I think nuts are one of those snacks that it's almost impossible NOT to overeat. The portion size is very small and you can easily overeat. Extra calories and extra fat definitely add up.

As much as I don't recommend that people count calories, you still have to be aware and conscious of how much you are eating. It's definitely something that takes time to get used to, but you get used to it once you become more familiar with the macros in your favorite foods.

You can control the level of spiciness in these almonds. Go ahead and use what you're comfortable with. You can easily alter the amount of chili powder you use.

Related Recipes

Keto Granola Clusters from All Day I dream About Food

Healthy Pistachio Snack Mix from Lauren Kelly Nutrition

Low Carb Chocolate Fudge Protein Bars from Sugar Free Mom

Keto Chocolate Avocado Pudding from Lauren Kelly Nutrition

Low Carb Spicy Ranch Crackers from That Low Carb Life

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Chili Lime Roasted Almonds

These Thai Chili Lime Almonds are a healthy, delicious copycat of the famous Trader Joe's snack.  Simple to make, low carb and so yummy!

5 from 11 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: pre-workout, Snack, vegetarian

Cuisine: American

Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 237kcal

Author: Lauren Kelly

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pound raw unsalted almonds
• ▢ 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
• ▢ 2 teaspoons chili powder
• ▢ 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice about 2 limes
• ▢ zest from one lime optional
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ 1 garlic clove minced
• ▢ 1 tablespoon 100% pure maple syrup or sugar free sweetener for low carb

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well.
• Place parchment paper on a baking tray.
• Place almond mixture on parchment paper in an even layer.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.
• Allow to cool on baking tray before removing.
• Serve immediately. Store in airtight container for up to 7 days (if it lasts that long!)

Notes

To store: Place in airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days. It will last longer if you store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 237kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 54mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 99IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 1mg

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