These easy chickpea recipes prove that a can of garbanzo beans can take you anywhere, from salads to falafel to cookie dough. Here are my favorite ways to cook with chickpeas!
Chickpeas, aka garbanzo beans, are legumes full of plant based protein that are way more versatile than you might think. Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of this ingredient until I became a food blogger and cookbook author: now it’s one of my favorite ingredients to use in healthy recipes!
Because chickpeas aren’t just for hummus. You can use this mighty legume in so many creative ways, from my favorite 20-minute weeknight chickpea curry to hummus to a delicious mound of chickpea cookie dough. Here are my top garbanzo bean / chickpea recipes to use up a can!
My Top 20 Chickpea Recipes
One of my favorite chickpea recipes is this chickpea salad sandwich! Chickpea salad is a play on a vegetarian chicken salad: the chickpeas are mashed and mixed with a little mayo, lemon juice, celery and green onions. It takes about 10 minutes to make, perfect for when you need a quick lunch or dinner!
This Moroccan stew is cozy, hearty and full of flavor. It's warm spiced with cumin, coriander and cinnamon, and the chickpeas are simmered with tomatoes and chickpeas. Serve with side quinoa or couscous and a dollop of Greek yogurt, and it's an extraordinarily tasty meal.
This Mediterranean chickpea salad is a no-cook recipe ready in minutes, packed with crunchy veggies, feta, and a bright lemon dressing! It’s a satisfying plant-based lunch for meal prep or protein-packed side dish: one of my personal favorites in this list!
This chickpea curry is the epitome of healthy weeknight dinners! It can be made in just 20 minutes, a speed record for sure. But there are no flavor shortcuts: it's bursting with garlic, ginger, cumin, and curry powder, with a bit of coconut swirled in for a creamy body. Serve with basmati rice and it's a true gem.
These chickpea burgers are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a hint of nuance from smoked paprika. Painted with BBQ sauce and served with shiitake bacon and spicy mayo, they’re so filling and a delicious plant-based dinner idea.
Ever tried crispy chickpeas? They're the perfect salty snack! Here the chickpeas are combined with savory spices like cumin, garlic powder, and black pepper, and roasted until crispy. They're like a healthy potato chip: and you'll find it's hard to stop crunching on them.
Here's a fun way to use chickpeas: in homemade cookie dough! Puree up chickpeas with a little butter, vanilla, and sugar, and it's a convincing stand-in for the real thing! Don't forget those chocolate chunks. It's a fun treat that uses the magic of chickpeas to create a healthier dough.
Here's a surprising chickpea recipe: a healthy vegetarian buffalo chicken dip that uses garbanzo beans and artichokes! It makes an irresistibly creamy, spicy appetizer that’s lighter than the classic. Everyone who tries it raves!
The falafel sandwich is the stuff dreams are made of: and one of the most iconic garbanzo bean recipes! The crunch of the fried chickpea fritters, the soft herby interior, and the sauces that dribble down your chin... This ultimate falafel sandwich It features crunchy fritters, soft flatbread, crunchy veggies and creamy, garlicky sauces.
This Mediterranean rice bowl is ready in just 30 minutes, packed with colorful vegetables and bright flavors! With fluffy turmeric rice, seasoned chickpeas, and creamy tzatziki—it’s a weeknight dinner homerun.
This chickpea recipe does heavy lifting with a short cook time and big flavors. Garbanzo beans might not strike you for tacos, but they make a flavorful filling coated in cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika, punched up with a hit of zesty lime. Throw it all in a tortilla with guacamole and toppings, and this fast weeknight dinner is done in 20 minutes.
Want to know one of our best easy meal tricks? Try these Easy Canned Chickpeas, the way to make a bland can of beans taste amazing in 5 minutes! Many nights we’ll make improv dinners using what we find in the pantry or fridge. More often than not, you’ll see these easy chickpeas on the menu! They’re great for healthy lunches, or work as the protein in a grain bowl.
Meet my favorite vegetarian and vegan dinner recipe: the Falafel Burger! I don't always have the energy to fry up a batch of authentic falafel. So eating it in burger form is the next best thing! These are easy to make with canned chickpeas. The combination of a cumin and coriander-scented chickpea patty with cool cucumber sauce and all the toppings makes a healthy vegetarian and vegan dinner recipe that everyone loves.
Here's a cozy soup that's made of healthy veggies that taste bright and restorative! It's similar to a chicken rice soup, except it's made with chickpeas. Tender grains of rice make for a satisfying thick body to the turmeric and ginger-infused broth, with a punch of lemon zest to brighten each spoonful. It's got the cozy nostalgia of canned soup, but it's fresh and homemade!
And now for the most famous of all chickpea recipes...hummus! My best homemade hummus is way tastier than store bought, and cheaper too. Blend it up with lemon garlic, tahini, and it's simply delish. Use for dipping pita chips, or in our Veggie Roll Ups.
Tender sweet potatoes and bell peppers swim in a luscious broth of coconut milk and Thai curry paste, topped with fresh cilantro and crunchy peanuts. There’s so much flavor going on, you’ll want to take another bite before you’re finished savoring the first. Welcome to: your easy weeknight dinner soulmate!
This easy chickpea salad is quick to throw together, making a 5 minute fast lunch! How to eat a plant based lunch without spending hours on meal prep? How to make a quick dinner out of nothing? It starts with a can of chickpeas.
Pasta e ceci is a traditional Italian “pasta and chickpea soup.” This classic chickpea recipe is full of big Italian flavors: intense vibrant tomato, leafy Tuscan kale, and a creamy broth made with Parmesan rind. Swimming in it all are the chickpeas and pasta of the soup’s title, making it hearty and filling.
Salads are natural for chickpea recipes, and this Greek orzo salad is a standout! The rice-shaped pasta is combined with chickpeas, red pepper, olives, feta cheese, and fresh mint and dill to make everyone's favorite side dish.
Last up, one of my favorite chickpea recipes of all time is this dark chocolate hummus! This spin on the classic dip features cocoa powder and maple syrup to make a chocolate-y dip. Serve with sliced green apples, strawberries or pretzels, and it's perfect for entertaining as a healthy sweet snack!
Chickpea Nutrition: Why They Deserve a Spot in Your Pantry
Why eat canned chickpeas? This mighty legume is full of the good stuff. Here are a few reasons to love these garbanzo bean recipes:
- Rich in plant based protein. 1 cup has 14.5 grams of protein, about 30% of your daily protein needs (source).
- Excellent source of fiber. 1 cup also has 12.5 grams of fiber, about 50% of your daily need (source).
- May help you manage your weight. Chickpeas are low calorie density, meaning they provide few calories relative to the nutrients they contain. The high protein and fiber also help to satiate the appetite and reduce calorie intake at meals. (source)
How to Cook Dried Chickpeas (Two Methods)
Is it better to cook chickpeas than use canned chickpeas? You can definitely use both! When I find time, I like cooking garbanzo beans from dry because the texture is a little firmer and the flavor a little better. However, I often use canned as well!
My favorite way to cook chickpeas is with an Instant Pot: the dry chickpeas cook in just 1 hour! If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can use my Dutch oven method.
- Method 1: How to Cook Chickpeas in an Instant Pot
- Method 2: How to Cook Dried Beans in a Dutch Oven
Making a list of all the recipes I will be trying!! They all look amazing and I stickpot up on beans!! Have you tried freezing chickpea recipes?