These easy chickpea recipes highlight the best of this versatile ingredient! A can of garbanzo beans is the first step to a delicious meal.

Chickpea recipes | garbanzo bean recipes

Wondering what to do with a can of chickpeas? You’ve come to the right place! Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are full of plant based protein and perfect for making filling meals. Chickpeas aren’t just for hummus. They’re also ideal for a vegan diet: all of the recipes below are vegan chickpea recipes (or have a vegan variation). You can use this mighty legume in so many creative ways! Head to the garbanzo bean recipes below.

What can I do with canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans)? Let us count the ways (or scroll down to the recipes):

  • Soups: Chickpeas are perfect in soups, either whole or blended to make a creamy body.
  • Tacos: Spiced up with cumin and chili powder, they’re perfect in a tortilla
  • Sandwiches: Throw them on a sandwich in a vegetarian version of chicken salad, for example.
  • Pizza: Yep, we’ve tried them on pizza.
  • Bowl Meals: They’re perfect for adding protein to main dish salads and power bowls.
  • Side Salads: Or, they’re a hearty addition to side salads.
  • Hummus & Falafel: Of course, they’re perfect in the traditional ways too.

And now…our 25 best chickpea recipes!

Vegan chickpea recipes

All of the recipes above are vegan chickpea recipes or have a vegan substitute! Here are the recipes that have vegan substitutes:

Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) nutrition

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 dry chickpeas

Is it better to cook chickpeas than use canned chickpeas? You can definitely use both! When we find time, we like cooking garbanzo beans from dry because the texture is a little firmer and the flavor a little better. However, we often use canned as well! Our favorite way to cook chickpeas is with our Instant Pot: the dry chickpeas cook in just 1 hour! If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can use our Dutch oven method.

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Chickpea salad sandwich | Vegetarian chicken salad sandwich | Easy lunch recipes

25 Easy Chickpea Recipes (Garbanzo Beans): Chickpea Salad & More!


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 sandwiches 1x

Description

Looking for healthy and easy lunch recipes? This delicious chickpea salad sandwich features a vegetarian chicken salad using chickpeas!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 15 ounce can chickpeas
  • 1 rib celery
  • 3 green onions
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, vegan mayonnaise, or cashew cream
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
  • 4 slices bread (try our Homemade Bread)
  • Lettuce, spring green mix, or sprouts
  • Hummus, optional

Instructions

  1. Thinly slice the celery (if it’s a large rib, cut in half lengthwise first). Thinly slice the green onions.
  2. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. In a medium bowl, smash the chickpeas with a fork.
  3. Combine the chickpeas with the chopped celery and green onions, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and celery seed. Add about ¼ to ½ teaspoon kosher salt, depending on your chickpea brand and taste preferences, and fresh ground pepper to taste. Taste and salt until the flavor pops! If the salad is dry, add more mayonnaise (cooked chickpeas have a drier texture than canned).
  4. Assemble the chickpea salad sandwich: If desired, spread the bread with hummus (this amps it up a bit but not required). Top the sandwich with lettuce or greens and chickpea spread.
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Mixed
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Chickpea Recipes, Chickpea Salad

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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1 Comment

  1. 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?