17 Chickpea Recipes That Will Make You Love Chickpeas

If you’re trying to eat more chickpeas, the last thing you need is another boring bowl of beans.

The good news is that chickpeas can be creamy, crispy, saucy, lemony, spicy, or deeply comforting — it all depends on what you do with them.

Louise and I have made more than 100 chickpea recipes over the years, and these are the ones that prove just how delicious a simple can of chickpeas can be.

Think sticky sesame chickpeas with broccoli, creamy orzo with feta, crispy Greek fritters, coconut curry, colorful Mediterranean salads, and cozy soups you’ll want to eat with a big piece of crusty bread.

These are the chickpea recipes we make when we want something easy and vegetable-packed that still feels like really good food — even for the chickpea skeptics at the table.

Not sure where to start? Try our sticky sesame chickpeas for something saucy and bold, Greek yogurt Marry Me chickpeas when you’re craving something creamy, or Greek chickpea salad for a fresh Mediterranean meal.

1. Greek Chickpea Salad

Chickpeas, juicy tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and creamy feta make this colorful Greek-inspired salad fresh, crunchy, and full of Mediterranean flavor.

Add warm pita bread on the side and plenty of dressing for scooping and dipping.

2. Greek Chickpea Soup (Revithia)

This traditional Greek-inspired soup turns humble chickpeas into something wonderfully creamy and comforting with tahini and lemon.

Serve it warm with crusty bread and a drizzle of olive oil for a simple Mediterranean meal.

3. Piccata Chickpea Salad

Tender chickpeas are tossed with a punchy lemon piccata dressing for a bright, tangy salad. Fresh herbs add color and freshness.

4. Dense Chickpea Salad

Chickpeas, feta, roasted sweet potato, and Mediterranean dressing make this seriously satisfying. Make it ahead for easy weekday lunches.

5. Greek Pasta Salad

Tender pasta, chickpeas, feta, olives, cucumber, and juicy tomatoes are tossed together with a zesty Mediterranean dressing.

The combination of briny olives, creamy feta, crunchy vegetables, and pasta makes this especially good for warm-weather lunches and dinners.

6. Greek Yogurt Marry Me Chickpeas

Tender chickpeas are coated in a creamy Greek yogurt sauce with sun-dried tomatoes. Serve with crusty bread for scooping up every last bite.

7. Italian Chickpea Soup

Chickpeas, vegetables, and pasta simmer together in a flavorful broth. A cozy, inexpensive dinner made with simple pantry staples.

8. Chickpea Cucumber Salad

Juicy tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, and chickpeas make this a colorful no-cook salad. A punchy lemon-herb marinade soaks into the chickpeas and ties every veggie together.

9. Chickpea Spinach Orzo with Feta

Creamy orzo with chickpeas and spinach is finished with crumbled feta and fresh lemon zest. It’s bright, comforting, and wonderfully creamy.

10. Chickpea Curry

Creamy coconut milk and warming spices transform chickpeas into serious comfort food. An easy weeknight dinner you’ll want on repeat.

11. Sheet Pan Chickpea Shawarma Bowl

Spiced chickpeas and vegetables roast together on one pan until caramelized. Add quinoa and a creamy yogurt sauce for an easy dinner bowl.

12. Sticky Sesame Chickpeas and Broccoli

Chickpeas and broccoli are coated in a glossy sesame stir-fry sauce, then finished with sesame seeds and sliced scallions.

13. Chickpea Eggplant Curry

Roasted eggplant and chickpeas simmer in a warmly spiced tomato sauce. A vegetable-packed dinner that’s hearty and deeply satisfying.

14. Greek chickpea fritters

Golden chickpea fritters are crisp around the edges and tender inside. Serve them with fresh herbs and a creamy dipping sauce.

15. Roasted Zucchini Orzo with Chickpeas and Feta

Roasted zucchini, chickpeas, orzo, and feta make this a satisfying Mediterranean meal. Fresh, colorful, and perfect for lunch or dinner.

16. Chickpea Sweet Potato Patties

Chickpeas and sweet potatoes are turned into golden patties that are crisp outside and soft and tender in the middle.

We like them with a fresh salad and creamy yogurt sauce for dipping.

17. Chickpea Noodle Soup

Tender noodles, chickpeas, and vegetables simmer in a light, savory broth for a cozy bowl that’s especially good when you want something simple.

Finish it with good olive oil and plenty of grated Parmesan while it’s still piping hot.

How We Make Chickpeas Taste Good

If someone in your house thinks they don’t like chickpeas, don’t serve them plain chickpeas and expect miracles.

Chickpeas have a mild flavor and soft texture, which is exactly what makes them so useful: they soak up sauces, dressings, spices, and all the other flavors you cook them with.

Here are a few things we’ve learned after cooking them hundreds of times:

• Give them plenty of flavor. Lemon, garlic, spices, herbs, and bold dressings make an enormous difference.
• Add something creamy. Greek yogurt, feta, tahini, or a creamy curry sauce turns chickpeas into comfort food.
• Play with texture. Pair tender chickpeas with crunchy vegetables, roast them until browned, or mash them into crispy patties.
• Use some acidity. A squeeze of lemon or splash of vinegar wakes up their mild flavor, especially in salads and soups.
• Let them get saucy. Chickpeas are particularly good in curries, stir-fries, and creamy dishes because they soak up the surrounding sauce.
• Build a complete meal around them. Add pasta, rice, orzo, quinoa, bread, roasted vegetables, or a creamy sauce and suddenly that can of chickpeas feels like dinner.

And don’t underestimate canned chickpeas. We cook dried chickpeas when we have more time, but canned chickpeas are one of our favorite shortcuts for getting a good meal on the table quickly.

Cooked chickpeas keep in the refrigerator for about 4 days and can be frozen in portions for up to 3 months.