Our 40 chickpea recipes celebrate the versatility and simplicity of garbanzo beans.
If you want to add flavor, protein, and fiber to your meals without compromising taste, you’re in for a treat.
These approachable recipes will enable you to whip up a satisfying and nutritious meal with minimal effort and a low budget.
These recipes, from quick salads and comforting soups to main courses and crispy snacks, demonstrate how chickpeas can be transformed into delicious meals.
Whether you prefer whole, mashed, or blended chickpeas, there’s a recipe here to suit every taste and cooking skill level.
1. How to cook chickpeas
This list starts with a guide to cooking canned and dried chickpeas, storing them, and using them to make delicious plant-based meals.
You will see the step-by-step process of soaking and cooking dried chickpeas to perfection and how to use them in protein-packed recipes that satisfy every palate.
2. Falafel
Falafels are deep-fried balls (we also do them in the air fryer) made out of soaked chickpeas, broad beans, or a combination of both.
We will show you how easy it is to prepare falafel, cook it in oil or an air fryer, and serve it with tahini sauce and pita bread.
3. Chickpea pasta salad
You’ll love this chickpea pasta salad because it’s tasty, nourishing, and fulfilling, with plant-based protein, vitamins, and antioxidants.
It’s an excellent recipe for meal prepping. It’s drizzled with mustard dressing and topped with creamy avocado.
4. Creamy hummus
A must-make chickpea recipe on this list is our velvety, creamy hummus.
It’s a mouthwatering spread with simple ingredients. You can make it with canned or cooked dried chickpeas.
TIP: if you don’t have tahini at home, try this no–tahini hummus instead.
5. Quick chickpea salad
This chickpea salad is easy, fulfilling, and nutritious. It is one of our favorite potluck and meal prep recipes.
Make it in 15 minutes with simple, fresh ingredients and a refreshing lemon vinaigrette.
6. Air fryer chickpeas
Air fryer chickpeas are quick, healthy, easy to make, and delicious when topped on creamy soups like eggplant, cauliflower, and Turkish lentil soup.
In less than 15 minutes, you’ll have a tasty, light, and crunchy snack.
7. Tahini salad
Our tahini salad recipe is excellent as a side dish, but you can quickly turn it into a main by combining it with roasted chickpeas or falafel.
Please upgrade it to lunch on the go by serving it in a wrap with hummus or some warm pita bread.
8. Chickpea quinoa salad
This quinoa chickpea salad offers a nutritious, naturally vegan, gluten-free meal to please the pickiest eaters.
We add a colorful palette of fresh veggies to this salad, which makes for an inviting and healthy lunch idea.
9. Chickpea fritters
Savor the crispy perfection of chickpea fritters, where the combination of red onions and nutritional yeast adds a delightful umami richness to every bite.
This easy-to-make recipe promises a nutty blend of flavors and a healthy choice for a quick and satisfying snack or appetizer.
10. Carrot salad with chickpeas
Carrot raisin salad is a classic, but with this recipe, we tweak it slightly by adding chickpeas.
The result is a vibrant and colorful salad recipe with the perfect balance between savory, sweet, and tangy.
11. Mashed chickpea salad
Vegan tuna is a quick and easy recipe made with mashed chickpeas and vegan mayonnaise.
It’s the perfect replacement for tuna in a sandwich, filling a sweet potato as an appetizer or as a vegan tuna salad.
12. Chickpea stew
Make a wholesome and rich chickpea dinner with this Mediterranean chickpea stew: an easy one-pot recipe with staple ingredients.
It’s perfect as a tasty and easy everyday dinner or as a make-ahead meal.
13. Masabacha
Here is a modern and healthy recipe for a plant-based appetizer or dinner with family and friends.
Our masabacha recipe has tender cooked chickpeas and tahini, and blending is not required.
14. Couscous salad
Chickpea is a beautiful pairing with healthy grains, such as barley, farro, and couscous.
This couscous salad is easy, crunchy, ready in 20 minutes, and made with fresh vegetables.
15. Farro salad
Farro salad is a perfect meal for summer and autumn and a wholesome vegan lunch.
Add fresh veggies, olives, and chickpeas for a protein–rich, vitamin-packed meal.
16. Spinach stew
This delicious and fiber-rich spinach chickpea stew is easy to make for a quick meatless dinner or as a side for dinner.
Pair it with a dollop of yogurt and white rice for a complete and satiating plant–based meal.
17. Orzo salad
Our orzo salad is a light, healthy, and tasty dish that is effortless to make with simple, fresh ingredients.
Pair it with canned and rinsed chickpeas, and it’s a perfect starter, summer salad, and dinner idea.
18. Fatteh
You’ll love this Fatteh recipe because it combines different flavors and textures that are magical together.
A bed of creamy chickpea hummus is topped with crispy oven-baked pita chips and tender cumin-infused chickpeas.
19. Cauliflower salad
Roasted chickpeas quickly and easily add healthy protein and a tasty crunch to this creamy cauliflower salad.
Imagine slightly charred cauliflower paired with nutty chickpeas, spiced with cumin, tossed with a creamy tahini dressing, and plenty of fresh lemon juice.
20. Curry chickpea salad
Curry chickpea salad is a refreshing creamy recipe with tahini, mango, and cooked chickpeas.
It’s perfect as a make–ahead meal, for potlucks, and as a lunchbox meal.
21. Microwave sweet potato with chickpeas
On top of a microwave sweet potato, add couscous or bulgur salad with tomato and cucumber.
Top your potato with crispy chickpeas, sliced black olives, and tahini sauce for a light and quick dinner.
22. Mediterranean farro salad
In just over 30 minutes, you can have a delicious, healthy, and satisfying Mediterranean farro salad.
TIP: Make this grain bowl and meal–prep your next lunches or dinners.
23. Chickpea soup
This chickpea soup with canned chickpeas, potato, and Italian herbs is a perfect make-ahead meal.
Canned tomatoes complement the nutty aroma of chickpeas well. Even chickpea skeptics will appreciate this wholesome soup.
24. Chickpea curry
Chickpeas are a wholesome and delicious addition to creamy curries; try this version with an aromatic Indian spice mix and a rich coconut sauce.
Serve your curry on basmati rice and store potential leftovers in the fridge for up to five days.
25. Pasta e Ceci
This Italian pasta classic is creamy, healthy, and packed with tomato flavor.
It’s a family–friendly meal cooked in one pot and a tasty cooking method with canned chickpeas.
26. African peanut stew
This peanut stew recipe does not use meat; we use chickpeas to make it an easy 30-minute high-protein vegetarian meal.
You can expect a beautifully creamy texture with rich and balanced savory flavors. It’s excellent for a weeknight dinner as well as for meal prep.
27. Moroccan chickpea stew
You can make this Moroccan chickpea stew in 30 minutes with simple ingredients for a wholesome weeknight dinner.
Serve this one-pot meal with couscous, rice, or pita bread to sop up the flavorful sauce.
28. Chana dal with split chickpeas
Try the creamy goodness of split chickpea curry or Chana Dal, which features chickpeas harmoniously melding with spinach and fresh tomatoes.
It’s a wholesome one-pot curry with a creative interpretation on an Indian recipe.
29. Cauliflower curry
Our cauliflower curry is an Indian-inspired recipe. Tender cauliflower florets simmer in a rich tomato and coconut milk sauce.
Our recipe is mild, suitable for most palates, and an excellent starting point for cooking with chickpeas.
30. Chana masala
This chana masala is a simple yet flavorful recipe made in one pot with pantry staples. It can be served with sautéed greens, roti bread, rice, or naan bread.
Chana Masala is an excellent way to enjoy a tasty, healthy meal that will nourish your body and soul.
31. Sweet potato curry
This curry can be made with little effort in one pot and is ready in about 30 minutes. Its taste is bold and well-balanced.
It’s the perfect everyday family dinner, and you can add your preferred protein, such as chickpeas, lentils, or tofu.
32. Chana saag
While trying to stay true to Indian flavors and traditions, we simplify this chana (chickpea) saag recipe so you can make it with simple pantry staples in one pot.
Add a dollop of yogurt, quick pickled red onions, and a generous squeeze of lemon to make your chana saag an even tastier dinner.
33. Harira soup
Harira is a traditional Moroccan soup with lentils, chickpeas, and a rich and flavorful broth with warm spices, herbs, and tomatoes.
It’s a nourishing, fulfilling, high-protein meal with over 20 grams of healthy, high-quality plant protein per bowl.
34. Pumpkin curry
Our pumpkin curry is easy to make in one pot with canned chickpeas in about 30 to 40 minutes.
It’s comforting, vibrant, and with a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and aromatic flavors, it’s ideal for a weeknight dinner with friends and family.
35. Stuffed tomatoes
You’ll love this recipe because it combines the familiar flavors of rice and tomatoes with an aromatic filling made with chickpeas, spinach, and cumin.
This recipe is perfect for meal prep. The tomatoes become more flavorful as the ingredients meld, and you can quickly reheat them in the microwave for a healthy lunch.
36. Paccheri pasta
This easy pasta dish combines large, tube-shaped paccheri pasta with tender chickpeas for a satisfying texture contrast.
The chickpeas add protein and fiber to the pasta, making it a more nutritious Mediterranean meal.
37. Vegetable curry
Our hearty vegetable curry incorporates chickpeas and green peas as protein-rich additions to a medley of colorful vegetables.
The chickpeas absorb the curry’s aromatic spices, making them flavorful and tender.
38. Rice salad
Rice salad with chickpeas is a refreshing Italian dish that combines cooked rice, chickpeas, and various vegetables for a light yet satisfying dish.
The chickpeas add protein and a nutty flavor that complements the rice, olives, and mustard dressing.
39. Greek chickpea salad
This Mediterranean-inspired salad features chickpeas as the star ingredient, mixed with classic Greek flavors like feta, olives, and fresh vegetables.
The chickpeas provide a hearty base that absorbs the flavors of the dressing with olive oil and oregano.
40. Roasted chickpeas
This simple snack is made by tossing cooked chickpeas with oil and spices and then roasting them until crispy.
The result is a crunchy, nutty treat high in protein and fiber.
Tips for Chickpea Recipes
- How to store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, then reheated in the oven, microwave, or air fryer before eating.
- How to freeze: You can also freeze warm meals from this list for up to 3 months. First, let them cool down, then transfer them to a freezer-friendly container, leaving some space for expansion. Salads with fresh veggies should not be frozen or reheated.
- How to reheat: Thaw in the microwave or a pot on the stovetop. Before serving, garnish with fresh herbs. Always check each recipe for exact storage guidelines.
Easy Chickpea Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 cans (15 ounces each) chickpeas drained and rinsed
- ⅓ cup vegan mayo
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon nori sheet blended into flakes or finely chopped. You'll need 1 to 2 nori sheets.
- ½ medium red onion chopped
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 1 handful fresh parsley or dill, chopped
- ½ lemon the juice
- 1 tablespoon pickles or capers, chopped
- 2 pinches salt or more to taste
- 2 twists black pepper
Instructions
- Drain and rinse 2 cans (15 ounces each) chickpeas and transfer them into a container with shallow edges such as an oven dish.Mash them with a sturdy fork or potato masher.Tip: It's easier to mash the chickpeas in a container with low edges like an oven dish rather than in a bowl.
- Add ⅓ cup vegan mayo, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon mustard, and 1 tablespoon nori sheet (blended or finely chopped).Then add ½ medium red onion, 1 stalk celery, 1 handful fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon pickles (all chopped) and the juice of ½ lemon.Season with 2 pinches salt and 2 twists black pepper.
- Mix with a fork until all ingredients are well combined. Taste and adjust for salt.
- Serve in a sandwich, on toasted bread, on a baked potato, or eat as is as with a side of lettuce leaves as a salad.
Notes
Nutrition
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Hi! We are Nico & Louise
Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.
Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.
Easy right?
Chickpeas are definitely a favorite of mine, and these recipes sound absolutely delicious! I love how versatile they are—whether in soups, salads, or wraps, they add such great flavor and nutrition to any meal. I’m excited to try some of these new ideas, especially with all the global flavors. Thanks for putting together this amazing collection of chickpea recipes!
Fantastic, so happy that you find them useful and a source of inspiration 🎉
This was exactly why we made this list. All the best, Louise
Love your recipes. Thank you.
Yummy
Looks good
Thank you, Jude 🥰