• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Plant Based School
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Us
  • All Recipes
  • Mains
  • Pasta
  • Sweet
  • Collections
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Pasta

    Pasta with Chickpea (Pasta e Ceci)

    Published: Oct 27, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Pasta with chickpeas, also known as pasta e ceci, is an easy, family-friendly Italian recipe that is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

    You'll enjoy a simple yet rich and creamy tomato sauce that hugs nutty chickpeas and ditalini pasta.

    pasta with ground pepper and spoon
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • More chickpea recipes
    • More pasta recipes
    • Recipe

    Check out our best chickpea recipe collection!

    You'll love this pasta e ceci (pasta with chickpeas) because it's easy to make in one pot and just 30 minutes with simple and affordable pantry staples.

    It's a creamy and delicious stew, and you'll feel amazing eating it as it's nourishing and wholesome.

    To make it, we take inspiration from the original Italian recipe of pasta e ceci. Like most Italian recipes, this one is straightforward to put together, yet it tastes terrific.

    First, make a flavor base with olive oil, garlic, onion, rosemary, and tomato paste. This is called "soffritto" in Italian and adds a ton of flavor to the dish.

    Second, add chickpeas, broth, canned tomatoes, salt, and pepper and let simmer for 10 minutes.

    Third, blend some chickpeas, add the pasta, and simmer for ten more minutes until the pasta is al dente.

    The blended chickpeas and the starch of the pasta cooking right into the sauce make this pasta with chickpeas one of the creamiest dishes you'll ever have, without adding any cheese or dairy.

    Then, of course, you can always add a sprinkle of grated parmesan (or dairy-free parmesan) on top if you like.

    pasta e ceci with parmesan cheese

    Ingredients

    ingredients with chickpeas and pasta

    Pasta

    The original recipe calls for ditalini or ditaloni pasta; however, you can use other short pasta types such as conchiglie, elbows, pipette, campanelle, casarecce, and more.

    Chickpeas

    You can use canned chickpeas or dry chickpeas that you previously soaked in water for 8 hours, then cooked in plenty of salted boiling water until tender (about 2 hours).

    You can substitute chickpeas with other legumes and make delicious lentil pasta or pasta e fagioli.

    Tomatoes

    To make a rich tomato sauce to simmer the chickpeas, you can use canned crushed tomatoes and tomato paste.

    Alternatively, whole canned peeled tomatoes or tomato puree are excellent options.

    Some prefer pasta e ceci without tomato. In this case, you have to substitute vegetable broth for canned tomatoes.

    Extra virgin olive oil

    Use the oil for cooking garlic and onion and for drizzling on top.

    Onion and Garlic

    Onion and garlic, gently softened in olive oil, make a delicious flavor base (soffritto) which gives flavor to our pasta e ceci.

    Rosemary

    Fresh rosemary is the best hardy herb for this dish. You can add bay leaves and a few sage leaves if you like.

    Vegetable broth

    To make a tasty sauce. You can use low sodium vegetable broth if you are on a low sodium diet.

    Salt and pepper

    We like to use sea salt, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. You can add a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat.

    Parmesan cheese

    Optional; you can serve chickpea and pasta dish with a sprinkle of grated parmesan (or dairy-free parmesan) on top.

    You can substitute pecorino cheese for parmesan.

    Note: parmesan doesn't go in the dish in the Italian recipe, but only on top, at the discretion of the person who eats the stew.

    Add ins

    Add-ins are optional and not authentic. They don't appear in the original Italian recipe, however they are still delicious.

    • Potatoes: peel them, chop them into ½ inch dice, and add them in with the chickpeas.
    • Kale: rinse, chop, and add in with the chickpeas.
    • Spinach: rinse, and add in with the pasta.
    • Carrots and celery: finely chopp, and add in with the onion.
    pasta a ceci with silver spoon

    Instructions

    To a large skillet, pot, or dutch oven, gently fry the finely chopped onion for 4 minutes, then add grated garlic, rosemary, and tomato paste and fry for one more minute.

    frying onion in a skillet

    Add rinsed chickpeas, canned tomatoes, vegetable broth, salt, and black pepper.

    Bring to a boil, then and simmer on medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the stew from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

    veg broth, tomatoes, and chickpeas in a skillet

    Discard the rosemary sprig, take one cup of chickpeas from the skillet and blend it.

    You can use an immersion blender or a regular blender. Add ½ cup of vegetable broth if required.

    blended chickpeas in a bowl

    Add the blended chickpeas back into the skillet, add the pasta, stir, and simmer for ten more minutes until the pasta is cooked al dente.

    You can add more vegetable broth if the sauce is too thick for your taste.

    pasta e ceci

    Serving suggestions

    Serve in a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

    pasta e ceci in a bowl

    Pasta e ceci is a nutrition soup/main dish that goes well with a light side dish of greens or veggies:

    • Roasted eggplant with garlic and fresh herbs
    • Fork-tender roasted broccoli florets
    • Easy 5-minute side salad with crispy greens
    • Shaved Brussels sprouts salad with cranberries and mustard dressing
    • roasted eggplant
      Roasted Eggplant
    • Baked broccoli with lemon and garlic
      Roasted Broccoli
    • simple side salad
      Side Salad
    • shaved brussels sprouts salad
      Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

    Variations

    Pasta e Fagioli (pasta and beans)

    pasta fagioli in a white bowl with spoon

    Pasta e fagioli (pasta with beans) is another delicious and comforting Italian recipe perfect for a nourishing, wholesome, and tasty family dinner.

    Making it is easy, and you can use your favorite beans.

    Check out our pasta e fagioli recipe.

    Lentil pasta

    lentil pasta in a bowl

    You'll love lentil pasta because it's easy to make with green or brown lentils and has a rich and earthy taste.

    It's also super nutritious and healthy, with plenty of plant protein to keep you full for longer.

    Check out our lentil pasta recipe.

    Storage

    Refrigerator: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The pasta will absorb most of the liquid, and the dish will get quite thick. Reheat with a dash of water, either in a pot or in the microwave.

    Freezer: this recipe is not the best for freezing because the pasta will get mushy once thawed. If you don't mind, you can freeze it in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months, then reheat it in the microwave.

    More chickpea recipes

    If you love cooking with chickpeas, take inspiration from these easy and plant-based meals:

    • Easy hummus with dried or canned chickpeas
    • 15-minute chickpea salad with fresh veggies
    • Chickpea curry: easy to make and perfect for weekdays
    • Quick chickpea tuna with homemade mayonnaise
    • chickpea curry with fork and lemon
      Chickpea Curry
    • chickpea salad
      Chickpea Salad
    • vegan tuna
      Vegan Tuna
    • hummus
      Hummus

    More pasta recipes

    Get more family-friendly pasta ideas with these 30-minute dinner recipes:

    • Broccoli pasta with a mashing technique and ultra-creamy sauce
    • Aglio e olio: the simplest pasta recipe with just 5 ingredients
    • Chickpea pasta salad: a meal-prep-friendly reader favorite
    • Pasta Pomodoro with a 20-minute tomato sauce
    • broccoli pasta with fork
      Broccoli Pasta
    • chickpea pasta salad
      Chickpea Pasta Salad
    • garlic and oil pasta aglio olio
      Garlic and Oil Pasta (Spaghetti Aglio e Olio)
    • spaghetti pomodoro or tomato basil pasta
      Spaghetti Pomodoro

    For many more pasta ideas, check out our pasta category page.

    Recipe

    pasta and chickpeas with spoon

    Pasta with Chickpeas (Pasta e Ceci)

    Author: Nico
    Pasta with chickpeas, also known as pasta e ceci, is an easy, family-friendly Italian recipe that is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
    You'll enjoy a simple yet rich and creamy tomato sauce that hugs nutty chickpeas and ditalini pasta.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Dinner, Soup
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 - 6 people
    Calories 407 kcal

    Equipment

    • Immersion blender or regular blender.

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 large onion
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 2 sprig rosemary
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 1 can (15-ounces) crushed tomatoes
    • 4 - 5 cups vegetable broth
    • 2 cans (15-ounces each) chickpeas or 3 cups of cooked chickpeas
    • 1½ cup ditalini pasta
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 4 - 6 tablespoons grated parmesan or dairy-free cheese (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • In a large skillet gently fry the finely chopped onion for 4 minutes.
      Add grated garlic, rosemary, and tomato paste and fry for one more minute.
      frying onion in a skillet
    • Add rinsed chickpeas, canned tomatoes, vegetable broth, salt, and black pepper.
      Bring to a boil, then simmer on medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
      tomato base and chickpeas
    • Discard the rosemary sprig, take one cup of chickpeas from the skillet and blend it.
      You can use an immersion blender or a regular blender. Add ½ cup of vegetable broth if required.
      blended chickpeas in a bowl
    • Add the blended chickpeas back into the skillet, add the pasta, stir, and simmer for ten more minutes until the pasta is cooked al dente.
      You can add more vegetable broth if the sauce is too thick for your taste.
      pasta e ceci
    • Serve in a bowl with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and optionally a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
      pasta e ceci with parmesan cheese

    Video Recipe

    Pasta e Ceci is a 30-minute Italian Dinner

    Notes

    Nutrition information is for one portion of pasta e ceci out of four portions.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Pasta with Chickpeas (Pasta e Ceci)
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 407 Calories from Fat 99
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 11g17%
    Saturated Fat 2g13%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
    Monounsaturated Fat 6g
    Cholesterol 1mg0%
    Potassium 707mg20%
    Carbohydrates 65g22%
    Dietary Fiber 11g46%
    Sugar 9g10%
    Protein 15g30%
    Vitamin A 367IU7%
    Vitamin B6 1mg50%
    Vitamin C 14mg17%
    Vitamin E 3mg20%
    Vitamin K 11µg10%
    Calcium 109mg11%
    Folate 58µg15%
    Iron 4mg22%
    Manganese 2mg100%
    Magnesium 83mg21%
    Zinc 2mg13%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked this pasta, you might also like:

    • dinner ideas with soups and pasta
      45 Easy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
    • best soup recipes with toppings
      20 Best Soup Recipes (with Toppings)
    • Vegan Pasta Recipes such as pomodoro and vegan carbonara
      40 Vegan Pasta Recipes
    • Best fall recipes including lentil and pasta recipes
      28 Best Fall Recipes | Dinner + Lunch
    « Roasted Potatoes
    Lemon Pasta »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment and star rating :-) Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

    Hi, we are Nico and Louise, and we love cooking! Welcome to our blog.

    Here we share veggie-packed recipes for the whole family.

    Omnivores, flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegans, you are ALL WELCOME to this community.

    More about us →

    Trending

    • lentil curry with basmati rice
      Lentil Curry
    • vegan mushroom pasta
      Vegan Mushroom Pasta
    • cauliflower lentil salad
      Cauliflower Lentil Salad
    • chickpea soup with bread
      Chickpea Soup

    Seasonal

    • Roasted sweet potatoes on white platter
      Roasted Sweet Potatoes
    • broccoli pasta with fork
      Broccoli Pasta
    • roasted cauliflower soup
      Cauliflower Soup
    • lentil bolognese
      Lentil bolognese

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Top Recipes
    Vegan Custard
    Potato gnocchi
    Easy Focaccia
    Rice salad
    Vegan Ricotta

    Top Compilations
    Best Tofu Recipes
    Vegan Pasta Recipes
    Easy Dinners
    Best Plant-Based Desserts
    Vegan Appetizers

    Most Shared
    Eggplant Parmigiana
    Vegan Mayo
    Vegan melted cheese
    Hummus
    Roasted sweet potatoes

    HOME ABOUT RECIPES SUBSCRIBE PRIVACY POLICY NUTRITION DISCLAIMER IMPRINT

    Copyright © 2023 The Plant Based School