Looking for some delicious and healthy chickpea recipes to try? From main dishes to salads (and even dessert!), you’ll love these flavorful, protein-packed meals.
Whether the chickpeas are straight from the can or crispy and roasted, they make a tasty and nutritious addition to many dishes. Here are some ideas for how to use a can of chickpeas – one of my go-to pantry staples!
What are chickpeas?
Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a legume (in the same family as kidney beans, lima beans, peanuts, and more). You can buy them canned or dried, just like many other types of beans.
They’re often used to make hummus, chickpea salad, and veggie burgers. They can also be roasted for a crispy snack, or even be used to make chickpea flour for a gluten-free baking alternative!
Nutritional Benefits
Chickpeas are full of nutrients, including protein, fiber, iron, folate, and more.
Chickpeas are a common source of protein for meatless meals (I love having them as my protein in grain salad bowls), but they’re equally delicious alongside meat!
Healthy Recipes with Chickpeas
Whether you’re in the mood for a salad, soup, pasta, or something else, all of these recipes are flavorful, nutritious meals you can make with a can of chickpeas.
Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers with Chicken
These fresh Mediterranean stuffed peppers are piled high with shredded chicken, chickpeas, tomatoes, quinoa, feta, and more for a delicious meal! They’re easy to make, comforting, and filling.
You can easily swap out your favorite vegetables, cheeses, and/or proteins. These make a great gluten-free meal served with a side salad, or with a hunk of crusty bread if you aren’t gluten-free!
Vegan Kale Caesar Salad with Chickpea Croutons
Crispy roasted chickpeas make a fabulous replacement for (or addition to) croutons – and they make this vegan kale caesar salad gluten-free. They add a nice crunch (alongside the pumpkin seeds) and a delicious nutty garlic and dijon flavor.
This can be a perfect fancy-looking salad for a dinner party, or a casual lunch. Definitely worth a try, even if you aren’t vegan or gluten free!
Be sure to make extra roasted chickpeas for snacking later. 🙂
Instant Pot Vegetable Soup with Chickpeas
This veggie-packed soup with chickpeas comes together super quickly, thanks to the Instant Pot! It’s perfect for cleaning out your veggie drawer and/or pantry, because you can throw in pretty much anything and it’ll be delicious.
This soup recipe is vegan, but you can add cheese and/or meat if you’d like!
Curried Chickpea Salad with Barley
The combo of chewy barley, chickpeas, and curry flavor in this grain salad is almost too good to be true! It’s super flavorful and easy to make, with barely any cooking involved.
Plus, it’s versatile: you can swap out the barley for any cooked grain you have on hand, and toss in any vegetables you want. Perfect for packed lunches!
Veggie Pesto Pasta with Broccoli & Chickpeas
If you haven’t tried chickpeas in pasta, you’re missing out! They’re a delicious, protein-packed addition, especially for veggie pastas like this broccoli pesto pasta.
It’s an easy dish that’s just as good warm as it is cold. It’s great for make-ahead lunches or as a side dish, too!
Green Goddess Bowl with Raw Honey Herb Vinaigrette
If you’re looking for a refreshing, veggie-forward salad: this green goddess bowl is IT! It’s packed with greens and spring vegetables, sprinkled with chickpeas, and drizzled in a tasty raw honey herb vinaigrette.
Fall Harvest Salad with Watermelon & Chickpeas
Watermelon isn’t just for summer: it’s delicious in this autumn-inspired grain bowl! It features butternut squash, baby kale, farro, and crumbled feta, plus crunch from roasted chickpeas and chopped pecans.
It’s all drizzled in a homemade apple cider dijon dressing that’ll knock your socks off!
Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Feta
This super easy chickpea salad just takes minutes to throw together, as long as you have pre-cooked quinoa. You can also use any other cooked grain you have on hand, like brown rice or bulgur.
It’s a refreshing, light lunch with enough staying power to keep you satiated.
Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Stew
If you’re in the mood for some unique flavors, this aromatic Moroccan chicken stew is a must-try!
It’s a tasty combination of sweet and savory, with tender chicken, sweet apricots, briny olives, veggies, and spices. Plus, it’s made in the slow cooker for a mostly hands-off meal.
Mediterranean Green Tea Quinoa Salad
Need a super refreshing salad to cool you down on a hot day? You’re looking at it! This Mediterranean grain salad features green tea-infused quinoa, salty feta, fresh herbs, and Mediterranean-inspired veggies. Plus chickpeas, of course!
It’s easy to make ahead and totally delicious.
Vegan Chickpea Patties with Lentils
These lentil chickpea burgers are an easy vegan main dish! They’re super flavorful, deliciously seasoned, and packed with fiber and protein.
You can dress them up with your favorite toppings in a bun, or serve them over a bed of greens (and/or wrapped in lettuce).
Chickpea Flour Recipes
When we talk about chickpea recipes, we can’t forget recipes with chickpea flour!
Chickpea flour is an awesome gluten-free flour alternative for baking. Not only does it have a sturdy texture for binding your ingredients, but it will also make your baked goods secretly packed with protein!
You can buy chickpea flour online or at some grocery stores, but you can also make it at home. Here’s how to make homemade chickpea flour.
Chickpea Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten Free)
Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies? These crave-able, nutrient dense cookies are gluten-free, thanks to oats and chickpea flour.
Brown sugar and ripe banana add sweetness, while coconut oil and Greek yogurt replace butter.
Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Quinoa Bars
Quinoa for dessert? Yep! Chickpea flour binds these luscious-tasting dark chocolate chip quinoa bars for a nutritious cookie bar alternative.
They’re gluten free, higher in protein, and lower in sugar – a great portable dessert or snack!
Savory Chickpea Flour Muffins with Cheddar & Eggs
These gluten free savory muffins have a fun surprise inside: a hard-boiled egg! They’re super flavorful – packed with herbs and cheddar cheese – and are delicious for breakfast or snack.
Plus, they’re high in protein and have lots of staying power to keep you full throughout the day.
Homemade Vegan Granola Bars (Gluten-Free)
I love granola bars, but I don’t love how many ultra processed (and often very sweet) ingredients can get added to store-bought granola bars. Luckily, it’s easy to make your own at home!
These homemade granola bars are full of wholesome, nutritious ingredients like oats, nuts, chickpea flour, almond butter, flaxseed, and dried cranberries. And, they happen to be vegan and gluten free.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you get a chance to try some of these tasty chickpea recipes!
What’s your favorite way to enjoy chickpeas? Let me know in the comments!
Looking for more recipes with beans/legumes? Check these out:
