Looking for recipes using chickpeas? You’re in the right place. This roundup features 17 options from quick lunches to hearty dinners.
If you don't want any of the tips and tricks in the sections below, you can jump straight to the list of chickpea recipe ideas. 🥘
Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are one of the most versatile ingredients you can have in your kitchen. Whether you’re throwing together a simple salad, cooking a flavour-packed curry, or blending up a creamy homemade hummus, they’re an easy way to make meals more filling and satisfying.
In this post, you’ll find a mix of chickpea recipes covering different styles and cuisines, along with a few tips to help you get the most out of them. If you’ve got a tin in the cupboard and aren’t sure what to do with it – or you've cooked dried chickpeas – this should give you plenty of ideas.
If you don't want any of the preamble (chickpeamble?), you can jump straight to the list of chickpea recipes below. 🌱
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Jump to:
- What are they? 🌿
- Why use them? 🌱
- Canned vs. dried 🥫
- Adding flavour 😋
- Recipe ideas 🧑🍳
- Dried chickpeas 🟡
- Other recipes 🍽️
- Quick tips 💡
- FAQ ❓
What are chickpeas?
Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) are small, round legumes that are used in cuisines all over the world. They have a mild, nutty flavour and a firm, slightly grainy texture that works well in everything from curries and stews to salads and dips.
You’ll usually find chickpeas sold either pre-cooked in tins (canned) or dried. Canned chickpeas are very convenient and ready to use straight away, while dried chickpeas need soaking and cooking but tend to have a firmer texture and slightly deeper flavour.
Naturally plant-based and packed with protein and fibre, chickpeas are a versatile staple used in cooking across the globe.
If you'd like to learn more about the wider world of chickpeas and their botanical relatives, check out my beginner's guide to pulses. 👀
Why cook with chickpeas?
Chickpeas are one of the most useful ingredients you can have in your kitchen. They’re affordable, easy to use, and work in a wide range of dishes, from quick lunches to hearty dinners.
- High in protein: Chickpeas are a great way to add plant-based protein to vegan meals, helping to keep you full and satisfied.
- Rich in fibre: They’re also packed with fibre, which supports digestion and helps keep meals more filling.
- Budget-friendly: Whether you use canned or dried, chickpeas are one of the cheapest sources of plant-based protein available.
- Versatile: You can roast them for crunch, blend them into dips like hummus, simmer them in a curry or stew, or toss them into a salad.
- Easy to keep on hand: With a few tins in the cupboard (or a batch cooked from dried), you’re never far from a quick meal.
Once you start cooking with chickpeas regularly, you’ll find they can slot into all sorts of recipes, making them a reliable go-to for simple and satisfying vegan food.
Canned vs. dried chickpeas
Chickpeas are available both canned (tinned) and dried, and each has its place depending on how much time you have.
Canned chickpeas are already cooked and ready to use straight from the tin. Just drain and rinse them, and they can be added directly to whatever you're cooking.
Dried chickpeas need to be soaked and then cooked before using, but they’re often cheaper and can have a slightly firmer texture and deeper flavour. They’re a great option if you like batch cooking or want a bit more control over the final result.
If you want to try cooking them from scratch, check out my guide on how to cook dried chickpeas for simple step-by-step instructions.
How to make chickpeas taste good
Chickpeas have a fairly mild flavour on their own, which is exactly what makes them so versatile. With the right approach, you can turn them into something seriously tasty.
Roast them for texture
One of my favourite ways to use chickpeas is to roast them until crispy. This brings out a nutty flavour and gives them a satisfying crunch. Try these crispy oven-roasted chickpeas for an easy starting point.
Season generously
Chickpeas benefit from plenty of seasoning. Think salt, spices, herbs, and a squeeze of lemon juice or splash of vinegar to lift everything. Chickpea salad is a good example.
Cook them into sauces
Simmering chickpeas in a well-seasoned sauce allows them to absorb flavour and become much more interesting. Recipes like chana masala are a perfect example.
Add richness
Ingredients like olive oil, coconut milk, yoghurt, or tahini can help coat chickpeas and carry flavour, making dishes feel more satisfying. Vegan Waldorf salad is a personal favourite.
Change the texture
Don’t forget you can mash or blend chickpeas to create things like hummus or spreads. This completely transforms how they feel and taste in a dish.
Chickpea recipe ideas
Here’s a collection of vegan chickpea recipes covering everything from quick, flavour-packed meals to hearty, comforting dishes. Use the sections below to find something that suits what you’re in the mood for.
If you’re not sure where to start, I’d recommend something like vegan chana masala or crispy roasted chickpeas – both simple, reliable, and packed full of flavour.
Chickpea Curries & Stews 🥘
Rich, warming, and full of flavour, these chickpea curries and stews are perfect for satisfying meals any day of the week.
Vegan Chana Masala (Chickpea Curry)
This easy vegan chana masala is a great way to turn chickpeas into a dinner that's quick, hearty, and packed with flavour.
Chickpea & Cauliflower Coconut Curry
Ready in under 30 minutes, this one works well as a quick midweek meal in a hurry.
Creamy Chickpea and Lentil Curry
Combining aromatics, spices, spinach, and coconut milk, this curry recipes doubles up on the pulses for a hearty dinner.
15-Minute Chickpea Stew with Broccoli
This simple recipe uses store-cupboard ingredients for a dinner that's on the table in 15 minutes or less.
Chickpea Mains & One-Pot Meals 🍚
Looking for something filling and straightforward? These chickpea mains and one-pot meals are packed with flavour and easy to throw together.
Vegan Biryani with Chickpeas and Veg
Featuring chickpeas, veg, and flavourful spices, this biryani recipe provides a filling and nutritious one-pot meal.
Vegan Jambalaya with Chickpeas
This vegan jambalaya is a flavour-packed one-pot dish with Cajun spices, chickpeas, tempeh, and rice
Moroccan Couscous with Chickpeas and Roasted Veg
Fancy something vibrant? This flavourful Moroccan couscous is packed with chickpeas, roasted veg, and warming spices.
Smoky Bulgur Pilav with Tomatoes and Chickpeas
Try out a bulgur pilav, featuring tomatoes and chickpeas for a nutritious dish that comes together in around 40 minutes.
Chickpea Salads & Lighter Meals 🥗
These chickpea salads are fresh, simple, and full of flavour. Perfect for quick lunches or easy sides, they’re a great way to keep things light without missing out on something satisfying.
Easy Vegan Chickpea Salad with Lemon Dressing
This fresh and vibrant chickpea salad features crunchy veg, lemon, fresh herbs, and pumpkin seeds for a healthy summer side.
Vegan Waldorf Salad with Roasted Chickpeas
Vegan Waldorf salad? Imagine Basil Fawlty's face when you tell him it's got to have walnuts and be vegan...
Vegan Three-Bean Salad with Lemon, Mint and Parsley
This three-bean salad combines chickpeas, beans, veg, and dressing for a healthy side that's full of flavour and texture.
Crispy Chickpea Recipes 🧆
Golden, crisp, and full of flavour, these chickpea recipes are perfect when you’re after something with a bit of crunch and texture.
Crispy Oven-Roasted Chickpeas
Featuring just a few store cupboard ingredients, these crispy smoky roasted chickpeas make for a very moreish snack.
Crispy Baked Falafel
In this recipe, dried chickpeas are soaked overnight and blended with herbs and spices for a flavour bomb in every bite.
Chickpea Dips and Spreads 🥙
Smooth, creamy, and packed with flavour, these chickpea dips and spreads are perfect for everything from quick snacks to sandwiches and wraps.
Basic Hummus Recipe
This simple vegan hummus recipe requires just five main ingredients that you can then add to as you please.
Green Pea Hummus
Call me biased, but this green pea hummus with cucumber and mint is seriously good and one of my favourite dip recipes.
Chickpea Fusion Meals 🍜
A bit different from what you'd expect, these chickpea recipes show how versatile the little legumes can be in everything from quick stir-fries to simple pasta dishes.
Chickpea Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce
Grab your garbanzos 'cos we're going for a wok – welcome to the wonderful world of the chickpea stir-fry.
Hummus Pasta
Hummus pasta is a glorious gastronomical collision where various beige foods collide in the name of convenience.
How to cook with dried chickpeas
Dried chickpeas are a great option if you want to cook from scratch. They’re usually cheaper than their canned counterpart and have a slightly firmer texture and deeper flavour once cooked.
Before using them in recipes, dried chickpeas need to be soaked and then cooked until tender. It takes a bit more time, but it’s an easy process and works well if you like to batch cook and keep portions on hand.
For a full step-by-step guide, including soaking and cooking times, check out my post on how to cook dried chickpeas. 🌱
Ways to use chickpeas in other recipes
Chickpeas are incredibly versatile and can be used in all sorts of dishes beyond the recipes listed above. If you’ve got a tin to use up, try adding them to some of your other favourite meals:
- Swap in for other beans: Chickpeas work well in place of kidney beans, black beans, or butter beans in dishes like vegan chilli or bean stews.
- Bulk out soups and stews: Add a handful to vegetable soups or brothy dishes such as vegan minestrone for extra texture and protein.
- Toss into pasta dishes: Stir chickpeas through tomato-based pasta sauces such as spaghetti arrabbiata for a simple way to make them more filling.
- Stir into quick noodle dishes: Chickpeas are a great addition to simple meals like 5-minute peanut noodles, adding extra texture and plant-based protein.
- Add to curries: Even if a curry recipe doesn’t call for chickpeas, they’re an easy addition to things like aubergine curry.
- Use in wraps and bowls: Chickpeas can be added to wraps or grain bowls for a quick protein boost.
Quick tips for cooking with chickpeas
- Always rinse canned chickpeas to improve flavour
- Dry thoroughly before roasting for better texture
- Don’t skimp on seasoning – they can take it
- Add acid (lemon/vinegar) to brighten dishes
- Cook longer in sauces for a deeper flavour
FAQ
Got a few questions about cooking with chickpeas? Here are some quick answers to common queries. 👇
Yes, canned chickpeas are already cooked and can be eaten straight from the tin. It’s best to drain and rinse them first to remove excess salt and improve the flavour.
Chickpeas are a nutritious ingredient, rich in plant-based protein, fibre, and a range of vitamins and minerals. They’re a great addition to a balanced vegan diet.
Yes, chickpeas are naturally gluten-free, making them a great option for anyone following a gluten-free diet. Just be sure to check any additional ingredients in recipes (such as sauces or seasonings) if you need to avoid gluten completely.
No, you don’t need to peel chickpeas for most recipes. However, removing the skins can result in a smoother texture for things like hummus.
In many recipes, yes. Chickpeas can be used in place of beans like kidney beans or black beans, although the texture and flavour will be slightly different. These black bean burgers could be made with chickpeas instead, for example.
If dried chickpeas are still hard after cooking, they may need more time or may not have been soaked long enough. Older chickpeas can also take longer to soften. Learn more in this guide to how to cook dried chickpeas.
More vegan recipe collections
Looking for more easy vegan meal ideas? Check out these other recipe collections for plenty of inspiration:
- Vegan tofu recipes – a roundup of simple and delicious ways to cook with tofu, from crispy dishes to comforting mains.
- Vegan potato recipes – Everything from crispy roast potatoes and creamy mash to hearty stews, comforting soups, and sweet potato dishes.
- Vegan curry recipes – flavour-packed curries using a range of ingredients, perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
- Vegan main meals – a mix of satisfying meals to keep your weekly rotation fresh and interesting.
- Vegan comfort food – hearty, feel-good dishes when you’re craving something a bit more indulgent.
- Vegan wild garlic recipes – a collection of ways to make the most of wild garlic when it starts popping up around spring each year.
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