Are you on the hunt for delicious and healthy chickpea recipes? Search no further than this list of easy recipes made with those healthy legumes, also known as garbanzo beans!
These meals will not only satisfy your taste buds, but they will keep you feeling full and energized.
Garbanzo beans have a plethora of health benefits:
High in fiber – keeps you full longer
Rich in vitamins and minerals
High in plant-based protein
These versatile legumes are not only packed with protein and fiber, but they also have a subtle nutty flavor that can be used in a variety of dishes.
We always have at least one can of chickpeas in our pantry because they are just so adaptable and the cooking time is minimal when using the canned version.
Simply add fresh herbs, a squeeze of lemon juice, and olive oil to canned chickpeas along with some chopped fresh veggies to make a delicious salad that goes with just about any meal!
Dried or Canned Garbanzo Beans
This is a popular question as you can find various forms of the bean at your grocery store.
Dried chickpeas require soaking and cooking, which can take time, while canned or pre-cooked beans are more convenient options.
If you have time, dry chickpeas have better flavor and aren’t soaked in preservatives.
If using canned beans, rinse them thoroughly to remove excess sodium as it improves their taste and texture when making these easy chickpea recipes.
Whether you’re looking for a hearty salad, a comforting stew, or a tasty appetizer, these recipes are easy to make and add variety to your meal rotation.
1
Three Bean Salad
Our Three Bean Salad is the perfect side dish when you're serving chicken, seafood, beef, or pork. It's especially delicious when you're preparing something on the grill, or attending a holiday cookout.
A delightful bean dip originating in the Middle East. Delicious with pita bread, crackers, or as a dip for vegetables. Whips up in no time in your food processor! The easiest appetizer for a vegan diet.
This power bowl is one of my favorite chickpea recipes to make for dinner, especially when I've been eating not-so-healthy. Packed with flavor and nutrients, it's such a delicious meal! We occasionally add black beans, too.
This Greek orzo salad is delicious and super easy to prepare. When you're wondering what to serve with a steak, baked chicken, or seafood, this is the perfect side dish.
Chickpea chips, anyone? And, they're incredibly easy to make. Loaded with smokey, garlicky flavor and less all the junk you'd get in store bought chips, these chips will have you coming back for more.
Taco Roasted Chickpeas are an inexpensive, healthy and flavorful snack with only 3 ingredients. They are crispy and super addictive and easy to make on a sheet pan.
Healthy, easy and delicious vegan Sweet Potato Noodle Salad with Chickpeas and Rocket recipe. It makes for a great nutritious lunch or a nice gluten free side dish!
Vegan Cucumber and Chickpea Salad with Tahini Lime Salad Dressing
This Cucumber and Chickpea Salad is a vegan, gluten-free dish packed full of fiber and protein. Topped with red onion, cilantro and vegan feta, this salad has a tahini lime salad dressing that brings a delightful flavour to tie it all together for the perfectly filling summer salad.
This vegan pasta salad with chickpeas is a nutritious and delicious meal that is perfect for a warm day. The combination of the pasta, chickpeas, and fresh vegetables create a satisfying and filling dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish.
If you love the chickpea and edamame salad from Aldi, you’ll love this copycat recipe! It’s and inexpensive and delicious lunch or snack option. This is one of the most creative ways to get your kids to eat veggies!
This delicious bean soup is easy to make and you probably have most of the ingredients already in your pantry. Filled with lima beans, chickpeas, and red beans, this is one of our favorite easy meals. White beans make a nice addition, too!
Greek Chickpea soup, also known as Revithia soupa is a hearty, comforting soup with the simplest yet most delicious flavors. A bowl of this soup with crusty bread is all you need to warm up your soul on a cold night. It's also vegan and gluten-free.
This flavourful Chickpea stew with Tofu is ideal for a cozy wholesome meal or use a meal prep for lunch all week long. It's one of our favorite delicious chickpea recipes.
When you make this Slow Cooker Barley & Chickpea Risotto, your crock pot does all the work for you! Slow cooked whole grains packed with chickpeas and vegetables, we just love this grain bowl.
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry is a wholesome, satisfying vegan dinner that’s packed with flavor! It’s gluten-free, budget-friendly and is on the table in 35 minutes!
Chana Saag with Mushrooms or Chickpea Spinach Mushroom Curry is a mild curry with a rich and luxurious spinach coconut gravy. This vibrant green chickpea curry is simple to make and full of flavour and nutrients.
This Pasta with Chickpeas Recipe, or Pasta e Ceci, is made with simple pantry essentials including canned chickpeas, orecchiette pasta, tomatoes, and simple aromatics including onion, carrots, and celery. Easily customizable and ready in less than an hour, enjoy this humble Italian Pasta with Chickpeas with fresh bread and a light tomato salad.
This Vegan Moroccan Couscous with Chick Peas is loaded with Moroccan flavor, warm spices, and healthy ingredients. Served alongside your healthy main it's fabulous, but it also makes a great stand alone vegetarian main dish!
Tender vegetarian chickpea meatballs served as a snack or appetizer or with spaghetti and tomato sauce. A super easy recipe that the whole family will love.
Kung Pao Chickpeas – Chinese Takeout with A Vegan Twist!
Enjoy your favorite Chinese takeout meal with a vegan twist in this Kung Pao chickpea recipe. The sauce is a perfect recreation with tons of bold flavors making this dish taste just like the original with a simple protein swap!
Egyptian Kushari Recipe with Pasta, Rice, and Lentils
Kushari is Egyptian national dish made of rice, pasta, and lentils mixed with a one-of-a-kind spiced tomato and cumin sauce with the Mediterranean flavors, then layered with tender chickpeas and crispy fried onions!
This delicious and nutritious authentic Italian pasta with chickpeas recipe from Central Italy is made with chickpeas, pancetta and homemade flour and water pasta, some of which is fried in garlic and rosemary.
This Braised Moroccan Chicken Thighs with Chickpeas recipe features slowly cooked chicken with chickpeas and a flavorful spice blend. Easy enough for a weekday, but enough sophistication for the weekend.
A Chickpea Burger is a healthy and quick dinner option. Whether you sear them in a pan, air fry them, or cook them on a grill, these turn out flavorful and tender on the inside, with a delicious golden-brown crisp on the outside.
Packed with protein, fiber, tons of fresh vegetables, and a light balsamic vinaigrette make up the most delicious Mediterranean chickpea pasta salad recipe. A side of basmati rice rounds out this meal.
This vegetarian paneer and chickpea curry is not only healthy and easy to make, but it’s incredibly low cost too. A deliciously mild family curry for four!
Lebanese Beef Pilaf with Chickpeas- The Salt and Sweet Kitchen
This Lebanese Beef Pilaf with Chickpeas dish, is made with flavored ground beef, onions, medium grain rice and cooked chickpeas. It’s a quick, easy-to-make one pot meal the whole family will love!
Banana Chickpea Ice Cream made with 5 simple ingredients is a rich, creamy, perfectly sweet healthy frozen dessert! This luscious decadent mind-blowing ice cream recipe is vegan, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and secretly healthy, but you’d never guess it! No ice cream maker needed!
These chickpea bites taste like cookie dough but with a healthy twist! They’re made with almond butter and coconut, and the best part is – you can lick the bowl!
Fudgy Vegan Chickpea Brownies are gluten-free, nut-free, flourless, paleo, refined-sugar-free, and made with simple ingredients. You would never know these super chocolatey garbanzo bean brownies were healthy!
Yes! Garbanzo beans are fiber-rich and high in protein. As they have a low glycemic index, they also help manage cholesterol and blood sugar.
Can you eat garbanzo beans right out of the can?
You should rinse the beans in water first as it will remove some of the sodium, but you can eat them right out of the can.
Can I eat too many garbanzo beans?
As chickpeas are very filling, you will probably feel full before you would eat too many garbanzo beans. However, because they are very high in fiber, they can cause bloating and gas if you overdo it.
Top Tips for Eating Garbanzo Beans
Whether you’re a seasoned garbanzo bean enthusiast or new to this ingredient, here are some tips to enhance your experience of eating garbanzo beans:
Experiment with flavors.
Consider experimenting with different flavor profiles to enhance the taste of chickpeas.
Add a sprinkle of cumin, paprika, garlic powder, or herbs like rosemary and thyme to boost the flavor.
Roasting the beans with olive oil and spices or salt and black pepper can also add a delightful crunch.
Include in salads and soups.
Garbanzo beans can be a great addition to salads and soups, providing a boost of protein and fiber.
Toss cooked or canned garbanzo beans into your favorite salads for added texture and substance.
In soups, they can lend a hearty and satisfying element. Consider adding garbanzo beans to vegetable soups, stews, or even chili.