20 Best Chickpea Recipes That'll Make You Want to Grab the Can Opener
Pantry meals are the best! 🙌
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When it comes to stocking our pantry, we always keep a can or two of chickpeas on hand. Like other types of beans, chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) are super versatile, easy to cook with, and good for you to boot! In fact, there are so many ways to use chickpeas that some of these chickpea recipes might just surprise you! Ree Drummond, who's a big fan of chickpeas we might add, is often amazed by their versatility. "I love chickpeas," Ree says, "but I mostly eat them cold, whether whole in salads or pureed in hummus. I forget how delightful they are in soups and sauces."
Chickpeas are a great source of protein for vegetarian recipes, but they're also just a quick and easy way to turn weekday lunches into your new favorite meal. Here, you'll find plenty of hearty salads and side dishes, but did you know that you can also use chickpeas for soup recipes, hotdish, and even as a filling for loaded potatoes?! Find out how to turn a can of chickpeas into delicious veggie burgers, curried chickpea salad, or Ree Drummond's creamy homemade hummus. Then, you might even feel confident enough to give chickpeas a try in a few healthy desserts. Yes, you read that right—the chickpea chocolate chip cookies will leave you completely flabbergasted!
Veggie Burger
You don't have to be a vegetarian to love this hearty veggie burger. It has tons of flavor from ground cumin and smoked paprika, plus it's plenty hearty thanks to mushrooms, brown rice, grated sweet potato, and chickpea puree.
Get the Veggie Burger recipe.
Chickpea Salad
Quick, easy, and bursting with color—this recipe is the perfect combination of pantry ingredients and fresh veggies. It'll be a hit at your next summer cookout.
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
In case you didn't know, you can make homemade hummus from a can of chickpeas! Add a jar of roasted red peppers for color and flavor, blitz it up in your food processor, and it's ready to serve in 10 minutes time!
Get the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus recipe.
Mediterranean Orzo with Shrimp
This seeking a protein-packed meal in just 30-minutes, will love this easy weeknight dinner. It's light, fresh, and filled with Mediterranean flavor.
Get Ree's Mediterranean Orzo with Shrimp recipe.
Spicy Air Fryer Chickpeas
Whether you munch on them for a healthy snack or use them as a topper for your favorite salad, you'll love this method for making chickpeas in the air fryer! They're spicy-sweet and super crunchy!
Get the Spicy Air Fryer Chickpeas recipe.
Chickpea Curry
Ree calls this dish "a meatless miracle!" Enjoy the warm, saucy curry over fluffy rice or serve it up with naan and veggies!
Get Ree's Chickpea Curry recipe.
Chickpea Tot Hotdish
Smoky harissa-spiced chickpeas covered in crispy, salty tots is simply the best comfort food ever. It's perfect for those days when you just want to cook with what's already in the pantry.
Get the Chickpea Tot Hotdish recipe.
Classic Hummus
Take Ree's word for it, hummus "never tastes as good as it does when you make it yourself." The creamy blend of chickpeas and tahini can be used as a spread for veggie sandwiches or a dip with your favorite pita chips.
Get Ree's Classic Hummus recipe.
Sweet Corn and Chickpea Salad
This summery salad is packed to the brim with sweet corn, bell pepper, green onion, chickpeas, and feta. But it's the creamy garlic yogurt dressing that brings it all together.
Get the Sweet Corn and Chickpea Salad recipe at Amanda's Cookin.
Chickpea Noodle Soup
This twist on classic chicken noodle soup will become a vegetarian comfort food favorite. There's a surprising ingredient that adds a subtle warmth to the bowl of veggies, beans, and noodles.
Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix
This salty-sweet blend of roasted chickpeas, raisins, nuts, and chocolate chips is the perfect after-school snack! It's also a good source of protein and fiber.
Get the Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix recipe at Well Plated by Erin.
Falafel
This Middle Eastern specialty involves blending chickpeas, herbs, and spices into a flavorful mixture, shaping them into small patties or balls, and frying them to crispy perfection. Use them in pita sandwiches, salads, or serve on their own with tzatziki for dipping!
Get the Falafel recipe at Immaculate Bites.
Tabasco-Braised Chicken with Chickpeas and Kale
Tomatoes, onions, and a spicy dose of Tabasco make up the sauce for this braised chicken recipe. Add chickpeas and tender kale for a easy weeknight dinner that you can serve over rice or noodles.
Get the Tabasco-Braised Chicken with Chickpeas and Kale recipe at Foodie Crush.
Lemon Herb Pasta Salad with Marinated Chickpeas
Lots of garlic, herbs, lemon juice, and a big handful of parmesan cheese give this summery pasta salad a burst of flavor. It's a side dish you'll make again and again.
Get the Lemon Herb Pasta Salad with Marinated Chickpeas recipe at Pinch of Yum.
Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies
It might sound unusual, but the mild flavor and creamy texture of chickpeas actually blends right into the peanut butter cookie dough batter.
Get the Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe at Food Faith Fitness.
Harissa Hummus
Here's another fun variation on hummus! If you've never tried harissa before, it's traditionally a blend of hot chili peppers, garlic, olive oil, and middle eastern spices. It'll add a kick to your creamy homemade dip.
Smoky Chickpeas and Spinach
Smoked paprika is the key to making this quick and easy side. Pair it with your favorite steak, chicken, or fish dinner recipes.
Mason Jar Chickpea Farro and Greens Salad
Whether you're packing a picnic or eating lunch in the office, this mason jar salad is a genius idea! The marinated chickpeas go on the bottom to prevent the greens from getting soggy.
Get the Mason Jar Chickpea Farro and Greens Salad recipe at Cookie and Kate.
Spiced Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Spice-roasted chickpeas make a hearty filling for these roasted sweet potatoes. The whole thing is drizzled with chili-garlic butter for a crave-worthy dish your family will love.
Get the Spiced Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe at Orchids and Sweet Tea.
Curried Chickpea Salad
Similar to curried chicken salad, this vegetarian option is easy to whip up. It only takes 15 minutes and it makes the tastiest weekday lunch.
Get the Curried Chickpea Salad recipe at Jessica in the Kitchen.
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