50+ Recipes That Start With a Can of Chickpeas
Our top-rated recipes for the crispiest, creamiest, best garbanzo-packed meals.
Photo by Bobbi Lin
Looking for the best chickpea recipes to add to your weekly rotation? You’re in the right place. Chickpeas—also known as garbanzo beans—are one of the most versatile pantry staples, perfect for quick, satisfying dinners.
Whether you’re craving creamy hummus, crispy falafel , or a hearty chickpea stew, these recipes showcase just how easy it is to turn a can of chickpeas into something delicious. From protein-packed salads and flavorful curries to one-pan pastas and roasted chickpea snacks, we’ve rounded up the ultimate chickpea recipes for every occasion. No matter how you like them—roasted, stewed, or straight from the can—these dishes will make your weeknight cooking easier, tastier, and totally satisfying.
Best Chickpea Hummus, Dips & Snack Recipes
This homemade hummus from cookbook author Danielle Oron uses dried chickpeas for an ultra-creamy texture. This chickpea recipe is great on its own but even better with grilled asparagus and lemony radishes.
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As the recipe author writes, "The secret to great Israeli-style hummus is an obscene amount of tehina (tahini).” A little different from a classic greek-style hummus, this version is extra nutty and spiced with cumin and paprika.
Inspired by Brooklyn's Miss Ada, this hummus has a sweet and spicy spin. It blends roasted sweet potatoes with chickpeas, tahini, and lemon juice, and adds hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Consider putting out a bowl of these smoky fried chickpeas at your next party. The trick to getting them extra crispy is drying them as possible before frying.
The whipped feta on this alone will keep you coming back to this easy chickpea recipe. Prep the fennel in advance and pair with some eggs for an easy, flavorful lunch.
These vibrant beet and chickpea cakes are great on their own, but even better with a dollop of the homemade tzatziki. It’s hearty, a little earthy, and packed with fresh dill.
Making falafel at home is easier than you think. With just a can of chickpeas, fresh herbs, and a few spices, you’ll have crispy, golden bites in no time.
Chickpea Salad & Bowl Recipes
If you’ve ever wondered what a Test Kitchen creator eats after work, it’s a salad like this. It’s Nea’s go-to recipe on busy weeknights, or when she doesn’t feel like cooking.
A top-rated sheet-pan recipe for a reason. Sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and kale get roasted to perfection, then tossed with apple slices and a lemon-balsamic vinaigrette.
Warming spices, tender greens, and caramelized carrots make this chickpea recipe an easy, comforting meal and lends itself to a family-style serving.
Save this recipe for the next time you want to prepare meals. You can customize your bowl with any kind of in-season produce and dress it up with this delicious harissa tahini sauce.
There’s a reason everyone’s given this chickpea recipe five stars. As the reviews say, it’s “super easy and delicious, surprisingly filling.” Plus, it makes plenty of dressing to have throughout the week.
This Mediterranean-inspired salad is best in summer, but it’s so good you’ll want to make it all year long. It’s also one of those bean salads that only gets better in the fridge.
Panzanella is already amazing (who doesn’t love bread in a salad?) but this version is even better with marinated chickpeas and a chimichurri dressing.
Chickpeas act as a stand-in for ground beef here, making for an unexpected yet delicious taco bowl. The secret to getting extra flavorful chickpeas is simmering them in a mixture of crushed tomatoes, vinegar, and sugar.
A salad that’s light on greens and heavy on legumes. Between the chickpeas, lentils, feta, and avocado, this bowl is filling and satisfying.
This salad makes the most of fall and winter produce like squash, or even pumpkin for a more seasonal spin. Have it on its own or spoon over some rice and make it a bowl.
Another reminder why you should always keep a jar of roasted red peppers in your pantry. Spicy chorizo, creamy goat cheese, and smoky chickpeas come together in this quick and hearty skillet meal.
True to its name, this chickpea salad recipe requires zero chopping—just mix, toss, and serve in minutes.
A classic Spanish tapa, this garlicky, paprika-spiced dish is perfect over toasted bread or served on the side.
Sweet potatoes get a glossy pomegranate glaze and a drizzle of tahini, making the perfect sweet and tangy base for crispy fried chickpeas.
Once you try roasted carrots with this date vinaigrette, it’s hard to go back. It’s a marinade and drizzling sauce that will up your roasting game on just about everything.
Chickpea Soup & Stew Recipes
Start by cooking onion, garlic, leeks and bacon to create the perfect base for a truly smoky minestrone. The tortellini and pesto strike this wonderful balance between a hearty soup and a pasta.
This chickpea soup recipe is a great way to use up extra kale or spinach. It’s rich, bright, and the kind of soup that makes you dream of warmer days.
This soup is equal parts garlicky, savory, and cheesy, with a hint of lemon. Top it with a handful of smoky roasted chickpeas which get extra crispy in the oven.
This hearty chickpea stew recipe brings together sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and leafy greens in a rich, spiced broth that’s just as good the next day.
This Moroccan-inspired tagine slow-simmers chickpeas with tomatoes, golden raisins, and warming spices for a dish that’s deeply flavorful and ultra-satisfying.
Because a creamy potato leek soup deserves a little crunch. A handful of crispy, spiced chickpeas adds texture (and an extra punch of flavor) to this classic, comforting soup.
Chickpeas simmered with tomatoes and capers get finished with feta for a salty-tangy richness that’s perfect for scooping up with crusty bread.
These get crispy and spicy-sweet thanks to a coating of caramelized honey and gochujang. Perfect for snacking straight from the pan.
Sometimes the simplest ingredients make the best dishes. These slow-braised chickpeas soak up all the goodness of olive oil, garlic, and herbs, making them perfect for spooning over toast or eating by the forkful.
This bright, herby aguachile swaps seafood for garbanzos, giving you all the freshness of a ceviche with a totally plant-based twist.
Chickpea Sandwich, Wrap & Taco Recipes
You don’t need chicken to make a killer salad sandwich. Mashed chickpeas, curry powder, and a little mayo (or yogurt) come together to create a creamy, flavorful filling for any sandwich.
Have your falafel as a burger too in this smoky, spiced version. It’s crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and just the thing to pile high with toppings.
Give your taco night a plant-based twist. These smoky, spicy chipotle chickpeas tuck into warm tortillas with all your favorite fixings
Proof that buffalo sauce makes everything better. Dress up spicy, tangy chickpeas with creamy, herby vegan ranch.
Chickpea Mains & Meats
Roasting everything together makes for the easiest, most flavorful dinner. This one-pot wonder brings together crispy chicken, tender potatoes, and roasted chickpeas.
Frittatas aren’t just for breakfast. This one packs in smoky chorizo, chickpeas, and wilted greens for a hearty meal any time of day.
If you can't decide between something rich and meaty or fresh and bright, this dish gives you both. Tender, slow-cooked beef meets a zippy chickpea salad for the perfect balance.
Sheet pan dinners are weeknight winners. Roast chickpeas, broccoli, and chicken thighs and finish with a sprinkle of Parmesan.
This spiced, warm salad has juicy chicken, chickpeas, and the best part—crispy naan croutons to soak up all the goodness.
Tahini and dates are a dream team, especially in this dish. It brings nutty, sweet, and savory flavors together—all with a perfectly roasted chicken.
This version keeps the best parts of a classic Ratatouille—jammy tomatoes, tender vegetables—while adding hearty chickpeas and juicy chicken thighs.
If this chickpea recipe proves anything, it’s that crispy fried lemons take everything up a notch. The slow-roasted salmon and kale portion is equal parts bright, herby, and savory.
For something a bit warmer than a salad, this rich, spiced Punjabi-style chicken curry is comfort in a bowl.
Briny, citrusy, and umami-packed flavors make for the best kind of seafood dish—which is exactly what this one is. Marinate chickpeas, shrimp, and green olives in a garlicky lemon sauce.
This slow-cooked, spice-laden tagine is a showstopper, with game hen, chickpeas, and warming aromatics.
48. Chickpea Pot Pie
Pot pie doesn’t need chicken to be rich and cozy. This version swaps in chickpeas for a creamy, hearty filling tucked under a flaky crust.
Chickpea Pasta, Rice & Grain Recipes
As this chickpea pasta recipe proves, pasta and chickpeas are the ultimate pantry power duo. This Roman classic is brothy, cozy, and just the right amount of creamy.
This dish is vegan and works great as a side or a main. Perfectly crispy chickpeas give the farro and roasted carrots a nice crunch and a bit of smokiness.
Another dish for when you’re running low on ingredients. It keeps it simple with linguine, chickpeas, and a garlicky, herby sauce.
This dish proves that pantry staples can be magic. With just a few ingredients, this pasta is creamy, comforting, and ridiculously easy to pull together.
If there’s one person we trust with a chickpea recipe, it’s Victoria Granof, who has a cookbook dedicated to them. This recipe is a true one-pan pasta that only needs a few ingredients and 20 minutes of simmer time.
This Spanish baked rice is of those minimal effort, maximum flavor dishes. The top layer of rice gets crunchy while the bottom layers stay softer and creamier.
You’ve roasted chickpeas, but have you tried roasting cashews alongside them? This rice pilaf brings both to the table, creating a mix of crispy, nutty bites with fluffy rice.
What’s your favorite way to cook with chickpeas? Let us know in the comments!
Originally Published: February 13, 2025