Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) are affordable, versatile, and packed with plant protein and fiber. From creamy dips and hearty stews to crispy snacks and even breads, these little legumes make healthy eating simple and satisfying.
This roundup features 34 Simple Chickpea Recipes for every mood and meal-quick dinners, make-ahead lunches, and wholesome snacks-created by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
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🌿 Easy Chickpea Salads
High-Protein Kale Orzo Pasta Salad
With fiber-rich chickpeas, edamame for complete plant-based protein, and a creamy oil-free artichoke dressing, it's a satisfying and wholesome dish you can prep ahead for the week.
Vibrant Raw Beet Salad is a nutrient powerhouse-rich in fiber, plant protein, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds. Bright, crunchy, and packed with plant-powered nutrients.
15-minute Curried Couscous is rich in plant-based protein and iron, with a flavorful curry dressing. Prep this budget-friendly recipe in advance for a quick and healthy weeknight dinner. It's veggie-loaded and perfect for your weekly rotation.
High-Protein Tomato & Basil Salad
20-minute vegan High-Protein Tomato & Basil Salad with chickpeas, artichoke hearts, and fresh mint packs in plant-based protein & flavor. It's a complete meal all by itself and easy to whip up. Healthy and delicious, this will become your go-to salad in no time!
This Curried Chickpea Salad is a vegan 'chicken' salad, packed with flavor from the warm curry seasoning. It's quick to make, healthy, and meal-prep friendly. Enjoy it as a wrap, sandwich, or with crackers. The creamy curry dressing has just the right amount of tang and spice.
Main Dish Salad with Hummus Dressing
This 20-minute Main Dish Salad combines quinoa, chickpeas, and fresh veggies with your choice of greens and a 3-ingredient hummus dressing. It's a quick, satisfying meal with optional roasted chickpeas for added flavor and crunch. Perfect for a nutritious and easy dinner.
🌿 Quick Chickpea Pasta Recipes
Vegan Roasted Veggie Orzo Salad
Vegan Roasted Veggie Orzo Salad is a healthy, budget-friendly dish, packed with plant-based protein and heart-healthy fats. Crispy roasted chickpeas and toasted walnuts add a delicious crunch to this warm and comforting salad.
7-Ingredient Orzo Pasta with Chickpeas
Orzo Pasta with Chickpeas is quick, easy, and perfect for meal prep. Rich in plant-based protein and vitamin B12. A family-friendly, go-to weeknight vegan dinner.
Chickpea Pasta with Garlic and Herbs
This recipe for Chickpea Pasta with Garlic and Herbs is quick and easy to make, budget-friendly, kid-friendly, and vegan. It's one of those easy and delicious last-minute dinners.
This versatile Hummus Pasta recipe is so easy. Plus, it's healthy, kid-approved, and ready in under 30 minutes. Plus, it's a one-pot meal, so clean-up is a breeze! (Gluten-free option.)
7-ingredient Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
This creamy 7-ingredient Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta is ready in just 15 minutes. It's so tasty, you won't believe it's healthy! A family-friendly, vegan recipe you'll want to make over and over again. This recipe is nut-free and packed with antioxidants.
This recipe for Orzo Pesto Salad is so delicious you won't believe it's made with nut-free pesto! Plus, it's a complete meal with 26 grams of plant-based protein, heart-healthy fats, and lots of nutrients. The nut-free pesto is creamy and very versatile. Try adding it to baked tofu, cauliflower, or veggie bowls.
🌿 Chickpea Sandwiches
Welcome to the sandwich you could potentially eat every day! The Best Chopped Salad Sandwich recipe! 10 minutes to make, healthy, easy, and vegan. Budget-friendly and so delicious. Everyone enjoys this tasty sandwich, including kids!
10-Minute Chickpea Sandwich with Arugula
10-minute Chickpea Sandwich with Arugula is packed with plant-based protein, healthy, and tasty, and you need just 8 budget ingredients. An easy plant-based lunch idea that you can make in minutes. It's bursting with flavor and satisfying textures.
20-minute High-Protein Veggie Wrap
20-minute High-Protein Veggie Wrap recipe with 30 grams of protein, low-calorie, and delicious. The whole family will enjoy these freezer-friendly, vegan wraps. Meal-prep these ahead of time for the week.
These 7-ingredient Easy Chickpea Wraps are a balanced meal, quick to make, and taste incredible. Served with a healthy creamy curry dressing that keeps you wanting more.
🌿 Chickpea Sandwich Spreads
This Vegan Tuna tastes just like a real tuna salad but without the fish! It's quick and easy to make, healthy, and rich in iodine and vitamin B12. Use it in sandwiches, lettuce wraps, or serve with pita chips or crackers.
5-minute Avocado Spread with mashed chickpeas takes avocado toast to a whole new level. It's rich in protein, calcium, iron, fiber, and vitamin B12, plus optional longevity ingredients. Use it in sandwiches, or serve it as a dip with crudités or toasted pita bread.
Looking for a healthy snack or protein side? Try this easy golden hummus, packed with antioxidants and anti-aging compounds. This hummus recipe is brimming with healthful ingredients and perfect for dipping veggies or spreading on toast!
5-minute Artichoke Hummus recipe with Calabrian chili peppers, plant-based protein, and fiber! This healthy longevity spread tastes incredible! Plus, it's perfect for snacks, sandwiches, crudités, parties, or a healthy side dish!
🌿 Easy Chickpea Bowls
This 20-minute grain-free Harvest Bowl with roasted cabbage and crispy chickpeas is healthy, vegan, and delicious. Tossed with Creamy Tahini Balsamic Dressing. Gluten-free.
Roasted Chickpea & Veggie Bowl
This Roasted Chickpea & Veggie Bowl recipe is a one-pan vegan wonder designed for easy cleanup and everyday convenience. It's a healthy, budget-friendly meal that's quick to prep and perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. Oil-free option.
One-Pot Moroccan Couscous with Chickpeas
15-minute One-Pot Moroccan Couscous with Chickpeas and veggies is an easy vegan lunch or dinner recipe. It's quick, healthy, and packed with protein. Oil-free option.
This Easy One-Pot Quinoa recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner or meal prep lunch. It's packed with flavor and will make you fall in love with quinoa! Plus, it's made with healthy, gluten-free, and budget-friendly ingredients.
Creamy Tahini Chickpeas & Veggies
This recipe for Creamy Tahini Chickpeas & Veggies is a quick, easy, and nourishing vegan dinner with a delicious, lemony tahini dressing.
🌿 Chickpea Curries & Soups
Lazy Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry
Lazy Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry cooks in just 20 minutes. Healthy and vegan, with nut-free and oil-free options. Freezer & kid-friendly.
Easy, high-protein Chickpea and Lentil Curry takes 20 minutes to make, with all budget and pantry-friendly ingredients. This healthy one-pot vegan recipe is perfect for meal prep. Freeze leftovers for up to three months.
Easy and Healthy Chana Saag, packed with flavorful spices and nutritious ingredients. Perfect for vegans, vegetarians, and those looking to eat more plants! This recipe is packed with antioxidants and great for using leftover leafy greens.
Quick & creamy, High-Protein Chickpea Soup offers plant-based nourishment that truly satisfies. Blended chickpeas and miso form a rich, velvety base, while whole chickpeas, potatoes, and herbs add texture, fiber, and flavor. Optional broccoli brings in extra greens, making this a well-balanced, meal-prep-friendly soup that's as comforting as it is nutritious.
8-Minute Vegetarian Lemon Orzo Soup is a vegetarian version of the classic. Chickpeas add protein and fiber, kale brings calcium and key nutrients, and miso adds savory depth-all in a light, lemony broth with orzo, onion, garlic, and carrots.
🌿 Chickpea Snacks
Follow my 3-step oven or air fryer recipe for the best Crispy Roasted Chickpeas every time. Plus, learn how to store them so they stay crispy! Enjoy them for a protein-rich snack, or pair crispy chickpeas with bowls, salads, or pasta for more plant-based protein.
2-ingredient Homemade Gluten-Free Crackers. These one-bowl vegan crackers are crispy and flavorful. Everyone loves them! Plus, they're made with turmeric and black pepper for an antioxidant boost.
These 4-Ingredient Gluten-Free Zucchini Muffins are made with high-protein chickpea flour! It's healthy, and naturally sweetened with dates. Each slice delivers 11 grams of protein, 153 mg of calcium, 5 grams of fiber, and 130 calories. (Oil-free, dairy-free.)
This foolproof Healthy Vegan Zucchini Bread is moist, wholesome, and naturally sweetened with dates. Made with flax and psyllium for more fiber and nutrition, it's a heart-healthy recipe that comes together without oil or dairy. Gluten-free flour options are included.
These 5-ingredient Vegan Protein Biscuits are loaded with plant-based protein and ready in 20 minutes. They're nutritious and satisfying, perfect for breakfast, post-workout fuel, or a quick snack. Made with fiber- and protein-rich chickpea flour.
Looking for more chickpea recipes? Check out my Vegan Chickpea Recipes page.
Chickpea Recipes: Chickpea & Sweet Potato Salad
Ingredients
For the sweet potatoes:
- 2 medium sweet potatoes chopped into 1-inch pieces
- Drizzle of olive oil or lemon juice or coconut aminos
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder
- Salt to taste
For the chickpeas:
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas drained and rinsed, or 1 ½ cups cooked
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon allspice (optional)
For the dressing:
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard or whole-grain mustard
- 2 to 3 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 medium shallot thinly sliced
- 1 small red chili pepper rib and seeds removed, minced
- 2 tablespoons water plus more as needed
- 1 tablespoon tahini plus more to taste
Other Ingredients:
- 8 loosely packed cups chopped kale
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- For the sweet potatoes:Transfer the sweet potato to a baking sheet. Add a drizzle of olive oil and the smoked paprika, garlic powder, chipotle powder, and salt to taste. Toss to coat evenly. Roast for about 25 minutes, or until golden and tender.
- For the chickpeas:Roast: Transfer the chickpeas to a large baking sheet. Toss them with a drizzle of olive oil (or coconut aminos, or lemon juice), cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, marjoram, allspice (if using), and salt to taste. Roast with the sweet potatoes for about 20 minutes, or until crispy.
- For the dressing:Transfer the balsamic vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, shallot, and red chili pepper to a small skillet or saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and cook for about 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Add the water and adjust until a desired sauce-like consistency.
- For the kale:Transfer the chopped kale to a large salad bowl. Pour about one-half of the hot liquid dressing onto the chopped kale. Massage the kale until tender.
- For the salad:Add the tahini to the remaining dressing, off the stove. Add warm water as needed, and mix until the desired creaminess. Combine the salad ingredients with the remaining dressing and mix to incorporate. Add chopped walnuts and hemp hearts if using.
Notes
- Nutrition facts include hemp hearts and walnuts.
- Dry the chickpeas before roasting, or cook your own, for the crunchiest chickpeas. If using canned chickpeas, rinse them and transfer them to a clean dish towel. Rub them between layers of the towel before seasoning. This guarantees crunchy chickpeas every time. Or home-cook the chickpeas and transfer them to a colander to drain beforehand. If they are not getting crispy after 20 minutes, change the oven setting to broil and cook them for about 2 minutes more.
- Use high-quality balsamic vinegar for the best-tasting dressing.
- Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Serve warm or chilled. For maximum freshness, store the salad components in separate containers.
Nutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate. Nutritional values may vary depending on factors such as product types and brands used.
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Alan says
A chickpea dish started me on my vegetarian journey (via Madhur Jaffrey) many decades ago, a Syrian dish, Bulgar wheat with chicks and tomatoes. Still a staple of my weekly diet, so simple and hearty, year-round. Thank you so much (as always!) for this seemingly exhaustive list!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Love bulgar wheat and this combo too!
Anita says
Delicious and easy to follow. Thank you 🥰
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
So happy to hear! Thank you so much for commenting.
Veronica says
Very simple but the sauce makes this recipe taste delicious! I made the chickpea salad sauce.
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
So happy to hear you enjoyed these chickpeas! Thank you.
Leigh says
Such a brilliant idea to combine these recipes together for easier grocery shopping and prep. This is a real help for those of us who want to eat healthy but find meal planning for the week daunting. I can’t wait to try these. Thank you so much!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Thank you! I made them together and found it really helpful so I wanted to share that with all of you.:)