31 Chickpea Recipes We Could Eat Day After Day
Among the chickpea recipes below, you’ll discover an entire world beyond your favorite hummus. These legumes are more than just fodder for healthy recipes. Dried chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans) can shape-shift into silky chickpea curry for a luxurious weeknight dinner. Or, you can turn canned beans into a quick and easy chickpea salad sandwich when your lunch break is zooming by. Chickpeas can transform into crave-worthy dishes like a crisp Mediterranean-inspired falafel pancake. If you’re on a low-carb bend (or even if you aren’t), roasted chickpeas make for a gluten-free salad topper that just might replace the croutons in your life.
You don’t need an Instant Pot or a slow cooker to make most of these dishes. Our favorite chickpea recipes start with a can opener, since we wholeheartedly believe that a can of chickpeas is an essential item for every pantry. Here’s how to turn chickpeas into your newest favorite meal.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman1/31Crispy Chickpea and Cucumber Salad
Photograph by Heami Lee, food styling by Frances Boswell, prop styling by Sophie Strangio2/31Dahi Puri With Black Chickpeas
Take on this tantalizing Indian appetizer from chef Preeti Mistry. Fry store-bought semolina shells, then fill them with black chickpeas and potato hunks, and drizzle with spiced yogurt sauce and chutneys.
3/31Classic Hummus
This down-the-line hummus recipe calls for canned beans, but if you want to start by cooking up a pot of dried garbanzos, more power to you.
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio5/31Chana Masala
Photograph by Yudi Ela, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk6/31Saucy Grilled Summer Squash With Chickpeas
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman7/31Roasted Carrots and Chickpeas With Herby Cashew Cream
Carrots and chickpeas rise to stardom with the help of a bright, herb-spiked cashew cream and added crunch from toasty almonds. Swap in sweet potatoes for a heartier version.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Frances Boswell8/31Garlicky Smashed Chickpeas With Corn
These aren’t your average crispy chickpeas–here, garlicky garbanzo beans get lightly smashed before frying, creating layers of texture.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton9/31Creamy Spinach and Chickpeas
Pantry MVPs (canned chickpeas, mixed giardiniera, and pickled cherry peppers) mix and mingle with the freezer VIP (frozen spinach) for a satisfyingly spicy weeknight dinner with a cook time that feels faster than the speed of light.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca10/31Green Hummus With Sizzled Dolmades
Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano. Prop Styling by Maeve Sheridan and Molly Longwell11/31Big Baked Falafel Cake With Cucumber Salad
Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food styling by Susan Ottaviano. Prop Styling by Maeve Sheridan12/31Chickpea Noodle Soup
Alex Lau14/31One-Skillet Creamy Chickpeas With Eggs and Prosciutto
We’re all for easy dinner recipes that feature eggs. Especially when canned chickpeas are invited. Add in a spicy tomato-cream bath for a weeknight trifecta that can’t be beat.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Props by Meilen Ceramics16/31Corn & Chickpea Bowl With Miso-Jalapeño Tahini
Crisp chickpeas in a skillet with lots of garlic, then toss in a handful of corn kernels to caramelize their edges and concentrate their flavor. Sprinkle on some za'atar and dress with a mixture of ginger, jalapeños, miso, and tahini to finish it off.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Emily Eisen17/31Chickpea and Celery Soup With Chile-Garlic Oil
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime18/31Lemony Salmon and Spiced Chickpeas
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Molly Baz, prop styling by Emily Eisen19/31Smashed Chickpeas on Toast With Harissa Yogurt
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski20/31Quite Possibly the Best Chickpeas
Photo by Travis Rainey, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling Micah Marie Morton22/31Falafel
The best falafel starts with dried chickpeas that are soaked overnight but not cooked before being blitzed in the food processor, turned into balls, and deep fried. Oh, and they’re also packed with a ton of fresh herbs.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG, FOOD STYLING BY ANNA BILLINGSKOG23/31Sheet Pan Chicken Meatballs With Tomatoes and Chickpeas
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski25/31Warm Chickpea Bowls With Lemony Yogurt
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski26/31Spiced Chickpeas and Greens Frittata
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Micah Morton29/31Turmeric and Coconut-Braised Cabbage With Chickpeas
Alex Lau31/31Spiced Chickpeas With Crispy Pita, Yogurt, and Brown Butter
This chickpea recipe is based on the Levantine breakfast dish fatteh hummus. It's all about the contrast of textures and flavors: smoky paprika, crunchy pita chips, creamy chickpeas, and tart yogurt.
