Nourishing and versatile, chickpeas, aka garbanzo beans, are an essential part of any plant-based pantry. If you've got a can or two on hand, here are 26 vegan chickpea recipes to put them to work in today.
Chickpea Wraps with Homemade Spinach Tortillas
If making tortillas seems like something that other cooks do, think again! With a pliable, mild-flavored crumb, which is what you want in a tortilla, these easy wraps offer plenty to smile about and use a combination of almond flour and wheat flour, with fresh spinach thrown into the mix. Wrap them around a mix of chickpeas, crunchy fresh veggies, and a tangy cashew lemon sauce for a hearty café-style meal. As one fan says, "Just made them. I'm so excited I successfully made my own tortillas. It was fun, and they were delicious!"
Vegan Mushroom and Chickpea Pizza with Rosemary
The aroma of home-cooked pizza wafting through the house is one of those little blessings in life, and this whole-food, plant-based recipe doesn’t disappoint. From the time you open the bag of flour, the made-from-scratch crust takes just 30 minutes to prep and pre-bake. Meanwhile, whip up the fragrant sofrito-style spread. When the crust is ready, top it with the sofrito, and throw on some meaty mushrooms, nutty chickpeas, and a few pine nuts for extra richness. Bake the healthy vegan pizza for another 10 minutes, sprinkle with some fresh herbs, and get ready to devour this toothsome pie.
Hearty Pesto Salad with Tomatoes, Farro, and Air-Fried Chickpeas
Crispy, pesto-coated air-fried chickpeas add bright flavor to this hearty salad. Basil pesto is also mixed into the main salad, dialing up the scrumptiousness even more. Farro's chewy texture works well here, but feel free to use another grain and to get creative with your choice of other salad ingredients. A commenter shares, "So delicious! What a great way to add garbanzos. I added some cucumbers to the lettuce and put avocado on top to use more veggies."
Jordanian Roasted Chickpeas
All you need for this simple savory snack are a can of chickpeas and a few spices that you probably have in your pantry.
“No-Tuna” Salad Sandwich
Mashed chickpeas are the key ingredient in the filling of this sandwich, which is consistently one of the most popular recipes on our site.
Blood Orange-Farro Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
Crispy, seasoned air-fried chickpeas add crunch to this satisfying farro salad. Blood orange citrus segments make sure every mouthful is a juicy one, while bell pepper adds sweetness and color, and scallions offer a welcome sharpness. Drizzle with a luscious orange vinaigrette and enjoy! Notes one reader, “I made this for my dinner tonight and it was so good, but the best was the dressing. OMG it is so good.”
King Oyster Vegan Cioppino
In this vegan take on a classic seafood dish, the nutty texture of chickpeas and the meaty flesh of king oyster mushrooms add bulk to a savory broth, fragrant with fennel, lemon juice, and plenty of fresh herbs.
Healthy Chocolate Hummus
Transform cooked chickpeas into a creamy chocolate treat quicker than you can say, “Wow, is this really made with chickpeas?” A small amount of almond butter (or peanut butter) lends richness, while maple syrup, cocoa powder and vanilla essence round out the flavors. Serve with fresh fruits and/or vegetable sticks. A commenter notes, “I was blown away by how good this is. I like hummus but this takes the cake. I will keep a small jar in the fridge for when I feel like something sweet and nutritious.”
Kale Arrabbiata-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
The noodle-like strands of spaghetti squash are a great alternative to pasta. Just bake squash halves then fluff up the tendrils with a fork and top with a saucy chickpea marinara for a hearty meal that looks and tastes amazing.
Super Greens Soup with Chickpeas
This velvety soup gets its fresh earthy flavor from a bounty of leafy greens, while potato delivers the heartiness factor. Whole chickpeas add textural contrast, and a colorful garnish of peas and pomegranate seeds make this luscious soup as visually appealing as it is delicious.
Sun-Dried Tomato and Chickpea Sliders
Loaded with veggies, these succulent chickpea sliders are wonderfully tender and hold their shape well. Serve between grilled slices of balsamic-infused zucchini for a bread-free “bun” that’s melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
The Best Oil-Free Hummus
Add this creamy (and virtually fat-free) hummus to wraps, or serve with crudités.
Mediterranean Chickpea Burgers
Crispy chickpea patties are stacked with sautéed onions, bell peppers, and peppery arugula in these Mediterranean-inspired burgers. Roasted red pepper hummus adds creaminess.
Chickpeazella Sticks
Squash, chickpeas, and rice are the surprising secret ingredients that form the base for these plant-based “mozzarella” sticks.
Mint Lemonade Chickpea Salad
Toss chickpeas into the mix when you’re craving a salad with plenty of sustenance.
Slow-Cooker Chana Masala
Chana masala is a comforting Indian stew, and it freezes well, so go ahead and make a big batch.
Chickpea Curry Stew with Kale
This 15-minute stew makes use of several pantry staples, such as potato, onion, and canned diced tomatoes.
Baked Sweet Potatoes Stuffed with Chickpea Chili
These loaded sweet potatoes are seriously satisfying, with a touch of heat.
30-Minute Chickpea Noodle Soup with Spinach
More nourishing than chicken noodle soup, this easy dish will do the trick whether you’re nursing a cold or just craving something comforting.
Curried Chickpeas and Farro with Strawberry Chutney
Sweet and savory flavors meld together to mouthwatering effect in this Indian-inspired dish.
Crispy Baked Falafels
Typically, falafel are fried in oil and high in fat. This whole-food, plant-based recipe offers a much healthier (and equally delicious) way to enjoy falafel.
Buffalo Cauliflower Pita Pockets
Chickpeas do double-duty in these punchy pita pockets: Aquafaba (see below) makes for a silky Buffalo sauce, and mashed chickpeas help form the tasty filling.
Homemade Aquafaba
The liquid that you find in a can of chickpeas is precious stuff: Its viscosity makes it a fabulous substitute for eggs in all sorts of recipes. We love using it in baked goods and whipped toppings, such as our Aquafaba Whipped Cream.
This article was originally published on April 3, 2020, and has been updated.
By Courtney Davison ,
The Aquafaba is wonderful. I used it as a “frosting” on carob cupcakes and sprinkled cinnamon sugar over the top.
I whipped it up like meringue then used as a frosting.
Thank you for sharing; luv chickpeas always looking for new ways to use them.
Thank for sharring! Really interesting.
Looking forward to recipes