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30+ Easy Recipes You Can Make with a Can of Chickpeas

published Mar 2, 2023
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Credit: Shelly Westerhausen

Chickpeas are one of those pantry staples that I almost always have on hand. If you don’t have a can or two lurking in a cabinet somewhere, add it to your grocery list immediately. Not only are they a great plant-based source of protein, but there’s also a nearly endless number of ways to turn them into a satisfying meal or snack any time of day.

Want to add more protein to your breakfast routine, but prefer to skip the eggs? Chickpeas have your back, and we especially love them packed into a breakfast sandwich. When it comes to lunch and dinner, chickpeas can do it all. Bulk up a green salad or soup; turn them into sandwiches; shape them into patties and nuggets; sauté them with veggies; stuff them into potatoes; and so much more. Don’t forget that chickpeas also make a fun snack, beyond a creamy batch of hummus. Not only can you roast them, but there are also so many ways to flavor roasted chickpeas.

Still wondering what to make with a can of chickpeas? We’ve got more than 30 easy chickpea recipes for lots of delicious inspiration.

Chickpea Recipes for Dinner

Consider this line up proof that there is no shortage of ways to turn chickpeas into a totally satisfying dinner.

1 / 17
Spice-Roasted Salmon with Lemon and Chickpeas
This easy sheet pan dinner is packed with bold flavors, thanks to caramelized lemon and onions and an assertive spice blend.
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2 / 17
Harissa Olive Oil-Braised Chickpeas and Fennel
This simple recipe transforms a couple of cans of chickpeas into a warm, saucy, and flavor-packed dinner.
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3 / 17
Grilled Merguez Sausages and Veggies with Crispy Chickpeas
A mixed grill is a fun way to kick off grilling season, and its customizable nature makes it perfect for guests. This platter consists of grilled mixed vegetables, merguez sausage, halloumi cheese, and crispy chickpeas.
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4 / 17
Cheesy Chickpea Melts
A stewy mixture of tomato-y chickpeas and greens are piled onto garlicky toast, then topped with cheese and broiled until browned and bubbly.
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5 / 17
Ash Reshteh
Mersedeh Prewer's hearty soup — a classic Persian dish made with noodles, beans, and greens — is comfort in a bowl.
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6 / 17
Weeknight Salmon with Smoky Spinach and Chickpeas
Crispy-skinned salmon sits on top of a bed of saucy spinach and chickpeas in this fast and easy skillet dinner.
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7 / 17
Moroccan-Spiced Chickpea Bowls
These saucy, spiced chickpea bowls with kale, avocado, and a runny-yolked egg are all the proof you need that comfort food can also be healthy.
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8 / 17
Honey Harissa Chicken and Chickpeas
Honey and harissa flavor this one-dish meal of saucy chickpeas and golden-brown chicken
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9 / 17
One-Pot Tomato Chickpeas and Orzo
This recipe for quick and easy tomato orzo studded with chickpeas, which is made in just one pot, is total comfort food.
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10 / 17
Cauliflower Rice Lunch Bowl with Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas
This vegetarian cauliflower rice bowl is packed with all our favorite healthy foods, including cauliflower rice, sweet potatoes, and creamy avocado.
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11 / 17
Sweet Potatoes with Chickpea Tomato Sauce
Sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and tomato sauce might seem like an unlikely trio of ingredients, but that's only until you try them together. Then you'll wonder why you haven't been making this recipe all along.
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12 / 17
Sweet Potato-Chickpea Patties with Sriracha-Yogurt Dip
Somewhere between a veggie burger and falafel, these sweet potato and chickpea patties exist. Serve them with a salad or stuff them in a pita — anything goes, as long as you've got the Sriracha-yogurt sauce.
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13 / 17
Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowls with Crispy Chickpeas and Chopped Pesto
This satisfying plant-based quinoa bowl is packed with roasted sweet potato, kale, and crispy chickpeas.
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14 / 17
One-Skillet Chicken Thighs with Curried Cabbage and Chickpeas
Golden brown chicken thighs, leeks, cabbage, and chickpeas are simmered with curry powder and coconut milk all in one skillet.
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15 / 17
Chickpea Sauté with Greek Yogurt
We love just about every Ottolenghi recipe that we try, and this one is no exception. While the recipe calls for Swiss chard, if you are making this out of chard season try a mix of spinach and arugula or your favorite kind of kale.
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16 / 17
Tofu Chickpea Stir Fry with Tahini Sauce
You normally see chickpeas and tahini together in hummus recipes, but this recipe combines them in a new way. The perfectly crispy tofu and chickpeas are ideal over your favorite grain bowl, and the salty, savory tahini sauce gives everything just the right depth of flavor.
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17 / 17
Braised Coconut Spinach & Chickpeas with Lemon
Are you in the mood for comfort food? We have a proposal for you: fresh baby spinach and chickpeas, slow-cooked with ginger, garlic, and onion in a creamy coconut milk sauce, finished off with a healthy dash of lemon.
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Salads, Sandwiches, Soup, and Snacks with Chickpeas

Chickpeas are our secret weapon for bulking up salads and soups. But don’t forget they can be smashed and spooned into sandwiches, too.

1 / 15
Marinated Chickpea and Feta Salad with Spring Veggies
This star of this crunchy, veggie-packed salad is a tangy Greek-inspired dressing, which doubles as a marinade for the feta and chickpeas.
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2 / 15
Roasted Carrot and Chickpea Salad
This warm roasted carrot and chickpea salad is flavored with cardamom and citrus, and finished with wilted arugula, almonds, and an herb-packed dressing.
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3 / 15
Garlicky Chickpea and Fennel Salad with Baked Goat Cheese
One of the best things about chickpeas is that they are so versatile. Their mild flavor is the perfect backdrop for stronger contenders like fennel. And not that you need a reminder, but don't skip the baked goat cheese — it's magic.
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4 / 15
Israeli Couscous Salad with Feta, Chickpeas, and Herbs
This vegetarian recipe for Israeli couscous salad filled with chickpeas, tomatoes, herbs, and feta cheese.
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5 / 15
Mediterranean-Style Chopped Salad with Oregano Vinaigrette
This vegetarian chopped salad — packed with farro, chickpeas, and plenty of fresh veggies— gets even better as it sits.
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6 / 15
Tomato Chickpea Salad
Tomatoes and chickpeas are tossed in a simple vinaigrette for a light dinner or easy lunch.
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7 / 15
Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
This vegetarian sandwich is made with a base of hearty chickpeas and crunchy vegetables. The real heroes, however, are the gut-friendly fermented pickles and creamy Greek yogurt.
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8 / 15
Scrambled Chickpea and Spinach Pitas
For an egg-free breakfast sandwich that will power you through the morning, look to this pita pocket stuffed with a blend of spiced chickpeas and sautéed veggies. It’s prepared in advance, then stashed in the freezer, ready to be reheated in the oven while you buzz through your morning routine.
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9 / 15
Mediterranean Chickpea and Feta Wraps
This quick lunch is packed with flavor, thanks to the feta, roasted red peppers, and cucumbers that get stuffed inside with the chickpeas.
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10 / 15
Baked Falafel
If you normally only eat falafel at restaurants because you don't want to get involved in deep-frying, try this baked falafel recipe. It's a million times easier, and you can even count on it being easier to clean up after.
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11 / 15
Chickpea of the Sea Sandwich
A tuna fish sandwich is a classic lunch choice, but for a variety of reasons some people are staying away from tuna these days. Here’s a vegetarian alternative for those who miss that tangy, creamy lunchtime treat. Ask any mermaid you happen to see, this version is a winner!
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12 / 15
Mediterranean Chickpea and Chicken Soup
This is everything you want in a homemade weeknight soup. Bone-in chicken thighs make for a richly flavored broth, canned chickpeas keep the cooking time to a minimum, and tangy tomatoes and warm spices bring the whole pot together.
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13 / 15
Slow Cooker Golden Chickpea Soup
This is wholesome comfort food at its finest, with a taste and texture that's equal parts hearty as can be, yet bright and totally nourishing.
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14 / 15
Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
Yes, you might consider chickpeas a health food, but once you try this recipe, you'll see that they can be a snack food too. Once you master this technique, we bet you'll be making popcorn a lot less frequently.
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15 / 15
Hummus from Scratch
Skip the store-bought stuff — making it yourself is so easy and will be far tastier.
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This post was originally published on Kitchn. Read it there: 30+ Easy Recipes to Make with a Can of Chickpeas