40 Delicious Chickpea Recipes for Every Meal and Occasion

Looking for the best chickpea recipes to add to your plant-based routine?

From quick salads and comforting soups to hearty mains and crunchy snacks, these 40 chickpea recipes show just how versatile this humble legume can be.

Our love for chickpeas began in 2019 when we started this blog. Louise and I were searching for simple, affordable recipes to fit our meatless Monday routine, and canned and dried chickpeas quickly became kitchen essentials.

We return again and again to recipes like viral marry-me chickpeas, Mediterranean falafel, and meal-prep friendly chickpea pasta salad. One early experiment with dried chickpeas—when we forgot to soak them—ended with a boiling-and-baking-soda fiasco that produced the creamiest hummus we’d ever made. It’s a moment we still laugh about.

Chickpeas now feature in dozens of our recipes. Below you’ll find favorites across categories: salads, mains, soups, snacks, and international dishes. Pick a few to try and make them part of your weekly rotation.

1. Falafel

Falafel balls in a bowl with fresh parsley.

Easy to prepare and cook in oil or an air fryer, served with tahini sauce and pita bread for a classic Middle Eastern meal.

2. Chickpea pasta salad

A meal-prep friendly pasta salad drizzled with tangy mustard vinaigrette and finished with creamy avocado.

3. Creamy hummus

Hummus recipe on a plate with lemon and pita bread on the side

Velvety hummus made from canned or cooked dried chickpeas. If you don’t have tahini, try a no-tahini version for a simpler dip.

4. Quick chickpea salad

Chickpea salad recipe with cherry tomatoes on the side and a hand

Easy, filling, and nutritious—the perfect potluck or meal-prep salad.

5. Air fryer chickpeas

Quick, healthy, and crispy—great as a snack or as a crunchy topping for soups and salads.

6. Tahini salad

A versatile side that becomes a main when topped with roasted chickpeas or falafel.

7. Chickpea quinoa salad

Chickpea quinoa salad with feta on a white platter

A nutritious, naturally vegan and gluten-free salad with satisfying protein and bright flavors.

8. Chickpea fritters

Chickpea fritters with tahini sauce and fresh parsley and a hand dipping a fritter

Golden fritters with red onion and nutritional yeast for a savory, umami-packed bite.

9. Carrot salad with chickpeas

carrot raisin salad with chickpeas and almonds

A colorful twist on carrot-raisin salad with added chickpeas for texture and protein—balanced, vibrant, and satisfying.

10. Mashed chickpea salad (Vegan tuna)

Vegan tuna on toast with sliced cucumber

Mashed chickpeas combined with vegan mayo and seasonings to recreate tuna salad—perfect on toast, in sandwiches, or stuffed into baked potatoes.

11. Chickpea stew

Chickpea stew with yogurt and chili oil on a plate with flowers

A Mediterranean one-pot stew that’s comforting, simple, and ideal for make-ahead dinners.

12. Masabacha

Hummus masabacha with shatta sauce and a silver spoon

A modern, healthy chickpea dish that works as a shared appetizer or a family dinner.

13. Couscous salad

Light, crunchy, and ready in 20 minutes—fresh vegetables and chickpeas make this a speedy, satisfying side or main.

14. Farro salad

Wholesome and seasonal, farro salad with chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and olives makes a hearty vegan lunch.

15. Spinach stew

Chickpea Spinach Stew on rice with lemon

Fiber-rich and comforting—serve with basmati rice and a dollop of yogurt for a complete meal.

16. Orzo salad

Fresh, light, and effortless—canned chickpeas turn this orzo salad into a filling summer dish.

17. Fatteh

Creamy hummus topped with crispy pita chips and cumin-seasoned chickpeas—an irresistible mix of textures and flavors.

18. Cauliflower salad

Roasted chickpeas add protein and crunch to this creamy cauliflower salad.

19. Curry chickpea salad

Curry chickpea salad with cucumber and a hand

A make-ahead salad with tahini, mango, and cooked chickpeas—great for lunches and potlucks.

20. Microwave sweet potato with chickpeas

Microwave sweet potato with couscous topping

Top a quick microwaved sweet potato with crispy chickpeas, olives, and tahini for a speedy weeknight meal.

21. Mediterranean farro salad

mediterranean farro salad with chickpeas

A 30-minute Mediterranean-style grain bowl that’s ideal for meal prep and packed with flavor.

22. Chickpea soup

Chickpea soup with hands and red nails holding the bowl

A make-ahead soup with chickpeas, potato, and Italian herbs—simple, comforting, and freezer-friendly.

23. Chickpea curry

Chickpea Curry with white rice and cilantro

Wholesome chickpeas simmered in a spiced coconut sauce—serve with basmati rice and refrigerate leftovers for up to five days.

25. Pasta e Ceci

Pasta e Ceci in a bowl with a hand holding a spoon

An Italian one-pot classic—creamy, tomato-forward, and family-friendly using canned chickpeas.

26. African peanut stew

African peanut stew with spinach and sweet potato in a white bowl

This vegetarian peanut stew uses chickpeas for protein and comes together in about 30 minutes.

Indian chickpea recipes

27. Chana Dal

28. Cauliflower curry

29. Chana masala

30. Chana saag

31. Vegetable curry

vegetable curry served with rice, lime and cashews — Vegetable curry is a chickpea recipe we make on repeat

Mediterranean chickpea recipes

32. Moroccan chickpea stew

33. Stuffed tomatoes

34. Paccheri pasta

35. Rice salad

36. Greek chickpea salad

37. Marry me chickpeas

38. Vegetable tagine

39. Israeli couscous salad

40. Mediterranean salad

30-minute meals

Marry Me Chickpeas

Salads

Greek Chickpea Salad

Mains

Tagine

Salads

Pearl Couscous Salad

Tips for Chickpea Recipes

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven, microwave, or air fryer before serving.
Freezing: Most cooked chickpea dishes freeze well for up to 3 months. Cool completely, transfer to freezer-safe containers, and leave room for expansion.
Reheating: Thaw in the refrigerator or microwave and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the oven. Refresh with fresh herbs or a squeeze of lemon before serving.

If you try any of these chickpea recipes, please leave a star rating and a comment to let us know how it went—we love hearing from you!

Chickpea Recipes: Mashed Chickpea Salad

Mashed chickpea salad uses mashed garbanzo beans with simple seasonings to recreate the texture and savory profile of tuna salad—without any fish.

Prep Time:
15 mins

Cook Time:
0 mins

Total Time:
15 mins

Servings:
4 servings

Course: Main Course, Snack, Starter

Cuisine: International

Ingredients

2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
⅓ cup vegan mayo
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp mustard
1 tbsp nori sheet, blended into flakes (optional)
½ medium red onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 handful fresh parsley or dill, chopped
½ lemon, juiced
1 tbsp pickles or capers, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Drain and rinse the chickpeas and place them in a shallow container or dish. Mash with a fork or potato masher — a shallow dish makes mashing easier.
Add vegan mayo, soy sauce, mustard, and nori flakes (if using). Stir in chopped red onion, celery, parsley, pickles or capers, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Mix until combined. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Serve on sandwiches, toasted bread, stuffed into baked potatoes, or as a salad with lettuce leaves.

Notes

Storage & make ahead: Make up to 3 days ahead. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Freezing is not recommended; if frozen, thaw in the refrigerator and consume promptly.

Nori sheets: Nori adds a subtle sea-like flavor resembling tuna; omit if you prefer. Blend nori sheets into flakes and store in an airtight container for future use.

Nutrition

Calories: 137 kcal • Carbohydrates: 5 g • Protein: 1 g • Fat: 12 g

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