13 Chickpea Recipes That Make the Perfect, Protein-Packed Vegetarian Meal

Right up there with pasta and tomato paste, canned chickpeas are the unsung heroes of my pantry. These little legumes are surprisingly versatile, budget-friendly, and delicious in any meal. If you’re stuck in a chickpea rut, fear not—we’ve rounded up some next-level recipes that put canned chickpeas in the spotlight.

Sure, some purists might argue that dried, soaked chickpeas reign supreme in the flavor department, but when it comes to ease and getting dinner on the table (stat!), canned chickpeas have our hearts. Packed with protein, fiber, iron, and folate, they’re a perfect plant-based protein that can stand in for meat and elevate any dish. And let’s not forget their unbeatable texture—ideal for everything from creamy hummus to crispy falafel. Ready to get creative with this pantry powerhouse? Dive into these must-try chickpea recipes.

13 Chickpea Recipes for Protein-Packed, Vegetarian Meals

Chickpeas are the ultimate year-round staple—equally at home in a cozy winter stew or a refreshing summer salad. Whether you’re craving something hearty or a light midday pick-me-up, chickpeas have you covered. So, go ahead and stock up your pantry—once you dive into these recipes, you’ll be inspired to whip up something delicious in no time.

One-Pot Vegetarian Moroccan Stew

Why We Love It: What is it about a stew that makes everything feel right with the world? This Moroccan-inspired stew is beautifully grounding, thanks to the warming spices and hearty chickpeas. I’m especially taken with the bright cilantro tossed over as a garnish. It gives a zesty kick and a burst of color.

Hero Ingredient: Tomato paste gives this stew a nice body and richness that plays perfectly with the spices.

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Bowl with Feta Yogurt

Why We Love It: When I’m looking for something quick and easy to whip up for lunch, this bowl always satisfies. If you’re not yet serving your favorite roasted veggies atop a dollop of tangy, feta-spiked yogurt, let this bowl be your inspiration. It’s filling and energizing—without any meat in sight.

Hero Ingredient: Harissa is this recipe’s shining star. It’s a deliciously warm blend of chili peppers, garlic, oil, and spices originating from Tunisia—and it’s the perfect finishing touch to your roasted sweet potatoes and chickpeas.

Grapefruit, Avocado, and Golden Beet Salad with Crunchy Chickpeas and Feta

Why We Love It: I love this salad in the winter months when grapefruit is at its best, but truthfully, it’s so good that I happily eat it all year round. The blend of colors makes it a visual masterpiece, and the variety of textures elevates it far above your standard salad. As far as chickpea recipes go, this might be one of my favorites. As Camille says, it tastes like sunshine. How can you beat that?

Hero Ingredient: Think of golden beets as a milder, sweeter alternative to red beets. I’m obsessed.

Cumin Chickpea Salad with Mint Chutney

Why We Love It: This salad is perfect for when you need a reset. It’s light without leaving you hungry. The contrast of the spiced chickpeas with fresh veggies, punchy spiced chutney, and aromatic herbs makes for the perfect glow bowl.

Hero Ingredient: Serve the mint chutney with reckless abandon. In this case, more is more.

Herby Green Chickpea Falafel

Why We Love It: Don’t be intimidated by the thought of having to fry up falafel, because this recipe calls for baking them instead. They’re surprisingly easy to throw together and are as yummy, familiar, and comforting as the ones from your local falafel shop. You’ll find yourself coming back to this recipe again and again.

Hero Ingredient: Falafel is only as good as the herbs you pack into it. With cilantro, mint, and dill, this falafel is as fresh and as flavorful as it gets.

Classic Hummus With Marinated Chickpeas

Why We Love It: If you’ve been itching to make hummus, take this as your sign to do it this week. It’s shockingly easy to make and so much more delicious than store-bought options. The addition of the marinated chickpeas elevates the entire hummus experience. All that’s left is to pair with your favorite flatbread or chips.

Hero Ingredient: Marinated chickpeas equal next-level hummus.

Pumpkin Chickpea Curry

Why We Love It: Cozy up to a warm bowl of pumpkin channa masala next time you’re needing a bit of comfort. It’s a fragrant, sumptuous meal that hits the spot no matter the time of year. It’s always a good time to load up on pumpkin’s nutritious vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, carotenoids, fiber, and iron.

Hero Ingredient: The spice blend here is unmatched. Cinnamon, cumin, curry powder, and chili powder. How can I choose?

Chickpea, Corn, and Avocado Salad With Roasted Poblano Vinaigrette

Why We Love It: This salad is a fresh, flavorful combination that’s perfect for any season. The creamy avocado pairs beautifully with the sweet corn and protein-packed chickpeas, creating a dish that’s both satisfying and nutritious. With a zesty lime dressing, it’s a quick and easy recipe that you’ll want to make again and again. (Trust me.)

Hero Ingredient: Roasted poblano vinaigrette, where have you been all my life?

Toasted Tandoori Spice Chickpea Grain Bowl

Why We Love It: Next time you’re searching for chickpea recipes, play by this rule: a bowl will always do. This simple, spice-packed dish is a serious crowd-pleaser and couldn’t be easier to make. This bowl is all about the spice blend (it’s a long list, but you likely already have them on hand). Once those are mixed, the rest comes together in a flash.

Hero Ingredient: Toasted halloumi makes everything better. It’s as simple as that.

Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

Why We Love It: Get a head start on your week with this easy dish. You’ll have most of the ingredients already on hand and it’s vegetarian (though it can easily be made vegan, too). As if that weren’t enough, it also happens to be incredibly tasty. I like to double the recipe and make a big container of it on Sunday evenings. That way, I can enjoy deli-quality sandwiches all week long. (That’s right, I’ll never get tired of it.)

Hero Ingredient: The juice of half a lemon gives this chickpea salad a nice bite of acidity.

Crispy Chickpea Flour Pizza Crust

Why We Love It: The beauty of this chickpea recipe is in its wild versatility. Once you’ve prepared the chickpea, gluten-free dough, you can then build the rest of the meal however you’d like. I’m partial to a classic tomato sauce, cheese, and basil situation, but truly—the options are endless.

Hero Ingredient: Garlic powder gives this crust its unbeatable flavor.

Braised Indian Chickpea Stew

Why We Love It: Developed by Nisha Vora, the goddess of vegan cooking herself, this chickpea stew is everything you could want in a cozy, comforting meal. It’s packed with veggies aplenty, spices for days, and creamy coconut milk for that perfect finishing touch.

Hero Ingredient: Ginger yields a punchy, spicy, and fresh flavor that’s felt all throughout this delicious dish.

Root Vegetable & Quinoa Salad with Tahini-Maple Vinaigrette

Why We Love It: This is not your average grain bowl. Elevate your next lunch with this gorgeous salad. Not only is it a total textural feast for the senses thanks to the perfect assortment of veggies, but the vinaigrette packs a seriously flavorful punch. It has every element you would want from a delicious, loaded salad. You can’t go wrong.

Hero Ingredient: I’m of the opinion that using tahini as the base in your vinaigrette is always the right move.

Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies

Why We Love It: That’s right—with chickpea recipes as the theme of this roundup, do you really think we could skip dessert? These cookies lean on chickpea flour as their gluten-free base, giving them a nutty, buttery bite. If you didn’t think chocolate chip cookies could be improved upon, this recipe is happy to prove you wrong.

Hero Ingredient: Finishing your cookies with a little flaky salt is key for maximizing flavor.