17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (2024)

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If you thought chickpeas were just for hummus and plain old salads, think again. Turns out, the fiber-rich, protein-packed legumes are perfect for everything from curry to cookies. And not only are they versatile, but they’re affordable, too. Finding affordable recipes is more important than ever these days, with food inflation the highest it’s been since 1979, and with no signs of prices at the grocery store falling any time soon. We’ve been racking our brains trying to come up with cheap but flavorful meal ideas, and we always end up coming back to chickpeas.

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You can buy dried chickpeas in the bulk bins for a buck or two and then soak them in water overnight to get them ready for use in a couple of recipes. Or, you can stock up on ready-to-go cans that you can purchase right on Amazon if you don’t think you’ll remember to plan ahead. Oh, and if you have an Instant Pot, even better: you can cook dried chickpeas in a pressure cooker without soaking them overnight. Either way, chickpeas are a healthy, inexpensive pantry staple that we all should take advantage of.

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The ideas below are a mixture of savory and sweet chickpea recipes that you’ll wish you knew about sooner. There are stews and baked chickpea cakes for meatless Mondays, and brownies and blondies for nutrient-dense desserts. But best of all, the ingredient at the center of it all is an affordable staple that you can keep on hand to make price-conscious meals and treats all week.

  • Vegan Chickpea Brownies

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (4)

    Chickpeas are mild and full of starch, so they’re great for baking, too!

    Get the recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie.

  • Firecracker Chickpea Meatballs

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (5)

    You don’t need meat to make meatballs. Mind blown, right?

    Get the recipe from Connoisseurus Veg.

  • Chickpea & Quinoa Salad

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (6)

    You can serve this chickpea and quinoa salad as a side dish or as a vegetarian entree. It’s loaded with plant-based protein, and it’s versatile, too — if you don’t like quinoa, you can swap it out for another cooked grain.

    Get the recipe from Spain on a Fork.

  • Vegan Cookie Dough

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (7)

    If edible cookie dough isn’t a reason to fall in love with chickpeas, I’m not sure what is.

    Get the recipe from Joyful Healthy Eats.

  • Lemon Orzo Chickpea Pasta Salad

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (8)

    Trying to save money on lunch? Make a big batch of this orzo and chickpea pasta salad on Sunday, then bring it to work all week. Swap the pine nuts for almonds to make it even more affordable.

    Get the recipe from Rainbow Plant Life.

  • Sticky Sesame Chickpeas

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (9)

    The next time you’re in the mood for saucy takeout, skip it and make these sweet, sesame-flavored chickpeas instead.

    Get the recipe from Eat With Clarity.

  • Air-Fryer Chickpeas

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (10)

    There are four ways to flavor these air-fryer chickpeas, and you’ll probably want to try them all.

    Get the recipe from My Forking Life.

  • Flourless Peanut Butter Chickpea Muffins

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (11)

    These gluten-free muffins taste nothing like chickpeas, and everything like peanut butter.

    Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

  • Chickpea Fries

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (12)

    These baked “fries” are packed with fiber and plant-based protein.

    Get the recipe from Hey Nutrition Lady.

  • Chickpea Tikka Masala

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (13)

    Chicken tikka masala is great, but chickpea tikka masala is an equally tasty vegetarian alternative, and chickpeas are so much more affordable than meat.

    Get the recipe from Watch What U Eat.

  • Persian Herb and Chickpea Stew With Rice

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (14)

    If you’re in the mood for a hearty meatless meal, this cozy chickpea stew served over rice is an obvious choice.

    Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.

  • Chickpea and Spinach Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (15)

    Loaded baked potatoes just got a major upgade. These chickpea-spinach loaded sweet potatoes are nutrient-dense and packed with greens.

    Get the recipe from Last Ingredient.

  • Chickpea Blondies

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (16)

    The fudgy center of these chickpea blondies will give you daydreams for weeks after you taste them.

    Get the recipe from Nora Cooks.

  • Pumpkin Pie Chickpeas

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (17)

    Roasted chickpeas are a great snack, and these pumpkin pie flavored ones deliver a little something sweet. It will help you resist the temptation on your next trip to Trader Joe’s.

    Get the recipe from Produce on Parade.

  • Vegan BBQ Chickpea Salad

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (18)

    This vegan taco salad is as good as any meat-and-cheese-fillled version you’ve ever tried.

    Get the recipe from Running on Real Food.

  • Sweet Potato and Chickpea Patties

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (19)

    Forget deep-fried falafels—these sweet, savory chickpea patties are the only chickpea cake you need.

    Get the recipe from Cupful of Kale.

  • Baked Buffalo Chickpea Taquitos

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (20)

    There’s not much better than a fresh taquito, and these Buffalo chickpea ones are no exception.

    Get the recipe from Ela Vegan.

  • Pin it!

    17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (21)

    Pin it now, and try these flavorful and healthy chickpea recipes!

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17 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Chickpeas (2024)

FAQs

What do you do with a can of chickpeas? ›

How to Use Canned Chickpeas:
  1. Make a quick but better-than-store-bought hummus.
  2. Roast canned chickpeas.
  3. Pan fry chickpeas.
  4. Mash chickpeas for a sandwich.
  5. Mash 'em in a quesadilla.
  6. Make chana masala.
  7. Or another chickpea curry!
  8. Bulk up your soups or stews.
Feb 13, 2021

Can you just eat chickpeas from a can? ›

Canned chickpeas are pre-cooked chickpeas. You can eat canned chickpeas straight out of the can! (Just be sure to rinse them off before chowing down to wash out excess sodium) Otherwise, you can roast them or turn them into any number of delicious dishes, like these here.

What is the liquid called in a can of chickpeas? ›

Aquafaba is the liquid in a can of chickpeas. (We're not talking about the liquid in a can of any other beans. Stick to the liquid from canned chickpeas—it works best.) This starchy liquid is a great binder directly from the can, but what really makes it magical is that it whips and creates a foam.

Is it healthy to eat canned chickpeas? ›

Great news! Both canned and dried varieties of chickpeas are nutritious! When purchasing canned varieties, look for those labeled "no salt added" or "low in sodium." Overall, beans are budget-friendly, but dried can often be less expensive and also more flavorful than canned.

Are chickpeas a carb or a protein? ›

Packed with nutrients. Chickpeas boast an impressive nutritional profile. They contain a moderate number of calories, providing 269 per cup (164 grams). Approximately 67% of these calories come from carbs, while the rest comes from protein and fat ( 1 ).

Should you wash chickpeas from a can? ›

If you are using canned chickpeas, drain and rinse them with water to cut the sodium (salt) content by almost a half. Rinse well in cold water to make them easier to digest and less gas-producing.

Are chickpeas and garbanzo beans the same? ›

The honest answer—there's no difference between chickpeas and garbanzo beans. They're just two (of many) different names for the same type of pulse. (Pulses are basically seeds of legume plants.) The word chickpea doesn't come from chickens at all—it's an evolution of the plant's Latin name, cicer arietinum.

Is it OK to eat chickpeas everyday? ›

You can eat at least one serving (28 grams) of chickpeas per day. However, don't eat more than 70 grams a day since that can cause adverse side effects. If you consume too many chickpeas, some side effects you may get include bloating, nausea, and gas. It's important to remember that chickpeas should not be eaten raw.

Do canned chickpeas go bad? ›

Unopened canned chickpeas can last for 3 to 5 years when stored in a cool, dry place. The "best by" or "best if used by" dates on cans are indicative of peak quality rather than safety. Even after these dates, canned chickpeas can remain safe to eat as long as the can's integrity remains uncompromised.

What is the liquid in a can of chickpeas called? ›

Aquafaba is the liquid found in a can of chickpeas or resulting from cooking chickpeas. It is often used as an egg substitute in vegan and allergen-free recipes. The name “aquafaba” came from the Latin words for “water” and “bean,” roughly translating to bean-water.

What is the white stuff in can of chickpeas? ›

What Is It? Aquafaba is the thick liquid that results from soaking or cooking legumes, such as chickpeas, in water for an extended period of time. It's the translucent viscous goop you probably rinse down the drain when you open a can of chickpeas.

Should you use the water from a can of chickpeas? ›

So whether you're soaking fresh chickpeas or using canned, don't throw away the 'juice'. That liquid is a valuable ingredient known as aquafaba. It makes an outstanding egg white substitute, somehow embodying the same viscous texture and ability to whizz into fluff.

What is the healthiest way to eat chickpeas? ›

Chickpeas are found in many cuisines. Stir them into soups, stews and pasta dishes, toss in salads or puree for a healthy appetizer.

How to eat chickpeas from a can? ›

I have also been getting another question which is “are canned chickpeas cooked?” Yes, they are already cooked and ready to eat! You'll just need to drain them and rinse before you use them for your recipe.

Are chickpeas anti-inflammatory? ›

Ingredients like Greek yogurt, raspberries, chickpeas and garlic are both gut-healthy and anti-inflammatory foods. This means these snacks can help aid in healthy digestion as well as relieve symptoms of inflammation like joint stiffness, mental fog and high blood pressure.

What should I do with my chickpeas? ›

These protein-packed legumes have a mild, nutty flavor and are the star ingredient in dishes like humus and falafel. But we use them in many more ways--bean soup, tagine, tossed in orzo, in salads, or even to make an irresistibly crunchy snack! Heck, chickpeas can be the entire meal!

Are chickpeas and garbanzo beans the same thing? ›

The honest answer—there's no difference between chickpeas and garbanzo beans. They're just two (of many) different names for the same type of pulse. (Pulses are basically seeds of legume plants.) The word chickpea doesn't come from chickens at all—it's an evolution of the plant's Latin name, cicer arietinum.

How do chickpeas taste like when cooked? ›

A member of the legume family, chickpeas have a delicious nutty taste, creamy texture and are extremely nutritious. Slightly bigger in size than a pea, chickpeas may be tiny but are certainly well-deserving of their superfood status, being packed full of nutrients and health benefits.

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