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15+ Chickpea Dinner Recipes
Packed with health benefits, chickpeas are a one-of-a-kind pulse that can make dinner a satisfying and flavorful meal for everyone. These dishes feature chickpeas cooked into curries and stews, tossed in tangy salads and ground into falafel or burgers. Plus, these 20 meals are all well-rated by our readers, earning four- and five-star reviews. You’ll never want to take recipes like our Skillet Curry Chickpea Potpie or our Herb-Marinated Veggie & Chickpea Salad out of your meal rotation.
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Chickpea Grain Bowl with Feta & Tomatoes
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali.
This chickpea-farro grain bowl is a hearty dish that’s packed with plant-based protein, fiber and tons of fresh flavor. Farro, a whole grain with a nutty taste and chewy texture, forms the base and pairs perfectly with tender chickpeas and veggies. If you don’t have farro on hand, you can easily swap in quinoa, brown rice or barley.
High-Protein Caprese Chickpea Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This caprese chickpea salad is a fresh, protein- and fiber-packed, plant-based twist on the classic Italian favorite. It combines creamy mozzarella pearls, juicy cherry tomatoes and fragrant fresh basil with hearty chickpeas for a satisfying dish. A simple balsamic vinaigrette ties everything together with a tangy-sweet finish. It’s quick to prepare, colorful and bursting with summery flavor.
Herb-Marinated Veggie & Chickpea Salad
Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek.
This herb-marinated veggie-and-chickpea salad is a refreshing, no-cook dish packed with fresh flavors. It brings together crisp raw vegetables and fiber-rich chickpeas, all tossed in a zesty herb dressing that infuses every bite. Since it requires no stove or oven time, it’s perfect for warm days, meal prep or busy weeknights when you want something quick.
Sheet-Pan Chickpeas & Spring Veggies
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Josh Hoggle.
This sheet-pan dinner is a fresh way to celebrate the season. Chickpeas roast alongside tender vegetables on one baking sheet, making cleanup a breeze. Served over a creamy, tangy yogurt base, the warm veggies and chickpeas create a satisfying contrast that feels both comforting and light. It’s perfect as a quick lunch or dinner.
Loaded Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
These loaded chickpea-stuffed sweet potatoes are a hearty and nutritious dinner that combines the natural sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes with the satisfying crunch of crispy chickpeas. The chickpeas, cooked on the stovetop and seasoned to perfection, add a boost of fiber and plant-based protein, making this dish both filling and flavorful.
Roasted Veggies with Halloumi & Chickpeas
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
This sheet-pan halloumi, chickpea and veggie recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner with easy cleanup. Chickpeas and halloumi provide protein to make this dish filling and satisfying. Roasting everything on the same sheet pan creates crispy, caramelized bites that meld beautifully with the creamy yogurt spread underneath.
Cauliflower Tikka Masala with Chickpeas
In this vegetarian riff on a popular Indian dish, we swap in cauliflower and chickpeas for the chicken in tikka masala. The cauliflower’s nooks and crannies are particularly good at soaking up all the intense flavors of the sauce. Serve over rice for an easy healthy dinner that’s ready in just 20 minutes.
Chickpea Chopped Salad with Pita Chips
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
This chickpea, cucumber and tomato salad is fresh and delicious. Packed with crunchy pita chips, creamy feta and briny olives, this salad delivers vibrant flavors in every bite. Enjoy it as a side dish or add grilled or roasted chicken or salmon to make it a main dish.
Marry Me Chickpea Soup with Kale
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This creamy chickpea soup was inspired by Marry Me Chicken, a dish that features chicken and sun-dried tomatoes. We gave this dish a plant-based spin by swapping out the chicken for chickpeas and kale to create a cozy, warming meal perfect for cooler weather.
Skillet Curry Chickpea Potpie
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower
Treat yourself to this chickpea potpie, featuring 10 grams of fiber enveloped in a fragrant blend of spices and a creamy coconut milk-based sauce. We streamline the prep by cooking everything in one skillet and topping it with a shingled layer of puff pastry, eliminating the need for a bottom crust. This way, you can enjoy a delicious dinner in just about an hour.
Chole Puri (Chickpea Curry with Fried Bread)
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Chole puri is a popular North Indian dish featuring a chickpea curry flavored with an aromatic mix of spices (chole) and served with deep-fried bread (puri). Instead of traditional deep-frying, we opt for a healthier approach by air-frying the puris. If you have a basket-style air fryer, be sure to place them in the center of the basket to prevent the circulating air from folding them as they cook.
Chickpeas alla Vodka
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
This Chickpeas alla Vodka is the ultra-quick, fiber-packed dinner you’ve been waiting for! Chickpeas are swimming in a creamy vodka sauce that gets enhancements from sautéed garlic, onion and vibrant green baby kale. Crispy, toasted whole-wheat bread is perfect for dipping. You can customize this dish easily by using chard or spinach in place of kale.
Roasted Chickpea & Cauliflower Pitas with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Nicole Hopper, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines
Inspired by a trend made popular by Catherine Perez (@plantbasedrd), these pitas are piled high with roasted veggies for a satisfying vegetarian dinner. Be sure to dry the chickpeas well or they won’t crisp up in the oven. Wet chickpeas will also create steam that may prevent the cauliflower from getting nicely browned. Bibb lettuce works well with these pitas, but a handful of arugula leaves would be just as nice. If you have it, a garam masala or shawarma spice blend can be used in place of the spices.
Baked Feta & Tomato Chickpeas
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
This simple baked feta casserole recipe turns cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and chickpeas into a hearty, protein-rich vegetarian meal. After baking, it creates a savory-sweet tomato–olive oil sauce ideal for slathering on pita bread. Feta cheese in brine melts more readily compared to dry, crumbled feta, so it’s worth seeking out. For a different take, replace the chickpeas with creamy white beans.
Marry Me Chickpeas
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Renu Dhar
We put a vegetarian spin on Marry Me Chicken, a dish typically consisting of chicken coated in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce, by swapping in fiber-packed chickpeas as the main ingredient. From the creamy chickpeas to the umami-laden sun-dried tomatoes, you’ll want to sop up every last bit of sauce. To riff on this recipe, you could swap the chickpeas for white beans, like cannellini or navy.
Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & Lemon
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Annie Probst
This cucumber chickpea salad with feta and lemon is tangy and refreshing. You can enjoy it on its own or toss it with greens for an easy lunch or dinner.
Artichoke, Chickpea & Mozzarella Pasta Salad
This healthy pasta salad draws inspiration from a traditional antipasto platter. Artichoke hearts and pepperoncini add briny flavor, while fresh mozzarella lends a creamy note. Serve this pasta salad at your next dinner party or backyard get-together.
Vegan Chickpea Frittata
This vegan chickpea frittata is a delicious breakfast or dinner that is loaded with veggies. Made with chickpea flour, nutritional yeast and plenty of spices, this dish doesn’t skimp on flavor.
5-Ingredient Avocado & Chickpea Salad
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco.
This avocado-and-chickpea salad is a fresh, flavorful dish that comes together in minutes. Made with just five ingredients, it’s as simple as it is satisfying. Creamy avocado pairs perfectly with hearty chickpeas for a filling, plant-based meal. With no cooking required and minimal prep, it’s a perfect quick lunch or dinner.
No-Cook Chickpea, Beet & Quinoa Salad
Ali Redmond
This easy no-cook chickpea salad comes together in minutes. Look for precooked beets in the produce section of the grocery store. Leftover quinoa is great in this salad, but you could also use microwaveable quinoa to save on time. With a bright lemony-garlic dressing, this salad is the perfect side to accompany grilled chicken or roasted salmon.
