Whether you call them chickpeas or garbanzo beans, there’s no denying these hearty beans are a nutritional powerhouse. They’re packed with protein and fiber, as well as things like folate and iron. To me, they’re one of the easiest ways to make a meatless meal feel, well, meaty. So I always keep at least a couple of cans at the ready in my pantry. It doesn’t take much to turn them into a salad, soup, pasta, or another satisfying meal. Here are 10 recipes that prove just how versatile a can of chickpeas really is:
Healthy Moroccan Chickpea Bowl from A Simple Palate
A pinch of both ground cinnamon and cayenne lend earthy sweetness and spice to these stew-like chickpeas. While they simmer for 30 minutes, cook up a pot of rice or quinoa to serve them over.
Curried Chickpeas with Spinach from Budget Bytes
There’s a whole half a pound of spinach in this pan of curried chickpeas, which means you’ve definitely got a one-bowl dinner on your hands. Though there will be plenty of good things to swipe up with a piece of bread, if you so choose.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad from Love & Lemons
This no-cook salad comes together so quickly, you’ll feel like you’re cheating a little bit. It’s also worth making a double batch because leftovers make a great lunch.
Spicy Tomato Chickpea Pasta from The Bojon Gourmet
Adding chickpeas to your favorite pasta recipe is an easy way to give it a feel-good protein boost. Here, briny olives give the whole dish a punch of flavor.
Creamy Roasted Garlic & Chickpea Soup from The Full Helping
This rich pureed soup tastes so creamy, you’ll swear there’s heavy cream in it but nope, it’s just the power of chickpeas. To get ahead, you can roast the garlic a day or two in advance and store it in the fridge until you need it.
Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpea Tacos from Two Peas and Their Pod
Roasting the chickpeas alongside the cauliflower for these tacos helps them get so nice and crunchy, they’ll easily be the best part of these vegetarian tacos.
Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl from Minimalist Baker
Don’t skip the 3-ingredient tahini sauce for this recipe — it’s the perfect match for the spicy chickpeas and lends creaminess to every bite.
Kale and Chickpea Stew from Naturally Ella
If you’d like to ensure this stew is vegan, it’s easy enough to do so by leaving off the Parmesan garnish. You can also try using other leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard in place of the kale.
Teriyaki Chickpea Stir-Fry from Oh My Veggies
The combination of chickpeas and cashews ensures there is plenty of protein-rich heft to make this a meatless stir-fry one that’s extra satisfying.
The Best Chickpea Veggie Burgers from Choosing Chia
While these veggie burgers are perfect tucked inside a bun, they’re also great served fritter-style on their own with salsa or guacamole for dipping or can be crumbled on top of salads.
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