Everyone has a can of chickpeas sitting in their pantry, and it’s probably been there for months. You bought it with good intentions, but now it’s just staring back at you every time you open the cabinet. It’s time to stop ignoring it! Chickpeas are way more versatile than they get credit for, and these dinner ideas prove it.
Kung Pao Chickpeas
This vegan take on Kung Pao uses chickpeas as the main protein, with a sauce that delivers bold flavors. It’s a quick and satisfying dinner, perfect for when you’re craving takeout at home.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chickpeas
Creamy Turmeric Chicken with Chickpeas
Chickpeas and chicken come together in this one-skillet dinner. With turmeric and other spices, this dish is rich in flavor and ready in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Turmeric Chicken with Chickpeas
Spicy Bacon Chickpea Burgers
Chickpeas make up the base of these spicy burgers, mixed with bacon for a flavorful twist on burger night. A fun, easy option for when you want to try something different.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Bacon Chickpea Burgers
Winter Vegetable Curry
This vegetable curry is filled with hearty vegetables like butternut squash, cauliflower, and kale, with chickpeas added for extra protein and texture. A filling vegetarian dinner option for colder nights.
Get the Recipe: Winter Vegetable Curry
Moroccan Lamb Lentil Stew
Chickpeas and lentils pair with lamb and Moroccan spices in this flavorful stew. It’s a comforting, protein-packed dish that’s perfect for a cozy dinner.
Get the Recipe: Moroccan Lamb Lentil Stew
Sheet Pan Mediterranean Roasted Lamb
A simple yet impressive dinner, this roasted lamb and chickpea sheet pan meal is ready in just 20 minutes. It’s flavorful and easy to clean up, making it a great weeknight option.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Mediterranean Roasted Lamb
Baby Kale Salad
Roasted chickpeas add crunch and protein to this fresh kale salad, topped with apple slices and a tahini dressing. It’s a quick, nutritious dinner option that comes together with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Baby Kale Salad
10 Vegetable Soup
This hearty and nutritious vegetable soup is packed with fresh vegetables and grains, making it a healthy option for any dinner. A can of chickpeas adds a boost of protein and makes this soup even more filling, perfect for cold days.
Get the Recipe: 10 Vegetable Soup
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry
This sweet potato chickpea curry is a great meal-prep option that uses affordable ingredients. It’s easy to make and full of flavor, while the chickpeas provide protein and texture, making it a solid choice for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry
Creamy Three Bean Chicken Stew
This chicken stew combines three types of beans, including chickpeas, for a hearty, protein-rich meal. It’s perfect when you’re in need of something comforting and easy to make during colder weather.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Three Bean Chicken Stew
Sheet Pan Chickpea and Vegetable Medley Dinner
This sheet pan dinner keeps things simple and quick. Chickpeas and a variety of veggies come together for a hearty meal that’s ready in just 30 minutes, making it great for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chickpea and Vegetable Medley Dinner
Mediterranean Lentil Salad with Chickpeas
This Mediterranean lentil and chickpea salad is ready in just 40 minutes and brings together protein-packed legumes with fresh vegetables and salty feta. It’s an easy dish for a light yet filling dinner.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Lentil Salad with Chickpeas
Smashed Curry Chickpea Salad
A mix of smashed chickpeas, raisins, red onion, and a curry sauce creates a sweet and spiced salad that’s perfect as a light dinner or lunch option. It’s easy to prepare and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Smashed Curry Chickpea Salad
Italian Peppers and Chickpeas
Chickpeas pair perfectly with bell peppers, tomatoes, and Italian spices for a fast, flavorful dinner. Serve it over grains or with crusty bread for a complete meal in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Italian Peppers and Chickpeas
Chickpea Tacos
These quick chickpea tacos are ready in 20 minutes, using pantry staples and fresh ingredients. The chickpeas give these tacos a great texture and make them a satisfying plant-based option for any night of the week.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea Tacos
Mixed Bean Salad
This simple mixed bean salad comes together in just 20 minutes and is a great side dish or light meal. Chickpeas add to the variety of beans, making this salad filling and full of fiber.
Get the Recipe: Mixed Bean Salad
Very Veggie Chili
A hearty veggie chili loaded with protein and fiber, this recipe makes good use of chickpeas and other beans. You won’t miss the meat in this satisfying dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Very Veggie Chili
Hearty Vegetable Stew Recipe
This vegetable stew combines butternut squash, asparagus, onion, and spinach with chickpeas for a filling and nutritious meal. It’s a great way to use a can of chickpeas to bulk up a vegetable-based dinner.
Get the Recipe: Hearty Vegetable Stew Recipe
Chana Chaat (Chickpea Chaat)
This easy chickpea chaat is a tangy, flavorful dish that can be ready in just 10 minutes. It’s a light yet satisfying option for a side dish or quick snack, and the chickpeas provide plenty of protein.
Get the Recipe: Chana Chaat (Chickpea Chaat)
Chickpea and Eggplant Curry
Chickpeas and eggplant are cooked in a rich tomato-based sauce for a budget-friendly curry. It’s a filling meal that’s easy to whip up for meatless Mondays or any weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea and Eggplant Curry
Coconut Chickpea Sweet Potato Soup
This coconut chickpea and sweet potato soup is rich in flavor and full of plant-based protein. Chickpeas help make this a hearty, nourishing soup that works well as a main dish.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Chickpea Sweet Potato Soup
Roasted Chickpea Salad
Roasted chickpeas add a crunchy, flavorful twist to this Mediterranean-inspired salad with avocado, tomatoes, and cucumbers. It’s a light yet filling option for dinner, packed with protein.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Chickpea Salad
Pasta with Chickpeas Recipe
This pasta and chickpeas dish is a simple dinner that uses pantry essentials like canned chickpeas and pasta. It’s a quick, hearty meal perfect for weeknights when you want something comforting.
Get the Recipe: Pasta with Chickpeas Recipe
Slow Cooker Barley & Chickpea Risotto
With the slow cooker doing all the work, this barley and chickpea risotto comes out creamy and packed with flavor. It’s an easy option for a filling, hands-off dinner.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Barley & Chickpea Risotto
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Patties
Roasted sweet potatoes and chickpeas are combined with spices to form these flavorful patties. They’re a fun, nutritious option that works well for dinner with a side salad or grains.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Chickpea Patties
Buffalo Chickpea Quesadilla
Smashed chickpeas with bold buffalo sauce make these quesadillas a perfect meatless dinner option. The chickpeas provide a great texture and are a protein-packed filling.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chickpea Quesadilla
Pasta e Ceci – Italian Pasta and Chickpea Stew
Pasta and chickpeas come together in this classic Italian stew that’s both hearty and flavorful. The chickpeas bulk up the dish, making it a filling dinner with simple ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Pasta e Ceci – Italian Pasta and Chickpea Stew
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
