16 Chickpea Recipes That Go Beyond Just Hummus (2024)

01 of 16

Falafel Pita Sandwiches

Falafel is aclassic dishmade with chickpeas or fava beans and spices, and it's one of the most popular Middle Eastern street foods. If yours start to fall apart, you can add more flour or an egg for binding, but do it a little at a time to avoid drying out the mixture. Serve them in falafel pita sandwicheswith tahini, tomato, cucumber, red onion, and even pickles or French fries.

02 of 16

Pasta Salad With Chickpeas and Spinach

Add chickpeas and spinach topasta saladfor a delicious twist. Any shape of pasta will do, but smaller, rounder types soak up the sauce best. This version of pasta salad with chickpeas and spinach is lighter than the mayonnaise-laden versions you usually see at the deli counter and the nutty tahini dressing will delight your dinner guests. It's perfect for a picnic side or an easy meal.

03 of 16

Loaded Moroccan-Style Chickpea Pilaf

Thisloaded Moroccan-style chickpea pilafuses chickpeas, red or yellow bell pepper, zucchini, sweet potato, and a variety of spices you might already have in your collection. Don't be intimidated by the list of ingredients: it comes together quickly and doesn't suffer if you sub out one or two of the veggies or spices. It's also vegetarian and vegan-friendly!

04 of 16

Snackable Roasted Chickpeas

Umamisnackable roasted chickpeasmake a great replacement for potato chips, nuts, or other snack foods. Just 15 to 20 minutes in the oven gives the legumes a crispy skin and tender center, perfect for eating by the handful or throwing on a salad, couscous dish, or as part of a roasted vegetable rice bowl. Feel free to play around with the spices, for sweeter or more savory versions.

05 of 16

Grilled Cheese With Beets and Chickpeas

Forget American cheese and white bread. This next-levelgrilled cheese with beets and chickpeas makes a falafel-like patty that gets topped with melty feta for a Middle Eastern take on everyone's favorite simple sandwich. This one takes a little more work thanthe traditional, but it's worth it. Trust us.

06 of 16

Delicious Hummus With Tahini

You might not realize how easy it is to make yourown delicious hummus with tahiniat home. Just blend up a few ingredients and you're on your way to delightful dipping. Save the liquid from canned chickpeas—it makes the hummus thicker and creamier. You can add spices and additional toppings—cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes, diced Kalamata olives, and za'atar all make great additions.

07 of 16

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Chickpeas are the star of this Mediterranean chickpea salad. Cucumber, tomato, red onion, bell pepper, and parsley add fresh crunch, and feta cheese adds a salty bite. The lemon and olive oil dressing is simple but flavorful. Because this salad lacks lettuce, it keeps better than most. Pack it up for lunch or take it to a barbecue.

08 of 16

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

Those of us who love the comfort food appeal ofshepherd's pie,but want to avoid meat know that can be a challenging balance to strike. This recipe for vegetarian shepherd's pie uses sweet potato topping for a more flavorful, lower-carb option, with beans and mushrooms providing a vegetarian-friendly base. Serve it with a leafy green salad to balance out the richness of this main dish casserole.

09 of 16

Easy Chickpea and Coconut Curry

This easy chickpea and coconut currybrings big Indian flavors without a lot of work. Many of the ingredients probably live in your pantry already and it freezes well. Make a big batch and save some for later. It's even better the next day, so plan ahead for an optimal experience. Serve it with some warm naan or pita bread for dipping.

10 of 16

Chickpea Veggie Burger

Forget those dry hockey pucks you find in the freezer aisle and meet your new favoritechickpea veggie burger. This bright, vegetable-packed patty tastes as good as it looks. Make it gluten-free by using chickpea flour and a gluten-free bun.

11 of 16

Egg and Chickpea Tart

Try out a popular Moroccan street food withkalinti, a quiche-likeegg and chickpea tartmade with eggs and chickpea flour. You can find this type of flour at your local Middle Eastern or Asian market, ormake your ownwith dried chickpeas. It tastes best hot, so serve it right away as a light meal or snack. Add harissa or cumin to taste, for extra spice or with a dollop of tzatziki on top.

12 of 16

Chickpea and Brussels Sprout Salad

Many people haven't tried Brussels sprouts raw, but this simplechickpea and Brussels sprout saladwill open your eyes. Shredding the little cabbages gives them a great, leafy texture and the creamy tahini and lemon dressing offsets their bitterness wonderfully. Try it as a light lunch or a delicious side dish.

13 of 16

Tacos With Chickpeas and Cauliflower

Need a vegetarian or vegan-friendly solution to Taco Tuesday? Thesetacos with chickpeas and cauliflowerhave you covered. Roasting the chickpeas gives them a toasty, crunchy texture that goes great with smoky roasted cauliflower. If you don't need the recipe to be vegan, garnish with a little cotija or other crumbly cheese and serve withhomemade guacamole.

14 of 16

Vegetarian Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Thisvegetarian chickpea salad sandwich is a twist on a classicand is a great light lunch. Chickpeas have enough protein to get you over the afternoon slump and the tangy dressing punches the brown bag up a notch. Add whatever fixings you like in tuna, chicken, or egg salad to customize the flavor profile.

15 of 16

Pesto Chickpea Dip

Go gourmet at your next party with thispesto chickpea dip. This recipe calls for prepared pesto sauce, but you can easilymake your own, especially if you have basil to use up from the garden. It tastes great as a dip with pita or tortilla chips or cut-up vegetables. For extra lunchtime pizzazz, use it as a sandwich spread.

16 of 16

Chickpea Flour

This gluten-freechickpea flourmakes a regular appearance in Indian, Moroccan, and Pakistani cuisines and it's really easy to make. All you need is a spice grinder, food processor, and some dried chickpeas. It takes about 10 minutes and can be used for a wide range of other recipes. Store it in a cool, dry place with a tight-fitting lid, just like your other baking supplies.