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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. We’re always racking our brains trying to come up with cheap but flavorful meal ideas, and we always end up coming back to chickpeas.
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.
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.
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Marry Me Chickpeas
Image Credit: Nora Cooks. You may have heard of Marry Me chicken, but chickpeas in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce with spinach are just as tasty, and packed with even more fiber. You can use store-bought unsweetened vegan creamer, coconut milk, or homemade cashew cream for the sauce.
Get the recipe from Nora Cooks.
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Sheet Pan Cheeseburger Vegetable Bake
Image Credit: Vegan Richa. Chickpeas and tofu take the place of beef to make this easy weeknight cheeseburger bake. It’s loaded with veggies like bell pepper, onion, and sweet potato, and dressed with two sauces, one that’s a tangy-sweet mix of ketchup, barbecue sauce, and spices, and a garlic mayo dressing made with cashew cream.
Get the recipe from Vegan Richa.
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Black Pepper Chickpea Stir-Fry
Image Credit: Garlic Head. Here’s a take-out fake-out recipe that will save you money. Chickpeas take the place of chicken to make a savory stir-fry loaded with black pepper, an homage to Panda Express’s black pepper chicken. The sauce is made with black pepper, ginger, soy sauce, lime juice, and more, making the chickpeas sing with flavor.
Get the recipe from Garlic Head.
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Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Chickpea Cookies
Image Credit: My Farm and Table. Chickpeas are the secret ingredient in these peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. You can’t detect their flavor, leaving room for the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and maple syrup in the recipe to shine through.
Get the recipe from My Farm and Table.
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Caramelized Eggplant Hummus
Image Credit: Urban Farm & Kitchen. Top a silky bowl of tahini-rich chickpea hummus with caramelized eggplant and serve with flat breads and veggies as an appetizer or snacky vegan meal.
Get the recipe from Urban Farm & Kitchen.
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Vegan Chickpea Veggie Burgers
Image Credit: Any Reason Vegans. Homemade veggie burgers are a healthier alternative to the frozen kind, which tend to be high in sodium. These burgers are made with a base of chickpeas, boiled potato, and almond flour. The secret to keeping them together is baking them, which results in a firmer veggie burger.
Get the recipe from Any Reason Vegans.
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Mashed Chickpea Salad
Image Credit: Now Cook This. If you’re looking for an easy meal idea, this chickpea salad (it’s a vegetarian sub for tuna or chicken salad) will fit the bill. It’s creamy, satisfying, and loaded with protein and fiber to keep you full.
Get the recipe from Now Cook This.
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Vegan Chickpea Brownies
Image Credit: Chocolate Covered Katie. Chickpeas are mild and full of starch, so they’re great for baking, too!
Get the recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie.
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Firecracker Chickpea Meatballs
Image Credit: Connoisseurus Veg. You don’t need meat to make meatballs. Mind blown, right?
Get the recipe from Connoisseurus Veg.
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Chickpea & Quinoa Salad
Image Credit: Spain on a Fork. 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.
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Vegan Cookie Dough
Image Credit: Joyful Healthy Eats. 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.
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Lemon Orzo Chickpea Pasta Salad
Image Credit: Rainbow Plant Life. 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.
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Sticky Sesame Chickpeas
Image Credit: Eat With Clarity. 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.
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Air-Fryer Chickpeas
Image Credit: My Forking Life. 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.
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Flourless Peanut Butter Chickpea Muffins
Image Credit: Ambitious Kitchen. These gluten-free muffins taste nothing like chickpeas, and everything like peanut butter.
Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.
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Chickpea Fries
Image Credit: Hey Nutrition Lady. These baked “fries” are packed with fiber and plant-based protein.
Get the recipe from Hey Nutrition Lady.
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Chickpea Tikka Masala
Image Credit: Watch What U Eat. 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.
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Persian Herb and Chickpea Stew With Rice
Image Credit: Half Baked Harvest. 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.
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Chickpea and Spinach Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Image Credit: Last Ingredient. 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.
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Chickpea Blondies
Image Credit: Nora Cooks. The fudgy center of these chickpea blondies will give you daydreams for weeks after you taste them.
Get the recipe from Nora Cooks.
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Pumpkin Pie Chickpeas
Image Credit: Produce on Parade. 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.
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Vegan Taco Chickpea Salad
Image Credit: Running on Real Food. 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.
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Sweet Potato and Chickpea Patties
Image Credit: Cupful of Kale. Forget deep-fried falafels—these sweet, savory chickpea patties are the only chickpea cake you need.
Get the recipe from Cupful of Kale.
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Baked Buffalo Chickpea Taquitos
Image Credit: Ela Vegan. There’s not much better than a fresh taquito, and these Buffalo chickpea ones are no exception.
Get the recipe from Ela Vegan.
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Pin it!
Image Credit: Watch What U Eat. Design: Ashley Britton/SheKnows. Pin it now, and try these flavorful and healthy chickpea recipes!
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