Chickpeas. We’ve been fans of them forever in the form of falafel and hummus, but there’s so much more that the tiny garbanzo bean is capable of. These 16 recipes showcase a selection of ingenious ways that you can cook with these leading legumes. Featured in everything from salads to snacks to guilt-free desserts, it’s easy to pack a little more protein into your diet all day long!
1. Healthy Chicken Chickpea Chopped Salad: Make this hearty salad packed with protein and veggies for dinner tonight. (via Ambitious Kitchen)
2. Chocolate Chip Cookies: Not only delicious, these cookies are also healthy and naturally gluten-free. In other words, they’re a guilt-free treat to snack on any time. (via Brit + Co)
3. Spicy Roasted Chickpeas: Inspired by a complementary nibble served at Nopalito — a popular Mexican restaurant in San Francisco — these chickpeas are loaded with crunch and spice. (via Pop Sugar)
4. Snickers Eclairs: A blend of flours is key to creating gluten-free baked goods that pass for gluten-ful ones. Garbanzo-fava is just one used to create airy eclair shells. Piped with a whipped peanut butter filling and drizzled with ganache and caramel, these are one indulgent treat. (via A Sage Amalgam)
5. Fresh Chickpea Salad With Lemon and Dill: Make this aromatic salad with canned chickpeas, tomatoes and cucumbers and pack it in your lunchbox for a healthy midday meal. (via Inspired Taste)
6. Chickpea Veggie Burgers: Now, this is one unique double veggie burger. No buns here, your choice of toppings are stuffed between the patties instead! (via Marin Mama Cooks)
7. Buffalo Chickpea Mac ‘n’ Cheese: We’re always looking to add another mac ‘n’ cheese recipe to our rotation; this vegan variety, punctuated with crunchy buffalo-sauced beans, surely makes the cut. (via Vegan Yack Attack)
8. Green Goddess Enchiladas: Roll up these spicy chickpea tomato chile filled tortillas topped with a kale and Greek yogurt sauce for a healthy take on a comfort food fave. (via Eats Well With Others)
9. Chicken + Chickpeas With Pistachio Couscous and Goat Cheese: Thirty minutes, one pot and a few pantry staples are all you need to cook up this flavorful dish — perfect for spicing up your weeknights. (via Half Baked Harvest)
10. Healthy Donuts: Forget about frying. Make these lightened up donuts instead for a morning indulgence that you can feel good about. (via Brit + Co)
11. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Roasted Chickpeas: These crunchy chickpeas get their inspiration from the cereal aisle — a terrific after-school treat to serve your kiddos. (via Running to the Kitchen)
12. Chickpea Flour Tortillas (Vegan, Gluten-free): Chickpea flour, flaxseed meal and water combine to form flexible flour tortillas that everyone will enjoy. (via The Pancake Princess)
13. Strawberry Salad With Lemon Roasted Chickpeas + Lemon Shallot Dressing: A sprinkle of roasted chickpeas is a terrific swap for croutons atop this spring salad. Simply sub the strawberries with another fruit when they’re out of season to transform it into a year-round recipe. (via Edible Perspective)
14. Chocolate Chickpea Truffles: You won’t believe what ingredients go into creating a creamy nougat center for these truffles. Click on over to find out more! (via Keepin’ It Kind)
15. Pan-Roasted Chicken With Harissa Chickpeas: Quick and protein-packed, this roast is a great way to spice up dinnertime. (via Bon Appétit)
16. Healthy(ish) PB Pretzel Cookie Dough Dip: Okay, we wouldn’t go as far as calling this totally healthy, but we will go as far as calling it damn delicious. (via Brit + Co)
What’s your favorite way to use a can of chickpeas? Have you ever experimented with any uncommon applications? Chat with us in the comments!
