20 ways with chickpeas

Get more out of your storecupboard with our budget storecupboard meals and healthy storecupboard ideas, then read our guide which looks into the top reasons to eat more beans and pulses.

20 flavourful chickpea recipes

1. Paneer, chickpea & spinach curry

Put a can of chickpeas to delicious use in this family-friendly veggie curry starring squeaky, golden paneer. This high-fibre dish promises plenty of flavour, with mango chutney providing a fruity sweetness to offset the heat of the curry. Packed full of goodness, it's a great meal to have in the freezer for busy nights. What's more, it's ready in just 30 minutes.

Try more of our quick curry recipes.

2. Curried butter-baked cod with cauliflower & chickpeas

Deliver big flavours with this aromatic cod traybake, combining chunky white fish, chickpeas, cauliflower and spinach. Serve this traybake in the middle of the table with the spinach in a bowl alongside for everyone to help themselves. Try it for a flavour-packed, family-friendly dinner that also happens to be gluten-free.

See more gluten-free dinner recipes.

3. Smoky chickpea salad

Enjoy the layers of flavour and contrast of textures in this vibrant vegan salad, layering crisp, fried chickpeas with crunchy raw broccoli and a smoked paprika dressing. This easy dish can be thrown together in under 20 minutes, perfect for a fast, nutritious lunch. It's healthy and low in fat, too.

Discover more chickpea salad recipes.

4. Spicy prawn & fennel chickpeas

Treat a crowd to this comforting and warming brothy stew. Combining juicy tiger prawns with fennel and chickpeas, it's best served with plenty of crusty white bread on the side to mop up the spicy sauce. This easy-to-make stew has health credentials to boot, being low in calories and fat as well as gluten-free.

Browse through more healthy casserole and stew recipes.

5. Coronation chickpea sandwich filler

Create this veggie version of lunchtime favourite Coronation chicken using chickpeas, then stuff into sandwiches for a levelled-up midday meal. It makes a lovely addition to a summer picnic menu, spooned into rolls or sandwiched between bread slices with a few lettuce leaves. This vegan sandwich filler is a no-cook winner, plus it's ready to go in less than 10 minutes.

Take a look at more vegetarian picnic and vegan picnic recipes.

6. Vegan chickpea curry jacket potatoes

Get some protein into a vegan diet with this nourishing jacket potato recipe, loaded with a deliciously spiced chickpea curry mixture. It's an easy midweek meal or filling lunch that packs a lot of flavour thanks to everyday spices like garlic, ginger, garam masala and turmeric. Finish with a squeeze of lemon, some seasoning and a scattering of coriander leaves.

Dive into more healthy vegan lunch recipes.

7. Orzo & chickpea soup

Rustle up this healthy, low-fat, low-calorie soup combining orzo, chickpeas, veg and a can of chopped tomatoes. We've also added a parmesan rind and rosemary stalks for a real depth of savoury flavour. Perfect for a warming and filling vegetarian dinner, with health benefits to boot. Drizzle over extra virgin olive oil and grated parmesan to serve.

Discover more healthy vegan recipes.

8. Chicken & chickpea curry

Try Chetna Makan's spicy chicken and chickpea curry for a dish that packs in punchy flavour but doesn't require lots of effort. Chicken thighs take centre stage – a budget-friendly cut of meat – along with chickpeas and warming storecupboard spices. When ready to serve, scatter over the coriander and serve with rice or warm naans. It's great to freeze any leftovers for busy days, too.

Check out more chickpea curry recipes.

9. Smoky carrot & chickpea traybake

Feta, carrots, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes and plenty of spices combine to make this easy, veg-packed traybake. Season the traybake to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice, then scatter over the feta mixture and serve with flatbreads for scooping up the carrots and chickpeas. Try it for a nutritious, low-calorie veggie dinner.

Find more healthy traybake recipes.

10. One-pan lamb tagine with chickpeas

Serve Tom Kerridge's easy lamb and chickpea tagine with couscous and spiced yogurt on the side for a flavour-packed feast that feeds up to six. We suggest making this one-pan tagine a day or two ahead to really develop the flavours. It makes entertaining that little bit easier, as all you'll need to do is reheat it.

Take a browse through more lamb tagine recipes.

11. Slow-cooker chickpea stew

Enjoy the depth of flavour that comes with slow-cooking our hearty chickpea stew. Simply tip everything from the pan into the slow cooker along with the chickpeas and their liquid, the tomatoes, tomato purée and the stock, mix well then cook on high for 5 hours, or low for 7 hours. Serve with a scattering of coriander and fluffy couscous for a low-fat, high-fibre dinner.

Check out more of our healthy slow cooker recipes.

12. Spicy chickpea stew

Make a filling meal that encourages healthy gut bacteria with this chickpea and cauliflower stew. With chickpeas being a valuable plant-based protein and full of fibre, this meat-free dish makes for a healthy yet comforting weeknight dinner. Any leftovers will keep covered and chilled for up to three days.

Try more high-fibre recipes.

13. Chicken with crushed harissa chickpeas

Need something speedy for dinner? Try this chicken, coated in flavourful za'atar and served with harissa-spiced chickpeas. It's simple, but seriously delicious, not to mention ready on the table in just 15 minutes. Try it for dinner tonight - we won't be surprised if it takes a spot in your weekly dinner rotation.

Take a browse through more 15-minute dinner recipes.

14. Smoky chickpeas on toast

A comfort lunch or lazy weekday dinner, smoky chickpeas on toast is very easy to make and simply involves bubbling all the ingredients together. The chipotle paste is the scene-stealer, giving the chickpeas a rich and smoky flavour. Serve on delicious crusty bread and fry an egg for the top.

Find more smoky and flavourful pairings in our chipotle collection.

15. Chickpea & coriander burgers

Take a pause on the meat and try out these chickpea and coriander burgers, which are high in fibre and low in fat. Bind the mixture with fresh breadcrumbs and fry in shallow oil to achieve a crispy exterior with gorgeously soft centre.

We’ve got more chickpea burger recipes with flavours of falafel, mushroom and lamb.

16. Chickpea & coconut dhal

This finely spiced chickpea and coconut dhal has a nice simplicity to it. It includes ‘tarka’, a spiced butter that’s poured over the dhal when serving. The dish is wonderfully fragranced and would make a great contribution to Indian fakeaway night.

Treat the family to a midweek vegetarian curry in our collection.

17. Curried spinach, eggs & chickpeas

You’ll find this vegetarian dinner is well-balanced and provides four of your five-a-day. Chickpeas are yet again the perfect accompaniment to a spiced tomato sauce. Hard boil an egg to your liking to top it off. A hearty dish of curried spinach, eggs and chickpeas will not disappoint.

Try more of our egg curries, as well as our healthy winter curry recipes.

18. Harira

Tomato-based, Moroccan harira is a warming soup packed with pulses, like lentils, succulent beef and blended spices. A very satisfying dinner and perfect for a chilly winter’s evening.

Enjoy more Moroccan cuisine in our collection.

19. Chipotle chickpeas with aubergine & pitta

Life is always better with a spicy kick! These chipotle chickpeas with aubergine and pitta are a light lunch option when you want something simple but incredibly tasty.

Sample more chipotle tastiness from our recipe collection.

20. Squid, prawn & chickpea nduja stew

If you love fish, you’ll love this. The squid, prawn and chickpea stew is easily adapted to your favourite fish, but we recommend squid as it’s cheap and great for bulking out dishes. Spreadable Italian nduja sausage is spicy hot and seasons the tomato sauce beautifully, while the chickpeas add a lovely fibrous base. Enjoy on its own or dunk in hunks of fresh bread.

Try out more budget fish recipes in our collection.

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