50 things to make with tinned chickpeas

Sweet potato and chickpea Balti
(Image credit: Future)

We've rounded up 50 different recipes which use cheap and healthy chickpeas. From curries and homemade hummus to pasta, salads and stews, these dishes make the most of a tin of chickpeas...

Chickpeas are cheap and healthy and can be added to so many different dishes. We've rounded up 50 of our favourite ways to use tinned chickpeas.

From homemade hummus to Moroccan tagines, fancy fish dishes to quick lunchbox ideas, these recipes make the most of the humble chickpea.

They are one of our favourite store-cupboard ingredients, especially the tinned kind, as you can use them straight from the can. Have a few tins on standby and add them to salads, stews, curries and weeknight pasta dishes.

They're a great source of protein and fibre, so add more chickpeas to your diet with our round up of 50 recipe ideas.

Click through to see them all...

Then try our lovely recipes to make with a simple tin of tuna.

Slimming World's chickpea and chilli cakes with minted yogurt dip

Slimming World's chickpea and chilli cakes with minted yogurt dip

You will need: 2 x 400g cans chickpeas

Want to entertain friends without breaking your diet? These impressive little chickpea and chilli cakes from Slimming World make for an ideal starter when served with a bowl of minted yogurt.

Smokey chickpeas

Smokey chickpeas

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 1 x 400g can chickpeas

Snack on nutritious chickpeas in front of the telly instead of crisps. Fried with a little paprika, olive oil and sea salt, these smokey chickpeas have a delicious flavour, and work as part of a Spanish tapas spread, too. 

Spanish-style squid

Spanish-style squid

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 2 x 400g cans chickpeas

Impress the family by making this authentic Spanish-style squid, slow-cooked with chickpeas and chorizo. Chickpeas are an essential ingredient in Spanish cuisine.  

Chickpea pesto salad

Chickpea pesto salad

(Image credit: Victoria Firmston/Getty Images)

You will need: 1 x 400g can chickpeas 

Turn classic Greek salad into a filling lunchbox or side dish by adding canned chickpeas and some pesto. The earthy flavour of the chickpeas goes well with the sweet tomatoes and salty olives. Crumble Feta cheese over the top if you like. 

Sweet potato and griddled prosciutto salad

Sweet potato and griddled prosciutto salad

You will need: 8tbsp tinned chickpeas

Warm enough to eat outside? Get the white wine chilling in the fridge while you throw together this simple but impressive sweet potato and griddled prosciutto salad with chickpeas.

Warm spaghetti with rocket, raisins and chickpeas

Warm spaghetti with rocket, raisins and chickpeas

You will need: 1 x 400g can chickpeas

Chickpeas are packed with protein so they make an excellent alternative to meat in pasta dishes like this simple warm spaghetti with rocket, raisins and chickpeas. 

Chickpea and parsley soup

Chickpea and parsley soup

(Image credit: DebbiSmirnoff/Getty Images)

You will need: 200g tinned chickpeas

Why buy expensive fresh soups from the supermarket when it's so easy to make your own. This nourishing chickpea and parsley soup is full of store cupboard favourites like red lentils, vegetable stock and, of course, those trusty tinned chickpeas. 

Chickpea and courgette eggah

Chickpea and courgette eggah

You will need: 1 x 400g can chickpeas

For a change from tortillas and frittatas, whip up an eggah - an authentic Arabian omelette. This one is packed with nutty chickpeas and juicy courgettes and can feed a family of 4 for less than a fiver. 

Tuna and chickpea salad

Tuna and chickpea salad

(Image credit: robynmac/Getty Images)

You will need: 410g tinned chickpeas

Bored of the same old sarnies in your lunchbox? Have a break from bread and fill up with this nutritious tuna and chickpea salad instead - the protein in the fish and pulses will help keep you awake in the afternoon! 

Moroccan chickpea cakes

Moroccan chickpea cakes

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 1 x 400g can chickpeas

These moreish Moroccan chickpea cakes make a perfect lunchbox snack or picnic treat. Roll chickpeas, spring onions and breadcrumbs into balls, flatten into patties and then fry: simples. 

Spicy baked chickpeas

Spicy baked chickpeas

(Image credit: 5second/Getty Images)

You will need: 1 x 400g can chickpeas

Sometimes you just crave something salty to snack on. Next time that craving strikes, make a batch of these spicy baked chickpeas. All you do is drain and dry the canned chickpeas, then roast in the oven with oil and spices. 

Hummus

Hummus

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 200g tinned chickpeas

Stop! Put down that expensive tub of shop-bought hummus and have a go at making your own - it's so much tastier and you get bragging points to boot. Our recipe calls for 200g chickpeas, so double it to use up a whole can and use it up as a dip or spread for lunchbox wraps. 

Meatball tagine

Meatball tagine

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 1 x 400g tin chickpeas

Family love meatballs? Instead of serving them up with spaghetti or mash, try this filling Moroccan meatball tagine which is packed with carrots, dried apricots and chickpeas. 

Couscous, chickpea and salmon salad

Couscous, chickpea and salmon salad

You will need: 75g tinned chickpeas

There's so much goodness in this packed lunch: green salad leaves, omega-3-rich salmon and our old friend chickpeas, which are packed with fibre, protein and iron. The recipe makes enough for 2 but you can easily increase the quantities. 

Carrot and Coriander burgers

Carrot and Coriander burgers

You will need: 410g tinned chickpeas

Mix together grated carrot, chickpeas, egg and lots of delicious herbs and spices to make these diet-friendly carrot and coriander burgers from Slimming World. They're so yummy, the meat-eaters will be after them.

Roasted red pepper and chive falafel

Roasted red pepper and chive falafel

You will need: 2 x 400g tins chickpeas

Mastered basic falafel? Give this Middle-Eastern snack a gourmet twist by whizzing up a batch of these delicious roasted red pepper and chive falafels.

Spiced sweet potato soup with garlicky croutons

Spiced sweet potato soup with garlicky croutons

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 410g tinned chickpeas

Make a batch of sweet potato soup more filling by adding tinned chickpeas to the broth. They add a lovely, nutty taste to the soup when you whizz it up.

Roast vegetable and chickpea salad

Roast vegetable and chickpea salad

You will need: 600g tinned chickpeas

Looking for healthy but filling lunchbox ideas? This salad does the job - it's crammed with different veggies like butternut squash, rocket and aubergines, plus chickpeas for protein and fibre. 

Chickpea and coriander salad

Chickpea and coriander salad

You will need: 250g tinned chickpeas

Yet another great lunchbox or side dish involving chickpeas - where would we be without 'em? This one has a subtle Indian flavour thanks to the coriander, mustard and a surprise ingredient - tea!

Spiced lamb crumble

Spiced lamb crumble

You will need: 410g tinned chickpeas

Crumble doesn't have to be sweet. Swap the sugar for your favourite hard cheese (the recipe uses Cheshire but Cheddar, Red Leicester or Parmesan would be delicious too) and bake this irresistible spiced lamb crumble - perfect comfort grub on rainy days or cold nights.

Citrus salmon

Citrus salmon

You will need: 1 x 400g tin chickpeas

We love this easy one-tray salmon dish which looks impressive served in the tin (put a heatproof mat down first!) when you've got friends over. The salmon sits on a bed of chickpeas, orange slices, mange tout and baby corn.

Cauliflower and radish salad

Cauliflower and radish salad

You will need: 210g tinned chickpeas

Trying to save money and bring healthy lunches to work? Make a batch of this cauliflower and radish salad the night before - add tinned tuna or pre-cooked chicken pieces to make it even more filling.

Spanish-style spaghetti

Spanish-style spaghetti

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 400g tin chickpeas

For a change from spag Bol, give your pasta a Spanish twist. This easy midweek dinner of spaghetti topped with chorizo and chickpeas is sure to become a new family favourite. 

Get the recipe: Spanish-style spaghetti

Mellow-spiced chicken and chickpeas

Mellow-spiced chicken and chickpeas

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 410g tinned chickpeas

Had a hard day? It's easy to break healthy-eating resolutions and cheer yourself up by eating stodge, but this warming dish of chicken and chickpeas is comfort food which is good for you, too. Serve the golden chicken thighs on top of a delicious chicken and chickpea broth with a swirl of yogurt. 

Curry pancakes

Curry pancakes

You will need: 200g tinned chickpeas

Who says pancakes have to be smothered in sugar? Savoury crepe fans will love these Indian-spiced pancakes stuffed with chicken, tomatoes, chickpeas and spinach. 

Sweet potato and chickpea Balti

Sweet potato and chickpea Balti

(Image credit: Future)

You will need: 1 x 400g tin chickpeas

Make a meat-free balti for the family. This is a great recipe if you're short on ingredients as it uses spinach from the freezer and chickpeas and tinned tomatoes from the cupboard. 

Chorizo, chickpea and potato soup

Chorizo, chickpea and potato soup

You will need: 1 x 400g tin chickpeas 

A little chorizo makes the simplest of dishes, like this soup, taste completely delicious. You don't even need to blend this soup - just fry up the chorizo then simmer with the spuds and chickpeas in chicken stock. 

Chana masala

Chana masala

You will need: 2 x 400g tins chickpeas

Chana masala is a classic chickpea dish from Northern India - it's so delicious meat-eaters will love it as much as vegetarians, and we had to include it on this list. Simmer the chickpeas with onions and tomatoes and serve with naan or other Indian breads. 

Spiced Lamb and Marrow Stew

Spiced Lamb and Marrow Stew

You will need: 1 x 400g tin of chickpeas

Marrow is an underrated vegetable - it's full of fibre, iron and vitamins A and C. Simmer it together with chickpeas, tomatoes and fiery Tabasco in this spicy lamb stew. 

Lentil and chickpea soup

Lentil and chickpea soup

You will need: 300g canned chickpeas

Pulses, like chickpeas and lentils, are really good for you, so whizz up a batch of this nourishing lentil and chickpea soup, which is full of bold flavours like paprika and lime.

Quick chickpea and sweet potato curry

Quick chickpea and sweet potato curry

You will need: 2 x 400g cans chickpeas

Got

vegetarians and meat-eaters to keep happy at dinner time? They'll all

love this filling chickpea and sweet potato curry, and you'll love how

quick and easy it is to make. 

Homemade falafel

Homemade falafel

You will need: 2 x 400g tins chickpeas

Try

your hand at making falafel by whizzing together chickpeas in a food

processor (or mash them), then mixing them with spices before frying.

Leave any leftovers to cool then store in a tub in the fridge overnight

to use in lunchboxes the next day. 

Chickpea burgers

Chickpea burgers

You will need: 2 x 400g tins chickpeas

Burgers

and 'healthy' aren't two words you usually hear together, but these

veggie numbers are packed with nutritious chickpeas and hazelnuts, as

well as onion and carrots. Yum. 

Chickpea dhal

Chickpea dhal

(Image credit: Food And Drink/Shutterstock)

You will need: 2 x 400g tins chickpeas

Dhal is often made with lentils, but this easy version uses a handy tin of chickpeas from the cupboard instead. Serve this nutritious dish at your next curry night. Who needs takeaway? 

Greek shepherd's lunch

Greek shepherd's lunch

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 410g tinned chickpeas

Turn a light Greek salad into a properly filling meal by adding chickpeas. This simple salad takes just 10 minutes to throw together so it's ideal for making in the morning for lunchboxes. 

Winter root vegetable tagine

Winter root vegetable tagine

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 1 x 400g tin chickpeas

Tagines are Moroccan stews. They're often made with lamb or chicken, but this one is a great option for vegetarians as it's packed with carrots, parsnips and butternut squash, and of course those trusty chickpeas.

Andalusian-style chorizo with beans

Andalusian-style chorizo with beans

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 410g tinned chickpeas

Pretend you're on holiday in Spain by cooking up a batch of this delicious Andalusian-style chorizo with beans. It's all made in one pot which means minimal washing up. Use chickpeas or cannelini beans, or a mix of the two for more texture. 

Lamb and mint kofta kebab

Lamb and mint kofta kebab

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 410g tinned chickpeas

These lamb and mint kebabs are a world away from a greasy takeaway. Assemble skewers of juicy lamb and mint koftas on a bed of couscous, peppers and chickpeas. 

Avocado couscous salad

Avocado couscous salad

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

You will need: 220g tinned chickpeas

Use our avocado couscous recipe as a template to use up what you've got in the veg drawer and the kitchen cupboards. No pomegranate? Try diced apple or juicy sultanas instead. 

Spiced vegetable stew

Spiced vegetable stew

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

You will need: 410g tinned chickpeas

This spicy stew is packed with delicious veggies like butternut squash, and our old friend the chickpea. Serve it with white or brown rice, quinoa or couscous. 

Red pepper hummus

Red pepper hummus

(Image credit: Martin Lee/Shutterstock)

You will need: 1 x 400g tin chickpeas

If you love red pepper hummus from the supermarket, why not have a go at making your own? Use chargrilled peppers (available in jars or in the picnic foods section) for a delicious smoky flavour. 

Chickpea and potato curry

Chickpea and potato curry

You will need: 300g canned chickpeas

You don't

need meat to fill you up. This hearty chickpea and potato curry is the

perfect dinner to fill hungry tums on busy nights, as it's ready in just

25 minutes. 

Lamb and apricot stew with couscous

Lamb and apricot stew with couscous

You will need: 1 x 400g tin chickpeas

For a change from the usual lamb casserole, make this fragrant lamb and apricot stew and serve it with a big pile of fluffy couscous. Any leftovers will taste delicious the next day, too.

Joe Wicks’ vegan chickpea curry with tomato and spinach

Joe Wicks’ vegan chickpea curry with tomato and spinach

(Image credit: Maja Smend)

You will need:1 x 400g tin chickpeas

Curl up in front of the telly with a comforting and nourishing bowl of this vegan chickpea curry with juicy tomatoes. It only needs 10 minutes prep, so you can watch Corrie while the curry is cooking. 

Vegetarian curry with tofu

Vegetarian curry with tofu

You will need: 200g tinned chickpeas

Get your protein-fix with a double whammy of chickpeas and tofu in this vegetarian (and vegan) curry. You can use Quorn pieces instead of the tofu if you prefer. 

Chicken tagine with couscous

Chicken tagine with couscous

You will need: 210g tinned chickpeas

This chicken tagine is easy enough to make in 20 minutes for the family when you're feeling knackered, and impressive enough to serve up with a bottle or two of wine when you've got friends round. 

Moroccan Mushrooms

Moroccan Mushrooms

You will need: 1 x 400g tin of chickpeas

This speedy vegetarian dinner is ready in just 20 minutes. Serve it the Moroccan way, with plenty of warm, fluffy couscous.

Moroccan chickpea and sweet potato salad

Moroccan chickpea and sweet potato salad

You will need: 2 x 400g can chickpeas

Chickpeas are packed with protein so they make an excellent addition to a salad recipe. Arrange the spinach and rocket on a platter and scatter the chickpeas and sweet potatoes on top.

Sausage and chickpea stew

Sausage and chickpea stew

You will need: 400g tinned chickpeas

Throw together this sausage stew on busy nights when you want something simple but healthy. Our recipe uses potatoes and celery, but you could use broccoli, carrots or frozen veggies too. 

Lamb balti with spinach and chickpeas

Lamb balti with spinach and chickpeas

(Image credit: Tony Briscoe)

You will need: 1 x 400g tin chickpeas

Serve up this filling and nutritious balti for the whole family. Did you know spinach and chickpeas are a classic combo.

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Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 12 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies