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
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.
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.
Impress the family by making this authentic Spanish-style squid, slow-cooked with chickpeas and chorizo. Chickpeas are an essential ingredient in Spanish cuisine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
(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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Anna Bailey is the editor of GoodTo. She joined the team in June 2018 but has been a lifestyle writer and online editor for more than 14 years. Anna graduated from Bournemouth University in 2004 with a degree in Multimedia Journalism and went on to gain her NCTJ and NCE journalism qualifications. She began her career in local journalism, working as a reporter for the Basingstoke Gazette in Hampshire. As Lifestyle Editor for ITV.com she managed the websites for the broadcaster’s best-loved shows including This Morning, Loose Women, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Coleen's Real Women, and Britain's Best Dish. Before joining Goodto.com she was also a Features Editor at MSN UK and Digital Lifestyle Editor for the broadcaster UKTV. She’s also contributed to The Mirror, The Sun, LoveFood, LoveExploring, and TBSeen.
