Here’s how to cook canned chickpeas so that they taste amazing! This recipe transforms a bland can of beans into a meal in 5 minutes.

Canned chickpeas

Want to know one of our best easy meal tricks? Try these Easy Canned Chickpeas, the way to make a bland can of beans taste amazing in 5 minutes! This one is one of our very best secrets to eating healthy plant based dinners on the regular. Because here’s the thing: we don’t cook from recipes every night. Many nights we’ll make improv dinners using what we find in the pantry or fridge. More often than not, you’ll see these easy chickpeas on the menu! They’re great for healthy lunches, or work as the protein in a grain bowl. Really, we should call these lifesaving chickpeas.

The five ingredients to make canned chickpeas taste amazing

Not everyone knows how to make chickpeas taste great. In fact, quite a few people tell us they can’t handle the flavor or texture of chickpeas. So here’s a trick to try on those loved ones who are chickpea haters. It takes 5 minutes and it makes them taste like something totally new! Here’s what to have on-hand to cook canned chickpeas in a flash (or jump to the recipe to get started):

  • Canned chickpeas: Canned chickpeas are a staple in our pantry: we buy tons at once! You can also use cooked chickpeas, of course. Steer away from reduced sodium, since those are typically very bland.
  • Fresh garlic: In a pinch you can ¼ teaspoon garlic powder. But fresh garlic is the best way to instant flavor.
  • Smoked paprika: The smoked Spanish variety of paprika adds just the right smoky undertone (and you can use it in lots of other recipes). Substitute standard paprika if you can’t find it.
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
Canned chickpeas recipe

How to cook canned chickpeas

Once you’ve got all your ingredients assembled, it’s a piece of cake to cook the canned chickpeas. In fact, it takes only 5 minutes. Here’s what to do:

  • Mince the garlic. The only chopping you’ll need to do mincing one garlic clove. Not a pro at peeling and mincing? Go to How to Mince Garlic.
  • Saute the garlic in olive oil for 1 minute. Cook until you start to smell it and it’s sizzling beautifully, but before it browns. This should take 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  • Cook the canned chickpeas, smoked paprika, and salt for 2 minutes. Cook just until they’re just warmed through. You’ll be amazed at the amount of flavor that comes through in just a few minutes of cooking.

Double this recipe for 4 hearty servings, or leftovers!

This recipe is for 1 can of canned chickpeas. How many servings that equates to depends on how you’re serving it. The can generally indicates that it has 3 servings per container. But if you’re serving it as your main plant based protein, you’ll probably want more like 2 servings per container to stay full.

Making a meal for four? Just double this recipe! It also stays well in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days, so you can make a larger recipe and reheat for eating throughout the week.

How to cook canned chickpeas

Ways to serve these easy canned chickpeas

There are so many ways to serve these canned chickpeas to make an easy lunch or dinner! Here are a few serving suggestions:

  • With pita triangles & fresh veggies. Cut pita bread into triangles, then add sliced tomatoes and cucumbers sprinkled with a little salt. Step it up by sprinkling with feta cheese.
  • As a grain bowl. Add quinoa or rice, fresh veggies, kalamata olives, and tahini sauce. Instant Greek bowl!
  • With roasted veggies. Make roasted veggies and use these chickpeas as the protein.
  • Over a sweet potato. Make a baked sweet potato, then top with tahini sauce and fresh dill and parsley.
  • Chickpea Caesar salad. Add these to classic Caesar salad to make a vegetarian dinner.

There are so many more ways to enjoy chickpeas. How would you serve them?

Vegan quinoa bowl

Chickpeas nutrition

Why eat canned chickpeas? This mighty legume is full of the good stuff. Here are a few reasons to love the garbanzo bean:

  • Rich in plant based protein. 1 cup has 14.5 grams of protein, about 30% of your daily protein needs (source).
  • Excellent source of fiber. 1 cup also has 12.5 grams of fiber, about 50% of your daily need (source).
  • May help you manage your weight. Chickpeas are low calorie density, meaning they provide few calories relative to the nutrients they contain. The high protein and fiber also help to satiate the appetite and reduce calorie intake at meals. (source)

Let us know if you try out this easy canned chickpeas recipe and what you think in the comments below!

More chickpea recipes

We love canned garbanzo beans around here! It’s one of the most useful items in our pantry. Want more ways to use them up? Here are some of our favorite recipes:

This easy canned chickpeas recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Canned chickpeas

Easy Canned Chickpeas


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 to 3 1x

Description

Here’s how to cook canned chickpeas so that they taste amazing! This recipe transforms a bland can of beans into a meal in 5 minutes.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 15-ounce can chickpeas*
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 lemon wedge, optional

Instructions

  1. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Mince the garlic.
  2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but before it browns.
  3. Add the chickpeas, smoked paprika, salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Cook 2 minutes until warmed through. Serve immediately. Keep leftovers refrigerated for 2 to 3 days.

Notes

*Double this recipe to make 4 servings: leftovers save well refrigerated!

  • Category: Component
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Canned chickpeas, how to cook canned chickpeas

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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20 Comments

  1. I made this tonight for dinner and it was so easy and tasty! I had it with rice and definitely will make it again. About 1/2 can of chickpeas is enough for 1 person.

  2. I am really struggling with my weight during this pandemic and you make this look so easy and fun. Thanks for sharing. I hope to enjoy every receipe.

      1. Just tried this now just with a few Vegggies.Simply delicious and so quick.never knew what to do with chick peas now Iwill never forget.Thx so much.🌈

  3. I made these with a spicy (a little mustard, black pepper, and a lot more garlic) twist and then added to a spice (cinnamon, black pepper, and crushed sesame) infused coconut milk soup… an interesting mix but the contrast in textures and flavors were just what I needed.
    Thanks for the inspiration!

  4. Yum. Had a random can of chickpeas in the pantry, and had no clue what to do with them. This was so easy and very yummy. Upped the garlic, and added a bit of tajin to them.

  5. Completely stumbled across this in a brief moment of ‘surely there’s something more I can do than just eat cold, rinsed chickpeas with steamed veg’ (home late and zero motivation). This recipe was so bloody satisfying though!! Doubled the salt and smoked paprika. Even my son thought it was amazing and went back for a second load after finishing his plate. This is going to be a keeper for our family.
    Cheers

  6. Made this for my partner, who is vegetarian, and I ended up eating half of it. It was absolutely delightful! Such a simple recipe but spruces up the chickpeas beautifully.

  7. Thank you soooo much for this recipe! I needed to make a truly quick healthy lunch and this was perfect! I doubled the garlic and smoked paprika because I love the flavor of it. Mixed with brown rice pasta and zucchini. Delicious!

  8. Thanks so much! Just what I needed right now. Healthy protein, super simple, and really tasty!

  9. Ahh! I am obsessed with this recipe. I sub out paprika for curry powder, and add equal amounts of coriander & turmeric powders. Amazing, and super quick and easy!

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