25 Healthy Vegetarian Chickpea Recipes You’ll Love – Even Desserts!

written by Sarah Flowers September 4, 2017

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Chickpeas are a delicious and affordable protein source for vegetarian meals. In addition to protein, chickpeas also provide fiber and several key vitamins and minerals we need in our diets. Whether chickpeas are a staple in your diet or you’ve never tried them before, check out this list of 25 Healthy + Delicious Vegetarian Chickpea Recipes below for ideas on how to use chickpeas to create healthy, real food meals, and be sure to comment below to let me know what you think!

For more healthy, plant based recipes, check out the following:

10 Vegan Death By Chocolate Desserts Sure to Please Vegans, Meat Eaters + Everyone in Between

12 Fresh + Fruity Vegan Desserts You Need to Try This Summer

14 Amazingly Decadent Nice Cream Recipes Everyone Will Love

16 Clean Eating Nice Cream Recipes for a Guilt Free Sweet Treat Anytime

25 Amazing Butternut Squash Recipes You Need to Try This Fall + Winter – Even Desserts!

Easy + Delicious Vegetarian Chickpea Recipes

Snacks + Starters

SPICY ROASTED CHICKPEAS

This spicy roasted chickpea recipe is packed with flavor! If you have never tried roasted chickpeas, I highly recommend them. They are a quick and easy snack you can make any time, and they’re filling enough to make a meal out of them! Plus, roasted chickpeas provide a satisfying crunch to help keep you away from unhealthy snacks like potato chips.

From Natural Chow

CINNAMON TOAST CRUNCH ROASTED CHICKPEAS

Roasted chickpeas are usually seasoned with savory flavors, but this recipe provides a unique take on this healthy snack food. Fool your kids with this healthy treat that tastes just like the cereal!

From Running to the Kitchen

CHICKPEA SHAWARMA DIP

This dip is sure to impress your friends at a party or to treat yourself any night of the week. Store bought hummus is topped with shawarma spiced chickpeas; a small parsley salad; and homemade garlic herb sauce. Serve with pita chips and cut vegetables.

From Minimalist Baker

GREEN GODDESS HUMMUS

This recipe is seasoned with Green Goddess Dressing flavors like lemon juice, tarragon, chives, and parsley to make a super creamy hummus.

From Cookie + Kate

ROASTED MOROCCAN CARROT SALAD WITH CHICKPEAS

Roasted carrots, red onion, and chickpeas are seasoned with sweet smoked Spanish paprika, cinnamon, and cumin in this unique Moroccan inspired dish you just have to try!

From Delicious Everyday

EASY SUMMER HERB CHICKPEA CHOPPED SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE

This chickpea chopped salad with goat cheese tastes like summer with butter lettuce, grilled corn, blackberries, tomatoes, red peppers, and fresh herbs in a super flavorful dressing starring olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, chipotle chili powder, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

From Half Baked Harvest

CHICKPEA PANZANELLA

This simple, fresh salad contains chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, bread chunks, feta cheese, lemon zest, basil, and celery leaves. Dressed with lemon juice and good olive oil, it’s like a traditional panzanella with a Greek twist.

From The Clever Carrot

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER + CHICKPEA SOUP

As summer ends and the seasons change, you might like to warm up on chilly nights with this comforting and filling creamy soup.

From Floating Kitchen

VEGAN MEXICAN TEQUILA LIME SOUP

This soup is super healthy with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, avocado, and lime, yet still incredibly flavorful with loads of tasty Mexican spices and Tequila sure to send your taste buds south of the border!

From Veggies Don’t Bite

SMOKY CHICKPEA, RED LENTIL + VEGETABLE SOUP

This warming soup with hearty chickpeas and red lentils and loads of vegetables will give you a comforting immunity boost as cold weather moves in.

From Once Upon a Chef

Main Meals

ROASTED CHICKPEA GYROS

Turn roasted chickpeas into a main meal with this gyro recipe with traditional World’s Best Tzaziki Sauce.

Found on Live Eat Learn

CHICKPEA VEGGIE LOAF WITH SPICY BBQ GLAZE

This plant based take on traditional meatloaf is a great choice for holiday dinners or any time you want a healthy, hearty meal.

From Vegan Richa

EASY THAI CHICKPEA CURRY WITH RICE

Try something new with this Thai Coconut Curry with jasmine rice you can make on the stove in under 30 minutes.

From How Sweet It Is

SMASHED CHICKPEA TACO PIZZA

This recipe is a unique take on traditional taco flavors with an tasty, fresh homemade taco seasoning blend of cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper along with taco sauce and cheddar cheese.

From She Likes Food

VEGAN CHICKPEA ‘MEATBALLS’

These chickpea “meatballs” are a great alternative to regular meatballs for any pasta dish, meatball subs, and more!

From Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen

VEGAN MEDITERRANEAN CHICKPEA BURGERS

Chickpeas, garlic, baby spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes bring a new take on the classic chickpea burger.

From Making Thyme for Health

HEALTHY SESAME-ORANGE GINGER CHICKPEA STIR-FRY

Fresh vegetables in a sesame-orange glaze over hearty quinoa – this dish is way better than takeouta! Stir-fries are super simple and really cheap to make, and this recipe is no exception.

From Ambitious Kitchen

SMASHED CHICKPEA SALAD SANDWICH

Want a nourishing, veggie substitute for egg salad, chicken salad, and tuna salad? This creamy, comforting, and healthy chickpea salad sandwich is sure to satisfy for a quick lunch or simple meal any time.

From Vanilla and Bean

Delicious Desserts

Don’t be afraid to try these desserts. You may not think of beans as a good addition to sweet treats, but you’ll be amazed at how chickpeas compliment and enhance healthy desserts. Chickpeas are especially great in desserts because they allow you to skip the refined flour and fat and instead have a moist cake loaded with protein and filling carbohydrates.

CHOCOLATE CHICKPEA TRUFFLES

These truffles are so good! Made with bittersweet chocolate and a creamy nougat filling composed of chickpeas, cashew butter, rolled oats, and maple syrup, then sprinkled with cacao nibs, these little candies are a wonderful dessert to treat yourself or give as gifts to family and friends!

From Keepin’ It Kind

HEALTHY PUMPKIN BLONDIES

Wow, look how ooey gooey that chocolate is! These blondies look like total decadence, but they’re actually really healthy with whole foods like pumpkin puree, chickpeas, and Medjool dates.

From iFOODreal

STRAWBERRY MUFFINS WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE + CHICKPEAS

Strawberries, white chocolate, lemon zest, honey, and vanilla extract (make your own pure vanilla extract with this recipe) – sounds amazing! With the addition of chickpeas, eggs, and banana, you omit inflammatory flours and processed sugars keeping these muffins super tasty and very healthy with just 100 calories each!

From A Tasty Love Story

PEANUT BUTTER CHICKPEA COOKIE PIE (GLUTEN FREE, SOY FREE, CAN BE NUT FREE!)

This sinfully delicious peanut butter pie can be made nut free – just replace the peanut butter with sunbutter.

From Vegan Richa

CHICKPEA PROTEIN BARS

Protein bars you buy at the store are usually not very healthy. Control what’s in your healthy snacks and satisfy your sweet tooth with these awesome no-bake protein bars with plant based protein powder (my favorite is this brand).

From Power Hungry

PEANUT BUTTER + JELLY COOKIE BARS

These vegan and gluten free PB+J bars bring that childhood staple to a whole new level with chunky natural peanut butter, strawberry chia seed jam, chickpeas, and maple syrup!

From The Honour System

GOOEY PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

These moist and delicious grain free peanut butter chocolate cookies are perfect for after school or work snacks and taste so yummy you’ll even want to make them for the holidays!