The secret ingredient for many vegan cooks, chefs, and bakers is beautiful, thick aquafaba (bean water). It is used as an egg replacer in many amazing recipes such as macarons, meringues, cookies, royal icing, and so much more. This amazing vegan nectar leaves us all with a common problem: we are drowning in a surplus of chickpeas (garbanzo beans).
Knowing that I’m not alone in my overwhelming supply of chickpeas, I have compiled a list of the internet’s best vegan recipes starring them so that you may finally reclaim your fridge and freezer back from the garbanzo overlords!
Psst… don’t miss my super chickpea tip at the bottom of the list!
1. Easy Buffalo Chickpea Wraps
These Easy Buffalo Chickpea Wraps are a tasty vegan lunch idea you can prep ahead of time.
2. Spiced Chickpea Smothered Sweet Potato
Spiced Chickpea Smothered Sweet Potato is an easy and hearty meal that is perfect for winter.
3. Avocado Chickpea Salad with Vegan Pesto {Gluten-Free, Vegan}
Avocado Chickpea Salad with Vegan Pesto makes for the perfect lunch recipe that is ready in minutes. Super simple 5 ingredient recipe packed full of flavor and protein. Lunch or grill day appetizers don’t get easier than this!
4. Air Fryer Falafel with Creamy Tahini Sauce
Are you sitting down? You should, because crispy-outside, soft-and tender-inside Falafel without deep frying is enough to make you weak in the knees.
5. Chana Masala (Indian Chickpea Curry) Recipe
This vegan one-pot curry can be made in an Instant Pot as well as a stovetop pressure cooker. Get all the deets on how to make this delicious curry at home!
6. Maple Walnut Sweet Potato Hummus
Perfect for an appetizer or snack that’s also a naturally gluten free and vegan recipe, and you can even pack it in the kids’ lunchboxes. Get your apples, carrots, and crackers ready, and blend up a batch of Maple Walnut Sweet Potato Hummus.
7. Vegetarian Chickpea Salad Recipe
A flavorful and healthy salad that comes together in mere minutes, with minimal effort.
8. The Best Vegan Egg Salad Sandwich With Chickpeas
This plant-based version of the traditional egg sandwich uses chickpeas instead of eggs, vegan mayo, breadcrumbs and black salt along with all the other classic egg salad sandwich ingredients.
9. Easy Vegan Red Thai Curry with Roasted Butternut Squash & Chickpeas
Make your own quick and easy vegan red Thai curry paste and cook this delicious version in next to no time. Prep ahead cooking at its best. Make as fiery or as mild as you like.
10. Easy Homemade Almond Hummus
Easy Homemade Almond Hummus is a tasty switch up to a traditional hummus, using almonds instead of the usual tahini. Serve with toasted baguette slices, pita chips or fresh veggies for a healthy, nutritious snack.
11. Chickpea Potato Soup
Here’s a recipe to comfort you on cold winter nights. If you’re not a fan of chickpeas, you definitely need to try anyway! It’s so simple yet so flavorful - the perfect winter soup.
12. The Ultimate Vegan Chickpea Burgers
You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy these classic chickpea burgers. Simple ingredients, really easy to make, and an incredibly delicious under 30 minute vegan dinner idea!
13. Spanish Chickpeas and Spinach
This Spanish Chickpeas and Spinach is a classic tapas dish that’s easy to make and wonderfully versatile. Simple, hearty vegan comfort food.
14. One-Pot Red Lentil, Squash and Chickpea Dhal
This hearty One-Pot Dhal Curry is packed with red lentils, chickpeas, butternut squash and spinach and ready in just 25 minutes.
16. Vegan Chickpea Tacos with Peach Salsa
Vegan Chickpea Tacos With Peach Salsa is an easy vegan recipe that's packed with the protein of chickpeas and topped with a lime-scented fresh peach salsa!
17. Pasta e Ceci
This Pasta e Ceci one-pot recipe is simple to prepare, yet packed full of satisfying flavour it is one of the ultimate comfort foods.
18. Quick and Easy Mediterranean Rice
This Vegan Rice Dish can be made in less than 20 minutes if you have leftover rice or even quinoa!
19. Beetroot Hummus
An easy and healthy recipe for vibrant beetroot hummus made in a blender. This hummus is a great protein-packed vegan dip!
20. Sloppy Pineapple Chickpea BBQ Sandwich
Sweet and mildly spicy, hearty and delicious, this sloppy sandwich is husband and kid approved! It comes together quickly and easily. You’re gonna want seconds!
21. A Vegetarian Passover: Potato, Tomato, and Olive Stew
This vegetarian Passover entree includes hearty Mediterranean and springtime ingredients like tomatoes, olives, potatoes, and artichoke hearts. And the entire dish can be made in one single pot—a critical quality for one of the kitchen's busiest nights of the year.
More than just recipes...
So, there you have it! You are now armed with 21 amazing recipes to try against your stash of garbanzo beans - and they're not all hummus and curry!
One option remains, and it’s not even a recipe: farm animal sanctuaries and shelters. Give your local sanctuary a call or shoot them a message on Facebook and see if they'd like a delivery of your surplus beans. Most of the time, they will be thrilled with the gift - and the animals will be too!