If you’re looking for handy recipes you can make from what’s already in the store cupboard, chickpeas are your best friend. Keep a few tins in the cupboard and you’re never far from a curry, a stew, or a batch of homemade hummus.
Chickpeas tick every box for busy families: they’re cheap to buy, keep for ages, and are genuinely good for you. These little legumes are packed with protein, fibre, folic acid, iron and zinc, which makes them a smart way to bulk out a meal without reaching for meat every night.
Here are some cheap chickpea recipes that are packed with flavour (and protein!) and popular with the whole family.
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Tasty Chickpea Recipes to Try
Warming Chickpea Stew
This Warming Chickpea Stew uses minced meat, is cheap to make, and is packed full of flavour. Make a double batch and freeze half for a night when you don’t fancy cooking.
Chickpea Curry With Rice
This Indian-spiced Chickpea Curry recipe from Food Network is easy to whip up and ready in less than 30 minutes. Serve it with basmati rice and naan bread.
Tip: Finish it off with a sprinkling of fresh parsley if your kids aren’t too keen on coriander.
You may also enjoy: 10 Super Tasty and Easy Store Cupboard Recipes
Chickpea, Sweet Potato and Chorizo Stew
This Chickpea, Sweet Potato and Chorizo Stew is really easy to throw together and makes a perfect midweek dinner. It’s a firm family favourite in our house.
Herby Chickpea Balls With Tomato Sauce
For a veggie alternative to meatballs, try these Herby Chickpea Balls With Tomato Sauce from BBC Good Food. You can use stale bread whizzed into breadcrumbs and a quick tomato sauce made from passata, so there’s very little waste.
You may also enjoy: 11 of the Best Vegetarian Recipes for a Meatless Monday
Crispy Oven Baked Falafels
Make these delicious Crispy Oven Baked Falafels from The Kitchn using tinned chickpeas, chopped onion, garlic, and a handful of herbs. Make a big batch, have them for dinner one night, then as lunch leftovers the next day. Serve with pita bread, yogurt or tzatziki, lettuce and cucumber.
Pasta with Chickpeas (Pasta e Ceci)
This Pasta with Chickpeas (Pasta e Ceci) recipe is a real budget-friendly family dinner, adapted from Jamie’s Italy by Jamie Oliver.
You may also enjoy: 10 Tempting Vegetarian Pasta Recipes Perfect for Family Dinner
Chickpea Burger Recipe
Try this yummy Chickpea Burger Recipe from Food.com. It includes grated carrot for extra veggie goodness, and uses store cupboard spices to bring the flavour.
One Pot Lemon Pasta With Chickpeas
This vegan recipe for One Pot Lemon Pasta from VNutrition is super easy to make and ready in about 15 minutes. Leeks, spinach, peas and chickpeas all go into the one pot, so there’s minimal washing up and plenty of veggie goodness and protein in every bowl.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are chickpeas actually good for kids?
Yes. Chickpeas are a great source of plant-based protein, fibre, iron, zinc and folic acid, which makes them a handy way to add nutrition to family meals without much extra cost or effort.
Can I use dried chickpeas instead of tinned?
Yes, dried chickpeas work in all of these recipes and are even more budget-friendly. You’ll need to soak them overnight and cook them until tender before using, so they take a bit more planning than tinned chickpeas, which are ready to use straight from the tin.
How long do cooked chickpea dishes keep in the fridge?
Most of these stews, curries and pasta dishes will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days, making them great for meal prepping or lunchbox leftovers.
Can these recipes be frozen?
Stews like the Warming Chickpea Stew and the Chickpea, Sweet Potato and Chorizo Stew freeze particularly well. Pasta dishes are best eaten fresh, but the chickpea and sauce component can often be frozen separately.
My kids don’t like curry spices — can I tone these recipes down?
Definitely. Start with a smaller amount of spice and build up gradually, or swap strong flavours like coriander for milder herbs such as parsley, as suggested in the curry recipe above.
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Related Articles
- 10 Super Tasty and Easy Store Cupboard Recipes
- 11 of the Best Vegetarian Recipes for a Meatless Monday
- 10 Tempting Vegetarian Pasta Recipes Perfect for Family Dinner
- Save More, Eat Better: Download Your Free Weekly Meal Plan
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Loved these ideas? Save this page so you can come back to it next time you’re stuck for a midweek dinner idea, or browse our other family food recipes for more budget-friendly inspiration.
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