These spiced chickpeas with mushroom and garlic work well as a healthy salad topper but they’re also outstanding as a delicious side dish. Chickpea recipes like this one are easy to make, keep well, are naturally gluten-free and a good source of fiber and protein in a plant-based diet.

Originally Posted: June 11, 2014 | Updated: April 26, 2019

Easy vegan spiced chickpeas with mushroom and garlic in a white bowl with a spoon.

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A Perfect Salad Topper

As much as I love eating bowls of veggies all day long, it’s not enough to fill me up and keep me energized throughout the day. I find these chickpeas to be a satisfying and filling addition to salads or as a healthy side dish. They provide an extra boost of protein and carbohydrates to keep my full and energized. They’re yummy as a soup topping too! You could try them on my Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Soup or Coconut Ginger Carrot Soup.

Health Benefits of Chickpeas

Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are great for adding texture, flavour and nutrition to all kinds of recipes and are an easy to use and versatile ingredient. From sweet to savory recipes, they’re a handy staple in a plant-based diet and one of my favourite healthy foods!

There are so many reasons to love them. Let’s take a look. Chickpeas are:

  • a good source of protein
  • rich source of dietary fiber
  • a source of manganese and folate
  • a source of choline 
  • a source of selenium (detoxifies cancer-causing compounds)
  • source of potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B6

How to Cook Dried Chickpeas

You can certainly use canned chickpeas in this recipe but I usually just cook my own dried chickpeas at home. It’s an easy and inexpensive alternative to using canned and also reduces the sodium content as canned chickpeas typically have added salt.

To cook your own chickpeas from scratch:

  1. Place dried chickpeas in a bowl, cover with water and let soak for about 6 hours.
  2. Drain and rinse well.
  3. Place soaked chickpeas in a large pot, cover with water and simmer, covered for about 1 hour until tender.
  4. Use as you would canned chickpeas.

If you’re using canned chickpeas, no problem. Just give them a good rinse before using. I keep canned chickpeas on hand in my pantry too since they’re so convenient for quick meals when you’re short on time and ingredients.

How to Make Spiced Chickpeas

As you’ll see below, this dish is very easy to make. First, you’ll cook up the onions and mushrooms, then add the spices and finally the chickpeas, cooking it all up until browned and heated through

Mushrooms, onions and spices in a skillet with a wooden spoon for making spiced chickpeas.
Sautéed mushrooms and onions in a skillet.
Chickpeas with sautéed mushrooms and garlic in a pan with spices.
Spiced chickpeas in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

Easy vegan spiced chickpeas in a pan with a wooden spoon.

Vegan spiced chickpeas with mushroom and onion in a white bowl with a serving spoon.

Spiced Chickpeas with Mushroom and Garlic

I made these one night when I had next-to-no groceries in the house and they turned out so tasty I decided to make a recipe out of it.

You’ll need about 20 minutes to make this quick and easy recipe and it works well for lunch, dinner or a healthy snack. All you need to do is chop up the mushroom, garlic and onion and cook everything up in a pan. The finished dish is full of delicious spiced flavour and can be enjoyed on its own or added to salads, wraps and buddha bowls.

Feel free to switch up the veggies or add additional veggies like diced bell peppers or a handful of spinach.

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Easy vegan spiced chickpeas with mushroom and garlic in a white bowl with a spoon.

Quick and Easy Spiced Chickpeas

  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x
  • Category: Side
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Vegan, Gluten-Free

This healthy chickpea recipes is extra flavorful thanks to a wonderful blend of spices and yummy mushrooms, garlic and onion. Enjoy this as a side dish, healthy snack or piled on top of a salad.

★★★★★

5 from 7 reviews
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Ingredients

  • 2.5 cups cooked chickpeas (1 19 oz. can, drained and rinsed)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 a medium white onion, diced
  • 2 cups sliced white mushrooms
  • 1 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp thyme

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat or omit the oil and use a splash of water or vegetable broth.
  2. Add the onions, garlic and mushrooms and cook for 6 or 7 minutes, stirring every couple minutes to allow them to start to brown.
  3. Add all the spices and cook for a few more minutes, stirring often.
  4. Add the chickpeas and continue cooking and stirring for 5-10 minutes until heated through and browned.

Notes

Feel free to throw in a handful of spinach at the end of cooking for a chickpea and spinach dish.

This can also be made with black beans, pinto beans or even cooked lentils.

Keywords: spiced chickpeas, vegan chickpea dish, chickpea side dish, easy, healthy, plant-based

More Chickpea Recipes

Spicy Chickpea Wraps with Spinach and Avocado // Easy Vegetable Chickpea Curry // Curried Chickpea Potato Stew // Chickpea Blueberry Salad // Vegan Chickpea Salad with Lemon Tahini Sauce // Beet Hummus