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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Main Dish Recipes

    Pan Fried Chickpeas

    By: Amy Katz · Published: Feb 21, 2023 · Last modified: Feb 21, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe - Print - Pin
    Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan
    Bowl of seasoned chickpeas with a lemon wedge and a bowl of salad in the background with text overlay Pan Fried Chickpeas.

    Seasoned Pan Fried Chickpeas are easy to make in 15 minutes in a skillet. You'll love the mouthwatering garlicky, smoky, and citrusy Mediterranean flavors. Enjoy this vegan protein option with your favorite sides dishes or as a tasty addition to a salad.

    Bowl of pan fried chickpeas with a lemon wedge with a bowl of salad in the background.

    If I had to choose one ingredient I can't live without, it would have to be chickpeas. Also known as garbanzo beans, these legumes are wonderful in a variety of dishes and cuisines.

    Inspired by both Chickpea Stir Fry and Oven Roasted Chickpeas, I've been known to make Pan Fried Chickpeas several times a week.

    Not only is the texture the perfect combination of crispy and soft, the seasonings can be varied to suit your mood.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and variations
    • Instructions
    • Amy's tip
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More chickpea recipes
    • 📋 Recipe

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • It's easy to make in 15 minutes with only 6 ingredients (plus salt and pepper).
    • The seasoned chickpeas are a delicious plant-based protein that pair well with a variety of side dishes and salads.
    • You can serve them hot or cold, making them perfect for meal prep.

    Ingredients

    Jars of garlic powder, smoked paprika, and ground cumin, salt and pepper shakers, a lemon, a can of chickpeas, and a bottle of olive oil.

    Smoked paprika: There are three types of paprika: sweet, hot, and smoked. For this recipe I like to use smoked paprika, which is produced by smoking and drying peppers. As the name suggests, it imparts a deep, smoky flavor. This variety is commonly used in Mediterranean cooking.

    I purchase my dried herbs and spices from The Spice House. I like the flatpacks which always ship for free.

    Substitutions and variations

    While I chose garlic, smoked paprika, and cumin for the seasoning, you can make Pan Fried Chickpeas with your own flavor combinations like the following:

    • Nutritional yeast, dried dill, and dried parsley
    • Garlic powder, onion powder, and nutritional yeast
    • Italian seasoning, Herbes de Provence, or a mix of oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary
    • Dried cumin, chili powder, and dried coriander with a squeeze of lime juice instead of lemon
    • Your favorite curry powder blend

    For the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Instructions

    Mixing bowl with chickpeas and seasonings and a skillet with the sauted seasoned chickpeas.
    1. In a medium mixing bowl, toss the chickpeas with olive oil and seasoning.
    2. Add them to a hot skillet and saute until heated through and lightly crispy. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

    Amy's tip

    You don't need to remove the chickpea skins. If some are loose, you can peel them off and discard them, if desired.

    Serving suggestions

    Salads with lettuce, green olives, red onion, and chickpeas with bowl of pan fried chickpeas in the background.

    Pan Fried Chickpeas are a versatile plant-based protein. You can enjoy them hot or cold.

    Try them with side dishes such as Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes, Vegan Mac and Cheese, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Carrots.

    Or add them to a green salad with sliced red onions, tangy green olives, and Oil-Free Vegan Avocado Dressing as shown in the above photo. They are also delicious added to a Vegan Greek Salad.

    In additional they work well for packed lunches with other make-ahead dishes like Greek Potato Salad and Vegan Green Bean Salad. You can even enjoy them by the handful as a snack!

    Storing

    Chickpeas can be enjoyed right away or refrigerated for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Serve them hot or cold.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can dried chickpeas be used instead of canned?

    If you want to use dried beans, cook them in advance before making this recipe. You will need ½ cup of dried chickpeas which will yield approximately 1½ cups when cooked.

    Is there a difference between garbanzo beans and chickpeas?

    They are actually the same thing. The word garbanzo comes from Spanish while the word chickpea comes from Latin.

    How do you remove chickpea skins?

    If you don't care for the chickpea skins, you can remove them by rubbing the chickpeas in a clean kitchen towel and discarding the skins before proceeding with the recipe.

    More chickpea recipes

    • Roasted potato wedges, chickpeas, and Brussels sprouts drizzled with sauce and garnished with lemon wedges.
      Chickpea Bowls (Vegan Sheet Pan Dinner)
    • Bowl of chickpea rice pilaf garnished with sprig of fresh parsley and lemon wedge.
      Chickpea Rice Pilaf Recipe
    • Bowl of Chickpea Cucumber Salad next to tomatoes, red onion, and fresh parsley.
      Chickpea Cucumber Salad
    • Bowl of soup with lemon and spoon next to it.
      Chickpea Soup with Potatoes

    And for even more recipes, join the Vegan Mediterranean Diet Recipes Facebook group for support, inspiration, and fun.

    If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars! ★★★★★

    📋 Recipe

    Bowl of pan fried chickpeas garnished with a lemon wedge.

    Pan Fried Chickpeas

    Seasoned Pan Fried Chickpeas are easy to make in 15 minutes in a skillet. Enjoy this vegan protein option with your favorite sides dishes or in a salad.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate Email recipe + ingredient list
    Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Fusion, Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 329kcal
    Author: Amy Katz

    Ingredients

    • 1-15 ounce can chickpeas, (1½ cups cooked) rinsed and drained
    • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • salt and pepper, to taste
    • lemon wedges, for serving
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    Instructions

    • In a medium mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas with the olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and salt and pepper. Toss well to coat.
    • Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the chickpeas and saute, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas are lightly crispy on the outside and heated through. Squeeze lemon over the top and enjoy hot or cold.

    Notes

    Chickpeas can be enjoyed right away or refrigerated for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Serve them hot or cold.
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    Nutrition

    Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 632mg | Potassium: 356mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 287IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutritional information is an estimation only.

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    About Amy

    Amy Katz is a vegan recipe developer, photographer, and Certified Vegan Nutrition Health Coach. She loves sharing delicious plant-based Mediterranean diet recipes that home cooks of all levels can enjoy. Her easy vegan recipes have been featured on HuffPost, LIVESTRONG, Healthline, Parade, VegNews, BuzzFeed, MSN, Greatist, Country Living, Insider, Brit+Co, Well+Good, and more. She lives in Orange County, California with the love of her life, Brad, and their adorable black cat, Ozzy.

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    Hi, I'm Amy! As a Certified Vegan Nutrition Health Coach, my passion is creating vegan Mediterranean diet recipes to inspire everyone to choose plant-based meals more often. At Veggies Save The Day you'll find simple delicious recipes that are easy to make any night of the week.

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