Slow Cooker Chickpeas Recipe
3 CommentsJun 09, 2026
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Slowly cooked in the deep rich chili flavor of ancho chili powder, vegetable broth, and a few other pantry staples, this slow cooker chickpeas recipe is one you’ll be glad to have on hand.
We love having these chickpeas on hand to throw into soup recipes such as our slow cooker vegetable soup or my slow-cooker minestrone soup.
Table of Contents
Featured Comment
“This is something I never knew I could do and so easily. Thanks for the recipe.”
– BRUCE
Why Make Chickpeas in the Slow Cooker
If you’ve been looking for a way to cook up your stash of chickpeas, look no further. This nutrient-packed side dish will be the perfect pair for your favorite meat and add a flavorful, filling touch.
People either love them or hate chickpeas, and rightfully so. However, how they’re cooked can change everything! Being part of the legume family, chickpeas have the ability to soak up flavors quite well. That’s what makes it ideal for cooking chickpeas in the slow cooker and pairing them with meals that could use some heartiness.
This slow cooker chickpea recipe makes it easy to cook garbanzo beans and is hands-free! Trust us when we say that cooking dried chickpeas is the way!
Is it Safe to Cook Chickpeas in the Slow Cooker?
There is no safety concern about cooking chickpeas in the slow cooker, unlike kidney beans. If you cook the garbanzo beans on high and make sure they are properly cooked, there won’t be any dangerous toxin levels. See my Slow Cooker FAQs for more information on kidney beans.
Key Ingredients
- Chickpeas: Use one pound of dried chickpeas (often labeled garbanzo beans). Do not presoak.
- Vegetable Broth: Used as a cooking liquid, it creates a soupy base and adds flavor.
- Olive Oil: Most recipes don’t call for this ingredient, but we find that it enhances the flavor and creates a silky texture.
- White Onion: Provides an extra kick in taste.
- Herbs and Seasonings: Salt, pepper, ancho chili powder, cumin, garlic, curly parsley, and bay leaves all play a significant role in giving these chickpeas an incredible taste.
- Lime: This acidic juice balances out the smoke and spice from the other seasonings
How to Make Slow Cooker Chickpeas
- Place the dried chickpeas in the slow cooker.
- Add the herbs, onion, water, and broth. Cook until soft and serve it however you prefer.
How to use Slow Cooker Garbanzo Beans
Once your slow cooker chickpeas are cooked to perfection, consider one of these ways of using them.
- Hummus: Of course, you can’t go wrong with making hummus dip. It will already be flavored and ready for your favorite chip or bread. We love this smooth hummus recipe.
- Toss into recipes: Add more protein to recipes such as slow cooker chicken noodle soup or slow cooker chili. Adds great texture and taste as well!
- Add to Salad: Add a few tablespoons of these chickpeas to a salad for a pop of flavor and added heartiness and healthiness. These taste much better on a salad than canned chickpeas. If you are making a fresh salad with garbanzo beans, also make my easy slow cooker beets!
- As a Side Dish: From chicken to beef, chickpeas like these make a great side option. They can be left as is.
Chickpea FAQs
Luckily, no. And that’s one of the benefits of cooking garbanzo beans in the slow cooker. The foaming is pretty much eliminated due to the low heat, and the will not affect the texture.
Rinsing them in cold water until the water is white before adding them into the slow cooker is good enough. If you were going to cook them differently (like on the stovetop), doing an overnight soak may be necessary.
No, the slow cooker does a great job softening the garbanzo beans without the use of baking soda.
Chickpeas will last in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for 3 months. Please place them in an airtight container.
More Slow Cooker Bean Recipe Ideas
Vegetarian Sweet Potato Chili and Crockpot Red Beans and Rice are hearty meatless meals packed with beans, vegetables, and bold flavor.
Slow Cooker Lima Beans and Slow Cooker Black Beans are easy crockpot side dishes that pair well with everything from barbecue to roasted meats.
15 Bean Soup with Ham is a comforting slow cooker meal loaded with beans, smoky ham, and rich broth for a filling family dinner.
If you tried this Slow Cooker Chickpeas recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Happy Slow Cooking!
Slow Cooker Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 1 lb. dried chickpeas, (often labeled garbanzo beans)
- 1 white onion, peeled and halved
- 5 garlic cloves, left whole
- 1 tsp. fresh cracked black pepper
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tsp. sea salt flakes
- 1 tsp. ancho chili powder, (can use regular chili powder or 1/2 teaspoon read pepper flakes). – Or omit if you want plainly flavored chickpeas.
- 1 Tbsp. lime juice, or lemon juice
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 3 sprigs Curly parsley, (or one teaspoon dried parsely)
Instructions
- Add chickpeas to a colander. Rinse the chickpeas under water until the water runs clear.
- Slice onion in half.
- Combine all ingredients except the onion, bay leaves, and parsley in the slow cooker. Place onion halves into the center. Lay parsley and bay leaves over the top.
- Cover and set the crock pot to high. Cook for 5-6 hours.
- Remove onions, parsley, and bay leaves and discard. Serve in bowls and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Are you using dry out of the bag beans or canned beans?
Dried beans.
This is something I never knew I could do and so easily. Thanks for the recipe.
Bruce