Put together a wholesome meal filled with comfort and coziness in half an hour with this chickpea rice recipe. It’s a combination of fluffy rice, nutty chickpeas, savory chicken, and sweet bell peppers—all simmered in a vibrant tomato sauce. The result is a simple dish that’s filled with hearty flavors and diverse textures, perfect for when that craving for homemade warmth strikes.
Reasons to Love
- It’s unbelievably easy: Everything about this dish is as simple as can be. It consists of pantry staples that come together in just a few steps. You’ll have no trouble cooking up a cozy and wholesome dish at any given moment.
- It’s delicious: The savory rich chicken thighs, nutty chickpeas, colorful veggies, and fluffy rice provide different layers of gorgeous textures and flavors.
- It’s customizable: Much like most rice dishes, this one is easily adaptable. You can freely adjust the ingredients to fit your personal preference and diet—add more veggies, play around with your favorite condiments, or make it vegan.
Ingredients You'll Need
This recipe only requires a handful of ingredients, most of which are probably already sitting in your pantry. Take a look to see what you’ll need:
- Chickpeas: For convenience, we used canned chickpeas, which only need draining and some dry-patting. You can opt for the dried variety if you want, but it might require a bit more preparation.
- Rice: Our recipe uses long-grain white rice, which is fluffy and tender yet still slightly chewy. However, you can use whichever variety you have at your disposal.
- Chicken: We wanted the meat to have a pronounced taste, so we went with chicken thighs. Plus, this meat cut has some added fat that keeps it juicy even after being cooked for a while. Of course, with the delicious sauce it’s cooked in, even chicken breasts taste amazing for this dish.
- Sauce: This chickpea rice is simmered in a vibrant homemade tomato sauce. We included some tomato paste to intensify the tanginess and thicken the sauce’s texture. Dijon mustard was also used to enhance the tangy undertone.
- Vegetables: Since the dish’s main flavor profile is the tanginess of tomato sauce, we went with red bell peppers for that nice flavor balance. As for aromatics, we went with onion and garlic to infuse into the dish to kick the flavors up a notch.
- Spices: Since both the chickpeas and rice are relatively mild, we went with robust spices like Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and paprika.
Is This Chickpea Rice Healthy?
It certainly is.
Chickpeas are loaded with essential nutrients like protein, fiber, choline, vitamins (A, E, and C), and minerals (magnesium, potassium, iron, etc.). Paired with white rice, chicken, and red bell peppers, this dish is full of nutrients that greatly benefit your health.
Additionally, we made sure to keep the important dietary components within acceptable limits. Following our nutrition guidelines, each serving consists of approximately 2.3 g saturated fat and 580 mg sodium. For a 460-calorie serving, we believe that’s quite reasonable.
For more healthy, easy, and delicious chickpea dishes like this one, don’t forget to check out our Chickpea Stew Recipe, Chickpea Pasta Recipe, and Chickpea Patties Recipe. Better yet, introduce them to your meal rotations for casual lunches and quick dinners filled with great nutrients and marvelous flavors.
How to Store and Reheat
This chickpea rice should last for up to 3 days when kept in airtight containers in the fridge. You can reheat it in the microwave or give it a quick stir on the stovetop over medium heat.
What to Serve With
With a balanced mixture of meat, veggies, and rice, this dish makes a satisfying and wholesome main dish for almost any meal. We suggest pairing it with one of the following salads:
FAQs
1. Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?
Yes, you can. However, note that it might take longer, sometimes twice the time, to cook than white rice. Remember to check the packaging for specific instructions and adjust accordingly.
2. Can I use dried chickpeas instead of canned chickpeas?
As mentioned above, dried chickpeas are acceptable but they take more work. You’ll need to soak them overnight then cook them for several hours so they can become as soft as canned chickpeas.
Chickpea Rice Recipe
Put together a wholesome, comforting, and cozy meal in half an hour with this chickpea rice recipe. It’s a simple dish that’s filled with hearty flavors and diverse textures, perfect for when that craving for homemade warmth strikes.
- cook TIME 25 mins
- prep TIME 7 mins
- total TIME 32 mins
- COURSE Main
- CUISINE Mediterranean
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 459 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 14 oz canned chickpeas
- 10 oz skinless boneless chicken thigh (sliced into medium cubes)
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
- 2 oz red bell pepper (diced)
- 2 oz onion (diced)
- 1 tbsp garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp parsley (chopped)
- 1/2 cup homemade tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp Hunt's tomato paste
- 1 tsp traditional Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep:
Dice the Bell Pepper: Lengthwise slice the sides of the bell peppers, then cut each slice into large strips. Gather the strips and line them horizontally then slice them into large cubes.
Dice the Onion: Cut the onion in half lengthwise. Turn the half vertically and make thin slices but leave the root intact. Then turn the onion horizontally and push the knife crosswise into the slices. Then, thinly slice to make small, diced pieces.
Mince the Garlic: Cut off the root and remove the peel then thinly slice each clove. Rock the knife over the sliced pile a few times to finely mince the garlic.
Cook:
Sauté the Aromatics: In a pan over medium heat, sauté 2 oz onion and 1 tbsp garlic with 2 tbsp olive oil for 2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the Chicken & Condiments: Then add 10 oz skinless boneless chicken thigh, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp traditional Dijon mustard, and 1 tbsp Hunt's tomato paste and stir around for 2 minutes.
Add the Chickpeas & Other Ingredients: Continue adding 2 oz red bell pepper, 14 oz canned chickpeas, 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice, and 1/2 cup homemade tomato sauce and stir around for 30 seconds to mix everything together.
Add the Water: Add 2 cups water, stir around for a bit then close the lid and lower the heat. Let the pan simmer for 20 minutes.
Garnish and Serve: Turn off the heat when time’s up and the food seems well-cooked. Garnish with 2 tbsp parsley. Transfer the food onto serving plates and serve hot.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary Consultant
Luna Regina
Writer, Author
- Michelle SchachleHealthy and delicious chickpea rice.