Lemon Chickpea Pasta 🍋🧄🥣🍝 Bright, Creamy, and Protein-Packed With Tangy Citrus and Garlicky Chickpeas

This is pasta that eats like comfort food but feels like a reset — chickpeas simmered with garlic, lemon, and olive oil until soft and savory, then mashed into a creamy sauce that coats every noodle.

It’s fast, filling, and vegan-friendly, with pantry ingredients doing the heavy lifting.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

For the pasta

• 8 oz spaghetti, linguine, or rigatoni
• Salted water for boiling
• ¼–½ cup reserved pasta water

For the chickpea sauce

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced or thinly sliced
• 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and black pepper to taste

To finish

• 2 tbsp chopped parsley or basil
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast or Parmesan (optional)
• Extra lemon zest or juice
• Drizzle of olive oil or chili oil

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the pasta
Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.

Step 2: Sauté the chickpeas
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Add garlic and chili flakes. Sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Add chickpeas, season with salt and pepper, and cook 3–4 minutes until lightly golden.

Step 3: Mash and build the sauce
Mash some of the chickpeas in the skillet with the back of a spoon to create a chunky texture. Add lemon zest and juice. Stir in a splash of pasta water to make it saucy and glossy.

Step 4: Combine and toss
Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together with more pasta water as needed to coat. Stir in herbs and nutritional yeast or Parmesan if using. Adjust seasoning.

Step 5: Serve hot
Plate with extra lemon, herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil or chili oil.

Flavor Variations

• Add spinach, kale, or arugula for greens
• Stir in sun-dried tomatoes or capers for punch
• Use tahini or cashew cream for added richness
• Swap parsley for dill or mint for a different vibe
• Add crispy breadcrumbs or toasted nuts for texture

Pro Tips

• Use fresh lemon zest — it carries more aroma than juice alone
• Mashing chickpeas creates creaminess without dairy
• Salt chickpeas early to infuse more flavor
• Don’t skip the pasta water — it’s your sauce binder
• Taste at the end — lemon sharpness should balance the richness

Final Thoughts

Lemon Chickpea Pasta is vibrant, comforting, and full of plant-powered flavor — the kind of meal that’s as good for weeknights as it is for clean-out-the-fridge days. Creamy, zesty, and endlessly riffable.

Mash it. Zest it. Let the lemon lead. 🍋🧄🥣🍝

🍝 Pasta Recipes Collection

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