Instant Pot Pasta with Chickpeas is a quick and easy meatless meal made with simple pantry ingredients. A budget friendly recipe for lunch or dinner!
If you're looking for a cheap and easy recipe with few ingredients, check out this quick Instant Pot Pasta with Chickpeas. It's super simple, and even my picky eaters loved it!
So, we're definitely meat lovers, but I like to serve meatless meals so that we're not eating meat three times a day. It's definitely easier on the budget!
And you really won't miss the meat here. The chickpeas add texture and a subtle nutty flavor that goes so well with pasta! This also a great beginner Instant Pot recipe!
Budget Friendly Pantry Meal
You can make pasta and chickpeas (pasta e ceci) with just a few items from your pantry. I also toss in a little shredded Parmesan cheese at the end, but it's not essential. Here's what you need:
- Pasta -- I use shell pasta, but any short pasta works
- Canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Spices
- Olive oil
How to Make Pasta with Chickpeas in the Instant Pot
Just add your pasta to the Instant Pot. Then, add your spices and water.
Next, add the can of chickpeas -- don't drain it! Then, add your canned diced tomatoes -- undrained.
Don't stir everything together, just yet. You can mix the ingredients later.
You only need to pressure cook the pasta for 4 minutes. The pot does take a few minutes to reach pressure, but after that, it cooks quickly.
Stir everything together, pour a little olive oil over the pasta, and you're ready to eat! You can sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta when you serve it.
And that's all there is to this easy dinner! Next to making plain pasta in the Instant Pot, this is probably the easiest Instant Pot pasta recipe I've made!
If you have fresh spinach or kale, you can throw some in after pressure cooking. You can also sub chicken or beef stock for the water.
My kids had the leftovers cold the next day!
Instant Pot Pasta with Chickpeas Recipe
Instant Pot Pasta with Chickpeas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound shell pasta
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 15 ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) undrained
- 15 ounce can diced tomatoes undrained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- grated Parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Add the pasta to the Instant Pot, and pour water over pasta
- Add the sea salt, garlic, Italian seasoning and pepper
- Add the chickpeas and tomatoes, but do not stir
- Place lid on pressure cooker, make sure valve is at Sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 4 minutes
- Pot will take a few minutes to reach pressure, then cook for 4 minutes. Allow a 1 minute natural release, then do a gradual quick release for remaining pressure.
- When pin drops, remove lid, stir, drizzle with olive oil and Parmesan cheese, if using, then, serve immediately
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
DT says
How can you adjust this recipe with Penne instead of shells?
Dee says
You can use penne without changing anything.
Sue Royer says
I love chickpeas! This sounds delicious..I can't wait to try your recipe. Maybe tonight! Thank you
Dee says
It's one of our favorite meatless meals! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Sara Welch says
Served this for dinner and it was so delicious! Easy to prep and even my picky eaters gobbled this up!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Sara! Glad it was a hit with the family!
Allyson Zea says
Wow this is right up my husband's alley! YUM!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Allyson. Glad he likes it!
katerina @ diethood.com says
mmm...this sounds incredibly delicious!! My family would LOVE it! 🙂
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
Instant Pot Pasta with Chickpeas looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Dee says
Thanks, Erin! Hope you get a chance to try it!
Kimberly says
This sounds delish and I love the chickpeas for the texture and protein!
Dee says
Thanks, Kimberly. I love the chickpeas with the pasta!
Dorothy Reinhold says
I love how quick and easy this is in the Instant Pot! This looks like a great dinner option.
Dee says
Thank you, Dorothy! We all loved this!
Amanda says
I love making this meal through the week!