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I truly make this lemony chickpea soup at least once a month, it’s ridiculously good! Filled with lots of veggies, kale, pasta, and savory Parmesan broth, it’s cozy, simple, and perfect for chilly weather. And, the leftovers make for a great lunch or meal prep option!

A white bowl of chickpea soup on a marble counter next to another bowl of soup, yellow linen, rosemary, and Parmesan.

There are few things I love more in this life than cozying up on the couch with a big bowl of soup, a fluffy blanket, and some wool socks. Now that it’s officially fall, I’m pulling a George Costanza and shifting into soup mode. (Except not really, cause honestly, this is where I live full-time). But I digress. It’s soup time! It’z cozy szn!

Creamy orzo turkey soup and French shallot soup are some of my go-tos, but this garbanzo bean soup is one I come back to time and time again. This is one of those recipes that came about from me just throwing pantry staples into a pot when I was in culinary school and then being utterly shocked how good it came out.

I’ve changed and added a few things during the dozens (hundreds?) of times I’ve made this recipe, but overall, this recipe is true to its roots and mostly uses staple ingredients. Let’s make it!

I make this soup at least once a month

For someone who, no lie, eats soup at least once a week, even in the summer, I’m utterly shocked by the lack of soup recipes on Sunday Table. All that to say, I’m making up for it starting now. We’re off to a great start here, because this is one of my favorite soups of all time. I’m not exaggerating when I say I make it at least once a month, and sometimes, once a week.

  • The soup is cozy, simple, & wholesome.
  • It’s a one-pot wonder, and the leftovers are absolutely outstanding.
  • It’s great for comforting weeknight dinners but fancy enough if you’re cooking for vegetarian & vegan friends.

Pantry staples

Chickpeas, veggies, pasta, Parmesan, and spices in white bowls next to lemons and rosemary on a white marble counter.

Pretty much everything you’ll need are just pantry staples! Here’s the grocery list:

  • Olive oil – we’ll use a bit of oil to cook the veggies and prevent them from sticking to the pan.
  • Carrots, celery, and shallots – a.k.a. mirepoix. Mirepoix is a foundation for thousands of recipes. It adds a ton of flavor, depth, and a hint of sweetness to soups and stews.
  • Garlic – I add garlic to almost every savory recipe, so this is a given. And, it perfectly compliments the Italian-inspired flavors in this recipe.
  • Herbs – fresh rosemary, red pepper flakes, and bay leaves will add a pop of extra flavor. Feel free to use dried herbs in a pinch.
  • Chickpeas – also called ‘garbanzo beans’. I use canned but you can also use dried beans (more on this later).
  • Parmesan – you’ll want to get a block of Parmesan, because we need the rind! The rind is the secret to getting a deep Parmesan flavor in this soup. Plus, freshly-grated cheese tastes so much better anyways.
  • Vegetable broth – I use the Better Than Bouillon vegetable base so I can control the salt/flavor. Any veggie broth will work though!
  • Pasta – something on the smaller side is best. Ditalini, Orecchiette, and Farfalle are all good options.
  • Kale – for extra greens and a little crunch. Frozen spinach is a great sub!
  • Lemon – for brightness. I add it directly to the soup and serve lemon wedges on the side.
  • Salt & pepper – use Morton’s Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper for the best results.

Recipe directions

Six images to making garbanzo bean soup. In photo 1, a wood spoon is spooning carrots, celery, and shallots into a white pot. In photo 2, the spoon has sauteed mirepoix on it. In the third photo, veggie broth is being poured in a white pot of chickpeas and veggies. In photo 4, a hand is pouring pasta into the pot. In photo 5, a hand is placing kale into the soup. In photo 6, a hand is squeezing a lemon into the soup.
Sauté the carrots, celery, shallots, & spices. Add the chickpeas, bay leaves, Parmesan rind, vegetable broth, & water. Cook the pasta until it’s al dente. Lastly, add the kale and lemon juice.
  1. Start by heating the olive oil in a Dutch oven. Add the carrots, celery, shallots, salt, and pepper and cook until the veggies are soft and brown on the edges.
  2. Next, add the garlic, rosemary, and red pepper flakes. Sauté until everything smells amazing.
  3. Add the chickpeas, bay leaves, Parmesan rind, vegetable broth, and some water. Boil for a few minutes to soften the veggies and chickpeas.
  4. Then, add the pasta and cook until it’s al dente. Stir in the kale and mix until it’s just wilted. Finish with a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
  5. Serve the soup with freshly-grated Parmesan, red pepper flakes, more lemon, and black pepper. Enjoy!

Sauté the veggies until they are soft and browned on the edges. This soup doesn’t need to be cooked for a long time, so letting the veggies sauté properly will help you get the best texture (a.k.a. no crunchy veggies)! And, browning the veggies adds a much deeper, more savory flavor.

Slow cooker instructions

Making this soup in the slow cooker is really simple! Here’s how to make it.

  1. Add the shallots, carrots, celery, garlic, rosemary, red pepper flakes, bay leaves, Parmesan rind, vegetable broth, and water to the bowl of a crockpot. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours.
  2. Next, add the chickpeas and cook for about 45 minutes.
  3. Stir in the pasta and cook for 15-20 minutes until the pasta is al dente. Add the kale and mix just until it’s wilted. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Just something to keep in mind – chickpeas only need about an hour to cook in the slow cooker. If you let them cook all day, they’ll get mushy.

Dried chickpeas

I’ve personally never tried using dried chickpeas, but it would totally work. You’ll need about 1 1/2 cups of dried chickpeas to make up 2 cans. You’ll also have to cook the chickpeas in advance. You can’t just add them straight to the soup or they won’t cook properly.

Two white bowls of chickpea soup on a white table next to a mustard yellow linen, lemons, and a wood bowl of pepper flakes.

A make-ahead option

This soup is the perfect make-ahead recipe! I actually think it tastes even better after it’s had some time for the flavors to meld. Once the soup is done, let it cool to room-temperature. Then, store it in airtight containers until you’re ready to eat!

Something to keep in mind is that the pasta will get softer the longer it sits in the liquid. With larger shapes like Orecchiette and Farfalle, it doesn’t bother me too much. But, for for smaller shapes like Ditalini or Orzo, you might want to cook it separately and add it with each serving.

Side dishes

This soup is a meal in itself but I always like serving at least a veggie on the side to complete the meal. Here are some of my favorite side dishes with garbanzo bean soup!

Refrigerate & reheat

This soup makes for the best leftovers! Sometimes, I double the recipe just so I have lunches for the rest of the week. Just place the soup in an airtight container & refrigerate for up to 5 days. To reheat the soup, you can just microwave it until it’s hot or heat it on the stove. I usually prefer the stove method just cause I think it’s easier!

A white bowl with lemony chickpea soup on a white counter next to a yellow linen, wood bowl of red pepper flakes, and rosemary sprigs.

A few more things

  • Use a veggie stock base or low-sodium veggie broth to make sure your soup doesn’t get too salty. You can always add more stock base or salt later!
  • To make this recipe vegan, just leave out the Parmesan. Or sprinkle, nutritional yeast over the top!
  • This recipe will make 4 large servings. If you’re serving other dishes on the side (like sandwiches, bread, salad, etc.) you can probably get 6 servings out of it!

If you make this recipe, I would love it if you left a star rating and review! I read every single comment and love hearing what you think about my recipes. Thank you for supporting Sunday Table!

5 from 1 vote

Lemony Chickpea Soup with Parmesan & Pasta

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
This lemony chickpea soup is one of my favorite cozy dinners for autumn, winter, or any time of the year! It's simple, full of flavor, and makes for great leftovers. I seriously make it at least once a month, it's the best!
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Ingredients

  • 2 Tbs olive oil
  • 1 large shallot, finely diced
  • 3 large carrots, peeled & diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
  • 2 cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 small bay leaves
  • 1 2-3 inch Parmesan rind
  • 6 c low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 2 c water
  • 1 1/2 c pasta shells (Ditalini, Farfalle, Orecchiette, etc.)
  • 6 oz kale, chopped (about 3 cups, packed)
  • 1 lemon
  • Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
  • Red pepper flakes, Parmesan, & lemon wedges, for serving

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven or soup pot

Instructions 

  • In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, carrots, celery, a couple pinches of salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the veggies are soft and browned on the edges, about 6-7 minutes.
  • Next, add the garlic, rosemary, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Stir in the chickpeas, bay leaves, and Parmesan rind.
  • Pour the vegetable broth and water over the chickpea-veggie mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and let the soup cook for 5-10 minutes to meld the flavors.
  • Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions. During the last 1-2 minutes of cooking, add the kale and cook just until it's wilted.
  • Remove the soup from the heat. Add the juice of 1/2 the lemon. Taste and add more lemon juice, salt, and pepper, to taste.
  • Serve the soup with freshly-grated Parmesan, red pepper flakes, lemon wedges, and black pepper. Enjoy!

Notes

The Parmesan rind is the secret to getting a deep, savory flavor in this soup! I just buy a block of Parmesan, use the rind for the broth, and grate the rest of the Parmesan for serving.
If you’re a fan of spice, add more red pepper flakes. If you’re sensitive, add less. I like to start with 1/2 teaspoon and add more as garnish.
If you’re worried about the pasta getting soggy in leftovers, cook it separately and add it to individual servings. Just toss it with a bit of olive oil so it doesn’t get sticky in the fridge.
Cuisine: American
Course: Soup
Author: Sara Lynn Hunt Broka
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 433kcal, Carbohydrates: 66g, Protein: 19.3g, Fat: 10.9g, Saturated Fat: 1.5g, Sodium: 469mg, Potassium: 875mg, Fiber: 12.7g, Sugar: 8.5g, Calcium: 172mg, Iron: 6mg
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