Instant Pot Chickpeas Perfectly Tender

The result is tender, buttery chickpeas perfect for salads, sandwiches, dips, and more! We love using this technique because it’s faster, more consistent, and less hands-on than stovetop methods. Plus, home-cooked chickpeas taste SO much better than store-bought and are far less expensive! Let us show you how it’s done.

How to Cook Chickpeas in an Instant Pot

First, soak the chickpeas in water overnight (or for at least 6-8 hours). This helps them soften and cook more fully. We also like adding a teaspoon of baking soda to soften them even more. We tested unsoaked versions and found that soaked were much better. Unfortunately, the unsoaked chickpeas just would not soften in the center. Once the chickpeas have soaked, they will plump up and expand in size (see photo below). Next, you’ll rinse the soaked chickpeas and add them to the Instant Pot. Then cover with just enough water to submerge them, but not so much that you’ll end up with a lot of excess liquid after cooking. Then add seasonings of choice, if desired, and close the lid. Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes, or up to 17-18 minutes for super buttery, tender chickpeas. Note: If you soaked your chickpeas for longer than 8 hours (overnight or 10+ hours), you may even be able to get away with cooking for 12-14 minutes! Then quick release and drain off the excess cooking liquid. Or, to concentrate the flavors, you can press “Cancel” and then “Sauté” for ~5 minutes (stirring frequently) to evaporate excess liquid.

How Do You Add Flavor to Chickpeas?

While chickpeas have a naturally delicious, slightly sweet and buttery flavor, we enjoy taking them up a notch by adding the following:

Onion & garlic – for a savory, fragrant element. Olive oil – to add richness. Fresh herbs (such as thyme or rosemary) – for earthiness. However, if using chickpeas in a dish that already has a lot of flavor or where the flavors would not be complimentary, omit the herbs. Salt & pepper – because, always!

We hope you LOVE these Instant Pot chickpeas! They’re:CreamyButteryTenderVersatileEasy& Delicious! They’re perfect in nearly any recipe where you might use canned chickpeas. Or enjoy as a quick and easy side for weeknight meals or make a larger batch for meal prep or to freeze for future use!