Name: Greek Chickpea Soup
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 small yellow onion (diced); 2 - 3 large carrots (peeled and chopped); 2 celery ribs (chopped); 1 medium zucchini (cut into half-moons); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tsp dried thyme; ¾ tsp dried oregano; ½ tsp crushed red pepper (optional for spice); 1 tsp salt (more to taste); ½ tsp black pepper; 2 15-ounces cans of chickpeas (drained and rinsed); 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth; 3 - 4 cups baby spinach; ¼ cups fresh parsley (chopped); Optional garnishes: fresh parsley, feta cheese, or parmesan cheese

5 from 7 votes

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This light, cozy, and flavorful Greek chickpea soup is made with zucchini, carrots, garbanzo beans, and fresh herbs. This simple 30-minute healthy soup is made in one pot and is sure to be a family favorite!

Greek chickpea soup with zucchini and carrots

The best Greek chickpea soup

It is officially Fall, which means it is soup season! I love a good soup, especially this creamy tomato soup and this turkey lentil soup, but when I feel like something a little lighter and vegan, I make this Greek chickpea soup.

This Greek-inspired soup is high in protein from the garbanzo beans, is super flavorful from the fresh herbs and spices, and is sure to be a family favorite. I love it!

Honestly, I make a huge batch over the weekend and enjoy it for lunch throughout the week. It’s the perfect meal prep recipe.

What’s even better? You can add ground turkey or chicken to this vegan soup for more protein. Although the recipe is vegan and vegetarian, you are more than welcome to customize it to your preferences! That is what is so great about soup recipes.

I am super excited to hear what you think about this chickpea soup! It is one of my favorites.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

The perfect cozy dinner or meal prep lunch.
Made with simple, fresh ingredients.
This soup is vegan and healthy.
Packed with plant-based protein from chickpeas.
Light and flavorful, but still very filling.
Packed with fresh vegetables.
It’s gluten-free.
315 calories per serving.
15 grams of protein per serving.
Try this vegan cauliflower leek soup next!

Ingredients needed

This recipe calls for a handful of simple and healthy ingredients. You’ll need canned chickpeas, vegetable broth, fresh zucchini, and a handful of fresh herbs and veggies. Here is a list of exactly what you will need to make Greek garbanzo bean soup. Remember to read the recipe card below to get exact measurements!

Olive Oil: To start, grab some olive oil or avocado oil to saute the onions.
Yellow Onion: Then, add in your chopped yellow onion for the best base flavor.
Carrots: Plus, three large carrots for extra veggies and vitamin A!
Celery: Then, add in celery for a bit of crunch.
Zucchini: Plus one large zucchini, making this garbanzo bean soup fun and loaded with fresh vegetables.
Garlic: For flavor, add in 3 cloves of minced garlic. It makes this chickpea soup super hearty and flavorful.
Dried Thyme: Don’t forget the dried thyme for that authentic Greek flavor.
Dried Oregano: Plus, the oregano!
Crushed Red pepper: If you want to add heat to this Greek chickpea soup, add crushed red pepper. This ingredient is optional.
Salt & Pepper: Adjust these to your taste.
Chickpeas: We are using canned chickpeas as the protein source in this soup. Add in 2 drained and rinsed cans.
Vegetable Broth or Chicken Broth: You can use either low sodium vegetable broth as the base of this soup or chicken broth (if you are not vegan or vegetarian).
Spinach: For extra health, add some spinach. I promise you can’t taste it.
Fresh Parsley: Fresh parsley adds to most authentic and fresh flavor to this soup.

Kitchen tools required

Chickpea soup is so easy to make. They come together in under 30 minutes with these few kitchen tools:

Soup Pot or Dutch Oven
Knife
Cutting Board
Measuring Tools: 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1 Tablespoon and 1/4 cup.

How to make one-pot Greek chickpea soup

Everyone is going to love this easy dinner recipe. The soup is super flavorful, the veggies are hearty, and there is a lot of vegan protein from the chickpeas! Here are step-by-step instructions for any level cook:

Step 1:

First, add olive oil to a large pot or dutch oven and heat to medium-high.

Step 2:

Next, add the onion. Cook them for 3 – 5 minutes until they are translucent.

Step 3:

Then, add the carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, oregano, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper, and cook for another 2 – 3 minutes.

Step 4:

After that, add in the chickpeas and vegetable broth. Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes.

Step 5:

Finally, add the spinach and fresh parsley. Cook for another 1 – 2 minutes while the spinach wilts. I reccomend serving warm with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, parmesan, or feta on top.

simmering Greek chickpea soup in large dutch oven pot

Ingredient substitutions suggestions

I love this Greek chickpea soup as is, but if you want to customize them to your preferences, be my guest! Here is a list of my recommended ingredient substitutions to help you out.

Yellow Onion: You can substitute the yellow onion with sweet onion, white onion, or even red onion.
Chickpeas: Instead of chickpeas, you can use white beans.
Zucchini: You can use yellow squash instead.
Dried Oregano: Feel free to use 2 Tablespoons of fresh oregano; just remember to remove the leaves from the stem.
Add more protein: Feel free to add in ground turkey or ground chicken. Look below for instructions on how to do that.

Chickpea soup variations

Greek Chickpea Turkey Soup: Add in 1 pound of ground turkey when you are sauteing the onions, cook until ready, then continue on with the recipe. This adds lots of protein to the soup and makes it a hearty meal.
Greek Chickpea Chicken Soup: Add in 1 pound of ground chicken or 2 cups of shredded cook chicken breasts when you are sauteing the onions, cook until ready, then continue on with the recipe. This makes it a Greek-inspired chicken soup!
Lemony Greek Chickpea Soup: Add in the juice from 1 – 2 lemons to make this soup lemony and tangy!
Add Olives: Feel free to add in 1/3 cup of pitted calamata olives for a salty and briny flavor!

Greek chickpea soup in a serving bowl with a spoon

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it healthy?

Yes, this Greek chickpea soup is certainly healthy. First, it is made with fresh and simple ingredients that will leave you feeling good and full. Second, we use chickpeas which are a great source of vegan protein and make this soup gluten-free. Third, we add spinach for extra vitamins. This Greek chickpea soup will leave you feeling food and nourished!

Can I use dried chickpeas?

Yes, you can also use dried chickpeas for this soup; however, you will need to plan ahead. Don’t add them straight to the soup! You need to soak dried chickpeas overnight in water for at least 8-10 hours until they are softer and double in size.

How much protein is in this soup?

There are 15 grams of plant-based protein in this Greek chickpea soup that come from the chickpeas.

Are chickpeas gluten-free?

Yes, chickpeas are 100% gluten-free.

Is this soup vegan?

Yes! This Greek chickpea soup is 100% vegan and plant-based.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time. You can make it a day in advance or in the morning before serving. Just let the soup at room temperature before covering the pot with a lid or in aluminum foil. If you are making it the morning of, you can keep it at room temperature before warming again. If you make it a day in advance, I recommend storing it in the fridge.

Are garbanzo beans and chickpeas the same thing?

Yes, garbanzo beans and chickpeas are the same beans. In America, we typically refer to them as “chickpeas,” while they are referred to as garbanzo beans in the UK.

Can I add ground turkey or chicken to the soup?

Yes! Adding cooked ground chicken or ground turkey is a great way to add more protein to this meal. To do this, add the raw ground meat in with the onions and use a wooden spoon to break it up as it cooks. Then, continue on with the recipe as instructed.

How to store and reheat leftovers:

Storing: Place leftovers into one large or individual airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 4 – 5 days.

Reheating: For best results, place the soup in a microwave-safe bowl and reheat for 30 – 90 seconds until warm. You can also reheat by adding the soup to a large pot on the stovetop on low, stirring intermittently until warm.

chickpea soup with zucchini, parsley, carrots and spinach

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Did you make this recipe?

If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don’t forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!

Greek Chickpea Soup

5 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Serving servings

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 – 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 medium zucchini, cut into half-moons
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried thyme
¾ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp crushed red pepper, optional for spice
1 tsp salt, more to taste
½ tsp black pepper
2 15-ounces cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth
3 – 4 cups baby spinach
¼ cups fresh parsley, chopped
Optional garnishes: fresh parsley, feta cheese, or parmesan cheese

Instructions

Add olive oil to a large pot or dutch oven and heat to medium-high.
Add the onion and cook for 3 – 5 minutes until they are translucent.
Add the carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, oregano, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper, and cook for another 2 – 3 minutes.
Add in chickpeas and vegetable broth. Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add in spinach and fresh parsley. Cook for another 1 – 2 minutes while the spinach wilts.
Serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh parsley on top.

Notes

Adding Chicken or Turkey: Adding cooked ground chicken or ground turkey is a great way to add more protein to this meal. To do this, add the raw ground meat in with the onions and use a wooden spoon to break it up as it cooks. Then, continue on with the recipe as instructed.