Instant Pot Chickpeas (With & Without Soaking)

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If you want to make chickpeas from dried beans, there’s no easier or faster way to do it then in the Instant Pot. You don’t even have to pre-soak the chickpeas before putting them in the pressure cooker. It takes just 1 hour to cook these Instant Pot Chickpeas without any pre-soaking.

» You may also like this Simple Instant Pot Quinoa or Instant Pot Baked Beans.

instant pot chickpeas

Why You’ll Love It

  • If you like chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, there are dozens of great recipes you can make with them. Making your own Instant Pot chickpeas at home is a great alternative to canned.
  • Making chickpeas in the Instant Pot cuts the time down to just over an hour, all in. Without an Instant Pot, it can take hours to cook dried chickpeas on the stove or in the Crockpot, and that’s after you’ve soaked them for hours beforehand.
  • The Instant Pot pressure cooker offers precise control over the cooking process, ensuring that chickpeas are consistently cooked to the desired level of tenderness.

Why Use An Instant Pot?

The Instant Pot is one of the most useful kitchen appliances you can buy, because it drastically cuts down on the cooking time for developing flavors in soups and stews, getting tough cuts of meat tender, and even baking a cheesecake. If you don’t have one, check out our guide on which one to buy. Also see our guide to How to Use an Instant Pot and the many accessories you can buy for it.

Instant Pot Duo Plus

To Soak to Not to Soak?

A bowl of dried chickpeas

It might seem like soaking chickpeas before hand, when you’re just going to cook them in the Instant Pot, doesn’t make a lot of sense. Why spend the extra time, right? Well, the main reason to pre-soak chickpeas are two-fold. Of course it will make them cook faster, but it also can breakdown some of the sugars in the beans that are hard to digest. 

If you have an issue with digesting beans – mainly, you get bloating and other unpleasant stomach reactions when eating them – then you should definitely pre-soak the beans. However, not everyone has this reaction. If you find that you’re able to tolerate the un-soaked beans just fine, then there’s not a huge benefit to pre-soaking.

Instant Pot chickpeas take about 30 minutes for pre-soaked beans that have been soaked for 24 hours. By contrast, it takes 1 hour to cook non-soaked beans.

You might be wondering if there’s a taste difference. I have used both methods and I’ve never noticed a difference in taste. There is a slight difference in texture. The pre-soaked beans tend to turn out slightly more tender than non-soaked.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Dried chickpeas – These are also known as garbanzo beans. You can usually find them in bulk at most grocery stores.
  • Water
  • Salt – Peas and beans usually need salt to help bring out their flavor.
  • Bay leaf – The bay leaf is a fragrant leaf used as a culinary herb. You can use it whole, whether dried or fresh, and is typically taken out from the dish after use and not eaten. You can find it in the spice section of the grocery store.

Equipment Needed

Instant Pot Duo Plus
  • Instant Pot – I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus to make all of my recipes, but you can use any size or brand of electric pressure cooker. If you’re using an 8-quart pot, you will need to adjust the amount of liquid accordingly, as it requires more water to build steam.

Expert Tips to Follow

  • Rinse the dried chickpeas well before adding them to the Instant Pot.
  • To make a smoother hummus remove the skin from the Instant Pot chickpea before you blend it all up.
  • Chickpeas are high in protein, they make a great addition to soups, stews, and salads.
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How to Cook Chickpeas in the Instant Pot

It’s fantastically easy to make chickpeas in the Instant Pot. I prefer this method to cooking them on the stove top because they come out nice and tender every time. On the stove top I was always having to cook them a little longer, and a little longer still… because they just wouldn’t get tender.

We have provided both methods, dried and pre-soak chickpeas, for your convenience.

Dried Chickpea (No-Soak Method) Step 1: Combine the Ingredients

soaking chickpeas

Pour the dried chickpeas into a colander and rinse well under running water to remove lose skin and dirt. Combine the dried chickpeas, water, and bay leaf in the Instant Pot.

Step 2: Pressure Cook

Press the Pressure Cook button and set the time, 1:15 for dried chickpeas. Let the machine naturally release pressure for 15 minutes, then release the rest of the pressure manually.

Remove the chickpeas from the liquid and salt as desired.

Pre-soaked Chickpeas Step1: Soak the Chickpeas

Pour the dried chickpeas into a colander and rinse well under running water to remove lose skin and dirt. Put the chickpeas in a large bowl and cover with water up to an inch or two above the chickpeas. Let them soak 8 hours, or overnight.

Step 2: Pressure Cook

When you’re ready to cook them, add the chickpeas AND the soaking water to the bowl of your Instant Pot. Top up with additional water, if needed. Add the bay leaf and close the lid.

Press the Pressure Cook button on the Instant Pot and set the cooking time to 30 minutes. When done, allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes, then manually release the rest. Remove the chickpeas from the cooking liquid. Salt as desired. Enjoy.

chickpeas

How to Use Instant Pot Chickpeas

One of the things about chickpeas I despise is the skin. Yes, chickpeas have skin. It’s a thin layer or membrane that surrounds the chickpea. There’s no harm in eating it. You don’t have to remove it. But I don’t like leaving it on because it makes the chickpeas tougher and the texture isn’t as nice.

If you peel your chickpeas, the outside of the bean is smooth and shiny. Left with the skins on, the outside is rough and dull. If you are making hummus with your chickpeas, you can’t get a really smooth texture without removing the husk. If none of these things bother you, then by all means leave it on, because it’s a bit of a pain to peel them one by one.

Hummus

Chickpea Recipes

Here are some great recipes you can use your chickpeas for:

Frequently Asked Questions

Are chickpeas good for you?

Yes, they are! Chickpeas are abundant in vitamins, minerals, and fiber and have the potential to provide numerous health advantages. Including supporting weight management, enhancing digestive health, and lowering the risk of various diseases. Chickpeas high protein content makes them a superb alternative to meat in a wide array of vegetarian and vegan recipes.

Are garbanzo beans and chickpeas the same thing?

Yes, delicious chickpea goes by many different names. Garbanzo beans being one of them.

Are dried chickpeas better than canned?

Dried chickpeas are more cost-effectiveness and have a better taste, as they are not saturated with preservatives.

How long does it take to cook soaked chickpeas in a pressure cooker?

Let the chickpeas soak 8 hours, or overnight. Then set the cooking time to 30 minutes. When done, allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes, then manually release the rest.

Before You Go

If you liked this article about no-soak chickpeas, you might be interested in some similar recipes. Here are a few more articles we think you might enjoy.

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Instant Pot Chickpeas

Easy Instant Pot Chickpeas

Make these perfectly tender chickpeas in just an hour and a half in the pressure cooker.

Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot

4.93 from 13 votes
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Pressurizing Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 31 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 182 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup (200 g) dried chickpeas
  • 2 1/2 cups (591 ml) water
  • 2 tsp (12 g) salt
  • 1 bay leaf

Instructions
 

  • Put the dried chickpeas directly into the bowl of your Instant Pot. Add the water, salt, and bay leaf. Close the lid.
  • Press the Pressure Cook button on the Instant Pot and set it to 75 minutes. When done, allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes, then manually release the rest of the pressure. Remove the chickpeas from the cooking liquid. Use as desired.

Notes

  • Rinse the dried chickpeas well before adding them to the Instant Pot.
  • To make a smoother hummus remove the skin from the chickpea before you blend it all up.
  • Chickpeas are high in protein, they make a great addition to soups, stews, and salads.

Nutrition

Calories: 182kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 10gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1182mgPotassium: 438mgFiber: 9gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 35IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 3mg
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