Indian Butter Chickpeas feature tender chickpeas simmered in an intensely flavorful and aromatic Indian-inspired butter sauce. Either serve it as the main course with rice or as a delicious vegetarian and vegan-friendly side dish.

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Overhead close up of butter chickpeas in grey bowl with rice and spoon.

Butter chicken is an undeniably delicious Indian dish. However, these Indian Butter Chickpeas are just as tasty and easier to make! Finally, a plant-based version of butter chicken that is just as creamy, cozy, and satisfying.

This recipe may also remind you of chana masala, which is typically made from chickpeas braised in a spiced tomato-based curry.

While I wouldn’t call this Indian butter chickpeas recipe authentic, you’re bound to love it if you’re already a fan of butter chicken or chana masala. Be sure to pair each bowl with homemade naan to really take it up a notch!

You’re going to love these butter chickpeas because they’re:

A tasty vegetarian version of classic butter chicken.
Really easy to make vegan as well.
Easier to make than most curry dishes.
A cozy and comforting one-pan meal.

Close up of butter chickpeas swirled with greek yogurt.

Table of Contents show

Ingredients needed

Canned Chickpeas – Aka garbanzo beans. Or, you can swap in some of my instant pot chickpeas.
Olive Oil
Aromatics – Onion, garlic & ginger
Spices – Curry powder, garam masala, chili powder, salt & black pepper
Coconut Milk
Tomato Paste
Fresh Cilantro
Greek Yogurt – For topping. You can leave this off or use plant based yogurt to make vegan butter chickpeas.

How to make it

First, saute the veggies in your skillet. Heat up the oil over medium-high heat, then saute the onion until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and continue cooking until fragrant.

Next, stir in the rest of the flavor. Stir the coconut milk, tomato paste, ginger, curry powder, garam masala, chili powder, salt, and pepper all together in the pan.

Next up are the chickpeas. Add them to the skillet and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Taste and add more salt if needed.

Now that the butter chickpeas are ready, you can serve a scoop over cooked rice with a dollop of Greek yogurt and fresh cilantro on top. Serve and enjoy!

Are butter chickpeas spicy?

No, this butter chickpeas recipe isn’t spicy. If you’d like it to be spicy, feel free to add more chili powder or cayenne to the butter sauce or top the bowl with minced jalapeno or serrano peppers.

Recipe tips and variations

Don’t forget to rinse your beans! The chickpea liquid in the can (AKA aquafaba) isn’t exactly appetizing in curries.
To make this recipe dairy free and vegan, you can either omit the Greek yogurt or swap it with plain vegan yogurt or coconut cream.

Dried chickpeas vs. canned chickpeas

Canned chickpeas are the easiest option because they don’t need to be soaked or cooked beforehand. If all you have are dried chickpeas at home, use my no-soak Instant Pot chickpeas recipe to cook them quickly before putting this recipe together.

White beans vs. chickpeas

No chickpeas at home? Use white beans instead! Navy beans, Great Northern beans, or cannellini beans can all be used in place of the chickpeas.

How to make ahead and store

You can count on butter chickpeas when you need something filling for meal prep or a delicious pre-made dinner:

To store, keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
To freeze, place the cooked and cooled butter chickpeas in an airtight container and freeze for up to 1 month.
To reheat, warm the chickpeas in a saucepan or in the microwave until hot.

Serving suggestions

Although this meal is delicious over basmati rice or quinoa with homemade naan on the side, you can serve it next to a few other Indian-inspired dishes when you feel like recreating your favorite Indian takeout menu:

Wine pairings

Indian dishes are heavily spiced and rich with complex flavors and aromas. The key is pairing the complexity with a fruity, cold wine like a sweet Riesling or a floral Rosé.
A crisp Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc also pair well with the spicy, savory flavors.
Or, check out these wine pairings for Indian food.

Overhead shot of butter chickpeas served on bed of brown rice in grey bowl with pita bread.

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Did you try this butter chickpea recipe?

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If you loved this recipe, be sure to try my Instant Pot Butter Chicken and Slow Cooker Butter Chicken recipes too!

PS – If you have leftover coconut milk, try out one of these 45+ recipes that use coconut milk.