Peanut Chickpea Protein Bowl (Printable)

Protein-packed bowl with roasted spiced chickpeas, crisp vegetables, grains, and creamy peanut sauce for a satisfying vegetarian meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chickpeas

01 - 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Vegetables and Grains

08 - 2 cups cooked brown rice or quinoa
09 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
10 - 1 cup julienned carrots
11 - 1 cup sliced cucumber
12 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 1/2 cup cooked shelled edamame
14 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Peanut Sauce

15 - 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
16 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
17 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
18 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
19 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili sauce, optional
20 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
21 - 2 to 4 tablespoons warm water

→ Toppings

22 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
23 - Lime wedges for serving
24 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss chickpeas with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on prepared baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and crisp.
03 - Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, sriracha, minced garlic, and 2 tablespoons warm water. Add additional water as needed until sauce reaches smooth, pourable consistency.
04 - Cook rice or quinoa according to package directions if needed. Slice and arrange all fresh vegetables and prepare edamame.
05 - Divide cooked grain evenly among 4 serving bowls. Top each with roasted chickpeas, red cabbage, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, edamame, and cilantro.
06 - Drizzle each bowl generously with peanut sauce. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and sesame seeds. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The roasted chickpeas get impossibly crispy and addictive, nothing like what you pull from a can.
  • One peanut sauce works for everything on the bowl, so you're really only making one special thing.
  • It comes together in under an hour and actually tastes better than takeout.
  • Protein-packed enough that you won't be hunting for snacks two hours later.
02 -
  • Rinsing canned chickpeas is the difference between mushy and crispy—don't skip this step no matter how rushed you feel.
  • The peanut sauce thickens slightly as it cools, so aim for a consistency that feels a bit loose when warm.
03 -
  • If your peanut sauce breaks or looks grainy, whisk in a tablespoon of warm water slowly until it smooths back out.
  • Taste the sauce before you serve—this is where you adjust the heat, tang, and saltiness to match your mood that day.
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