I Tried 7 Canned Chickpeas—This $1 Can Is the Only One I’m Buying From Now On

When people ask me to share my favorite pantry staples, chickpeas always make the list. I prefer to cook them from dry, but that involves a bit more work than opening a can. When I’m hungry, canned chickpeas are my go-to option. However, I don’t pay too much attention to the brand I’m buying and often get what’s on sale or whichever is the least expensive, which begs the question, is my thriftiness preventing me from experiencing the best chickpeas? Or simply, is there a real difference between them? Here’s what I discovered.

How I Selected the Chickpeas

I live in a big city, which means I have plenty of grocery store options. Since I wanted to be thorough with this test, I swung by most of them and grabbed a can from each. I stuck to larger grocery store chains and brands and selected cans that had no added flavors or seasonings. 

How I Tested the Chickpeas

The beans were blindly tested, each poured into a bowl and unlabeled to remove any bias. Since eating is a visual experience, I took note of how the beans looked. Were they whole or broken and falling apart? Next, I evaluated texture. I prefer my beans al dente, with a bit of firmness for structural integrity. Mushy or overly soft beans are okay, but only if you plan on mashing or puréeing them into something else. Lastly, I examined flavor. I wanted something mild and nutty with a clean aftertaste.

The Results

Truthfully, all of the beans on this list are great. Whichever you choose, you’ll most likely be happy with the results. I’ve included my thoughts below, along with some recommendations about serving, based on those results.

#7 Bush’s

I love that this can of beans is readily available at major retailers and that it’s also relatively inexpensive. At around $1.75 per 16-ounce can, it’s a good deal, especially in Chicago with inflation prices. The beans landed in last place mostly because there was almost no flavor at all to them. The texture was decent, but since it didn’t taste much like a chickpea, I had to rank it last.

Best use: tossed with spices and roasted.

#6 Goya

Wow, these chickpeas were huge! I’m not sure where Goya sources their chickpeas, but these were the largest of the bunch. Their largeness didn’t do much to help their texture, unfortunately, which was a bit softer than I like. The flavor was pretty good and I did feel like these beans tasted like chickpeas, but not enough to make me rank them higher. 

Best use: mashed into hummus for a sandwich spread.

#5 Eden Foods

The only organic brand on the list turned out to be pretty middle-of-the-road. The texture was probably the most firm, which was fine, but smashing it might prove a challenge. It was mild in taste and had a slight nutty flavor, which I enjoyed. I liked them, but others on the list were marginally better.

Best use: Tossed into salads or added to wraps.

#4 Dakota’s Pride (Aldi)

This was another good can of beans with a great price tag. At less than a dollar, you get a full 16-ounce can of chickpeas that tastes as delicious as higher-priced brands. The beans looked pretty, tasted good, and were just firm enough to provide some texture. I’d happily buy this can again.

Best use: Another good option for salads, but also great for veggie burgers or smashed for toast and sandwiches.

#3 Good & Gather (Target)

I enjoyed the flavor of these beans, which was mild and slightly nutty. They were firm and had a good texture. There wasn’t anything wrong with these beans, per se. They checked all the boxes, but the top two prevailed by just enough to put Target’s brand in third place.

Best use: Anything.

#2 365 (Whole Foods)

This can of beans tasted like how my beans taste when I make them from scratch, which I loved. All of the subtle nuttiness was there and the texture was fantastic. They held their shape well: firm on the outside and creamy on the outside. A great bean overall.

Best use: Anything.

#1 Trader Joe’s

The low price tag combined with perfect texture and great flavor made this one the winner. For only $1.00, you can get delicious chickpeas that are versatile for just about any application. From now on I’ll be adding this one to my cart every time I go to Trader Joe’s.

Best use: Everything.