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This 20-minute Lemon Pepper Chickpea Skillet dinner is about to earn a spot in your dinner rotation. A buttery garlic-infused base, rich Parmesan, and zesty lemon pepper seasoning coat tender chickpeas in a creamy sauce that’s equal parts comforting and zesty.
If you loved my famous Marry Me Chickpeas or Lemon Pepper Tofu…this recipe takes everything great about them and throws them together!
save this recipe!I tested countless batches of these Lemon Pepper Chickpeas to get the perfect balance of creamy, zesty, and savory, and this version wins every time. Tender chickpeas in a luscious garlic-butter sauce infused with lemon pepper seasoning and finished with Parmesan.
Perfect as a quick high protein weeknight dinner, cozy side dish, or meal prep staple, this one-pan recipe is packed with big flavors and satisfying textures in every bite! (It’s also great as a lemony butter bean dish if you don’t have chickpeas.)
A new family Fav
- Zesty Flavor: A perfect balance of garlic, Parmesan, lemon, and black pepper.
- Quick: One-pan stovetop recipe ready in just 20 minutes!
- Versatile: Enjoy it over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread for dipping.
Reader rating
“Saw this recipe on Tiktok and I’m so glad I tried it! I added a shallot in with the garlic and had it over rice with roasted veggies. Definitely will be in my regular rotation of meals!” —Caitlin
The Main ingredients
This simple dish is made with everyday pantry staples for an easy, restaurant-quality meal. Jump to the recipe card for exact measurements!
- Garlic: Use fresh garlic instead of pre-minced for the best flavor.
- Seasonings: Lemon pepper seasoning, salt, and mustard powder (different brands of lemon pepper seasoning vary in saltiness, so adjust the salt as needed).
- All-Purpose Flour: If you need a gluten-free option, swap in cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend.
- Vegetable Broth: Use a cartoned broth, bouillon, or homemade veggie broth if you have it.
- Chickpeas: Canned chickpeas work great—just drain and rinse them first. If using dried chickpeas, boil the chickpeas until tender before adding them in.
- Heavy Cream: If you prefer a lighter option, half-and-half or canned coconut milk can be used instead.
- Parmesan Cheese: If you’re vegetarian, make sure to use a brand made without animal rennet or swap for nutritional yeast for a dairy-free alternative.
Ready in 20 Minutes
This is a quick and easy one-pan recipe that comes together in just a few simple steps. Jump to the recipe card for full instructions!
- Build the Flavor Base: Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, lemon pepper seasoning, salt, and mustard powder, cooking for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. This is where we build all of that flavor!
- Simmer & Thicken: Stir in flour to form a roux, then slowly drizzle in vegetable broth, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle simmer and allow the sauce to thicken. Add chickpeas, cover, and let simmer for 5 minutes. The simmer time is really just to heat up those chickpeas!
- Finish & Serve: Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan and parsley. Garnish with freshly ground black pepper and lemon slices. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools!
Pairing ideas
These chickpeas can be served on their own, but we tend to like to pair them with:
- Veggies: Like air fryer veggies or rice-free stuffed tomatoes (with cottage cheese).
- Pasta: I’ve paired this with a vegetarian carbonara – so good!
- Bread: A good thick cut of sourdough is so simple but so good with this (or plant-based garlic bread!)
If you loved this recipe, try my Dirty Martini Chickpeas, Creamy Parmesan Butter Beans, or High Protein Pesto Chickpeas next!
Creamy Lemon Pepper Chickpea Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, 28 g
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ tsp each salt and mustard powder
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup vegetable broth, 236 mL
- 2 15-oz cans chickpeas, drained, 425 g cans
- 1 cup heavy cream, 236 mL
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
- To serve: lemon slices, coarsely ground black pepper
Instructions
- Flavor Base: Melt 2 Tbsp unsalted butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 cloves garlic (minced), 2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning, and ½ tsp each salt and mustard powder. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until garlic is fragrant.
- Simmer: Stir in 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour until combined, then slowly drizzle in 1 cup vegetable broth. Bring to a gentle simmer until sauce thickens. Stir in 2 15-oz cans chickpeas (drained), cover, and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Finish: Remove pan from the heat then stir in 1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan, and ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley. Garnish with sliced lemons and freshly ground black pepper! (Sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.)
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
How much is in a serving?
A serving of these chickpeas is simply one-fourth of the entire recipe!
I made this! I didn’t have cream, mustard powder, or veg broth but used Dijon, condensed milk, and beef broth. It was amazing!
You’re the best, thanks for the feedback!
Simple and delicious! The fresh cracked pepper and fresh squeezed lemon juice added at the table were nice touches. We served it on Cavatappi with whole wheat sourdough bread. I will make it again.
So happy to hear it! Enjoy! 😀
Thank you for sharing this recipe this was rich, creamy and delicious exactly what I needed
Thrilled you loved it, thanks for the review!
AMAZING!!! My whole family loves this. Again, another easy recipe to make.
AMAZING!!! My whole family loves this. Again, another easy recipe to make. I had to hide some leftovers from my family. 😂
Thrilled you loved it, thanks for the review!
I LOVE the dish. And I hate to be that person, but do you have any tips on how to modify to bring the calories down per serving?
No worries at all, Annie! A lot of the calories are coming from that heavy cream, so an easy swap would be to use half and half. Otherwise you could blend up some cottage cheese with a splash of milk and use that to replace the heavy cream. Just keep in mind that you can’t really heat that to a high heat. So add it at the very end just until it’s warmed 🙂
Hi Sarah – can you talk to me about your nutritional information? When you say 1 serving – are the nutritional values for the whole dish? If not, are they for 1/4 of the whole dish since it says 4 servings? The values seem high (ie 93.7g of carbs) for a single serving. Thanks for clarifying!
Hi, Sarah. Thanks for pointing out that these were a little high! Sometimes when we run the nutrition calculations, our program thinks we’re using dry chickpeas when we’re using boiled, and that can throw off the calories/carbs significantly. I’ve just adjusted the recipe to be a bit more in line with what the nutritional values are!
if you were going to serve this with a salad, what salad would you make? thank you.
This classic vegetarian caesar would be great! 😀
I have made this recipe twice now and literally cannot stop eating it once I start. It’s so easy and soo good !
Nothing better than hearing this, thank you!