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How to Make Pasta and Chickpeas: The $5 Italian Dinner
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How to Make Pasta and Chickpeas: The $5 Italian Dinner



How to Make Pasta and Chickpeas: The $5 Italian Dinner

This is how to take two cans of chickpeas and turn them into a meal that can feed your entire family. This is the real heart of the Italian diet: pasta and beans. You won’t see this on a restaurant menu, but it’s exactly what Italians eat at home when we want something filling, healthy, and incredibly comforting.

If you’ve been looking for a one-pot pasta recipe that actually has some substance, this is the video for you. Most people think of “pasta and beans” as a soup, but today I’m showing you my creamy Pasta e Ceci!

This is the ultimate “stretch meal” that tastes like a million bucks. This dish proves you don’t need a long grocery list or expensive cuts of meat to make authentic Italian food. It’s a high-protein, vegetarian meal that’s ready in one pot, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The best part? You probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry to make it right now.

Ingredients:
1 lb Tubetti or Ditalini pasta
2 cans Chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
1 tbsp Tomato paste (heaping!)
4 cloves Garlic (whole)
2 sprigs Fresh rosemary
7 cups Water (plus more as needed)
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt

Directions:
1. In a large pot, sauté whole garlic and rosemary in olive oil.
2. Add the chickpeas and sauté to coat. Remove the garlic and rosemary sprigs.
3. Stir in the tomato paste and water. Let it simmer for 20 minutes to marry the flavors.
4. Take out about 3/4 of the chickpeas and blend them until smooth. Pour that cream back into the pot.
5. Add your pasta directly to the beans. Season with salt and add a little extra water if it gets too thick.
6. Cook until the pasta is tender.

⭐ Video Chapters
0:00 2 Cans Feed the Family
0:29 You Probably Have Everything to Make It
0:56 Sautéing the Garlic & Rosemary
1:37 Adding in the Chickpeas
2:24 Infuse the Tomato Flavor
2:58 The 20-minute Simmer
3:57 The Secret to Creamy Pasta
5:37 Throw in the Pasta
6:21 Preview of Cream in the Pan
7:01 Plating
7:23 Giovanni

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
✅ Authentic Italian Comfort: This isn’t restaurant food; it’s the real-life soul food of Italy.
✅ True Mediterranean Diet: A perfect balance of plant-based protein and carbs that keeps you full and healthy.
✅ Budget Cooking: One pot, minimal ingredients, and feeds a family for just a few dollars.

Comment Below:
In Italy, every family has their own version of “Pasta and Beans.” Did your family use chickpeas, cannellini, or borlotti beans? And did you like it as a kid? Let me know in the comments! 👇🇮🇹

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🍳Tools Used in this Video (links may earn commission).
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Induction Cooktop: https://amzn.to/4sA3pr1
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#italianfood #pasta #chickpeas

35 Comments

  6. @inthefade

    I am skeptical that the rosemary and garlic at the beginning to did much for that amount of pasta.

    Regardless, it looks like a nice dish, and I had never heard of it. I'll give it a go.

  8. @chrisralston2654

    I’m making this first thing in the morning tomorrow. The kids will love it for lunch and I’ll eat it all day. Thank you!

  11. @kiranorion

    I’m a “practicing” subscriber of this channel 😂 and have done the peas ditalini and kale rigatoni. Tried this tonight and it came out well. I added some extra spices (onion, bay leaf, italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes). Also, threw in a few peas.

    These recipes all feel really clean and I don’t feel the slightest bit drowsy after them.

    I only find ditalini in the Italian specialty shops, but do you recommend a good brand to buy in bulk?

    Thanks Gio and keep doing your great vids!

  17. @NatalieRath

    Vegan-friendly, wee! I always love super simple recipes. I wonder if I can replace the tomato sauce with pesto.

  18. @Jamison85

    Got the recipe suggested by the algorithm and tried it out last night, my wife and I loved it. I added some bacon bits and the bacon fat as a finish to give it a bit more body.

  21. @michaelfelsinger-k2i

    Hi Giovanni! New subscriber from Australia. Great, simple, affordable recipe! Thank you! I'm going to make this. On to your pasta & pea recipe!

  23. @blondelightning6200

    Looks amazing! No background of Italian in our family and reading these comments this is a very popular dish and its vegan… thats what made me click on it. Now I'll have to check out your peas and pasta video too! Thanks for this recipe!

  26. @VeeVeeVeeV

    The dish looks fantastic….. Great idea for my recipe book…. Yummy.
    just a thought…. "cheap food"…. well, it sounds "cheap"……… "Inexpensive food", or "less expensive food" sounds better.
    xo e.

  31. @victorbotteicher1653

    Subscribed. The pasta n peas was banging. About to make this one tonight. These remind me of the simple pasta fagioli my Mom made every other week when I was a kid.

  32. @richterscales

    I love these simple weeknight recipes! Not daunting, easy to clean up, and great inspiration for ways to use up odds and ends in the pantry.

  33. @shja50

    what could you use instead of rosemary? Not one of my favourites. Was wondering about thyme