Garbanzo beans, also called chickpeas, are a popular bean due to their smooth texture and nutty flavor. These beans are a beneficial source of fiber and protein and are frequently used in vegetarian, vegan and Middle Eastern dishes. While garbanzo beans are available in dry and canned forms, cooking with dry beans requires much more preparation. You can easily substitute dry garbanzo beans with canned garbanzo beans in recipes by calculating the number of cans you need to purchase.

Things You'll Need

Determine the amount of dry beans required in your chosen recipe.

Calculate the number of cans needed. For every 1 lb. of dry garbanzo beans, you need four cans of garbanzo beans. This breaks down to one 15-to-16 oz. can of beans per each 1.5 cups of cooked dry beans.

Substitute the canned garbanzo beans for the dry garbanzo beans in the recipe. When using canned beans, drain them in a colander before rinsing them to help reduce the amount of sodium.


  • Remember to alter cooking times accordingly when substituting canned for dry beans, as canned beans are pre-cooked.

  • Cooked garbanzo beans can stay fresh for approximately three days if stored in a container in the refrigerator.