Vegan Chickpea Noodle Soup

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This chickpea noodle soup is a delicious vegan take on the classic chicken noodle soup. It's loaded with common ingredients like noodles, chickpeas, carrots, celery, and onion for a simple homestyle recipe. Make it in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop for an easy dinner.

Vegan chickpea noodle soup in a white bowl with a spoon and the Instant Pot in the background.

Whether you're feeling a little under the weather or you're looking for a simple warming meal, this vegan chickpea noodle soup is just the thing.

It's a cinch to prepare and always a hit with the family. Especially when one of us isn't feeling well.

Plus, this noodle soup is ready in under an hour so it makes the perfect last-minute meal paired with crackers or sweet potato biscuits.

So stay warm and keep healthy this season with a big bowl of this comforting vegan soup!

Looking down on a bowl of chickpea noodle soup in a white bowl with crackers on the side.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Only a few common ingredients are needed for this recipe.

Pasta: I used campanelle pasta, but any smaller pasta you have on hand will work.
Chickpeas: The chickpeas add protein to the soup. You can use any kind of vegan protein you like. See variations below for more suggestions.
Vegetables: Carrots, celery, and onion are classic chicken noodle soup ingredients. You can switch any of them out for ingredients you have on hand.
Broth: Use vegetable bouillon cubes or better than bouillon for full flavor.
Nutritional yeast: This adds some extra umami flavor to the soup. You can leave it out if needed.
Seasonings: Use salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried thyme, and bay leaf for the best taste.

Instructions

This recipe comes together in 3 simple steps.

A ladle of soup filled with chickpeas, pasta, carrots, onions, and celery held over an Instant Pot full of soup.

Step 1: Chop the vegetables and add them to your Instant Pot or a large soup pot.

Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients to the pot. Stir everything together.

Step 3: Cook the soup in the Instant Pot for 5 minutes or simmer on the stovetop for 15-18 minutes using the instructions in the recipe card below.

That's it!

Vegan noodle soup in a white bowl with a side of saltine crackers.

Variations

I added chickpeas to the soup as a vegan chicken replacement. You can stick with the chickpeas or try one of the following instead.

vegan chicken
white beans
baked or pan-fried tofu
lima beans
peas
corn
spinach
potatoes (1 regular-sized red, gold, or russet should be plenty)
mushrooms

Or add any protein or vegan chicken substitute you have on hand. Also, feel free to switch out any vegetables for ones you've been needing to use up.

2 bowls of vegan noodle soup served with saltine crackers.

Cooks Tips

To avoid soft noodles cook them separately. Then, just before serving, add a portion of cooked noodles to each bowl of soup and enjoy! Store any leftover noodles and soup separately. This method is also great for a make-ahead recipe.
For full flavor use bouillon cubes or better than bouillon with water instead of boxed broth.

A white 1 cup measuring cup full of campanelle pasta.

Frequently Asked Questions

What noodles are best?

Any kind of smaller pasta works well in this recipe such as ditalini, pennette, steline, or spiral pasta.
For this vegan noodle soup, I chose campanelle pasta. It has a ruffled bell-like flower shape and is another great option for soups.

Do leftovers keep well?

Yes! However, keep in mind, when the pasta is cooked in the soup it will continue to soak up the liquid. This creates very soft noodles in the leftovers.
If you don't mind the softer noodles, toss them in and store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Otherwise, the noodles can be cooked and stored separately.

Can I add extra noodles to the soup?

Absolutely! I am a bit fan of extra noodles!
Cook up to 2 cups of dry pasta in a separate pot to not mess with the broth amount and soup flavor.
If extra pasta is cooked in the soup it will absorb too much broth that the recipe doesn't account for.
Cooking the pasta separately will yield more broth in the soup and extra pasta to add in! So, it's definitely the way to go!

More Vegan Soup Recipes

For another classic homestyle soup that can be made in the Instant Pot try my Instant Pot Vegetable Soup. It's loaded with chunky vegetables for a hearty, warming meal!

Or if you're looking for a new soup recipe, try my Southwest Vegetable Soup. It's loaded with veggies and seasoned with a mildly spicy, smoky southwest flavor.

For heartier soups, my Instant Pot Potato Soup, Wild Rice Soup, and Potato Corn Chowder are all great options. They are full of flavor and very filling.

We'd love to hear from you!

If you enjoyed this vegan recipe, please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card and share your thoughts in the comments below.

Also, if you snap a photo be sure to tag us! We love to see your creations!! You can find us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.

See ya there!

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