Banza reviews and discussion

4.2

83% of reviewers would recommend to a friend

Reviews mention

  • Protein-rich pasta alternative
  • Surprisingly authentic texture
  • Flavorful frozen pizzas
  • Kid-approved crowdpleasers
  • Inconsistent noodle integrity
  • Sticky, mushy overcooking risk
  • Noticeable chickpea aftertaste
  • Clumpy long-cut spaghetti

Banza earns strong reviews as a high‑protein, gluten‑free swap that often tastes and chews close to traditional pasta and even delivers standout frozen pizzas, while many note it can overcook quickly, turn mushy or sticky, and some cuts feel fragile. Reviews of Banza praise the satisfying, protein‑dense pasta, kid‑friendly appeal, and tasty mac & cheese (notably White Cheddar), but flag inconsistent texture across shapes, occasional bitter/chickpea aftertaste, and spaghetti/linguine that clump or stay too firm.

AI summary based on Thingtesting reviews

1,962 reviews and posts

  • I love Banza. If you cook it right, add the correct seasoning and sauces it really does pass quite well for normal pasta. It's a super smart innovative product that helps me get more protein in. Their packaging is clean and crisp as well.

  • The concept is really good, and they manage to replicate the texture of regular pasta quite well. However, Banza just does not taste good (to me). This is because of the low number of ingredients, and I have this issue with every chickpea pasta. It's pasta shaped, but does not taste like pasta.

  • I enjoyed the Banza penne pasta. It was a delicious meal and blended well with sauce. It’s gluten free and made from chickpeas but it still cooks well and tastes good. I try to avoid gluten as much as possible so buying Banza products makes sense to me. I will continue to keep buying them and I’ll try different varieties.

  • A great way for me (a vegetarian) to get more protein! The pasta is yummy and easy to substitute for other brands of pasta but with the added benefit of getting more protein and it's GF!

    Feedback

    Nothing, in my opinion.

  • These products are a great option for a healthy alternative or if you have a specific diet, but for me it just doesn't taste the same as original things. I'm not on any type of diet so these just aren't my first pick!

  • I think this pasta is okay. I like that they are providing a protein alternative, but unless you can't have typical protein pastas for an allergy or other reasons, I am not sure I would reccomend Banza.

  • I’ve tried a lot of protein pastas and Banza is a great one. The texture isn’t weird and I don’t experience any weird after taste.

  • I’ve tried many kinds off banza and I’ve liked every one I’ve had with

  • Their product quality is high, but they are not my favorite chickpea based food manufacturer. To me it just doesn't taste quite right. Maybe it is the texture? My family and I do eat other brands of chickpea noodles. We have never tried a pizza product. We don't have to be on a specific diet, but we like to switch things up and balance out the high wheat use in our daily foods.

  • I wanted to love these unfortunately I could tell they didn’t taste like pasta and went and made actual pasta noodles

  • My husband has Celiac disease and I'm gluten intolerant, so we're constantly on the hunt for good gluten-free pasta options. Banza has been one of our go-tos for a while now. It feels pretty widely available in retail at this point, its high protein, and it keeps its structure well (which a lot of other gluten free pastas don't do). Definitely recommend if you're GF!

  • Really enjoyed their Mac n cheese! Would certainly get it again

  • Impressed with the selection of this brand and the product growth it has seen over the years. I have tried their various pastas and was able to pick them up from several grocery stores, like HEB and Whole Foods. Overall, the taste does not compare to traditional pasta and it does cook a little different/longer, but it's a great substitute and doesn't leave me feeling as bloated.

  • As long as you understand this will not be the same consistency as real pasta, you will be happy. It tastes great for what it is.

  • As a person who is looking to up their levels of protein, I have been advised to use alternative products for things such as milk and pasta. Banza is one of the brands I see at many grocery stores. I really like their colorful packaging that features a very bold red. From their pasta to their pizza, they use a lot of chickpeas. These are really good protein-enriched alternatives if you are trying to go to the gym. I really enjoy their elbows, and I use it whenever I am in the mood for pasta. I also wanted to give a quick shout out to their website for their curated vegan section that has a lot of options.

  • My parents went vegan at the beginning of 2020, so during the summer I ate a lot of the Banza they bought. I get that it's a healthier alternative, but something about the flavor and the texture felt a little off to me. Might have to try this again-- I love how much protein it has, but something about it wasn't my favorite.

  • I hate their pasta because it's way too grain-y for me BUT their pizza and rice are amazing!

  • Banza is an awesome pasta alternative since I've tried to cut back on gluten in my diet. I love making banza pasta with Raos tomato sauce and meatballs. It's a very filling meal due to all the protein from the chickpeas and leftovers last a couple days in the fridge. I'm very interested in trying the pizzas next.

    Feedback

    Nothing will ever truly 'replace' real pasta and I wouldn't eat Banza plain as the flavor by itself is not great

  • I've been a longtime fan of Banza and it's been exciting to see them continue to develop new products. I've had the pasta and mac and cheese and it's a high quality product and I've bought time and again. I would be eager to try their new brand extensions.

    Feedback

    If you're not used to the texture it can be a bit strange at first, just fair warning.

    Friends with Banza