Home > Salads > Legume Salads > Chickpea Salad Chickpea Salad December 2, 2018 | 54 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. This Chickpea Salad is packed with flavor, made with good-for-you ingredients, and easy to prepare. This Mediterranean-inspired Chickpea Salad is one of my favorites! If you love this one, be sure to try this Couscous Salad (great meal prep recipe!), Quinoa Salad, or Cucumber Salad (reader favorite!) Chickpea Salad After a bit of holiday indulging there is nothing I crave more than a tasty and filling salad. This Mediterranean-style Chickpea Salad definitely fits the bill. Speaking of holiday indulging, we had a total of THREE trick-or-treaters this year, so if you want to guess where that leftover candy has gradually disappeared to, well, I’m blaming that on the pregnancy cravings. 😉 Luckily those same cravings also have me making (and eating) salads frequently. Balance, right? Read on for steps on how to make this Chickpea Salad as well as how to meal prep this recipe. Chickpea Salad is so simple to make and it comes together nicely – while the chickpeas are roasting and couscous is cooking, you can prepare the vegetables and assemble the dressing. Below is a quick breakdown of how to prepare this recipe: How do you make Chickpea Salad? Prepare the chickpeas and toss in olive oil, spices, and cook until they are crisp. Prepare the couscous according to package instructions. Chop the vegetables and toss them together. Prepare the dressing by adding all of the ingredients to a jar and shaking until combined. Top with feta cheese lemon, salt, and paper to taste. Serve as a salad or meal prep it. FYI: Simply leave off the feta cheese to make this Chickpea Salad vegan. Chickpeas are perhaps a unique salad ingredient, but they’re delicious in a salad when prepared correctly. Can you put chickpeas in a salad? Although canned chickpeas are cooked and ready to serve, they are typically pretty bland. Roasting chickpeas in olive oil with a few seasonings is my “secret” to the very best Chickpea Salad. If you’re on the fence about chickpeas in a salad, you’ve got to try roasting them! Grab a few extra cans at the store because you’re going to be hooked! If you’re looking for other ways to use chickpeas, you’re in luck, because they’re a very versatile food. What do you do with chickpeas? In addition to adding them to this chickpea salad, you can add them to this One-Pan Veggie Chickpea meal, turn them into homemade hummus, and/or make falafel! I mentioned this Chickpea Salad recipe is great for meal prepping; I’ll share more details in the next couple of paragraphs if you’re interested in prepping out this salad for four days of meals. QUICK TIP Have you tried Aquafaba? It’s the liquid that canned chickpeas are packaged in. Instead of draining and discarding, use it in place of eggs in pancakes, waffles, mayonnaise, meringues, and anything else. It’s a great vegan cooking tool! One tablespoon of aquafaba equals one yolk, 2 Tbsp. for one white, and 3 Tbsp. for one whole egg. How to meal prep Chickpea Salad: Get 3-4 equal-sized meal prep containers and 3-4 small containers for the dressing. You’ll want to store the dressing separately to avoid the salad getting soggy. You can buy bulk dressing containers, use dressing-sized plastic containers, or use small snack-sized plastic bags. Prep the couscous first. While the couscous is cooking, prep the veggies. The veggies get chopped up and divided equally among the containers. Finish it off with salt + pepper, a wedge of lemon, parsley, and feta cheese! To serve each day: Add the dressing and olives, squeeze the lemon over everything, stir together, and eat! Chickpea FAQs How long does Chickpea Salad last? This salad will stay good for up to 4 days when refrigerated in an airtight container when the dressing is stored separately. Chickpea Salad does not sit well for a long time with the dressing on it. Are chickpeas good for weight loss? Chickpeas are rich in both protein and fiber. One cup of chickpeas contains 50% of an average persons’ dietary fiber needs. Studies show that eating chickpeas regularly is associated with greater weight loss success. For more information on how chickpeas may aid in weight loss, visit this post. Are chickpeas vegetables? Chickpeas are a type of legume. The USDA Food Patterns classifies chickpeas and other beans as a subgroup of the vegetable group. However, because of their high protein content, they can also be considered part of the protein group. Because chickpeas have so much protein, they make this Chickpea Salad especially filling! Are chickpeas high in carbs? Chickpeas contain a fair amount of carbs. Depending on your dietary needs/goals, you may be able to include small amounts of chickpeas on a low-carb diet. Chickpeas, like most legumes, is classified as a resistant carbohydrate. Our bodies use resistant carbs differently, and they aren’t as bad for a low-carb eating plan. If you want to steer clear of as many carbs as possible, you may want to replace the chickpeas with grilled chicken or another low-carb protein source. Are canned chickpeas good for you? Canned chickpeas are good for you, but it is important to buy a good brand. Make sure the brand you are buying is BPA-free, and check the sodium content. While canned chickpeas contain similar levels of fiber and protein, they may be lower than dried chickpeas in some vitamins and minerals. This Chickpea Salad calls for canned chickpeas, but dried will work — just cook them through first! See this post for more information on the differences between canned and dry chickpeas. More Healthy and Delicious Salads Pear Salad Chicken Salad Panzanella Salad (RAVE reviews!) Italian Salad FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Chickpea Salad 4.74 from 23 votes - Review this recipe This Chickpea Salad is packed with flavor, made with good-for-you ingredients, and easy to prepare! Plus tips on how to make this chickpea salad into the perfect weekly meal prep. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Chickpea Salad 4.74 from 23 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe This Chickpea Salad is packed with flavor, made with good-for-you ingredients, and easy to prepare! Plus tips on how to make this chickpea salad into the perfect weekly meal prep. Course Main Course, Salad, Vegetarian Cuisine American Keyword chickpea salad Prep Time 25 minutes Cook Time 25 minutes Total Time 50 minutes Servings 4 -6 servings Calories 417kcal Author Chelsea IngredientsChickpeas▢ 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, well rinsed and drained▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil▢ 1/2 teaspoon EACH: ground cumin, ground chili powder▢ Optional: 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper▢ Salt and freshly cracked pepperSalad▢ 1 package (4.7 ounces) Pearled Couscous Mix (I use one made by Near East), Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil flavored Note 1▢ 1 and 1/2 cups chopped cucumber▢ 1 and 1/2 cups (~8 ounces) cherry tomatoes, halved▢ 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, chopped▢ 1/4 cup flat-leaf Italian parsley finely chopped▢ 1/2 cup (~1 full) jarred roasted red bell pepper, chopped (find these near olives, pickles, etc. in a jar)▢ Optional additions: toasted pita bread, additional lemon cut into wedges, feta cheeseSalad Dressing▢ 4 tablespoons olive oil▢ 1-2 large lemons (1/2 teaspoon zest; 4 tablespoons juice)▢ 1 and 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar▢ 2 tablespoons honey▢ 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano InstructionsPreheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place chickpeas in a bowl, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, cumin, chill powder, cayenne pepper and salt (I add 1/4 teaspoon; add to preference). Toss well, making sure chickpeas are evenly covered with spices. Spread chickpeas in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, tossing about halfway in the cooking time, until they are crisp. Let them cool completely before you add them to the salad.Prepare the couscous mix according to package instructions making sure to add in the seasoning mix. See Note 1. If you don't use couscous from a package, you'll want to add some of your favorite seasonings because a lot of the flavor in this salad comes from that seasoning.While the couscous is cooking, prep the veggies: chop the cucumber, halve the cherry tomatoes, chop the olives, chop the parsley, and chop the roasted red pepper. Toss the veggies together. If you are going to meal prep; leave out the olives (add separately or they tend to make everything taste like olive!)Prepare the dressing by adding all of the dressing ingredients to a jar: 4 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice and zest, red wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and dried oregano (I add about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, but add to your personal preference). Seal the jar and shake until combined.TO SERVE AS A SALAD: Add the prepared couscous to a large bowl and allow to cool. Add in all of the veggies and cooled chickpeas. Add in some feta cheese, freshly squeezed lemon, salt and pepper to taste, and the dressing. Only dress what you will enjoy as this salad doesn't sit well for a long time with the dressing on it.TO MEAL PREP: Divide the dressing evenly into 3-4 small containers. Divide the couscous evenly among the meal prep containers. Add in equal parts of all of the chopped veggies and chickpeas (again, keep olives separate). Add a lemon wedge, some feta cheese, and cover everything with some salt and pepper. To enjoy, add the dressing, squeeze the lemon over everything, stir together, and eat! Video Recipe NotesNote 1: Couscous: Pearled (Israeli) couscous has larger grains than Moroccan (quick) couscous. Be sure to use the correct type of couscous in this recipe. Nutrition FactsCalories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 701mg | Potassium: 637mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 728IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 4mg We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
I meal prepped this last night. Great for lunches. Wasn’t a fan of the dressing. Tasted too much like lemon. I used a olive oil vinegrette instead and it worked well. Reply
Did you add the 4 tablespoons of olive oil? It doesn’t mention it in the actual list of ingredients but explains to add the remaining olive oil in the directions. I was confused at first. Reply
I just made this and it is so good. I didn’t have couscous, so I used quinoa. I’ll definitely be using this in my meal prep rotation. Thank you! Reply
Excited to try this recipe! What can I use as a substitute for red wine vinegar? Also, is there a store bought dressing I could use to replace homeade? Reply
I hope you love it! I don’t know of any lemon store bought dressings unfortunately. You can use white wine vinegar in place of red wine, although it will taste slightly different. Reply
This was excellent! I was skeptical when I tasted the dressing by itself, but when mixed in, all the flavors came together really well. Thank you! Reply
Sooooooo good! My husband and I love eating Mediterranean inspired meals. The only change I made was adding 2 cloves of fresh garlic to the dressing because we are garlic fanatics. Will definitely be meal prepping this recipe again. Reply
Ahh I’m soo happy you guys enjoyed this! I also am a total garlic fanatic so I definitely need to try it with extra garlic! Thanks for your comment! 🙂 Reply
I made this past night and it was great! Only issue was the I put the dressings in the fridge over night and it formed chuncks ? Reply
It’s just the olive oil solidifying- it does that at cold temps. Take the vinaigrette out of the fridge about 20-30 minutes or so before you need it to bring it back up to temperature then shake it up or remix it 🙂 Reply
Loved this recipe! Have made it twice. Only issue is that the chickpeas gets a little hard and soft when meal prepped in advanced ? Reply
Just made this today. Mixed the olives in when I should have separated for meal prep (oops!) but that’s ok. I love kalamata olives. This was really delicious. I really love the dressing! I’m a huge fan of lemons so this was perfect for me. Even my husband enjoyed it. I’ll be making more of this in the future! Thanks for the recipe! Reply
I never comment on recipes, but I have made this as a meal prep lunch for the past 4 weeks of work and I am not sick of it! I love how healthy and filling it is. I don’t add feta to make it a vegan meal. Thank you so much! Reply
Made this for lunches this week. SO SO good! It’s even so good my picky boy friend had me make it for him for his week of lunches! Grilled chicken on top! Perfect. Reply
Lovely recipe, only problem is the nutritional value and portion sizes. I doubled the recipe and still found the portion sizes to be a bit small, then calculated the calories myself and found out that one portion size with the doubled recipe was only 120, not 228 calories. (Portion sizes were the whole meal split into 6) Reply
Nutrition facts, unfortunately, will vary greatly depending on the particular brands of ingredients used Reply
Wow, I’ve just made this for my lunch and it’s absolutely lovely, so so tasty. I did alter a couple of things as I didn’t have the ingredients so I used balsamic instead of red wine vinegar but I like the intense flavour. Will definitely be making this again, yum! Reply
Second time making, last time I wasnt a fan of the dressing as I found it too sweet (love lemon/vinegar ones) and I dont think I roasted the chickpeas long enough. This time it was FAB! I omitted the honey and roasted the chickpeas until they were very crunchy, they were kind of like croutons. I could see me eating this a lot, easy, quick and delish. Thanks Chelsea 🙂 Reply
YUM! Just made this to meal prep lunches for the week. Super tasty!! Wouldn’t change a thing. Will definitely be added to my meal prep rotation! Reply
I made this recipe today. The whole family loved it. We have 2 kids (5 and 7 years) and they both liked it as well (without the dressing though). I felt like the dressing is what made it! I added warmed Stone Fire garlic naan as a side that helped fill everyone up. The roasted chickpeas were the only thing that didn’t quite turn out right. The texture was a little off but I may have roasted them too long. Either way, it was still tasty and healthy. Win-win! I’ll be adding this recipe to our list of go-to family meals. Thank you for sharing it! Reply
this salad is DELICIOUS! I made it for my lunches as a stay at home mom. Even my 1 year old enjoyed it! It’s sweet, tangy, spicy, crunchy, smokey. It’s everything all in one! Even my boyfriend (who is notorious for disliking cold salads) loved it! The only thing is that the portions are a bit small, so I would definitely need something on the side. I will definitely be making this again and sharing this lovely recipe Reply
I’ve had this pinned forever and finally tried it. I love med food and especially veggie options. The only difference I made was using Turkish Aleppo pepper instead of the cayenne pepper on the chickpeas. I love the flavor it adds! Reply
Love this salad! It is so flavorful it doesn’t seem like I’m eating healthy! I’ve also made with Quinoa and regular couscous. Either way…it’s still enjoyable. Reply
Made this exactly as written with the flavored couscous. My husband and I had it for a meatless dinner. It was very good. We will definitely make it again. Thanks Reply
I meal prepped this for the week and it is sooo good. So fresh and tasty. I added red onion and it was great. Reply
I made this today!!! So filling! Everyone loved it! We are slowly getting rid of meats we have on hand to be more plant based, so i threw in some sautéed chicken chunks prepared in Tuscan herb olive oil. Loved the recipe, was worried about the cucumber 🥒 but it definitely added a crispness and over all loved it! Reply
