Loaded with fresh veggies and tossed in a light homemade dressing, this tasty vegetarian Greek Chickpea Salad makes healthy eating a breeze!
I’m kind of a nut when it comes to veggies.
I’ll pretty much do anything for a bite of something tall, dark, and GREEN!
Or yellow… red… orange…
You get the point!
The second I spotted this colorful bowl-o-veggies at a local Mediterranean restaurant I knew I had to have it. I’m a sucker for a healthy plate full of whole food goodness and hoped their greek chickpea salad tasted as good as it looked.
Spoiler altert: It was TO. DIE. FOR. So good might have licked the plate clean…
Healthy Vegetarian Greek Chickpea Salad
This recipe serves a crowd! Bring it along to your next picnic, party, or potluck or halve the recipes for a more manageable serving, perfect as a side dish with dinner or a healthy weekday lunch. It’s super portable and sure to rock your socks off!
Need a smaller serving? Feel free to cut the recipe in half – it’s oh so easy to do!
Greek Chickpea Salad
Loaded with fresh veggies and tossed in a light homemade dressing, this tasty vegetarian Greek Chickpea Salad makes healthy eating a breeze!
Ingredients
- 2 cans chickpeas (approx. 30 oz total)
- 2 cups chopped bell pepper (sweet mini peppers work too)
- 1 cup chopped tomato
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 1 avocado (plus extra to taste)
uber easy mediterranean marinade/dressing:
- 2.5 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 3 TBSP quality extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tsp lemon juice (squeezed from 1 large or two small lemon)
- 1/2-1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2-1 tsp parsley plus extra to garnish
- 1/2 tsp dried crushed oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt (plus extra as desired)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp dried dill
- optional extra: crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
-
Drain and rinse chickpeas.
-
Chop your peppers, tomato, and cucumber, and toss them in a bowl.
-
Combine all dressing ingredients in a separate container and either shake or whisk to incorporate. Pour over salad and toss to combine.
-
Pop the bowl in the fridge, covered, for a few hours to let the fabulous flavors of the marinade get better acquainted with your veggies or enjoy right away.
-
Peel and chop avocado just before serving, and add to the salad. I like to toss my avocado in a little lemon juice with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent it from browning.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts below are estimated before optional feta with an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!
Bring on the veggies!
special diets and swaps
As written, this Greek Chickpea Salad is fabulously vegan! Simply skip the optional feta and enjoy as is *or* you can pair with falafel and/or hummus to round out the meal.
This chopped chickpea salad is also AMAZING over cooked quinoa, freekeh, or farro to make the ultimate grain bowl.
As for my T-Rex friends, if you try to add meat to this salad I will fight you! LOL! You can, however, pair this dish with shish kebabs or grilled chicken. Totally approved!
Looking for a gluten-free dish? FAB! This salad is gloriously GF.
So . . . how was it? Tell me more about this chickpea salad!
I never get tired of answering this question… IT WAS SO FLIPPING GOOD!
It’s tasty chilled but I think it tastes absolutely best at room temperature (somehow the flavors are more amplified this way) and really can’t get enough of it like this.
This refreshing dish is great as a side dish or as a stand-alone lunch.
You can toss them over a crisp green salad, serve it alongside a fluffy pita sandwich, or even turn it into a greek platter by adding grape leaves, hummus, tzatziki sauce, falafel, pita wedges and even a big ole pile of olives. Just keep the olives to yourself. I’m still terrified of them.
The über tasty dressing in this recipe is also amaaaaazing over greens or even mixed into pasta salad! Have fun with it! You guys are going to LOVE this zesty greek chickpea salad; I just know it!
Crazy for feta cheese? ME TOO!
Feel free to add some on top!
If you get a chance to try this healthy greek chickpea salad, let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Jeannie
This is sooooooo good! I used fresh dill and garlic with only one can of chickpeas and some red onion …. to die for!!! You won’t be disappointed
Jenny T
I made this for Christmas and it was a huge hit! I have a feeling I will get this one requested for all family get togethers.
Jenn
Ahhhh yay!!!! So so stoked to hear it Jenny – thank you!
Priscilla Naidoo
Thank you, looks very delicious and healthy.
Joy Bolander
Loved it! Forgot to snap a photo, but we thoroughly enjoyed it (I halved it) and will make it again for a larger crowd.
Deb H
I made it and it was delicious. A great recipe for a hot summer day.
Nina
Love this recipe! So refreshing and tasty. I will probably add a little mint next time. Served with grilled chicken and warm pita bread.
Dawn
Great mix of flavors!
Taryn
This salad is so refreshing on a hot day! It is perfect for a summer bbq. Thanks for a great recipe!
Jenn
Thanks Taryn!
Alyssa
These flavors!! So so good. I could eat this every day!
Jenn
MEEEE TOOO!!!!
Renee
What a protein packed and delicious salad! It’s perfect for summer entertaining.
Jenn
Thanks Renee!
Ashok
Would love to try this out, can you please recommend an appropriate dressing for this? I am new to salads and don’t know what I am doing.
Thanks
Jenn
Hi Ashok! The dressing recipe is next to the salad on the recipe card and tastes great with this salad! You could also use your favorite Greek-style dressing here and it would be wonderful.
Ann
Can you list the nutritional percentages on this dish as we are only allowed so many carbs per meal.
Jenn
Absolutely Ann! It will vary a bit if any ingredients are changed so just pop any changes into your favorite calculator or hand calculate any extras and you’re good to go! I calculated this without the optional feta so just check the nutrition facts on the cheese if you decide to sprinkle some on top.
8 serving calculations per MyFitnessPal.com…
172 calories per serving + 9 grams fat + 6 grams fiber + 5 grams protein + 20 grams carbohydrate (which came out to 7% daily value) — the carbohydrates are mostly from the chickpeas so if you’d like to tweak this you can even try the dish with extra veggies and less legumes! Hope this helps! XO
Emily
This is amazing. I am vegan and made a huge batch of this at the beginning of the week for my work lunches. Added a little bit of brown rice and was amazing. thank you!
Jenn
Love the addition of brown rice, Emily! Thank you! 🙂
Donna
The whole family loved this recipe. I thought I made enough for 2 meals, but not one bite was left. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Jenn
So happy to hear it Donna, thank you! 🙂
Sam
Delicious! Very very good lightweight summer meal or side.
BUT, DOUBLE the salt (i.e. 1 tsp)!
The dressing was amazing once I did this, otherwise it will be pretty bland.
Don’t forget the recommended feta cheese topping (mentioned at the very end)!
Thank you for the terrific recipe!
Jenn
Super glad you enjoyed it Sam, thank you! 🙂
David-glee
I love that white bowl of yours it’s gorgeous i so want it
Maria MacDonald
OMG!! You’re hilarious!! I love it!! We love chickpeas at my house and always looking for some new way to use them in a recipe. Gonna have to try this one out…looks fab btw! Thx for sharing 🙂
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Thanks Maria! Totally make the salad! It’s super addictive and tastes great with just about everything! =) xoooo
Cat @ Breakfast to Bed
chickpea salad makes me want to make out with random middle eastern men.
sue
I love chickpeas and always looking for new alternatives.Going to try this one for sure. I can tell before I even make it, it’s right up our alley.Thanks. sue
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
I hope you fall head over heels with it like I did! Thanks Sue!
Truptineel
lovely treat
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Ahhh nice to meet you!!!! =) and thank you!! What branch are you kids in?
Sadies
I just came across your site from I <3 Being a Military Spouse and I am sooo very excited to start trying your recipes!!
baconandkids
Love it! Chickpeas are one of my favorite things to eat. Thank you for posting this wonderful recipe. 🙂
Ranumt
I am making this as I type! You don’t happen to have any nutritional values do you?
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Thank you!!! Glad you’re also team chickpea =) xoxo
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
I don’t have it calculated yet but it’s super healthy! I use grape seed oil for the fat in the dish and not all of it even ends up on the chickpeas at the end so it’s a light and flavorful =)
Patricia
I love chick peas! This looks so good, I must try it.
Leila
I’m not a pretty crier either…red face, snot, the whole 9 yards….anyway, this looks delish. Pinned!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
I love me some chickpeas! I also don’t really like a lot of chain restaurants either. I feel like the food is not fresh and it’s so fattening!
Jamie
Looks yummy! I love chickpeas.
Kati
Hoping to make it this weekend. 🙂
Abby
Yum! “Keep the olives to yourself”–you are a woman after my own heart! lol.
RavieNomNoms
This is definitely my kind of salad! I love salads that have beans in them 🙂
Peggy Garbe
This chickpea salad looks so good! I could easily fall in love with it =)
Kim Bee
Love this so much. The color is fab and it looks positively delish.
Ali
definitely want to try it!
Emily @ Life on Food
This salad is so pretty and I would love to have that last platter in front of me now.
Kim
I’m a total chain restaurant avoider (except for Panera and others in that vein!). Love this recipe -will try it this weekend!
Anna @ The Guiltless Life
Delish! I love me a good chickpea salad. And I love your Mediterranean plate idea!
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
I miss orlando! And good hummus is totally worth its weight in GOLD! <3
The Single Nester
How funny that you have this recipe today! I was just in Orlando on business and we ate at a restaurant called Taverna Opa. They had the most amazing hummus. I love chick peas.
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
I have had a ton of hummus fails too! Haha this is way way easier =) You can even use a pre-made greek/italian dressing in a pinch — though the one I posed here is super simple too! Hope you give chickpeas another shot! xoxo
Yen Vu
I don’t cook
with chickpeas and the one time I tried to make hummus I failed…it was so bad I
never got back on the horse. However this salad looks soo good and simple to
make, maybe I’ll give it a try again. Especially since summer is coming it
would make a great addition to the bbq. Thanks for the recipe!
Lindsay @ Fuel My Family
LOVE Baba Gannouj (is that how you spell it?). My husband and I discovered it at the wilmington mall and have made a couple trips down there just to eat at it! Best mall food ever!
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Thanks Kati!!! Let me know if you end up making it — I think I’ve had it 3 days in a row now and *adore* it! =)
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Ohmygosh girl they are soooo good! Though I *will* hack all their recipes if it kills me! Haha its much cheaper at home 😉
[email protected]
That recipe sounds Wonderful, Jenn…but I need to find that chain! Oh, my gosh, I could probably bring a cot and live there!! Thanks for the recipe, sweetie!
Rachel Conners
This looks so delicious!! I love chickpeas and I’m totally the same about wanting to try out local joints instead of chain restaurants. Can’t wait to try this salad.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies
I love love LOOOOVE Baba Gannouj! And I love their chickpea salad! Totally going to have to try out this recipe. 🙂
[email protected]
Oh Jenn! Per usual you have me laughing. I am a recent lover of chickpeas…did the whole I like hummus, but not chickpeas thing for awhile until I realized that I was kidding myself and I love the little guys.
PS I am making a restaurant recreation tonight. If it turns out as good as the restaurants it will def be a Monday Meal Share!!!
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
My brain isn’t safe for work. I apologize =)
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table
Haha – I read the first line in Reader and thought “is this safe for work?” 🙂
Love this. Chickpeas are my favorite salad base!
Bailey
I think you and I are twins. I HATE chain resturants and love hole in the walls. Veggies are my fav- living in Germany, with a meat eating family is seriously really really hard. AND, olives are not my thing. I will be making this recipes asap!
Green girl in wisconsin
I’m with you on boycotting the chains–so many good restaurants owned locally–why buy overpriced food straight off the Sysco truck?
Jaren Smith
I hate it when my friends argue about going to restaurants with healthier options. Anyways, that recipe looks delicious!
Heather Blackmon
Oh YUM – this looks fresh and delicious! (I don’t like Chilis either) I’ll avoid chain restaurants with you anytime, girl. 🙂
Christina
God bless a chickpea. If I come visit you, can we make this?
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat
I’m with you on being anti-chain restaurants. 🙂
Katie Jasiewicz
This sounds delightful! I can’t wait to give it a try!
Meredith / DareYouTo
Sounds yummy! I enjoy chickpeas but never make them on my own, even canned. Maybe I ought to try…
Rachel
Can I go out to eat at restaurants with you, like, ALWAYS? I do the same thing – which sometimes sucks being in college and all anyone ever wants to eat is pizza and ice cream and fried things. I need more veg-foodie friends!
This chickpea salad looks fantastic – light bean salads are one of my favorite summer veg dishes.
Katy @ Couch to 5Katy
There is just something about Taco Bell that makes it taste so good! I totally agree with you on your chain restaurants! I dislike most, but T Bell and Panera are always welcome.
Blog is the New Black
I ADORE chickpea salads. LOVE.
Kristen @ notsodomesticated
I’m not a fan of olives, either. 😉 And this looks super yummy! What are some of your favorites at Panera? I’m curious what a veggie-lover usually gets!
Jane @ The Borrowed Abode
Yum! This looks like a good addition to any summer picnic, especially for my vegan friends. . . and me! 🙂
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