This simple Chickpea Salad is packed with chopped cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, feta and tossed in a refreshing lemon vinaigrette.

a blue speckled bowl filled with simple chickpea salad coated in a lemon vinaigrette dressing

 

We love an easy, inexpensive salad that is easy to prep ahead of time, and this simple chickpea salad recipe always fits the bill! There is no cooking involved and very little prep work, so you can enjoy this super refreshing, protein-packed salad any time you like. It’s an amazing lunch recipe that you don’t even need to heat up to enjoy!

Why you will love this recipe:

  • Easy – No cooking, no fancy ingredients, and nothing complicated necessary! Great for beginners, busy people, people on a budget, and those who work on the go.
  • Nutritious – This vegetarian recipe is low in calories, fat, and sugar while having a good dose of protein and fiber! You can pack more nutrients in by adding canned tuna, cooked quinoa, or leftover chicken or serving over a bed of spinach.
  • Meal Prep Friendly – You can make this salad up to five days ahead of time, perfect for those hectic weeks when you need to plan ahead of time! The homemade salad dressing will last two weeks, so you can make extra for other salads, to improve sandwiches, as chicken marinade, or drizzled over roasted vegetables.

Ingredients

canned, drained chickpeas, sliced olives, chopped cucumbers, quartered tomatoes, and crumbled feta in a glass mixing bowl
  • Canned chickpeas: the star of the show, also known as garbanzo beans! If you want to mix things up, this dish will also work with Cannellini beans or edamame.
  • Vegetables: Chopped cucumbers and quartered cherry or grape tomatoes.
  • Olives: I used green olives, but black or Kalamata olives are excellent options. Slice in half for easy eating.
  • Feta: I recommend a good quality feta for this recipe. Crumble some pieces small so they coat the salad well, but I also like to leave some larger pieces for a creamy bite now and then.
  • Dressing: the dressing for this dish includes extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and Italian seasoning.

How to Make Chickpea Salad

  • In a jar with a screw top, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Shake until the ingredients are combined.
  • Add the cucumber, chickpeas, tomatoes, olives, and feta in a bowl. Pour the dressing over and toss to coat. Add salt and pepper to taste.
A glass mixing bowl filled with canned chickpeas, sliced olives, chopped cucumbers, quartered cherry tomatoes, and crumbled feta
easy chickpea salad mixed with a delicious lemon vinaigrette in a glass mixing bowl

What to serve with Chickpea Salad

While this is a fantastic snack on its own, we love packing it with a Chicken Avocado Wrap or Parmesan Crusted Chicken for lunch! It’s also amazing with these Greek Salmon Kabobs or Grilled Margherita Chicken in the summer.

More entrees to serve this with:

Storage

This salad will last up to five days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I don’t recommend freezing as the fresh veggies change texture.

This Healthy Chickpea Salad is packed with chopped cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, feta and tossed in a simple lemon vinaigrette.

Suggestions and Variations:

  • Add more protein – Canned tuna, leftover rotisserie chicken, marinated shrimp, grilled tofu, or smoked salmon could all be mixed in to help you stay full for longer and meet your personal macro goals.
  • Add more veggies – Get more wholesome nutrition by throwing in chopped red onions, red bell peppers, celery (especially if you love more crunch), or avocado. This is amazing mixed with your favorite lettuce greens, spinach, or kale, too.
  • Pump up the flavor – Consider tossing in fresh herbs like parsley, dill, basil. Fresh lemon juice will add more flavor than the bottled version, or swap the lemon juice for a flavorful vinegar (red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, etc.)

Other Vegetarian Dishes

easy chickpea salad mixed with a delicious lemon vinaigrette in a glass mixing bowl

Get the Recipe: Simple Chickpea Salad

Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Yield: 6 servings (3 cups total)
Author: Annie Holmes
This simple Chickpea Salad is packed with chopped cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, feta and tossed in a refreshing lemon vinaigrette.
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 2 tablespoons olives, sliced
  • 1/2 cup Feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1/8 cup olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • In a jar with a screw top combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and Italian seasoning. Shake until the ingredients are combined.
  • Add the cucumber, chickpeas, tomatoes, olives and feta in a bowl. Pour the dressing over and toss to coat. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

See post for meal prep and storage recommendations.
Serving: 0.75 cup, Calories: 72kcal, Carbohydrates: 11.5g, Protein: 3.9g, Fat: 1.6g, Sodium: 212mg, Fiber: 3.6g, Sugar: 1.1g
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