This easy Mediterranean Chickpea Salad combines fresh veggies and a simple vinaigrette for a delicious, healthy side dish. (It’s perfect for meal prep!)
Summer salads are my love language this time of year, whether it’s a big main dish salad, a summer fruit salad, or a yummy side salad to serve with summer favorites off of the grill.
Take this Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe, for instance. It’s a perfect recipe for meal prep or a summer bbq–it’s nourishing, colorful, and packed with fresh vegetables. Plus, since it’s a no-lettuce salad, there’s nothing to get soggy over time! (Talk about a real lifesaver!)
You can make a big batch on the weekend to enjoy as lunches for a few days, or you can pack it as a side dish in separate containers with your favorite protein as an easy lunch you can pack to work.
Even though we’re packing in color, crunch, and vibrant fresh flavor, this greek chickpea salad couldn’t be easier to make. It all starts with simple ingredients…
Simple Ingredients To Start
Fresh ingredients are the name of the game in this mediterranean salad!
- Chickpeas. Sometimes labeled garbanzo beans, chickpeas add fiber and a little plant-based protein to this yummy salad.
- Cucumbers. Cool, crunchy, and fabulous! I like English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers since they have smaller seeds.
- Bell Peppers. Yellow bell pepper adds gorgeous color, but orange or red bell pepper is just as delicious.
- Tomatoes. I love bright red grape tomatoes or colorful cherry tomatoes. Whatever looks ripe and fresh!
- Red Onion. I love the savory layer this adds. Feel free to rinse the onion in a fine mesh sieve to take out some of the bite! Or, you can use green onions for a milder option.
- Kalamata Olives. Salty, briny, and completely delicious! Can’t find them? Black olives or green olives work in a pinch!
- Feta (Maybe). Some salty feta cheese adds a fun punchiness if you tolerate dairy. We’ve made it MANY times without the cheese, so if you’re dairy-free or want to make this as a vegan chickpea salad, feel free to leave it out!
- Fresh Herbs. I love the mix of fresh parsley and fresh basil, but basil and fresh mint is another great combination! Feel free to play with the flavors here.
- A Simple Dressing. The combination of extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, salt & pepper give this salad a light, fresh flavor. I LOVE how the flavors work together here!
How To Make Mediterranean Chickpea Salad, Step By Step
As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed directions, recipe notes and more in the recipe card below!
- Combine Veggies. In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, feta cheese (if using), and fresh herbs.
- Drizzle With Dressing. Next, drizzle the salad with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Stir to Combine. Use a spatula to gently stir the salad until it’s well blended and evenly coated in dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
- Enjoy! If you have time, chill the salad for 1-2 hours to let the flavors meld. Then, enjoy as a side dish!
FAQ + Tips For The Best Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Storage Tips. Kept in an airtight container, this salad will stay fresh 3-4 days in the fridge. Keep in mind that some of the veggies will soften with time as they soak up the dressing.
Make It Vegan! The only ingredient you need to skip is the feta cheese. Everything else is naturally vegan!
Variations To Try
Once you’ve got the basics down, you can play around with this easy chickpea salad recipe by changing up the mix-ins! Here are a few great options:
- Spinach. I love adding a few handfuls of baby spinach to this salad. For an easier-to-eat texture, you can chop the spinach a bit first. (Other leafy greens, like kale, can work, too!)
- Ripe Avocado. I love adding a little creamy avocado to this chickpea salad
- Grilled Chicken. Upgrade this delicious salad to a main dish by adding some grilled chicken (or another form of protein!) on top. I love using a lemon or garlic marinade so the flavors are complimentary.
⭐ Don’t forget to leave a star rating below when you make our Mediterranean Chickpea Salad recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
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Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups salad 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This healthy chickpea salad recipe is the perfect meal prep recipe for easy lunches or dinners. Pair it with your favorite proteins for a delicious, nourishing meal!
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients:
- 2 (15 oz) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- 1 cup diced bell pepper (I like yellow or red!)
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes (or seeded, diced tomatoes)
- 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives
- 1/3 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/3 cup feta cheese, optional (omit for vegan/dairy-free)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh basil (or fresh parsley)
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or more, to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or more, to taste)
Instructions
- Combine Veggies. In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, feta cheese (if using), and fresh herbs.
- Drizzle With Dressing. Next, drizzle the salad with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Stir to Combine. Use a spatula to gently stir the salad until it’s well blended and evenly coated in dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
- Enjoy! If you have time, chill the salad for 1-2 hours to let the flavors meld. Then, enjoy as a side dish! Salad will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge 3-4 days. Keep in mind some of the veggies will soften with time as they absorb the dressing.
Notes
- Veggies. I like to choose English or persian cucumbers, yellow or red bell peppers, and colorful tomatoes to add more color to this salad.
- Herbs. I usually use fresh parsley or fresh basil (since I have them on hand), but fresh a combination of 1 Tablespoons fresh mint and 1 Tablespoon fresh basil is delicious, too!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
The dressing on this is amazing! And I love all the goodies in the salad.