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    Home » Salads

    Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

    Published: Jun 21, 2017 / Updated: Jul 28, 2022 / 42 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    This Mediterranean chickpea salad has all the flavors of a classic Greek salad plus hearty chickpeas and fresh herbs for an extra pop of flavor. It makes a wonderful light meal or side dish!

    Big fan of these flavors? You'll also enjoy making my Mediterranean Orzo Salad or Easy Greek Pasta Salad next.

    bowl of Mediterranean chickpea salad with tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and feta

    Why you'll love it

    I can't resist a salad that's super simple yet has endless layers of flavor. Greek salad is delicious on its own, but adding in chickpeas makes it a protein-packed filling meal! This is also a convenient make ahead salad. It's great for summer gatherings, meal prep, or work lunches. Nothing in here will wilt, and the flavors will meld together even more over time.

    Maybe my favorite aspect of Greek salad in general is how good it tastes given how ridiculously basic the dressing is. It's really just the most effortless of vinaigrettes that's made with only a handful of ingredients. The crisp and crunchy fresh veggies and herbs really shine in this 20-minute Mediterranean salad.

    What you'll need

    For the salad

    • Chickpeas - aka garbanzo beans, they're a convenient and inexpensive source of protein for this salad
    • Cucumbers - we're using mini cucumbers (also known as Persian). I like them because they're a little less watery than English cucumbers.
    • Onion - red onion is the ideal variety for eating raw in salads since it's less sharp than others
    • Oregano and parsley - our fresh herbs to make this salad shine
    • Red bell peppers and tomatoes - key components to any Greek salad. Get what looks freshest at the grocery store or farmers' market.
    • Olives - the traditional choice for Greek salad is Kalamata olives for that delicious briny quality
    • Feta - I prefer the cubed kind marinated in herbs and oil for that signature salty, savory taste

    For the dressing

    • Olive oil - for the base of the dressing
    • Lemon juice - always use freshly squeezed and never from concentrate
    • Garlic - if you're a garlic lover, use even more! I like to mince it with this garlic press. You don't even need to peel the cloves.
    • Salt & pepper - be generous to bring out the flavors
    glass bowl with hearty Mediterranean chickpea salad

    How to make Mediterranean chickpea salad

    This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

    • Open the can of chickpeas and drain and rinse them. Add them to a large bowl.
    • Wash, chop, and prep the vegetables and herbs, adding them to the bowl as you go along with the feta and olives.
    • Add the vinaigrette ingredients right into the salad bowl, and toss.

    Substitutions and variations

    • As with any salad, you can adjust to your preferences if you're not a fan of something, but this is a pretty standard set of ingredients for Greek salad.
    • I like feta that's packed in oil and herbs, but if you're unable to find that, any feta will do just fine.
    • Fresh tomatoes are best for their bright flavor, but if they're out of season, try using sun-dried tomatoes instead.
    • Try your best to find Kalamata olives, but black olives will do in a pinch.

    What to serve with this salad

    • It's a fantastic light lunch for a hot day without having to turn on the stove. I like to pair it with a slice of fresh baguette or other crusty bread.
    • You can also try it with other Greek favorites like Saganaki (Greek Fried Cheese) and some classic dips like Creamy Tzatziki and Greek Roasted Eggplant Dip (Melitzanosalata) and triangles of pita bread.
    • It makes a great side dish for just about any summer grilling main like my Easy Ground Turkey Burgers Recipe.
    glass bowl with Greek chickpea salad

    Leftovers and storage

    • This Mediterranean salad will keep beautifully in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days. It's great for meal prep for this reason!
    • If the salad has been sitting out in the sun for a long time, though, you may want to discard the rest for food safety reasons.

    More easy salad recipes

    • Simple Antipasto Salad
    • Mediterranean White Bean Salad
    • Panzanella Salad
    • Tomato Chickpea Salad
    • Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
    close-up of bowl of Mediterranean chickpea salad with wooden salad utensils

    Will you make this easy Greek chickpea salad? Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below or if you enjoyed it. As always, tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram with your creations.

    This Mediterranean chickpea salad has all the flavors of a classic Greek salad plus hearty chickpeas and fresh oregano and parsley for an extra pop of flavor. A wonderful light meal or side dish!

    Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

    This Mediterranean chickpea salad has all the flavors of a classic Greek salad plus hearty chickpeas and fresh herbs for an extra pop of flavor. It makes a wonderful light meal or side dish!
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 4
    Calories 347 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas rinsed and drained
    • 2 mini cucumbers chopped
    • 1 tablespoon red onion chopped
    • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano chopped
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
    • 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
    • 1 cup little tomatoes (grape, cherry, etc.) cut into halves
    • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives
    • 3.5 ounces feta (packed in oil & herbs if possible)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • Salt & pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Drain & rinse  your chickpeas and add them to a salad bowl.
    • Prep your veggies and herbs, and add them to the salad bowl as you go along.
    • Add the dressing ingredients (olive oil, lemon juice, garlic) right into the salad bowl and toss gently. Taste and adjust as needed (e.g. add more olive oil), and season with salt & pepper.

    Notes

    • If you can't find cubed feta that's packed in oil and herbs, any feta will work fine. Also, don't worry about it being exactly 3.5 ounces... that was the size package mine happened to come in.
    • This salad is very flexible... add more or less of any ingredient depending on your preferences and what's in your fridge.
    • Serves 2-4 depending on what else it's served with.
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
       

    Nutrition

    Calories: 347kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 14gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 558mgPotassium: 523mgFiber: 10gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1111IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 216mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword Greek chickpea salad, Mediterranean chickpea salad
    Author Natasha Bull
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    1. Mary says

      January 22, 2023 at 11:55 AM

      5 stars
      In a word, phenomenal. Recipe and amounts as written are perfect but I threw is some additional tomatoes and cucumbers and a few more olives and it was STILL perfect. Highly recommended.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 22, 2023 at 7:33 PM

        Thank you!! 🙂 I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Holly Pierson says

      February 19, 2021 at 12:11 PM

      5 stars
      Made this with sundried tomatoes and a greek salad dressing I had on hand.. came out great.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 19, 2021 at 7:17 PM

        Awesome!! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Pam says

      July 19, 2020 at 11:45 AM

      I made it today. It’s incredible 👍😁💯💕

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 19, 2020 at 5:39 PM

        Wonderful!

        Reply
    4. Karen says

      April 1, 2020 at 12:17 PM

      5 stars
      Holy Cow!!! So easy to toss together, is bright and colorful, packed with nutrients from all the veggies and cheese.

      Will grill some chicken tenderloin to make a light and healthy dinner for spring 2020.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 1, 2020 at 2:15 PM

        I am so happy you enjoyed it, Karen! Love the grilled chicken idea.

        Reply
    5. Nikki says

      February 15, 2020 at 10:30 AM

      How long does this keep for? I want to make it for my work lunches (Tuesday-Friday). Should be okay right?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 15, 2020 at 10:55 AM

        I think so. It may get a little soggy towards the end, but it should be fine.

        Reply
        • Holly Pierson says

          February 19, 2021 at 12:12 PM

          I would take the seeds out of the cucumbers and put those and the tomatoes in day of....I used sundried tomatoes to prevent the sogginess.

          Reply
    6. Carolyn says

      July 21, 2019 at 2:23 PM

      5 stars
      I’ve made this salad about 4 times since saving it a few weeks ago. I made a few changes, I use mixed beans instead of just chickpeas, I added rice vinegar and a splash of hot sauce to the dressing to add more zing. It’s always a hit and so easy to make. Everyone always loves it!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 21, 2019 at 3:44 PM

        Awesome... so happy it's a hit!

        Reply
    7. Amy says

      February 6, 2019 at 11:08 AM

      Making this today it looks so good and I have all of the ingredients! Can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 6, 2019 at 11:32 AM

        Enjoy!! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Randi says

      December 27, 2017 at 2:29 PM

      You ought to take part iin a contest for one oof the ggreatest blogs on tthe internet.
      I'm going to recommsnd this blog!

      Reply
      • Michelle says

        February 16, 2020 at 1:02 PM

        Made it as a side to go with my tomato basil soup and it was soooooo good! Plenty left to take to work as part of my lunches.

        Reply
        • Natasha says

          February 16, 2020 at 1:30 PM

          Yay that's great! So glad you liked it, Michelle!

          Reply
    9. Sandra says

      July 29, 2017 at 5:58 AM

      Can I have the nutritional value for all you recipes please?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 29, 2017 at 9:10 AM

        Hi Sandra, sorry, I don't have that info.

        Reply
    10. Danny says

      July 25, 2017 at 11:17 AM

      Can not wait to try it! Thank you for the recipe. Would I be able to make this without the feta cheese?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 25, 2017 at 12:17 PM

        Thank you! Sure, leaving the feta out wouldn't be a problem. Hope you love it!

        Reply
    11. Ashika | Gardening Foodie says

      June 23, 2017 at 4:03 PM

      5 stars
      This is such a delicious looking salad. I love chickpeas and this is a beautiful way to use it in a salad.
      Absolutely stunning!!!! Definitely saving to try this weekend!😃

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 23, 2017 at 9:43 PM

        Thank you, Ashika!! Hope you love it.

        Reply
    12. James | Thyme to Mango says

      June 23, 2017 at 12:45 AM

      Hahaha! I've finally found someone else who struggles with the word Mediterranean (←←thanks autocorrect), I've usually got it copied so I can paste it into my post whenever I need it. The same goes for Moroccan (is it one R and two C's , or vice versa?). Gorgeous looking salad!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 23, 2017 at 6:47 AM

        Hahahaha thanks, James. Sounds like this isn't just my issue. 😜😜

        Reply
    13. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says

      June 22, 2017 at 6:56 PM

      Mediterranean always stumps me too. For some reason I always want to add two ds, then I can't figure out why there's a squiggly red line under it. It looks right to me, spell check! But oh, this salad! Chickpeas are one of my staples and I loooove the whole Greek flavor profile. I'm sooo making this soon! Happy Friday-eve, Natasha!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 22, 2017 at 7:33 PM

        Haha I'm glad that I'm not the only one. Thank you, and I hope you have a great weekend! 😘

        Reply
    14. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

      June 22, 2017 at 10:22 AM

      5 stars
      Lol! I swear we are sisters from another mister, because OMG, I can totally relate to some words just stumping me. It's like, I know how to spell them, but sometimes my brain just doesn't want to work. 😉 OR, have you ever written a word so many times that it just starts to look wrong? Anyways, I am LOOOOVING this salad! Chickpeas are LIFE and I'm all for Greek (or Mediterranean) anything, so this salad is screaming my name! I could definitely eat this on repeat! Cheers, dear!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 22, 2017 at 11:19 AM

        YES... I totally do that... then you're like is this even a word?? Hahaha thanks... yes I'm all for Greek/Med. as well.

        Reply
    15. Jessie | Kitschen Cat says

      June 22, 2017 at 9:14 AM

      Ahhh I saw this on your insta yesterday and just had to come see the rest of the photos on your site. Gorgeous!!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 22, 2017 at 11:18 AM

        Aww thanks, Jessie!!

        Reply
    16. All That I'm Eating says

      June 22, 2017 at 6:15 AM

      How pretty is this! So full of different colours and flavours, I'll definitely be trying this.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 22, 2017 at 6:38 AM

        Hope you love it!!

        Reply
    17. Alena says

      June 22, 2017 at 3:24 AM

      5 stars
      This looks so colorful and delicious! Going to test it on my kids 🙂 They love olives

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 22, 2017 at 6:39 AM

        That's great! So did I as a kid. Hope they enjoy it!

        Reply
    18. Melissa Griffiths says

      June 21, 2017 at 5:50 PM

      Mmmm...I love me a good Mediterranean salad! And bonus- no cooking in the summer! Love it!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 21, 2017 at 6:10 PM

        Thanks so much, Melissa!!

        Reply
    19. Kim Quinn says

      June 21, 2017 at 10:55 AM

      That looks amazing!! Could I serve this on a bed of romaine?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 21, 2017 at 11:02 AM

        Thanks, Kim! I don't see why not. 🙂

        Reply
    20. Natasha's Sister says

      June 21, 2017 at 9:18 AM

      Our annual picnic. I trust you'll be making this for me?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 21, 2017 at 9:23 AM

        Hmmmmmm...

        Reply

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