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    Home » Recipes » Sandwiches, Wraps, Tacos, and Burritos

    Vegan Chickpea Salad

    Published: Oct 28, 2014 · Modified: Feb 23, 2021 by Jenn Sebestyen

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    Hand holding up a half of a vegan chickpea salad sandwich.
    Stacked vegan chickpea salad sandwich halves on a plate with a bunch of red grapes.
    Overhead view of creamy chickpea salad on toast.
    Stacked vegan chickpea salad sandwich halves on a plate with a bunch of red grapes.

    This Vegan Chickpea Salad recipe is quick and easy and makes the perfect lunch or snack. Load it up between 2 slices of bread, on a cracker, or over lettuce as a salad. It comes together in just 10 minutes and is always a huge hit!

    Stacked sandwich halves on a plate with a bunch of red grapes.

    Before I embraced a plant based diet, I made an awesome chicken salad. I made it for several parties and it was always a huge hit. It never failed that at least a few people would ask me for the recipe each time.

    I have missed the flavors of this delicious salad and I wanted to recreate it with healthier meatless ingredients. This Vegan Chickpea Salad is just as delicious as the traditional and now everyone asks me for this recipe, too!

    I pack it in the kids’ lunchboxes often with a side of crackers and I enjoy it between two slices of bread for a quick and easy lunch. It only takes 10 minutes to make, so another batch can be ready in a flash.

    Table of Contents show
    1 Ingredients you need
    2 How to make the recipe
    3 Storage/Freezing
    4 Pro tips for success
    5 FAQs
    6 More easy vegan lunch recipes
    7 Vegan Chickpea Salad Recipe

    Ingredients you need

    Recipe ingredients arrayed in individual bowls.
    Vegan Chickpea Salad ingredients: chickpeas, grapes, celery, green onions, vegan mayo, Dijon mustard, poultry seasoning, dried dill, salt and pepper.

    Ingredient notes and substitutions

    Chickpeas ~ I used canned chickpeas for convenience, but if you have chickpeas cooked from scratch that works, too. The nutrient difference in canned chickpeas versus cooked from scratch is minimal.

    Be sure to drain the canned beans and rinse them very well with cold water which will remove most excess salt and starch and any metallic flavor they may pick up from the can.

    For more super easy chickpea recipes, try my Vegan Chickpea Tacos and BBQ Chickpea Sandwiches!

    Celery ~ Celery adds a nice crunch in an otherwise creamy dish.

    Green onions ~ I like the delicate onion-y flavor these provide. If you prefer a sharper bite, try some diced red onion instead.

    Grapes ~ I have always used red grapes, but that’s just personal preference. Green grapes would work just as well. They provide a burst of fresh juicy flavor.

    If you don’t have grapes or don’t like them, diced apple or pineapple would be delicious.

    Mayo ~ Traditional mayo is made from eggs, but there are several brands making vegan versions today. Follow Your Heart Vegenasie is our favorite, but Hellman’s and Sir Kensington both make vegan mayo as well. Homemade vegan mayo will also work.

    For a lighter take, try using unsweetened plain vegan yogurt instead of mayo.

    Poultry seasoning ~ Poultry seasoning is made up of spices traditional used to season chicken or turkey. It’s convenient to have it all in one container.

    If you don’t have poultry seasoning, try a bit of sage, rosemary, thyme and marjoram or some combination of any of those.

    How to make the recipe

    4 photo collage of steps to make this recipe.

    Drain the canned chickpeas and rinse them well under cold water. Transfer them to a mixing bowl (1). Using a potato masher or a fork, slightly smash the chickpeas (2) so the mixture will hold together. You don’t have to mash them all, a few left whole or partially whole is great for texture.

    Add the remaining ingredients (3) and mix well to combine (4).

    Overhead view of creamy chickpea salad on toast.

    Ways to serve this vegan chickpea salad:

    • piled high on toasted bread as a sandwich
    • mounded on top of leafy greens as a salad
    • in a bowl with a fork
    • use it to top off crackers and garnish with pickled red onions
    8 wheat crackers topped with chickpea salad and pickled red onions on a blue plate.

    Storage/Freezing

    You can easily double or triple this recipe and make it ahead of time. It will keep in the fridge in an air-tight container for several days.

    This chickpea salad recipe is definitely best eaten fresh, but if you must you can freeze it. Transfer it to a freezer safe container or plastic bag and freeze up to 4 months. Please note: the texture of the celery and grapes will change upon thawing and may be slightly mushy.

    Pro tips for success

    *Drain and rinse the canned chickpeas well.

    *Smash most, but not all of the chickpeas. Leave some whole or partially whole for texture. Don’t leave them all whole, however, or the salad won’t stay together well.

    *Dice the celery and green onions fairly small, again to help the salad stay together. Too many big chunks and it will fall apart.

    *Halve the grapes or even quarter them if they are large.

    *Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. Add more salt or dill or even more mayo or mustard.

    *This salad is perfect for taking on picnics or to potlucks – since it’s dairy free you don’t have to worry about it going bad while it sits out.

    Hand holding up a half of a vegan chickpea salad sandwich.

    FAQs

    Are chickpeas good for you?

    Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are high in protein and fiber. They also boast significant amounts of iron, folate, potassium, calcium, and selenium.

    You can learn All about Chickpeas here.

    Can chickpea salad be made ahead?

    This vegan chickpea salad is the perfect make ahead meal! The flavors only get better as they mingle while it sits. It will keep in an air-tight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.

    What do I serve with vegan chickpea salad?

    If you’re making this chickpea salad as a sandwich, serve it with your favorite chips as a side.

    If you’re serving it over leafy greens as a salad, add some diced tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, and thinly sliced radishes.

    It’s also great as a snack served with your favorite crackers.

    More easy vegan lunch recipes

    • Veggie Hummus Sandwich
    • Massaged Kale Quinoa Salad
    • Vegan Tuna Salad
    • Quick Thai Green Curry Vegetables
    • Simple Black Bean Soup
    • Cucumber Chickpea Salad

    I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment below with your feedback.

    Be sure to sign up for my FREE Newsletter to be the first to get my NEW recipes! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.


    For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!

    Stacked vegan chickpea salad sandwich halves on a plate with a bunch of red grapes.

    Vegan Chickpea Salad Recipe

    This quick and easy vegan chickpea salad is beloved by vegetarians and omnivores alike. Just 10 minutes and 8 ingredients is all you need for this delicious dish.
    4.96 from 23 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Salads, Sandwich
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 214kcal
    Author: Jenn Sebestyen

    Recommended Equipment

    • Potato masher

    Ingredients

    • 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas drained and rinsed (or 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas)
    • 1 stalk celery diced
    • 2 green onions sliced
    • ½ cup halved grapes or quartered if they are large
    • 2 tablespoons vegan mayo Follow Your Heart Vegenaise is our favorite
    • 1 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    • ½ teaspoon dried dill
    • ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
    • dash of salt/pepper to taste to taste

    Instructions

    • In a medium bowl, slightly mash the chickpeas with a potato masher or fork.
    • Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
    • Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.
    • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Notes

    ~Enjoy this salad on its own, with crackers, stuffed in a pita, between two slices of bread with a thick slice of tomato and avocado or atop a green salad. It’s perfect for taking on picnics or to potlucks – since it’s dairy free you don’t have to worry about it going bad while it sits out.
    ~ You can easily double or triple this recipe and make it ahead of time. It will keep in the fridge in an air-tight container for several days.
    ~ It is best eaten fresh, but you can freeze it if you must. Transfer it to a freezer safe container or plastic bag and freeze up to 4 months. Please note: the texture of the celery and grapes will change upon thawing and may be slightly mushy.
    ~Drain and rinse the canned chickpeas well.
    ~Smash most, but not all of the chickpeas. Leave some whole or partially whole for texture. Don’t leave them all whole, however, or the salad won’t stay together well.
    ~Dice the celery and green onions fairly small, again to help the salad stay together. Too many big chunks and it will fall apart.
    ~Halve the grapes or even quarter them if they are large.
    *Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. Add more salt or dill or even more mayo or mustard.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 263mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1.6mg
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    Comments

    1. Diane Cameron says

      December 12, 2021 at 12:01 pm

      I liked this but I think it needs more mayo plus more grapes to give it more creaminess and sweetness.4 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn Sebestyen says

        December 12, 2021 at 6:38 pm

        Thanks for your feedback, Diane! Glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
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    Jenn Sebestyen of Veggie Inspired

    Hi, I'm Jenn! This is where I share delicious plant based recipes for the whole family. I love to cook; I can read cookbooks like novels; and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen by making standard American favorites healthier.

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