Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is an easy, healthy salad made with chickpeas, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta, and a light red wine vinaigrette. It is hearty enough to stand alone as a light main entree, as a delicious side dish, or even as a filling for a chickpea wrap.
This simple and healthy Chickpea Salad recipe takes less than 20 minutes to prepare and is packed with Mediterranean flavors, like fresh tomatoes, oregano, olives, and feta---some of my favorite foods ever!
The flavors and textures of this chickpea salad are also perfectly balanced. The chickpeas are slightly creamy, the olives add a salty kick, the cucumbers add a crunch and freshness, and the tomatoes add a burst of juicy sweetness. The simple dressing brings everything together with subtle flavors and the feta cheese finishes this salad with a salty bite.
This Chickpea Salad is an uncomplicated, easy recipe that packs an incredible amount of flavor.
Notes on Key Ingredients
- Chickpeas: You can use canned chickpeas or prepare Instant Pot Chickpeas to prepare this salad. If using dried chickpeas, keep in mind you may find you need to adjust the salt after preparing for the best flavor.
- Kalamative Olives: Don't skimp and use black olives, Kalamative olives have superior flavor. Just be sure to purchase pitted olives to save yourself a headache.
- English Cucumber: A regular garden cucumber can be used in place of a seedless cucumber, but you will need to peel and remove seeds before dicing to keep this chickpea salad from getting watery.
- Tomatoes: Any fresh, ripe variety of tomatoes works in this salad. Cherry and grape tomatoes need to be just cut in half, while larger, vine-ripened or Roma tomatoes need to be diced and deseeded.
- Onion: In order for the onion to not overwhelm the salad, choose a sweeter onion, such as a Vidalia or red onion.
- Feta: Crumbled feta cheese adds so much flavor to the chickpea salad, but can be omitted if you want a dairy-free or vegan-friendly chickpea salad.
- Chickpea Salad Dressing: A simple combination of garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and oregano are all that are required for this red wine vinaigrette.
How to Make Chickpea Salad
- In a large bowl toss together the chickpeas, cucumbers, olives, onion, tomatoes, and feta, if using, together in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl whisk together the red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, garlic, and olive oil until well combined.
- Drizzle dressing over chickpea mixture and toss to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes for optimum flavor.
Serving Suggestions
This Mediterranean Chickpea salad is incredibly versatile and can be served chilled or at room temperature and in a variety of different ways. It can be served cold or at room temperature, making this an ideal dish for potlucks or to pack in a lunch for work or school. Below are some of my favorite ways to serve this Chickpea Salad.
- Serve this Chickpea Salad on the side of Chicken Gyros or Greek Chicken for a delicious Mediterranean-inspired dinner.
- Make a large batch on Sunday and serve as a Gluten-Free Lunch throughout the week.
- Thanks to the hearty chickpeas, this Meditteranean Chickpea Salad makes a hearty salad or a light meatless entree.
- Fill pita bread with the Chickpea Salad and a dollop of Tzatziki sauce for lunch on the go!
- Serve with pita chips as a refreshing and unique dip when entertaining.
- Use leftover chickpea salad as a filling for an omelet for an insanely delicious breakfast.
Storage Instructions
Chickpea Salad can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. However, I find it has the best texture when used after 3 days, as the cucumbers can get a bit soggy.
Recipe Variations
- Feel to add up roasted peppers, pepperoncini, green olives, capers, or parsley, for additional flavor.
- For a Vegan Chickpea Salad or a dairy-free salad, simply omit the feta cheese. You may need an additional ½-1 teaspoon salt to replace the saltiness that the feta provides.
- If you don't like onions, omit them!
More Easy Mediterranean-Inspired Recipes
- Tabbouleh Salad
- Mediterranean Couscous
- Mediterranean Frittata
- Greek Quinoa Salad
- Copycat Panera Greek Salad
Whether you are serving this chickpea salad as a simple side dish, using it to fill pita bread, or serving it as a salad, I would love to hear how you enjoyed it!
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Ingredients
Chickpea Salad
- 15 ounces chickpeas rinsed
- ½ cup kalamata olives sliced
- 1 English cucumber diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes cut in half
- ½ red onion diced finely
- â…“ cup crumbled feta optional
Salad Dressing
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, chickpeas, cucumbers, olives, onion, tomatoes, and feta cheese.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic oregano, and salt.
- Add the dressing to the chickpea mixture and toss together until everything is well coated and combined.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes for flavors to combine before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2017 but was updated in 2020 with new process shots and tips.
Nutmeg Nanny
This is such a healthy and delicious looking salad. Love chickpeas!
Kristen Chidsey
It is so yummy!
David @ CookingChat
I love Mediterranean flavors, you've combined them nicely here!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks David!
Kirsten
Kristen,
I do love the Mediterranean flavors and have almost everything for this dish on hand! I live in Ohio and there are no perfectly ripe tomatoes available here for another . . . 4 months I'd say, but no matter. Life is too short to eat lousy tomatoes and this salad would be just fine without them--and amazing in the summer when my tomatoes are plentiful!
In fact, I think this would be a terrific meal on a hot summer evening.
Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
I agree--tomatoes that aren't ripe, are not worth it. And I feel your pain--I lived in Ohio until 8 years ago! Where in Ohio do you live? (And you may want to check into yellow cherry tomatoes--they can sometimes be found in the winter--if not, the salad will still be great!)
Erin
This is my favorite kind of salad! Love all of these Mediterranean flavors. I just picked up some feta cheese at the farmers' market ... perfect timing!
Kristen Chidsey
Oh great. This salad is the perfect use for feta. Enjoy!
Rachel @ The Stay At Home Chef
I bought one of those feta containers from Costco.....ya, that's a lot of feta. I've been looking for everything and anything with feta in it! I love the idea of a chickpea salad because chickpeas are so good for you (and I may have a massive stock of those as well). Perfect! Thanks for the recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
Ha! I use up that big thing from Costco in no time. But I am obsessed with feta. Try adding it to eggs or use in Mexican dishes as well.
Laura
I "transport" myself all the time with food--what else is a Midwesterner supposed to do in February? 🙂 This looks great!
Kristen Chidsey
Amen girl. I moved south to escape Midwest winters but this year I am still freezing here!
Lindsay @ The Live-In Kitchen
I used to make a salad similar to this and it was delicious. Thanks for the reminder, I'll have to try this one too!
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire
This is very similar to one of my favorite chickpea salads. I never thought about all the serving suggestions you've come up with so I need to try them all out!
Kristen Chidsey
I like to put my food to work:-)
Hannah Hossack-Lodge
This sounds so delicious and healthy 🙂 love it!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Hannah!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Hannah
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
Oh, I do love these Mediterranean flavors! So simple, but so good - and versatile! You could mix this salad up - in rice or pasta, in a pita - the sky is the limit!
Kristen Chidsey
Exactly! Great in so many ways!
Joanie @ ZagLeft
I love every single ingredient you put into this salad. It looks wonderful!
Julia
Using chickpeas in salads is one of my favorite things! This looks wonderful.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Julia! Chickpeas add so much to a dish!
Dini @ Giramuk's Kitchen
I love chickpea salads! I love chickpeas in general 🙂 I would love to try this recipe especially since it has two other of my favourites - Kalamata Olives and Feta! 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
I am right there with you!!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg
Mediterranean food is delicious! I love the saltiness of the kalamata olives and feta cheese. This would pair perfectly with lemon chicken and linguine dish. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this one!
Kristen Chidsey
Oh yes that would be a great meal for sure!
Linz @ Itz Linz
i love everything with chickpeas!
Kristen Chidsey
Me too!
Sherri@The Well Floured Kitchen
This is my favorite kind of salad, love all the ingredients! And yes, I would love to be transported to Greece or anywhere on the Mediterranean 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
AMEN to that!