Chickpea Salad Sandwich Filling

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Chickpea Salad Sandwich Filling | Easy, tasty sandwich spread with only 4 ingredients needed for this fantastic lunch recipe. No tools or appliances needed, just mash the chickpeas with a fork to the texture you like. Then add mayo, mustard, and lemon juice. Season and stuff into the bread of your choice. Great for meal-prepping.

Chickpea Salad Sandwich Filling in a pita bread

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Should you rinse canned chickpeas?
Ingredients
Ingredient Substitutions
Let's Make Chickpea Sandwiches
Tips for making chickpea salad sandwich spreads
What to serve with Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
Storage
FAQs
Recipe

Ok, it's major sandwich time. Or wrap time I guess. Pita time! Try my Sweet Potato Pitas, they're delish! Honestly whatever you stuff this chickpea salad sandwich filling into will be amazing. Why?

Because chickpea salad sandwich spread:

makes a filling and satisfying lunch or dinner
chickpeas are high in protein and a great source of fiber
no tuna smell! I'm not a fan of a canned tuna aroma. The idea is that this chickpea spread can stand in for tuna or egg salad type spreads when used in a vegan diet. Also called "chickpea tuna".
simple to make + so tasty
so customizable: add your favorite flavors and sandwich fillings or try my Avocado Chickpea Salad Sandwich filling for a super green, super delicious twist! Try Gochujang chickpea salad filling for a spicy twist.

Should you rinse canned chickpeas?

Yes, canned chickpeas should be rinsed when used in recipes like sandwich spreads and salads. If you're cooking chickpeas further in recipes like soups or stews, rinsing isn't necessary. Rinsing chickpeas helps lower the starch and sodium and gets rid of the canned metallic taste the brine, also called aquafaba, can sometimes have.

I recommend rinsing your canned chickpeas for this Chickpea Salad Sandwich Filling recipe or using chickpeas you've cooked yourself from dry chickpeas. Try my Easy No Soak Instant Pot Method for Chickpeas.

Ingredients

canned chickpeas: a 15 oz can has about 1 ½ cups of chickpeas in it, the perfect amount for this sandwich spread.
mayonnaise: whatever kind you like, I like it homemade! Use a vegan mayonnaise to keep this spread suitable for a vegan diet.
yellow mustard: yep the kind you use for hotdogs. Mustard adds a great tang and sharp flavor to recipes like chickpea spread, egg salad, and cheese sauce.
lemon juice: brightens up the flavors and adds a fresh zing
salt and pepper: seasoning your food makes it taste so much better
the bread, pita or wrap of your choice, just make sure it's a soft bread. Using a sturdier bread will make the soft filling squish out when you take a bite.

Ingredient Substitutions

mustard: I always put mustard in my egg salad so I add it here too. Try it and see if the tanginess is your thing too. Try Dijon mustard or even horseradish Dijon.
Try adding in some celery or sunflower seeds for crunch
Add some fresh herbs like dill or parsley
To keep this recipe vegan, use a Vegan Mayo.

Let's Make Chickpea Sandwiches

Prep Tips

Use a container with a lid for mixing so you can store the extra chickpea salad in the fridge.
Have your favorite bread and sandwich toppings ready to go.

All you need is a fork and a bowl to make this recipe.

Drain and rinse the chickpeas and place them in the bowl. Mash them up with a fork. I like to mash mine about ¾ of the way, leaving some large chickpeas for texture. (I like my guac that way too!)
Add the mayo, mustard, and lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper, to your liking. It's ready!
Spread the filling onto bread or pitas and add lettuce or tomato if you like.

Tips for making chickpea salad sandwich spreads

no appliance: The best trick for this recipe is that it doesn't require an appliance like a food processor. A simple fork will mash chickpeas and only takes a few minutes. If this is difficult for you, try a potato masher instead.
flavor: add your favorite condiments for really good flavor in this chickpea salad. Mayo and mustard are good basic flavors. Try adding tahini or a horseradish Dijon mustard. Spices and fresh herbs can add even more flavor.
texture: I like to not mash my chickpeas fully to leave a bit of texture. I don't like soft textures in food so leaving some chickpeas whole helps. You can also add diced onion or celery, or nuts and seeds like sunflower seeds or hemp seeds.
leftovers: chickpea salad is great for meal-prepping because it can last in the fridge for up to 5 days! Store it in a container, not as sandwiches. Once the filling is made and refrigerated it'll only take a few minutes to whip together a sandwich!

What to serve with Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

This sandwich is honestly great on its own but if you're going for picnic vibes try pairing it with another salad like my Spicy Cucumber Salad, or my Potato Dill Salad.

Or pack a container of Lemon Basil Hummus or Avocado Cilantro Lime Hummus and some Baked Tortilla Chips, crackers, or fresh cut veggies.

If you're having this sandwich for dinner try it with my Lemon Pepper Pasta, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges, Parmesan Garlic Fries, or Gochujang Noodles.

For a Green Goddess variation on this recipe, try my Avocado Chickpea Salad.

Storage

Store leftover chickpea salad in a container with a lid in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

FAQs

How do you store chickpea salad sandwich filling?

Store this sandwich filling in the fridge in an airtight container and use within 3-4 days. I would not recommend freezing this recipe because mayo usually doesn't freeze well.

Can I make this chickpea salad sandwich filling spicy?

Yes! Add hot sauce, gochugaru, cayenne, chopped jalapenos, or red pepper flakes to make this salad spread spicy.

What are some variations of chickpea salad sandwich filling?

Chickpea salad sandwich filling has many variation options, such as adding fresh sliced or mashed avocado, sliced roasted red peppers, or chopped sun-dried tomatoes. You can also experiment with different seasonings and spices to create your own unique flavor.

Recipe

Chickpea salad in a pita with lettuce, cucumber, and tomato.

Chickpea Salad Sandwich Filling

author : Jacqueline Piper

5 from 2 votes

Easy, tasty, and only 4 ingredients are needed for this sandwich filling. Stuff this filling into a soft bread so the filling doesn't squish out when you take a bite!

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 0

Total Time 5

Servings

Ingredients

▢ 1 ½ cups chickpeas (from a 15 oz can, drained and rinsed)
▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise
▢ 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
▢ ½ teaspoon lemon juice
▢ salt and pepper (to taste)
▢ pita or bread (for serving)

Instructions

Place chickpeas in a bowl and mash about ¾ of them with a fork. We like to keep some whole for texture, but you can mash them all if you like.
Add mayo, mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix.
Use immediately or refrigerate until needed.