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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Salad

    Hummus Chicken Salad

    Published: May 18, 2020 ยท Updated: Jun 26, 2020 ยท Post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Hummus Chicken Salad is a creamy, satisfying, allergy-friendly chicken salad with protein, fiber, and flavor. Uses hummus in place of mayo.

    white and black napkin with plate of pita chips, celery, and red bell peppers, and a bowl of chicken salad with pita chip in bowl
    • About Chicken Salad with Hummus
      • Ingredients
        • Cost of Recipe
    • How to Make Hummus Chicken Salad
    • Recipe Tips
      • Ingredient Options
      • How to Make Allergy Friendly
      • Flavor Substitutions
      • How to Fix a Mistake
      • Storage Suggestions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Nutrition Benefits
      • What to Serve with Hummus Chicken Salad

    About Chicken Salad with Hummus

    Chicken Salad is a staple in my fridge, especially during the summer. It's one of those easy things to have on hand that can be a snack, a lunch, even a dinner if needed. You can eat chicken salad on a sandwich, on a salad, or with sliced veggies or whole grain crackers.

    Many times, chicken salad is made with mayo or yogurt. I never have mayo in my house, and I really don't like the way chicken salad tastes when made with yogurt, unless I'm making Buffalo Chicken Salad or Basil Balsamic Chicken Salad.

    Plus, I like having options for people who do not eat dairy or mayo (or eggs). So this Hummus Chicken Salad recipe is made with hummus as the binder. You can use store bought hummus or homemade.

    Often, I spend the extra 10 minutes making the hummus because I don't always have hummus in my fridge, but I do have canned chickpeas. You are welcome to make this using store-bought hummus though! Honestly, there is little difference in the taste, and it makes it super easy if you are using store bought hummus.

    The recipe ingredients and directions below are listed for if you are making the hummus from scratch. However, I got your back if you're using store bought hummus too!

    oil, paprika, cayenne pepper, chickpeas, chicken, garlic, salt, water, bell pepper, lemon, onion, celery

    Ingredients

    Chickpeas: The base on the hummus is chickpeas, so these are a must. I buy the canned cooked chickpeas for convenience but you are welcome to cook your own from dried. I prefer the no salt added so you don't get a lot of added sodium.

    Lemon: Fresh lemon or bottled lemon juice really helps amplify the flavor of the chicken salad, regardless of whether or not you make your own hummus. However, if you are using store bought hummus, feel free to omit it.

    Olive oil: The olive oil gives the creaminess to your homemade hummus, so it's necessary to have a smooth chicken salad. I prefer extra virgin olive oil because it adds a lot of flavor, but regular olive oil will work find. The veggies and spices give the hummus enough flavor.

    Spices: Garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt are my staple spices, but you can omit any of them. I wouldn't omit the salt if possible. You can always decrease it, but it'll help round out the flavor of the chicken salad nicely.

    Chicken: I used a rotisserie chicken to make this easy, but you could use any cooked chicken. One rotisserie chicken or one roasted chicken should give you about 3 cups of cooked white meat to use for this chicken salad. You could also poach the chicken {you'd want to use about 1 pound uncooked chicken to get about 12 ounces cooked} or cook it in a crock pot.

    Veggies: There's a small amount of onion and celery you find in most Classic Chicken Salad recipes. And bell pepper is also included in this Hummus Chicken Salad for more flavor and crunch. Feel free to play around with the amounts of each veggie, but note that it's best not to go overboard with the raw onion since it has a strong flavor.

    plate of spinach topped with hummus chicken salad and carrots in background

    Cost of Recipe

    • chickpeas 15 ounce can: $0.99
    • lemon ยฝ: $0.25
    • olive oil 3 tablespoons: $0.72
    • garlic 1 clove: $0.06
    • salt ยฝ teaspoon: $0.01
    • paprika ยฝ teaspoon: $0.08
    • cayenne pepper ยผ teaspoon: $0.02
    • cooked chicken 12 ounces: $4.59
    • onion ยผ medium: $0.13
    • bell pepper ยฝ: $0.89
    • celery 2 stalks: $0.28

    TOTAL COST: $8.02 (Based on San Diego Sprouts 2020) or $1/serving

    steps to make hummus in a mini food processor then steps to make chicken salad in bowl

    How to Make Hummus Chicken Salad

    This recipe to make chicken salad with hummus is simple enough. Make the homemade hummus, add chicken and vegetables, and stir. You can also buy hummus and use it, but for the sake of these recipe step-by-step photos, I include how to make Hummus Chicken Salad with homemade hummus here:

    1. Add the chickpeas, water, lemon juice, salt, and garlic to a food processor.
    2. Blend, and push down sides.
    3. Pour in olive oil and blend again until completely smooth.
    4. Transfer to a bowl with chicken and diced onion. Stir well.
    5. Add in celery and bell peppers, and stir together until completely combined.
    6. Serve with chips, crackers, sliced veggies, or on sandwiches.
    hand holding a pita chip with hummus chicken salad on it, background has bowl and sliced veggies

    Recipe Tips

    Ingredient Options

    For this Chicken Salad made with Hummus, you have the option to change the recipe when making the hummus from scratch, or you can simply buy store bought hummus to change it.

    Chickpeas: White beans can be used in place of the chickpeas.

    Lemon juice: Use vinegar like white wine, red wine, or apple cider vinegar. Another option is lime juice.

    Veggies: I think all chicken salads are best with some kind of onion and celery, and I love the extra flavor the red bell pepper gets. However, you are welcome to omit any of the veggies or replace them with others like green onions, carrots or yellow, orange, or green bell peppers.

    Hummus: Skip making the hummus at home, and buy your favorite flavor of store-bought hummus.

    plate of spinach topped with Hummus Chicken Salad and a plate of sliced carrots

    How to Make Allergy Friendly

    Hummus Chicken Salad is naturally gluten free, dairy free, egg free, nut free, and soy free. If you are buying hummus from the store, be sure to check the ingredients list if you need to avoid any allergen.

    Flavor Substitutions

    You can always change the hummus flavor if you want to change this. Or omit any of the veggies. Alternatively, you could sprinkle a different spice combo like ยผ teaspoon chili powder + โ…› teaspoon cumin. Or ยฝ teaspoon salt-free Italian seasoning to give it a different flavor.

    How to Fix a Mistake

    It's not mixing well: If you find that the salad isn't holding together well, add a little more hummus (if you have it) and/or lemon juice.

    Too much hummus: Add more diced veggies and/or chicken to the mixture if you feel like there is too much hummus.

    white and black napkin with white bowl of chicken salad with sliced veggies and pita chips

    Make Ahead Ideas

    Hummus Chicken Salad is great to make ahead of time because it gives the flavors time to mesh together. You can make this up to 2 or 3 days in advance. It will last about 4 to 5 days in the fridge, but the veggies might get a little softer than desired by that point.

    Storage Suggestions

    Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This does not freeze well.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you add more veggies in this Hummus Chicken Salad?

    Honestly, I think this is maxed out with veggies, especially onions. Anymore onions in here would be too overpowering, and extra veggies could make it challenging to have a chicken salad that holds together properly. If you want extra veggies, serve your Hummus Chicken Salad with sliced veggies or over lettuce for a salad.

    sliced carrots, yellow and red bell peppers, celery, with a blue bowl full of Hummus Chicken Salad

    Nutrition Benefits

    Chicken is high in protein, and chickpeas (which is the base of hummus) is a good source of plant-based protein and fiber. The added veggies, which are not common in most chicken salads, add vitamins and antioxidants.

    What to Serve with Hummus Chicken Salad

    You can eat chicken salad pretty much any way you want, and this Hummus Chicken Salad is no different. I love to serve in a bowl with crackers and sliced veggies (I usually use celery and bell peppers since those are already in the chicken salad). Or you can make a hummus chicken salad sandwich or serve over lettuce for a salad.

    Final thoughts: Hummus Chicken Salad is a really good idea friends... Really good idea! It's creamy thanks to the hummus but it's allergy-friendly, so pretty much anyone can eat it. I like that about this recipe. It's egg free, gluten free, dairy free, and nut free.

    It's a fabulous thing to have in the fridge especially on busy days because it's an easy thing to grab that'll give you a nutritious punch of protein, a touch of fiber, and veggies. Enjoy!

    white bowl with hummus chicken salad surrounded by red bell peppers, celery, and pita chips on a white napkin

    MORE CHICKEN SALAD RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

    • Classic Chicken Salad
    • Buffalo Chicken Salad
    • Curry Avocado Chicken Salad
    • Pimento Cheese Chicken Salad
    • Basil Balsamic Chicken Salad
    • Avocado Chicken Salad
    white and black napkin with plate of pita chips, celery, and red bell peppers, and a bowl of chicken salad with pita chip in bowl

    Hummus Chicken Salad

    This Hummus Chicken Salad is a creamy, satisfying, allergy-friendly chicken salad with protein, fiber, and flavor. Uses hummus in place of mayo.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Author: Meme
    Total Cost: $8.02 || $1/serving

    Ingredients

    • 15 ounce can chickpeas rinsed & drained
    • 3 tablespoon water
    • 3-4 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 clove garlic about 1 teaspoon minced
    • ยฝ teaspoon salt
    • ยฝ teaspoon paprika
    • ยผ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 3 cups cooked chicken 12 oz, shredded
    • ยผ cup grated or diced onion about ยผ medium onion
    • ยฝ cup diced bell pepper about ยฝ bell pepper
    • ยฝ cup diced celery about 2 stalks

    Instructions

    • Add chickpeas, water, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper to a bowl of a food processor. Process until completely smooth.
    • Transfer to a bowl and stir in shredded chicken and grated onion, along with any juices from onion. Stir until completely combined. Add in diced bell pepper and celery. 
    • Taste and season with additional lemon juice, salt, paprika, and/or cayenne pepper as needed.

    Notes

    *Makes 4 cups
    *Store bought hummus can be used in place of the chickpeas, water, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Use 1.5 to 2 cups of hummus and follow the recipe as directed.

    What to Use in This Recipe

    Mini Food Processor
    red, orange, and green mixing bowls
    Bowl
    Knife
    Cutting Board
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo

    [showhide type="post" more_text="Click here for Hummus Chicken Salad Nutrition Facts" less_text="Clear Nutrition Facts"]
    *

    Nutrition Facts
    Hummus Chicken Salad
    Serving Size
     
    0.5 cup
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    218
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    13
    g
    20
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    13
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    39
    mg
    13
    %
    Sodium
     
    337
    mg
    15
    %
    Potassium
     
    236
    mg
    7
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    9
    g
    3
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Protein
     
    15
    g
    30
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    465
    IU
    9
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    14.8
    mg
    18
    %
    Calcium
     
    27
    mg
    3
    %
    Iron
     
    1.4
    mg
    8
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    *
    [/showhide]

    Meme

    This post was originally published May 19, 2014. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.

    Doesn't this recipe look good?! You should probably share it:

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    Comments

    1. Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits says

      July 08, 2014 at 10:01 am

      I love eating chicken salad, but I hate that store-bought or restaurant-made chicken salads usually contains a lot of mayo. Love this healthier version!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        July 08, 2014 at 5:13 pm

        Thanks Lisa! I know what you mean - I hate how almost every chicken salad you buy is so bad for you. My other favorite is this one that is made with cottage cheese, not mayo ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    2. Lew says

      September 23, 2015 at 12:21 pm

      Sounds wonderful! But seriously ... you discount using store-bought hummus because it has " preservatives and other undesirable ingredients", and then you make your own using canned garbanzoes?! How much sodium do you think those have? About 300mg per 100g serving! Make your hummus the "hard way", from cooked dry garbanzoes!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        September 23, 2015 at 1:40 pm

        Thanks for your comment! I totally agree -- I should have said that I use no salt added chickpeas in the recipe. I've updated that recipe to say that. Dry chickpeas are obviously the best choice, but I know that sometimes people either don't have the time or the energy or want to put in the effort (even though it is minimal) to use dry chickpeas.

        Reply
    3. Kimberly says

      July 08, 2020 at 12:53 pm

      5 stars
      My daughter is allergic to eggs so I'm happy to fid a chicken salad that isn't made with mayo. This was really easy and tasty! We ate it with tortilla chips

      Reply
    4. Pat says

      June 15, 2021 at 4:55 pm

      5 stars
      So Yummy! Really nice spin on chicken salad! Really glad I tried it! This just might be my go to chicken salad.

      Reply
      • Meme says

        June 24, 2021 at 3:18 pm

        YAY! I'm so glad you tried and liked it! It's such an easy & tasty recipe ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

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    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme, a thirty-something registered dietitian nutritionist from Alabama living in San Diego. Here to help you enjoy food, feel better in your body at any size, and live free of diets & shame.
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