This Chickpea Salad Sandwich has all the flavors of a chicken salad sandwich but without the meat! Whip up a quick lunch in minutes or prep a large batch for the whole week. This sandwich is vegan and can easily be made oil-free and gluten-free.
This recipe was made in partnership with CatholicTV. All opinions are my own.
When I was in grade school I ate chicken salad for lunch basically every day. I'm the type of person who doesn't really get tired of eating the same food over and over, so I was very content to have a chicken salad sandwich every school day for years.
I loved the creaminess of the salad.
Of course, now that I'm plant-based, I don't eat chicken. But that doesn't mean I can't have the delicious flavors of chicken salad.
Chicken salad is really all about the ingredients besides the chicken. The combination of flavors is what makes it.
And these chickpea salad sandwiches are proof! They are rich and crisp, savory and sweet, crunchy and creamy. Everything you want in a good sandwich.
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Why I love this Chickpea Salad Sandwich
- Dietary needs - this sandwich is vegan, dairy-free, and sugar free. It can also easily be made gluten-free and oil-free
- Tastes just like chicken salad - seriously! This chickpea salad sandwich has all the flavors of chicken salad, the only thing it's missing is meat!
- Great for meal prep - make a batch of chickpea salad on the weekend and grab a serving each day for lunch
- Perfect for Lent - no meat, yet plenty of flavor
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Chickpeas: choose canned chickpeas without added salt, or for a bit more flavor soak and cook dry chickpeas
- Vegan Mayonnaise: I use my homemade plant-based mayo to avoid added sugars and oils. If you'd like to use store bought, look for a brand that has minimal ingredients and uses an oil like avocado oil or olive oil (avoid canola oil!). For an oil-free may option see the FAQ section below
- Grapes: I love the sweetness that grapes add, but you can omit them if you don't want any sweet
- Celery
- Green Onion
- Dijon Mustard: or regular yellow mustard
- Dried Dill
- Salt & Pepper
- Sandwich Bread: use your favorite bread, choose gluten-free if necessary
- Lettuce or other toppings of choice
How to make No-Meat Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
Step 1. In a large bowl, partially mash the chickpeas using a potato masher or a fork. Leave some chickpeas semi-intact.
Step 2. Add the mayo, grapes, celery, green onion, mustard, dill, salt & pepper. Stir until the chickpeas are fully coated.
Step 3. Serve sandwich style between two slices of bread. Enjoy!
FAQ & Expert Tips
Honestly, yes. Chicken doesn't have much flavor, so chicken salad is mostly about the other ingredients. Subbing chickpeas really doesn't change the flavor.
To keep this recipe completely oil-free, use my homemade vegan mayo recipe.
Use whatever sandwich bread you like. I recommend a good sourdough as the 'healthiest' option. Sourdough is also great for those with gluten sensitivities (not celiac).
Store this chickpea salad in the fridge in an air tight container for up to a week.
Recipe Prayer
Thank you God for this sandwich. Thank you for giving us foods that taste good and fuel our bodies. We are grateful for this meal. Amen.
More meatless lunches
Looking for other meatless lunch ideas? Here's what you should try next:
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📖 Recipe
No Meat Chickpea Salad Sandwich for Lent
Ingredients
- 1 15 Ounce Can Chickpeas drained and rinsed
- ⅓ Cup Mayonnaise vegan or regular or homemade
- ½ Cup Grapes quartered
- 3 Stalks Celery chopped
- 2 Stalks Green Onion diced
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Dill
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Pepper
- 6-8 Slices Sandwich Bread of choice
- Lettuce or other toppings of choice
Instructions
- In a large bowl, partially mash the chickpeas using a potato masher or a fork. Leave some chickpeas semi-intact.
- Add the mayo, grapes, celery, green onion, mustard, dill, salt & pepper. Stir until the chickpeas are fully coated.
- Serve sandwich style between two slices of bread. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate.
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