Chickpea Chicken Salad Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)

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This chickpea chicken salad sandwich makes a fantastic and flavorful lunch or dinner! A hearty and plant-based alternative to chicken salad.  This plant-protein sandwich is packed with flavor, and has quite a crunch from fresh celery & bell pepper and a creamy plant-based dressing.

This vegan chicken salad sandwich with garbanzo beans is a fantastic lunch – and easy to meal prep or make ahead. Serve with chips,  crispy oven baked fries, or a simple vinegar & oil coleslaw for a fantastic meal.

This creamy chickpea chicken salad is a fantastic plant-based filling lunch or dinner!  I absolutely love smashed chickpea salad, and wanted to give this recipe an update by using classic chicken salad veggies (celery & red pepper) for a bright and fresh crunch. It gives this sandwich an extra pop of flavor.

I used to love chicken salad sandwiches growing up. We used to get the best chicken salad ever at a small grocery store named Kramer’s in my town. And now, making a delicious vegan version with chickpeas is a great substitute. It’s high in protein, high in fiber, and loaded with a creamy dressing just like traditional chicken salad… but meatless!

This Chickpea Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe Is

• Bright
• Flavorful
• Sweet & Savory
• Loaded with Vegetables
• A Great Make Ahead Lunch or Dinner
• Creamy
• Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free!

Make Chicken Salad Vegan for a Plant-Based Version

This vegan chicken salad with chickpeas is a simple way to get extra veggies in your diet. I’m all about making recipes plant-based when I can. Vegan cooking does NOT have to be bland, boring, or flavorless… It’s quite the opposite when done right. By building meals around vegan pantry staples and swapping in a few plant-based ingredients you can make better meals for you and your family.

What’s In This Plant Based Chickpea Salad Sandwich?

Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!

• Bell Pepper, Celery, & Any Sandwich Toppings (Lettuce, Tomato, Microgreens, etc.)
• No Salt Added Chickpeas: one of my favorite pantry staple ingredients! You can use canned chickpeas (I’d highly recommend a low sodium or no salt version), or you can make your own chickpeas from scratch in the Instant Pot.
• Vegan Mayonnaise: I like to use this dairy free mayo to keep this recipe plant-based, but you can use whatever mayo that you would normally use in recipes. If you don’t normally like mayo, try my dairy free recipe... it’s creamy but still plant based.
• Whole Grain or Dijon Mustard – for a really nice flavor and texture, you can use either whole grain mustard, stone ground, or Dijon I’d stay clear from yellow prepared mustard for this recipe.
• Sweet Relish – to give this dish a little extra sweetness. I love this classic sweet relish which has a nice crunch and a sweet and tangy flavor. It’s great in this salad (like a secret ingredient!) and also great to have on the table for burgers or veggie dogs.
• Sandwich Bread, if eating this chickpea salad as a sandwich. Make sure to use a certified gluten free bread if you cannot eat wheat.

Meal Prep Garbanzo Bean Chicken Salad For the Win!

This chicken salad with garbanzo beans is the perfect recipe for homemade meal prep.  I am a huge fan of meal prepping, batch cooking, and making recipes ahead.  I love the convenience of cooking once and being able to enjoy easy homemade meals during the week when I don’t have time.

This recipe makes enough chickpea salad for about 4 sandwiches – just add 2 generous scoops to a slice of your favorite bread, top with sprouts/tomato/lettuce, and lunch is ready. Or just eat on top of a salad, your choice!

More Vegan Pantry Staple Recipes You’ll Love!

Red Lentil Soup with Lemon (Vegan, Gluten Free, Pantry Staple)

Creamy Coconut Chickpea Curry (Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

The Best TVP Chili Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, High Protein)

4-Ingredient No Knead Bread Recipe (Vegan, Pantry Staple Recipe)

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup with Sweet Potato (Vegan, GF, Whole30)

Share This Garbanzo Bean Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe!

If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

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