Say goodbye to boring brown bag lunches and hello to this Chickpea Salad Sandwich! Plump chickpeas, roasted red peppers, fresh vegetables and flavorful seasonings are mixed and smashed together with a smoky chipotle mayonnaise! This easy sandwich is ready in less than 10 minutes and can be made in advance! These completely customizable chickpeas are smashing delicious!
Hi-ya friends! I hope the week has been treating you well!
What are your thoughts on sandwiches? I sure don’t eat a lot of them. This is probably because my love of salads (strangely) runs pretty deep. Well that, and if I’m going to eat bread I prefer for it to be in the form of a crispy thin crust pizza, bubbling with gooey cheese and piping hot from the oven. Or, in the form of a donut, because who doesn’t love those?
But, don’t get me wrong, I do eat sandwiches every now and then. However, my sandwich absolutely must be hearty and filling, yet light and filled with wholesome, nutritious ingredients. You could say I’m picky or a sandwich snob. My husband likes to say I just prefer “hippie sandwiches”, whatever that means. I guess if by “hippie” he means a sandwich jam packed with tasty, good for you ingredients and piled high between two slices of multigrain bread, then I guess I’m guilty as charged.
That brings me to today’s sandwich. It’s one of my all time favorites and one I have been devouring for years. It’s hearty, yet healthy and seriously delicious!!
Chickpea Salad Sandwich
I have an obscene amount of love for chickpeas. You could say they are my jam. Those delicious little gems packed with protein and fiber make my taste buds want to do the electric slide (<–Is that dance still cool? Wait… was it ever cool?).
I have no clue where I got this undying love for them from, considering my mother hates them and my father wasn’t a big fan, so I didn’t grow up eating them. But if you are like me, and chickpeas make your face do a happy dance, I can guarantee you are going to love this sandwich!
This easy chickpea salad is 100% delicious and made with wholesome, good-for-you ingredients!
It’s loaded with plump chickpeas, roasted red peppers, flavorful seasonings and mixed with a creamy, smoky, slightly spicy and sweet chipotle mayonnaise. Layered with tons of fresh vegetables on lightly toasted bread, this sandwich gives new meaning to brown bag lunches!!
Added bonus – the chickpea salad recipe is totally customizable, can be made in advance and can be whipped together in 10 minutes or less! Whether you make this for a party, picnic, potluck or take it with you for an easy weekday lunch, I can guarantee you will love this chickpea salad sandwich!
How to make a chickpea salad sandwich?
This sandwich is incredibly easy to make and requires just 10 minutes to prepare!
(Scroll down for the detailed measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.)
- Prepare the Chipotle Mayonnaise: In the bowl of a food processor (or blender) puree all ingredients until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
- Make the Chickpea Salad: Place the chickpeas in a medium sized mixing bowl and lightly mash using a potato masher or back of fork (you want to lightly mash to keep some of the chickpea texture). Add in 3 tablespoons chipotle mayonnaise, scallions, red pepper, cumin and chili powder. Mix gently. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. If creamier salad is desired, add in more chipotle mayonnaise 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Serve: Spoon a generous amount of chickpea salad onto two slices of toasted bread. Top with red onions, avocado, sprouts and lettuce. Top with remaining slices of bread and serve.
Pro-tip: You can either cook dried chickpeas or use canned chickpeas for this recipe. I prefer canned chickpeas because they are convenient, but either will work equally as well.
Easy shortcut: Looking to save even more time? You can use your favorite chipotle or spicy mayonnaise instead of making your own from scratch!
What toppings can I add to a chickpea sandwich?
The sandwich accouterments are completely customizable and totally up to you! Feel free to use whatever ingredients you love or happen to have on hand! The toppings are a great way to switch things up so you never get bored!
Pro-tip: Here’s the thing with sandwiches, it doesn’t really matter what toppings or bread you choose, just make sure everything is super fresh. As with all things that are simple, the taste boils down to the freshness and quality of the ingredients. So if you go cheap, the sandwich is going to taste cheap, and that is just no good!
Topping suggestions:
- Crisp Lettuce or Spring Greens
- Sliced or Pickled Red Onions
- Shredded Carrots
- Sliced Avocado
- Fresh Sprouts or Microgreens
- Sliced Tomatoes
- Pickles
- Sliced Cucumbers
- Potato Chips
- Hummus
This easy Creamy Chickpea Salad Sandwich is simply delicious! Packed with flavor and texture, this recipe is sure to become a go-to when you want a quick and healthy meal for lunches or dinners!
Until Monday, friends, cheers – to “hippie sandwiches” and peace signs for life. 😉
XOXO
Cheyanne
Other delicious chickpea recipes:
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The best Creamy Chickpea Salad Sandwich Recipe! 👇
Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Equipment
- Food Processor or High Powered Blender
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
Chipotle Mayonnaise:
- ¼ Cup Mayonnaise - full fat or light is fine (SEE NOTES)
- 1 TBS Sour Cream - full fat or light is fine (SEE NOTES)
- 1 Chipotle Chiles in Adobo
- 1 ½ tsp Lime Juice
- 1 ½ tsp Cilantro Leaves - packed & roughly chopped
- 1/8 tsp Kosher Salt
Sandwich:
- 1 (16 oz) Can Chickpeas – drained and rinsed
- ¼ Cup Scallions – thinly sliced
- 1/3 Cup Roasted Red Pepper - chopped
- ¾ tsp Cumin
- 1/8 tsp Chili Powder
- Artisan Bread – sliced & lightly toasted
Optional Toppings - thinly sliced Red Onion, sliced Avocado, Sprouts, Lettuce or Cabbage
Instructions
- Prepare the Chipotle Mayonnaise: In the bowl of a food processor (or blender) puree all ingredients until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
- Make the Chickpea Salad: Place the chickpeas in a medium sized mixing bowl and lightly mash using a potato masher or back of fork (you want to lightly mash to keep some of the chickpea texture). Add in 3 tablespoons chipotle mayonnaise, scallions, red pepper, cumin and chili powder. Mix gently. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. If creamier salad is desired, add in more chipotle mayonnaise 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Serve: Spoon a generous amount of chickpea salad onto two slices of toasted bread. Top with red onions, avocado, sprouts and lettuce. Top with remaining slices of bread and serve.
Notes
- I used both light mayonnaise and light sour cream in the mayonnaise. Chipotle Mayonnaise will keep, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 days
- Smashed Chickpea Salad will keep, covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- The chickpea salad mixture (with mayonnaise) is enough to make 2-4 sandwiches depending on how big you make them.
Nutrition
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That sandwich looks so good!! Absolutely love it 🙂
I love chickpea based sandwiches! The flavour combination is spot on. YUM! 😀
This has very exotic flavor and vibrant color… I have to try this asap.bookmarked it
This is impossibly clever! And delicious-sounding. I love chickpeas but think they are good for so much more than hummus – you’ve proved that here!
I used to not eat a lot of sandwiches either, but veggie ones are always a great option. & this version looks phenomenal 🙂
LOL hippie sandwich! That is too funny. But I guess I’m right there with ya. I’m not a big sandwich person – I prefer my bread in the bread basket than topped with sandwich meat, etc., but this sandwich looks so incredible that I would totally make this sandwich! I love the chipotle element too <3
I can’t wait to try this! I have been in such a lunch rut and this really looks like my kind of sandwich. And so healthy too!
Sounds delicious. I’m writing a post on aquafaba (the juice from the canned chick peas) and now I have the perfect use for the chick peas. Thanks xoxo
Smashed chickpeas sandwiches are freaking amazing!! And this chipotle mayo has me totally sold. Holy yum.
Looks like sandwich heaven!! I don’t eat sandwiches much either for similar reasons – but I love how stacked yours is with flavour – and you added avo, which is ALWAYS necessary in my book haha! Love the combination of coriander, lime and spice in the mayonnaise – so much better than any store bought lunch x