This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
A super simple Chickpea Tuna Salad made with fresh veggies, salty capers, olives, and zingy lemon. This salad comes together in less than 10 minutes and is perfect for prepping ahead.
This salad is the perfect way to use up pantry ingredients, it’s fresh, bright and SO delicious!
Everything is just thrown into a bowl, I mean, there isn’t even a dressing to be made it’s that easy.
Plus all of the ingredients are super simple and basic including canned tuna and canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans).
I make a tonne of recipes with canned tuna from salads like our Tuna White Bean Salad with Basil and Lemon, our Italian Tuna Potato Salad to sandwiches and pasta sauces, I love it!
It’s super convenient, delicious and packed with goodness.
See the rest of the ingredients you need below!
What you need to make it – the ingredients
- Tuna – canned in oil or water will work just make sure to drain it thoroughly.
- Chickpeas – canned, drained and rinsed. Chickpea water can be quite salty so make sure to rinse them.
- Capers and olives – these are two of my favourite ingredients because they add so much flavour! Choose your favourite olives and if you’re not an olive fan you can substitute them with sun-dried tomatoes!
- Tomatoes – fresh and ripe plum or Roma tomatoes if possible but any will do.
- English cucumber – I like to run a spoon down the middle of the cucumber sliced lengthways to remove the watery seeds/middle but that’s just personal preference.
- Lemon – the zest and juice of half a lemon adds so much flavour and freshness.
- Basil and parsley – the herbs MUST be fresh (no dried basil and parsley). You just need a small handfull and can substitute them for any herb you like. If you only have dried use oregano.
- Olive oil – a must-have for any salad!
How to make Chickpea Tuna Salad – step by step
Put the chickpeas, tuna, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, capers and herbs in a large mixing bowl (photo 1).
Grate the lemon zest over the ingredients then pour over the lemon juice, add a good pinch of salt and pepper (photo 2).
Add the olives oil them mix everything until thoroughly combined (photo 3 & 4).
Serve in bowls or store in the fridge for later.
Top tips and variations
- You can easily adapt this salad with whatever veggies and herbs you like, it’s a great way to empty your fridge!
- You can swap the chickpeas for cannellini beans or another white bean.
- You can also swap the chickpeas with a short pasta shape and turn this into a pasta salad.
- Fancy a spicy kick? Add in some dried red pepper flakes or sliced fresh chilli.
- You can prepare this salad in advance and store it in the fridge (covered) it’ll last for about 4 days.
More easy salad recipes you might like
- Easy Green Bean Salad with Mustard and Garlic Dressing
- Italian Farro Salad
- Tuna Panzanella – Italian Bread Salad
- Tuna White Bean Salad with Basil and Lemon
- Classic Caprese Salad – Easy, Fresh & Delicious
If you’ve tried this Chickpea Tuna Salad or any other recipe on the blog please let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.
Step By Step Photos Above
Most of our recipes come with step by step photos, helpful tips and tricks to make it perfectly first time and even video!
Chickpea Tuna Salad
Ingredients
- 2 can chickpeas, (800g/28oz)
- 1 can tuna
- ½ English cucumber, about 1 cup heaped cup
- 2 roma or plum tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp capers
- ½ cup pitted olives, (70g)
- Zest and juice of half a lemon
- ½ cup fresh basil, finely chopped (small handful)
- ½ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped (small handful)
- ¼ cup olive oil, (60ml)
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Put the chickpeas, tuna, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, capers and herbs in a large mixing bowl.
- Grate the lemon zest over the ingredients then pour over the lemon juice, add a good pinch of salt and pepper.
- Add the olives oil them mix everything until thoroughly combined.
- Serve in bowls or store in the fridge for later.
Notes
- You can easily adapt this salad with whatever veggies and herbs you like, it's a great way to empty your fridge!
- You can swap the chickpeas for cannellini beans or another white bean.
- You can also swap the chickpeas with a short pasta shape and turn this into a pasta salad.
- Fancy a spicy kick? Add in some dried red pepper flakes or sliced fresh chilli.
- You can prepare this salad in advance and store it in the fridge (covered) it'll last for about 4 days.
Helpful Info for All Recipes
- I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
- When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use Cirio or Mutti brands for the best results and flavour.
- All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
- All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
- Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
- Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
- You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Absolutely delicious! I made a warm version, leaving out the cucumber, and adding the basil after the rest was heated up. I’ll try the salad another day. Thanks!
Loved it!!
So happy you enjoyed it!
I saw you make this on Instagram and had to try it, delicious!
So happy you enjoyed it!