Easy Mediterranean Salad

This Easy Mediterranean Salad is made with a vibrant combination of fresh veggies, herbs, chickpeas, and feta cheese, all tossed in a flavorful homemade vinaigrette. Serve it on its own or pair it with your favorite protein for the perfect healthy side dish, lunch, or dinner.

Mediterranean cuisine is all about bright colors and fresh flavors. From gyros to falafel and everything in between, I have always absolutely loved everything about the food from this part of the world.

As much as I enjoy dining out, you can easily make your own version of these dishes at home as I’ve done with this super simple salad. This Meditteranean Salad is loaded with healthy veggies, fresh herbs, and tangy feta cheese. It covers all the bases when it comes to nutrition—protein, fiber, healthy fats, and lots of veggies.

You can meal prep a large batch of this dish to enjoy as a healthy lunch. Or serve up a big bowl for dinner alongside grilled chicken or fish. You can even turn it into a healthy grain bowl, like these easy Mediterranean Bowls.

Looking for other fresh salad recipes to try? Check out Cucumber Salad, Quinoa Salad, and Mediterranean Bean Salad.

Why You’ll Love This Mediterranean Salad Recipe

These are just some of the reasons why you’ll want to make this healthy Mediterranean salad recipe:

• Complete nutrition: This Mediterranean salad has got you covered with all the good stuff thanks to the veggies, herbs, and feta cheese. Lots of protein, fiber, and healthy fats in one bowl!
• Easy to make: This healthy chickpea salad requires practically no prep! All you have to do is toss together all your ingredients in a yummy homemade vinaigrette.
• Better as leftovers: No need to worry about leftovers! This salad actually tastes better after sitting a day or two in the fridge.

If you love quick salads for lunch, try this Mediterranean Chicken Salad, Easy Lentil Salad, and Easy Arugula Salad.

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

To bring this flavorful healthy Mediterranean salad to life, you will need the following key ingredients:

• Chickpeas: Packed with an abundance of protein and fiber, chickpeas are a staple in Mediterranean cuisine. If you aren't a fan of garbanzo beans, swap in white beans,
• Veggies: You will need Persian cucumbers, red and green bell peppers, and red onions for this recipe. They all add a ton of flavor, gorgeous colors, and a delightful crunch. Other options include celery, sliced cabbage, carrots, or green beans.
• Kalamata olives: These salty little fruits (yes, they’re fruits!) add a depth of richness that perfectly balances out the fresh flavors in this salad. Feel free to swap in another olive if you like.
• Parsley: Fresh herbs add a ton of bright and beautiful flavor to this dish. If you don’t have parsley, you can use another fresh herb like dill, mint, or cilantro.
• Feta cheese: This tangy cheese adds great flavor and a creamy texture to the salad. It can also be swapped out for goat cheese if needed.
• Olive oil: Loaded with heart-healthy fats, we use extra virgin olive oil as the base of our homemade vinaigrette.
• Red wine vinegar: This is an essential part of our homemade vinaigrette that adds acidity to the dish, which brightens up the rest of our salad ingredients.

Can I add protein to this salad?

While chickpeas are packed with protein, you can absolutely add more protein to this salad if you want to. Some of my favorite protein sources to use in this dish include grilled chicken, fish, and shrimp. For a vegetarian option, try adding tofu or pasta.

How to Make Easy Mediterranean Salad

This fresh and healthy Mediterranean Salad comes together in 3 easy steps! Here’s all you need to do to make this quick and easy recipe:

1. Mix the ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the drained chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, olives, feta cheese, and parsley. Don’t forget to rinse the chickpeas after draining. Add salt and pepper to taste, but be careful with the salt since some ingredients like feta and olives can be quite salty.
2. Prepare the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, and oregano. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to help tone down the raw garlic flavor. If you want an extra kick, try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or a bit of Dijon mustard to the dressing.
3. Combine and chill: Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss everything together until well-coated. For the best flavor, let it chill in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before serving.

   Recipe Variations and Ideas

   Here are some of my favorite ways to switch up this dish:

   • Add a protein source: While this dish is delicious and nutrient-rich on its own, you can beef it up by adding your favorite lean protein source. Some of my top choices include grilled chicken, salmon, and shrimp.
   • Use a different herb: Fresh herbs are the key to adding tons of delicious flavor, but you don’t always have to use parsley. Try switching it up with another fresh herb like dill, cilantro, or mint. Any of these would work well in this salad.
   • Switch up the veggies: If you have any vegetables in your fridge that need to be used up, feel free to toss them into this salad. Some options you could use include tomatoes, arugula, spinach, carrots, green onions, and shallots.
   • Swap out the dressing: I like to whip up a simple vinaigrette to pair with this salad, but you could add Greek yogurt or Dijon mustard to make it a creamier dressing. You could also use your favorite store-bought Greek salad dressing or make this homemade creamy dressing.
   • Add nuts or seeds: To make this salad even more filling and add healthy fats or omega-3s, try adding some nuts or seeds like almonds, pumpkin seeds, or hemp seeds.
   • Make it a pasta salad: This dish works great as a pasta salad too, so feel free to bulk it up with your favorite type of pasta! My top choices are penne and orzo.

   What can I use instead of feta cheese?

   If you don’t have feta cheese or aren’t a fan, you can easily substitute it for goat cheese or blue cheese instead. For a dairy-free and vegan option, feel free to leave out the cheese altogether.

   Recipe Tips and Tricks

   This Mediterranean salad is such a feast for the senses, and it doesn’t take hours to prepare. Here are some simple tips to make it way more delicious:

   • Leave it to marinate: It’s so tempting to dig in as soon as you’re done making this salad! The flavors fully come together if you leave it for about an hour, but at least 15 minutes will do if you’re in a rush. I promise it’s worth the wait!
   • Go easy with the salt: Lighten up with the salt as the feta cheese and olives are already quite salty on their own.
   • Add spice: If you enjoy your salad with a kick, you can add a little more heat with diced red chili peppers or even red chili flakes.
   • Amp up the protein: Chickpeas provide a solid protein base, but for an even heartier salad, consider adding grilled chicken or fish.

     What to Serve With This Dish

     Easy Mediterranean Salad makes for a wonderful easy lunch all by itself. For family dinners or gatherings with friends, there are tons of delicious dishes you can pair it with.

     Here are some of my favorite dishes to enjoy it with:

     • Grilled Chicken Souvlaki: Pair this easy Mediterranean salad with Grilled Chicken Souvlaki or use it as a filling in pita bread for a satisfying meal.
     • Grilled Turkey Lula Kebabs: Make the perfect healthy Mediterranean meal by serving this easy salad alongside grilled kebabs.
     • Healthy Greek Meatballs: Finish off your salad with these healthy Greek meatballs for an easy protein and flavor boost.
     • Skillet Lemon Oregano Chicken: The fresh and bright Greek flavors of this skillet chicken pair perfectly with this Mediterranean salad.
     • Grilled Eggplant with Tomatoes and Feta: For an extra healthy dinner, serve this alongside your salad—or even toss them in!

     How to Store Mediterranean Salad

     If you wind up with leftovers of this tasty salad, you’re in luck! It stores incredibly well and actually develops even more flavor after a day or two.

     To store: Transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you have extra dressing you haven’t used in the salad, store it separately in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 10 days.