Cool and creamy with a hint of tang, the simple tzatziki dressing offers an appealing balance to crisp cucumber and hearty chickpeas. Serve as a filling plant-based main or a versatile side dish.
A speedy, no-cook recipe can be a welcome gift any day. And whether it’s a sweltering summer afternoon (we’ve had a few of those recently!) or just a hectic weeknight when you don’t feel like turning on the stove, this Tzatziki Cucumber and Chickpea Salad is the perfect solution.
It’s the kind of dish that feels light yet satisfying at the same time. Plus, the recipe is highly adaptable. More on that in a moment.
With yogurt and beans as two of the primary ingredients, I wondered how certain members of my family would react the first time I served it. To my surprise and delight, it was a hit with everyone and has quickly become a household staple.
The salad stands beautifully on its own as a simple, plant-based lunch or light dinner—especially if you serve it with a side of warm pita bread to scoop it all up. Crisp pita chips are a fun option too.
But this salad’s real superpower is its versatility. It makes a fantastic, fresh side dish that pairs beautifully with grilled chicken, steak, fish, shrimp, falafel, or almost anything Mediterranean-inspired. One of the photos below shows it paired with seared salmon, which I dusted with my homemade blackened seasoning before cooking.
Customize and transform the leftovers…
This salad is endlessly adaptable and begs to be customized with whatever you have on hand. Olives, celery, cherry tomatoes, avocado, oregano, feta, and walnuts are fair game, and I’ve used them all with great success.
If you have leftover grilled chicken, salmon, or shrimp in the fridge, chop it up and toss it in. This addition effortlessly transforms the salad into an even heartier main event. When I do this to bulk up leftovers, I like to stir in an extra dollop of Greek yogurt and a fresh squeeze of lemon juice to wake up the flavors. Similarly, a cooked grain like quinoa works well and readily absorbs the delicious tzatziki dressing.
For quick, wholesome lunches, I will often flake some tinned salmon right into a single portion. Other times, I’ll mix in a spoonful of cottage cheese for extra creaminess and sprinkle a handful of chopped walnuts or pistachios on top for a satisfying crunch. There really are no rules here—just use what you love.
A quick note on cucumbers:
For the best texture, I highly recommend reaching for Persian cucumbers instead of the standard grocery store garden cucumbers.
While garden cucumbers are fine in a pinch, they tend to have thicker, waxed skins and are full of watery seeds that can dilute the creamy dressing. Persian cucumbers—which are usually six inches or shorter and often sold in convenient multi-packs—have paper-thin skins, practically no seeds, and a crisp, concentrated cucumber flavor. Plus, they are widely available year-round, so you don’t have to wait for summer garden season to make this. An English cucumber is a good alternative as well.
A quick and easy Restaurant-Style Pan Seared Salmon or Perfectly Broiled Salmon will be a sure winner with the tzatziki salad, and these recipes complement beautifully as well:
- Chicken marinated in Absolutely Famous Greek Dressing and Marinade and then grilled
- Perfectly Grilled Shrimp
- Bison Burgers (or Portobello Burgers, these awesome Turkey Burgers, or Smash Burgers)
- Chicken Gyros
- Pan Seared Steak
- Baked Socca
- Tuna Melts (or Zucchini Tuna Melts or Tomato Tuna Melts!)
- My husband votes for Grilled Corn on the Cob (Too hot outside to grill or don’t have one? Steam it!)
Feeding a crowd? This recipe scales beautifully and is simple to double or triple.
I’d love to know if you try this recipe! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @fountainavenuekitchen on Instagram and Facebook. Your feedback is always appreciated. 💛
Tzatziki Cucumber and Chickpea Salad
Ingredients
- ½ cup (120g) plain Greek yogurt (whole or 2% recommended)
- 1½ tablespoons (22ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice (add the zest if you have an extra minute*; plus an extra squeeze to taste upon serving, if desired)
- 1 tablespoon (14ml) olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced or grated (In a hurry? Use ¼ teaspoon garlic powder)
- ¼ teaspoon each kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- ½ pound Persian cucumbers, halved lengthwise and sliced into ½-inch pieces**
- 1 (15oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill (if you love it like my family does, add more to taste)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves***
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced or 2 tablespoons minced red onion
- Optional add-ins: ¼ cup sliced kalamata olives (green olives taste good here too); ⅓ cup crumbled feta; ⅓ cup chopped walnuts; a cup or so of chopped cooked chicken, shrimp, or salmon; a handful of halved cherry tomatoes; ⅓ cup chopped celery; cooked quinoa (depending on how much you’d like to add, consider doubling the tzatziki portion of the recipe)
- Optional for serving: fresh pita or pita chips
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, lemon juice (and zest if using), olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper; stir to combine.
- Add the cucumbers, chickpeas, dill, mint, scallions or red onion, along with optional add-ins of choice. Taste and add an extra squeeze of lemon, more dill to taste, etc., and toss again. Taste once more for seasoning, adding a pinch of salt and pepper, if needed, and enjoy.
- Storage: Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container or covered bowl for 3-4 days.
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