This Seasoned Chickpea Taco Salad is topped with Avocado Ranch Dressing and ready in just 30 minutes!
I’m probably guilty of saying this every month, but can you believe its’ March already?! I love spring so I’m not sad about the changing seasons at all, I just wish time would slow down a bit! The fact that it’s March also means that it’s time for 30-Minute Thursday! Scroll to the bottom of the post for more delicious recipes from some of my favorite bloggers that can all be on your table in 30 minutes or less!
I was a little hesitant to do a salad for my 30-minute meal but this salad is packed with so much goodness that it’s super delicious and really filling, which makes it a perfect weeknight dinner option!
As much as I’m in love with the seasoned chickpeas in this salad, the best part might just be the avocado ranch dressing. Avocados are one of my favorite foods and I always try to incorporate them into my meals when I can.
I’m also in love with making my own salad dressings, so it seemed like a pretty good idea to make some avocado ranch dressing for this taco salad. It worked really well and I’ve now been putting it on pretty much everything else I’ve been eating this week! The recipe makes more than you would probably need for this salad, but trust me, you will want extra!
Seasoned Chickpea Taco Salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
A delicious and filling salad that is quick and easy to make!
Ingredients
- 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- Other optional salad ingredients (enough for 4 servings): Lettuce, corn, red onions, black olives, diced tomatoes, tortilla chips
Avocado Ranch Dressing:
- 2 large avocados
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, or lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste if needed
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and add the olive oil and chickpeas. Use a potato masher to slightly mash them up, you want to leave most of them whole. Next add the chopped walnuts and all the spices. Stir and cook until everything is heated through, 5-10 minutes.
- Make the Avocado Ranch Dressing by adding all ingredients to a blender and blending until a creamy dressing is formed, about 1 minute. You can add more water if you would like a thinner dressing, but you may also need to adjust the seasonings.
- Assemble the salads by splitting all salad ingredients and seasoned chickpeas into four bowls and topping with desired amount of avocado ranch dressing.
Notes
The Avocado Ranch Dressing recipe makes more than you may need for 4 salads but it is really delicious to use many other things!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Salad, Entree, Gluten Free, Vegan
Great recipe and so versitile! Made it the first time today with a lot of changes. Had to toss olives ojt and forgot to buy corn but had some leftover Mediterranean chicken pieces, which made it better. I did not cook the peas and spices (it’s friggin hot here ?)*. So I had that plus the chic peas, black beans and lettuce but then added cucumber because it needed moisture since the chic peas are dry. Only did 1st 6 items on dressing list and it was really good. Forgot chips but didn’t need em! This is a super good summer recipe, with any version and without heating*. Thank you! ???
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
Hi! Thanks for sharing … the recipe was delicious ?
So glad you enjoyed it!
That’s a great idea to add cooked sweet potato to the dish
Loved everything about it! Delicious taco “meat” and avocado dressing!
Yah!! So glad to hear you liked it!
I am allergic to walnuts…can another nut be substituted? This looks delicious!
Any other nut you like would work great! You can also leave them out and it will still taste great 🙂
Thanks! Looking forward to trying this!
I hope you enjoy!
How long do you think the dressing will last in the fridge after making it?
Hi Allison, it will last about 3-4 days 🙂
It would be nice if you would have an option on the oage where you can email the recipe instead of just print it or pin it.
Ill look into it! 🙂
I made this salad for lunch and it’s already one of my favorites! I did have a sweet potato that was starting to sprout, so cut it in small cubes and added it to the seasoned chick peas. The flavors of those spices were perfect for it, too! I subscribed to your blog because I love simple, healthy, and tasty recipes. Anxious to read your new posts.
I’m so glad you liked it!!
This is one of our favorite new recipes— you got the taco seasonings for the chick pea/walnut mixture just right, and all of the sugested salad fixings are so fresh and flavorful! I’ve just been downloading a bunch more of your recipes— can’t wait to try them all!
Thanks!
Thanks so much, Laurie!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂