Buffalo Chicken Bean Salad (Print Version)

A spicy blend of buffalo-seasoned chickpeas, fresh veggies, and creamy blue cheese for a flavorful dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Beans & Legumes

01 - 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, rinsed and drained

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
03 - 2 celery stalks, diced
04 - 1/4 small red onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cups mixed salad greens (optional)

→ Sauce & Cheese

06 - 1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce
07 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt
08 - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

→ Garnish

09 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, diced carrots, celery, and finely chopped red onion.
02 - Whisk together buffalo wing sauce and mayonnaise or Greek yogurt in a small bowl until smooth.
03 - Pour buffalo sauce mixture over chickpea and vegetable blend. Toss thoroughly to coat evenly.
04 - Gently fold in half of the crumbled blue cheese to retain texture.
05 - Divide salad greens, if using, evenly among serving plates.
06 - Top salad greens with buffalo chickpea mixture. Sprinkle remaining blue cheese and chopped parsley before serving immediately.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, no cooking required, just chopping and tossing.
  • The chickpeas give you serious protein and fiber, so you're actually full after eating it, not hunting for snacks two hours later.
  • Buffalo sauce transforms humble beans into something bold and crave-worthy that doesn't feel diet-y or boring.
02 -
  • Don't make this more than a few hours ahead if you're serving it with greens—the dressing will wilt them into submission, and texture matters here more than anywhere else.
  • If you want to prep it ahead, keep the sauce separate and only toss it with the vegetables and chickpeas right before eating, then add the greens fresh.
03 -
  • Drain your canned chickpeas really well and pat them dry if you have time—this helps them absorb the buffalo sauce instead of staying slick and slippery.
  • Make the sauce mixture slightly less thick than you think you want it, because the vegetables will release water as they sit, diluting everything.
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