Tuna Chickpea Protein Bowl (Printable)

Protein-packed bowl with tuna, chickpeas, crunchy veggies, and zesty lemon dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein & Legumes

01 - 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 2 (5 oz each) cans tuna in water, drained

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small cucumber, diced
05 - 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced (optional)

→ Dressing

08 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1 garlic clove, minced
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

14 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
15 - Pinch of red pepper flakes

# Cooking Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, mix chickpeas, tuna, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and kalamata olives.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to evenly coat all ingredients.
04 - Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and red pepper flakes on top, if desired.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, for up to two days to enhance flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, no cooking required, perfect for days when you need something now.
  • The protein hit keeps you full for hours, which means fewer afternoon snack raids on the pantry.
  • It tastes even better the next day as flavors meld, making it the dream meal-prep companion.
02 -
  • Drain your canned tuna and chickpeas properly—excess liquid will make your salad weepy and sad, not crisp and fresh like it should be.
  • Always dress this right before eating if you're serving immediately, or wait until just before you eat it if it's been in the fridge, so everything stays crunchy instead of getting soggy.
03 -
  • Cold ingredients from the fridge stay crunchier longer, so chill your bowl and everything in it before assembling if you have the time.
  • A tiny pinch of red pepper flakes elevates this from good to unforgettable, even if you don't think you like heat.
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