Name: Chickpea Mock "Tuna" Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 15-oz can chickpeas (425 g); ¼ cup finely chopped red onion (about ¼ of a medium onion); ¼ cup finely chopped celery (about ½ a stalk); 1 tsp finely chopped capers; ¼ cup mayonnaise (can sub plant-based mayo, 50 g); 1 tsp dijon mustard (5 g); 2 tsp white vinegar (10 mL); Salt and pepper (to taste)

Chickpea “Tuna” Salad

By Sarah Bond, BS Nutrition, MS Sensory Science, Updated Dec 12, 2025

4.94 from 31 ratings

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5 minutes

Serves 2 servings

50 Comments

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You’d never know this chickpea “tuna” salad recipe is totally vegetarian (or vegan). It has that same classic savory, tangy flavor making this tuna salad taste JUST like the real deal.

Chickpea tuna salad on a serving plate with a spoon.

Whether you just need a 5-minute lunch idea or are looking for a quick meal prep, chickpea tuna salad checks all the boxes. But, there isn’t actually tuna in it!

Instead, I’ve put on my sensory scientist hat to create a vegetarian version that tastes like tuna. It uses many of the classic tuna salad ingredients to achieve the same tangy flavor. But for the tuna part, we need a little smoke and mirrors to emulate the texture of tuna – let me show you what I mean.

Reader rating

★★★★★

“Just made this for my vegetarian son. He used to love a tuna salad sandwich. This is so good, he loved it. This recipe is going in our regular rotation.” —Mary

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In order to capture that classic tuna tang to a T, here’s what you’ll need!

Chickpeas: The star of the show, one can of chickpeas! You can also soak your own for a more affordable option.
Crunchy Bits: Chopped red onion and celery add a zing and a crunch. White or yellow onions can be used in a pinch. You can also swap the celery for cucumbers or bell peppers.
Capers: A teaspoon of finely chopped capers transforms the chickpeas into tuna. This is the key to copying that briney, sea-life flavor. Don’t skip these!
The Sauce: What tuna salad is complete without mayo (vegan mayonnaise is fine too)? The rest are pretty standard tuna salad ingredients – Dijon mustard, white vinegar, salt, and pepper.

sarah’s Tip

I love making a big batch of this vegan tuna salad for meal prep! It holds up well in the fridge for the whole week, and can go with a whole bunch of different dishes (like sandwiches, leafy salads, and crackers!)

Make A Melt

Treat yourself to a rich and savory lunch with a vegetarian Chickpea Tuna Melt. Satisfies cravings, fills your belly, and fuels you all day!

Assemble: Spread mayonnaise onto one side of each bread slice (this replaces the butter on the outside of the sandwich, creating a golden brown crispy crust when cooked!) Onto the mayo-free side, layer in the tuna salad, tomato, and cheese.
Cook: Cook sandwiches over medium heat in a large skillet or panini press until outsides are golden brown and cheese has melted. Alternatively, set the oven to broil and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Chickpea tuna sandwich with melty cheese.

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Chickpea Mock “Tuna” Salad

4.94 from 31 ratings

By: Sarah Bond

Prep: 5

Total: 5

Servings: servings

As a sensory scientist, I can promise that you'd never know this chickpea "tuna" salad recipe is totally vegetarian (or vegan). It has that same classic savory, tangy flavor making this tuna salad taste JUST like the real deal. Many members of our community agree this tastes just like tuna, too – see comments!

Ingredients

▢ 1 15-oz can chickpeas, 425 g
▢ ¼ cup finely chopped red onion, about ¼ of a medium onion
▢ ¼ cup finely chopped celery, about ½ a stalk
▢ 1 tsp finely chopped capers
▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise, can sub plant-based mayo, 50 g
▢ 1 tsp dijon mustard, 5 g
▢ 2 tsp white vinegar, 10 mL
▢ Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Smash: Drain the can of chickpeas and roughly smash the chickpeas with a fork or your fingers.
Chop: Finely chop the onion, celery, and capers.
Assemble: Stir everything together, adding a pinch of salt and pepper as needed to suite your taste.