Kale and Chickpea Salad

#7 in my '100 30 Minute Meals' series in this fresh Kale & Chickpea Salad. Made with kale, roasted crispy chickpeas, tender short cut pasta, shaved Parmesan cheese, and your favorite dressing. Serve as nutritious vegetarian main or side dish.

Why You'll Love this Kale & Chickpea Salad:

• Comes together in just 30 minutes. Boil a bit of pasta, then a quick roast on the chickpeas to get them nice and crispy, then toss it all together.
• A healthy, feel good meal or side dish. Vitamin & fiber packed kale mixed with chickpeas for plant-based protein.
• Easily made gluten-free or dairy-free.

Key Ingredients:

• Chickpeas: Canned for easy prep, then quick roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper until crispy.
• Short Cut Pasta: Adds a tender, soft texture and makes this salad even more filling.
• Kale: Nutritious and full of fiber, massaged until tender.
• Shaved Parmesan Cheese: For salty, savory flavor.
• Dressing: Use your favorite dressing for this salad. Caesar, honey mustard, or a garlic vinaigrette all work really well.

Dietary Swaps:

• Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free short cut pasta and ensure the dressing is labeled gluten-free. I love Ken's dressings.
• Dairy-Free/Vegan: Omit the Parmesan cheese and use a dairy-free dressing.

Recipe Variations:

• Add Protein, such as grilled chicken or a salmon filet.
• Add extra veggies, such as cherry tomatoes, cucumber, sun dried tomatoes, or roasted red peppers.
• Add nuts for even more crunch. Pistachios, slivered almonds, or chopped pecans.

Tips & Notes:

• Dry chickpeas well before roasting. This helps them crisp up in the oven.
• Massage kale for 1-2 minutes before adding to the salad. This breaks down the fibers to soften the texture and mellow bitterness.

Storage:

• Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• If prepping ahead, keep dressing & roasted chickpeas separate until ready to serve.
• Roasted chickpeas may soften while stored. To re-crisp, bake at 400F for 5-7 minutes.

More 30 Minute Meals You Will Love:

• Crunchy Romaine Salad
• Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad
• Caprese Tortellini Salad with Burrata
• Chickpea Cucumber Feta Salad
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon
• Mediterranean Pasta & Kale Salad with Garlic Basil Dressing

Recipe

Kale and Chickpea Salad

Made with kale, roasted crispy chickpeas, tender short cut pasta, shaved Parmesan cheese, and your favorite dressing. Serve as nutritious vegetarian main or side dish.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Salad

Servings 4

Calories 340 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup short-cut pasta such as ditalini, rotini, or bowtie
• 1 bunch kale washed, dried, stems removed, and roughly torn
• ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
• ¼-½ cup dressing of choice Caesar, honey mustard, or similar

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Drain & rinse chickpeas. Pat chickpeas dry with a paper towel and transfer to a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, or until crisp. Set aside to cool slightly.
• While chickpeas roast, prepare the kale. Wash, dry, remove stems, and tear into bite-sized pieces. Massage kale for 1-2 minutes until tender.
• In a large bowl, combine kale, pasta, roasted chickpeas, parmesan, and dressing. Toss to coat evenly.
• Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately or chill before serving.

Notes

• Dry chickpeas well before roasting. This helps them crisp up in the oven.
• Massage kale for 1-2 minutes before adding to the salad. This breaks down the fibers to soften the texture and mellow bitterness.
• Nutrition values are an estimate only. 

Nutrition

Calories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 14gFat: 14gSodium: 420mgFiber: 6gSugar: 3g

Keyword kale and chickpea salad

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Tried this Kale & Chickpea Salad? I'd love to hear how it turned out! ⭐ Please leave a star rating and review in the recipe card below. Your feedback helps others discover this easy 30 minute meal. Enjoy, and happy cooking! Follow me on Instagram and Subscribe to my newsletter more delicious recipes, travel inspiration, and behind-the-scenes content.