Need a healthy lunch you can throw together in minutes or take on-the-go? This mozzarella, tomato, and chickpea salad is simple to prep and full of flavor!
If you aren’t typically home for lunch, finding something healthy to eat can be a challenge. Most of us don’t have tons of time in the morning to make breakfast AND pack a lunch.
It can be tempting to just grab something from a cafeteria or join co-workers at a local spot. And depending on what the group decides, your healthy choices my be limited.
The key is to do a little planning ahead to make packing your lunch a breeze. This mozzarella, tomato, and chickpea salad is a great on-the-go option!
It’s so easy to throw together in the morning so you have a tasty and nutritious lunch ready for you. And it’s so delicious that you’ll be looking forward to it all morning.
How to make mozzarella, tomato, and chickpea salad
This portable salad is so easy to prepare. Just toss the ingredients together and you’re all set!
Step 1: Combine the mozzarella balls, tomatoes, and chickpeas in a medium bowl. Add olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Step 2: Wash spinach (if not prewashed) and divide it equally among 4 bowls.
Step 3: Once you’re ready to eat, top each bed of spinach with a ½ cup of the mozzarella-tomato-chickpea mixture.
You can enjoy your salad chilled out of the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Other salad toppers
I love the combination of toppings on this salad. The tomatoes add a pop of freshness, the mozzarella adds cheesy goodness, and the chickpeas bring texture and a hearty serving of fiber. The oil, salt, and pepper brings it all together.
But you can absolutely get creative with your salad toppings! The key to packing a great lunch is to actually look forward to it.
Want to add a little protein? Have some leftover chicken, steak, or even fish from a previous lunch or dinner? Throw it on there!
Looking for a little crunch? Try some chopped nuts or seeds for an extra boost of healthy fats.
You could also add more crunchy veggies or even some creamy avocado chunks.
The key is to make a salad that you’re actually looking forward to eating! So don’t be afraid to get creative with your favorite toppings.
Storage
This salad is easy to prep in the morning before you leave or even the night before. The key is to store the spinach separately from the mozzarella, tomato, chickpea, and oil mixture. That way, the spinach will stay crisp and fresh.
Then, once you’re ready to eat, combine everything in a bowl and dig in!
Other healthy lunch recipes
Easy and tasty lunches make it so much easier to stay on track with your eating during the day. If you’re looking for more inspiration, here are a few other lunch recipes I think you’ll enjoy:
When you’ve tried this salad, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!
Mozzarella, Tomato, and Chickpea Salad
Ingredients
- 2 ½ ounces fresh mozzarella balls (drained)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup no-salt-added canned chickpeas (drained)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil (extra-virgin)
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper (to taste)
- 12 ounces fresh baby spinach
Instructions
- Combine the mozzarella balls, tomatoes, and chickpeas in a medium bowl. Add olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Wash spinach (if not prewashed) and divide it equally among 4 bowls.
- Once you’re ready to eat, top each bed of spinach with a ½ cup of the mozzarella-tomato-chickpea mixture.
The addition of the chickpeas makes this so much heartier. Simple idea, but makes a huge and delicious change!
Mary – I love the chickpeas too!
I love this lunch idea.