Fresh, colorful, and packed with protein, this Mediterranean white bean salad is an easy recipe you'll find yourself making on repeat. With creamy cannellini beans, crisp vegetables, rotisserie chicken, and a bright homemade dressing, it's perfect for meal prep, a light main course, or a great side dish for just about any meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Packed with protein and fresh vegetables for a satisfying lunch, dinner, or meal prep option.
- Comes together in about 20 minutes using simple pantry staples like canned beans and rotisserie chicken.
- Full of fresh Mediterranean flavors with a homemade red wine vinegar dressing.
- Easy to customize with additions like feta cheese, olives, fresh herbs, or cherry tomatoes.
- Holds up well in the refrigerator, making it perfect for lunches throughout the week.
If you're a fan of Mediterranean flavors try some of these recipes!
Ingredient Notes
- Cannellini beans - Cannellini beans are creamy and mild, making them the perfect base for this Mediterranean bean salad. Great Northern beans or butter beans also work well if that's what you have on hand.
- Chickpeas - Chickpeas add extra texture and plant-based protein. Be sure to rinse and drain all canned beans well before using.
- Rotisserie chicken - Using rotisserie chicken keeps this recipe quick and easy. Leftover grilled or baked chicken also works perfectly.
- English cucumber - English cucumbers have fewer seeds and thinner skin, making them ideal for salads. Regular cucumbers can be substituted if peeled first.
- Red wine vinegar - Red wine vinegar gives the dressing its classic Mediterranean flavor. White wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar are both great substitutes.
- Optional add-ins - Feta cheese, Kalamata olives, chopped parsley, fresh dill, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes are all delicious additions.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Let the salad rest for at least 10 minutes before serving so the beans can absorb the dressing.
- Dice the vegetables into similar-sized pieces for the best texture in every bite.
- Swap the rotisserie chicken for grilled chicken, shredded turkey, or leave it out for a vegetarian Mediterranean bean salad.
- Stir in feta cheese, Kalamata olives, fresh parsley, basil, or dill for even more Mediterranean flavors.
- Add chopped artichoke hearts or cherry tomatoes for extra color and flavor.
- This salad is hearty enough to serve as a main course, but it also pairs well with additional grilled chicken, salmon, steak, pita bread, soup, or fresh fruit for a balanced meal. It would also be delicious served alongside some fresh veggies and our favorite homemade hummus recipe.
How to Make Mediterranean White Bean Salad
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Drain and rinse the chickpeas and cannellini beans well, then add them to a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add the diced red bell pepper, orange bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, and rotisserie chicken to the bowl with the beans.
Step 3: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the red wine vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, honey (or maple syrup), minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Step 4: Pour the dressing over the bean and veggie mixture.
Step 5: Toss well to make sure everything is evenly coated.
Fold in any optional additions, like feta cheese, kalamata olives, or chopped parsley, if using. Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Mediterranean White Bean Salad FAQs
Store leftover Mediterranean white bean salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir well before serving, as some of the dressing will settle at the bottom of the container. If the salad seems a little dry after chilling, add a small drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or a splash of red wine vinegar before serving.
Yes! In fact, this salad tastes even better after it sits for a few hours, allowing the dressing to soak into the beans and vegetables. It's an excellent meal prep recipe.
Cannellini beans are our favorite because they're soft and creamy, but Great Northern beans or butter beans are excellent substitutes.
This Mediterranean white bean salad is gluten free. It is dairy free without adding feta cheese. It can be made vegetarian with the omission of chicken and vegan with the omission of chicken and use of maple syrup in place of honey.
Other Mediterranean-Inspired Recipes
If you make this Mediterranean White Bean Salad recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished product—it makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Mediterranean White Bean Salad
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 1, 14.5 ounce can chickpeas
- 2, 14.5 ounce cans cannellini beans
- 1 red bell pepper, small dice
- 1 orange bell pepper, small dice
- 1 English cucumber, small dice
- ⅓ cup finely diced red onion
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken, small diced
- Optional additions: feta cheese, Kalamata olives, chopped parsley, fresh dill, artichoke hearts, etc.
For the dressing:
- ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons honey or pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas and cannellini beans well, then add them to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the diced red bell pepper, orange bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, and rotisserie chicken to the bowl with the beans.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the red wine vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, honey (or maple syrup), minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the bean and veggie mixture. Toss well to make sure everything is evenly coated.
- Fold in any optional additions, like feta cheese, kalamata olives, or chopped parsley, if using. Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Prepare the dressing up to 5 days ahead and store it in the refrigerator.
- Dice all of the vegetables a day in advance and refrigerate until ready to assemble.
- Use a store-bought salad dressing.
- Use rotisserie chicken to keep prep to a minimum.
- Assemble the entire salad several hours ahead of time—it tastes even better after the flavors have had time to meld together.
- This Mediterranean white bean salad is gluten free. It is dairy free without adding feta cheese. It can be made vegetarian with the omission of chicken and vegan with the omission of chicken and use of maple syrup in place of honey.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Mediterranean White Bean Salad." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
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