Herbed Couscous Salad with Chickpeas and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

A vibrant, fluffy couscous salad tossed with chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herbs, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette. This Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 15 minutes, pairs instant couscous, fresh parsley, fresh mint for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup instant couscous
• 1 cup chickpeas (cooked or canned, drained and rinsed)
• 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed, chopped)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup vegetable broth or water

The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring 1 cup vegetable broth or water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup instant couscous. Cover tightly and let sit for 5 minutes until all liquid is absorbed and couscous is fluffy.
2. Step 2: Fluff the couscous gently with a fork, then add 1 cup drained chickpeas, 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint. Toss to combine.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper until emulsified.
4. Step 4: Pour the lemon vinaigrette over the couscous salad and toss well to coat all ingredients evenly. Chill for 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.