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    Home » Sandwich Recipes » Easy Avocado Chickpea Sandwich (high protein)

    Easy Avocado Chickpea Sandwich (high protein)

    Modified: May 14, 2025 · Published: Oct 12, 2022 by Jacqueline Meldrum 14 Comments

    This easy avocado chickpea sandwich is filled with chickpea smash and salad. It's a high protein, tasty and a healthy choice for lunch.

    Easy avocado chickpea sandwich

    Sandwich fillers like this avocado chickpea mash, are perfect for making ahead and popping in the fridge so lunch is quick and easy to make in the morning.

    Try this easy avocado chickpea sandwich filler, this easy egg mayo sandwich filler, which is so eggy or the very British vegan cheese savoury.

    Make 2 or 3 different sandwich fillings and then vary the salad and sauces in each sandwich during the week, for something slightly different each day.


    🥪 For more sandwich ideas, say hello to the 150 Easy Vegan Sandwiches (with 6 ingredients or less) ebook. You'll never be stuck for lunch ideas again!  All for the price of a coffee.

    Keep it on your phone when shopping or in the kitchen or print it out to keep handy to glance through. Get it now!

    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients for avocado chickpea smash
    • 📖 Swap the pesto for other flavours
    • 🥪 Making your sandwich
    • 🥑 Avocado FAQs
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Adding protein to your lunch
    • 💭 How much protein in chickpeas?
    • 🍎 What to serve with a chickpea avocado sandwich
    • 🥣 Storing chickpea sandwich filler
    • ⭐ Hit the heart (NEW)
    • 🥫 More vegan chickpea recipes
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 How to make a vegan avocado sandwich
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Comments

    🥘 Ingredients for avocado chickpea smash

    Here are the ingredients for this easy chickpea mash followed by what you need to make this tasty vegan sandwich.

    1. Avocado - look for ripe avocado
    2. Chickpeas - canned or freshly cooked
    3. Red pepper - fresh or roasted
    4. Pesto - vegan
    5. Lemon juice
    6. Garlic powder
    7. Oregano - dried
    8. Paprika
    9. Fresh coriander
    10. Salt and pepper

    See the printable recipe card at the bottom for quantities, method and calories.

    📖 Swap the pesto for other flavours

    I added some pesto, garlic, herbs and lemon juice to flavour my chickpea smash, but here are some other ideas.

    • Miso - with lemon juice and thyme
    • Red pepper paste - with lemon juice, oregano, basil and chilli flakes
    • BBQ sauce - with lemon juice and parsley
    • Hummus - with sriracha, paprika and coriander
    • Sundried tomato paste - with lemon and basil

    🥪 Making your sandwich

    How I like to make up this sandwich and a few other ideas.

    smashed chickpea salad sandwich
    • Wholemeal brown bread - bloomers, tiger or sourdough bread are good too
    • Mayo - vegan of course
    • Salad leaves
    • Tomato - sliced
    • Sriracha - or spread the bread with this easy red chilli garlic chutney for a kick

    For more sandwich inspiration check out 101 Vegan Sandwiches - Back to School Kids Lunch boxes.

    🥬 Stack that sandwich

    Here are a few other delicious bits and pieces you can stack up your avocado chickpea sandwich with.

    • Cucumber - slices
    • Beetroot - slices or grated (plain or pickled)
    • Spring onion - scallions
    • Carrot - grated
    • Mango chutney - try this easy homemade mango chutney
    • Pickle - if you're British, it has to be Branstons sandwich pickle
    • Pickled onions - sliced
    • Gherkins - dill pickles

    Love a veg packed sandwich? Try these falafel chopped salad & cheese sandwiches

    🥑 Avocado FAQs

    Let's answer some of those avocado questions.

    ripe avocado cut in half
    How long do avocados take to ripen?

    Avocados take somewhere between 4 to 7 days to ripen. They start bright green and the colour darkens as they ripen.

    How do you know if an avocado is ripe?

    Avocados tend to darken as they ripen, but they should also have a bit of give (not soft or squishy) if you gently squeeze them.

    Another sign they are ripe is you can easily remove the pip/stalk from the top of the avocado, it should be brown underneath. If the pip/stalk is hard to remove and green underneath it, it's not ripe.

    How can you help avocados ripen?

    Leave them in a paper bag to help them ripen quicker and just to be sure pop a banana in with it to help it ripen. Bananas give off a gas called ethene that ripens other fruit.

    How do you safely remove the stone from an avocado?

    The safest and easiest way to remove an avocado stone is to push it out from behind (the skin side) and it will pop out if the avocado is ripe.

    Are avocados a healthy option?

    Yes, avocados are a healthy choice. They contain a healthy type of fat and are full of vitamins C, E, K, and B6. They are also a good source of riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium, as well as containing beta carotene and omega 3 fatty acids.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Adding protein to your lunch

    It's a really good idea to add protein to each meal.

    • Proteins are the body's building blocks, that give you energy.
    • They are also called amino acids, which help your body repair muscles and bones and they also help to lower blood pressure, boost your metabolism and help you to gain muscle.
    • As well as all that, protein leaves you feeling satisfied and fuller for longer.
    • 15-30 g of protein is the recommended amount for each meal. Eating more than that in a meal isn't really more beneficial.

    Check out this article on protein from the British Nutrition Foundation for more info.

    💭 How much protein in chickpeas?

    Each 100g (just over 1 cup) of chickpeas contains 19 g of protein.

    chickpeas in a bowl

    So each sandwich (if you make three sandwiches with this mashed chickpeas sandwich filler) contains 15.2 g of protein from the chickpeas and another 7.2g of protein from the two slices of bread.

    22.4g of protein in each chickpea mash sandwich (15-30g recommended per meal).

    🍎 What to serve with a chickpea avocado sandwich

    Here are some ideas of what to serve with this avocado veggie sandwich.

    • apple wedges
    • coleslaw - try carrot and dill coleslaw, balsamic beet slaw or coronation coleslaw
    • crisps - or tortilla chips
    • potato salad - try this delicious dill potato salad
    • pretzels
    • side salad

    Also, try this vegan pepperoni cheese sandwich.

    🥣 Storing chickpea sandwich filler

    Make up a batch of this vegan avocado sandwich filler and keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    avocado chickpea smash sandwiches

    I wouldn't recommend making this vegan sandwich filler for the freezer.

    It's quick to make so just make the mashed chickpeas up fresh.

    ⭐ Hit the heart (NEW)

    Have you seen the little heart?

    Hit it to like the recipe.

    Or hit the molecule-like symbol beside it, to save your favourite recipes or share them.

    🥫 More vegan chickpea recipes

    Here are a few more easy and tasty chickpea recipes for you to try next.

    • Air Fryer White Bean Falafel
    • Chickpea Farinata (flatbread) with Rosemary & Black Olives
    • Crunchy Air Fryer Pizza Chickpeas
    • Easy Hummus
    • Sriracha Chickpea & Avocado Wraps

    👩🏻‍🍳 How to make a vegan avocado sandwich

    Step-by-step photos. Keep scrolling for the full printable recipe (with full ingredient list, calories and nutritional info).

    smashed chickpea sandwiches - step 1.

    Step 1

    • Add your cooked (I use canned chickpeas) chickpeas to a mixing bowl and mash with a fork. You can make it quite smooth or leave it with some texture.
    • Add the finely chopped pepper and red onion.
    smashed chickpea sandwiches - step 2.

    Step 2

    • Add the spices, herbs, salt and pepper to the chickpea mash.
    • Now add the avocado, and pour the lemon juice over it before mashing it. The lemon juice will help prevent discolouring.
    • Alternatively, mash the avocado with the lemon first before adding to the chickpea mash. I was using the chickpea smash in sandwiches the same day, so didn't bother being extra careful.
    • Now add the pesto and coriander (or parsley if you don't like coriander).
    smashed chickpea sandwiches - step 3.

    Step 3

    • Mix well to combine.
    • Now make your sandwich. Spread both slices of bread (for each sandwich) with vegan mayo.
    • Top the first slice of each sandwich with salad leaves, then a generous layer of the smashed chickpeas.
    smashed chickpea sandwiches - step 4.

    Step 4

    • Add slices of tomato.
    • Then finish it off with a drizzle of sriracha (if you don't like hot sauce, sweet chilli sauce is a good option).
    • Cut your smash chickpea salad sandwich in half and enjoy!

    📖 Recipe

    smashed chickpea salad sandwich.

    Easy Avocado Chickpea Sandwich (high protein)

    Jacqueline Meldrum
    This easy avocado chickpea sandwich is filled with chickpea smash and salad. It's a high protein, tasty and a healthy choice for lunch.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Easy Vegan Sandwiches & Wraps
    Cuisine British
    Servings 3 sandwiches
    Calories 482 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 240 g chickpeas (400g/14oz can drained)
    • ½ red pepper (finely chopped)
    • 1 avocado (ripe - flesh only, removing stone tips in notes)
    • ½ red onion (finely chopped)
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or granules)
    • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 tablespoon vegan pesto
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 handful fresh coriander (cilantro) (chopped)
    • 1 pinch salt and pepper

    Sandwich ingredients

    • 6 slices wholemeal bread
    • 3 tablespoons vegan mayo
    • 3 handfuls spinach (or salad leaves)
    • 1 large tomato (sliced)
    • 3 teaspoons sriracha hot sauce (or sweet chilli sauce if you don't like hot sauce)
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Add your cooked (I use canned chickpeas) chickpeas to a mixing bowl and mash with a fork. You can make it quite smooth or leave it with some texture.
    • Now add the finely chopped pepper and red onion.
    • Add the spices, herbs, salt and pepper to the chickpea mash.
    • Now add the avocado, and pour the lemon juice over it before mashing it. The lemon juice will help prevent discolouring. Alternatively, mash the avocado with the lemon first before adding to the chickpea mash. I was using the chickpea smash in sandwiches the same day, so didn't bother being extra careful.
    • Next add the pesto and coriander (or parsley if you don't like coriander).
    • Mix well to combine.
    • Now make your sandwiches. Spread both slices of bread (for each sandwich) with vegan mayo. Top the first slice of each sandwich with spinach (or salad leaves), then a generous layer of the smashed chickpeas.
    • Add slices of tomato, then finish it off with a drizzle of sriracha (if you don't like hot sauce, sweet chilli sauce is a good option).
    • Cut your smash chickpea salad sandwiches in half and enjoy!

    Notes

    Make the chickpea smash ahead
    • Make up a batch of this vegan avocado sandwich filler and keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
    • I wouldn't recommend making this vegan sandwich filler for the freezer. It's quick to make so just make the mashed chickpeas up fresh.
    Safely remove an avocado stone
    • Cut the ripe avocado in half, the push the stone out from the back (where the skin is). If the avocado is ripe it will pop right out, then just scoop out the flesh with a spoon and mash.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 sandwichCalories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 17gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0.01mgSodium: 466mgPotassium: 1133mgFiber: 17gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 4235IUVitamin C: 61mgCalcium: 204mgIron: 6mg
    Keyword British sandwiches, chickpea mash, chickpea smash, sandwich, sandwich filler, vegan sandwich filling
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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      Vegan Tofu Banh Mi - Vietnamese Street Food Sandwich
    • Caesar's chickpea smash sandwiches.
      BEST Vegan Caesar Smashed Chickpea Sandwiches Recipe
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    Comments

    1. Pat says

      October 12, 2022 at 10:35 am

      5 stars
      That looks awesome and i have a avocado in the salad drawer waiting to be used. Lunch sorted

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Meldrum says

        October 12, 2022 at 10:37 am

        That has to be fate Pat. That avocado has this sandwich written all over it.

        Reply
    2. Sam says

      October 12, 2022 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      ohhhhhhh cannot wait to try this one 😍

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Meldrum says

        October 12, 2022 at 10:37 am

        Haha yes it is good. I hope you enjoy it Sam.

        Reply
    3. Sara Welch says

      October 13, 2022 at 3:23 pm

      5 stars
      This was everything a gourmet sandwich should be, and then some! Easily, a new favorite; hands down delicious!

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Meldrum says

        October 13, 2022 at 5:19 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it Sara. We love this one.

        Reply
    4. Nancy says

      October 13, 2022 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      So satisfying and tasty. I love the ahoy and chickpea combo for a sandwich

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Meldrum says

        October 13, 2022 at 5:18 pm

        It looks like your phone is as naughty as mine for changing words.

        Reply
    5. Beth says

      October 13, 2022 at 5:03 pm

      5 stars
      This is great! I love the pesto but your idea for a variation of sun-dried tomatoes sounds delicious too! So many ways to make this fabulous sandwich!

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Meldrum says

        October 13, 2022 at 5:17 pm

        Oh yes the sundried tomato would be very tasty too. Hope you try it.

        Reply
    6. Dana says

      October 13, 2022 at 5:06 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a nice and wholesome lunch! So much flavor and SO filling!

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Meldrum says

        October 13, 2022 at 5:17 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it Dana and yes very filling.

        Reply
    7. Colleen says

      October 13, 2022 at 5:31 pm

      5 stars
      This hearty, healthy sandwich is so tasty and so filling. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Meldrum says

        October 13, 2022 at 5:35 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed it Colleen. It is definitely tasty and filling.

        Reply

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    JACQUELINE MELDRUM

    Welcome to The Vegan Lunchbox.

    If you need tasty lunch inspiration, you've come to the right place. Easy recipes and ideas from my Scottish kitchen. Jac x

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