Instant Pot Chickpea Salad with Lemon, Feta, and Fresh Dill

A refreshing Mediterranean-style salad featuring tender instant pot chickpeas, crisp cucumber, and creamy feta cheese, brightened with fresh dill and a lemony honey dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or side dish.

6 servings

2 hr 35 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•1 cup dried chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and picked over to remove debris
•½ teaspoon salt
•6 cups water
•¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
•1 large lemon
•1 teaspoon honey
•1 pinch salt
•1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
•1 medium English cucumber
•1 cup diced feta cheese
•2½ cups cooked chickpeas
•1 large bunch fresh dill
•large stems removed
•fronds finely chopped

Cooking Instructions

1.
Place the chickpeas, salt, and water in the inner pot. Close and lock the lid. Set the valve to Sealing. Press Manual or Pressure Cook and use the Pressure or Pressure Level button to select High Pressure. Use the - or + button to set the time to 35 minutes.
35 min
2.
When the cooking cycle ends, press Cancel. Allow the appliance to cool and release pressure naturally, about 25 minutes. (The pressure is released when the small metal float valve next to the pressure-release valve sinks back into the lid and the lid is no longer locked.)
25 min
3.
Remove the lid. Wearing oven mitts, remove the inner pot (be careful-it's hot!) and drain the chickpeas through a colander.
5 min
4.
Chickpeas will keep, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 5 days. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
5.
Make the dressing: Place the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a Mason jar with a lid (or an airtight container) and shake to combine.
5 min
6.
Place the cucumber, feta, chickpeas, and dill in a large bowl and toss to combine. Pour the dressing over the salad and then toss the salad to distribute the dressing. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
10 min
7.
Chickpeas with Lemon, Feta, and Fresh Dill will keep, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 2 days. Serve leftovers chilled.
8.
Make them crispy and crunchy: Toss cooked chickpeas with olive oil, salt, and pepper. (Add garlic powder, ground cumin, or curry powder for a twist.) Place them on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in a preheated 450°F oven, shaking the pan occasionally, until browned, about 30 minutes.
30 min
9.
Red Pepper Chickpeas: Toss cooked chickpeas with chopped red bell pepper, olive oil, and salt and pepper for a brightly colored, fresh-tasting salad.
5 min
10.
Chicken Chickpea Pizza: Place equal parts lightly mashed cooked chickpeas and whole chickpeas on a raw pizza crust, drizzled generously with extra-virgin olive oil, and bake the pizza as normal. Just before the pizza is finished. Remove it from the oven and top with diced cooked chicken breast and crumbled feta cheese and then cook until the chicken and feta are warm.
20 min
11.
Chickpea Salad Spread: Coarsely mash cooked chickpeas with mayonnaise and diced celery. Use as a stand-in for tuna in a sandwich.
10 min
12.
Greek-Salad Chickpeas: Tossed with olive oil and lemon juice, cooked chickpeas can be tucked into a pita with Greek yogurt, chopped tomatoes, and fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley. Sprinkle with ground cumin or smoked paprika.
10 min

Ingredients

•1 cup dried chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and picked over to remove debris

•½ teaspoon salt

•6 cups water

•¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

•1 large lemon

•1 teaspoon honey

•1 pinch salt

•1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

•1 medium English cucumber

•1 cup diced feta cheese

•2½ cups cooked chickpeas

•1 large bunch fresh dill

•large stems removed

•fronds finely chopped

Cooking Instructions

Place the chickpeas, salt, and water in the inner pot. Close and lock the lid. Set the valve to Sealing. Press Manual or Pressure Cook and use the Pressure or Pressure Level button to select High Pressure. Use the - or + button to set the time to 35 minutes.

35 min

When the cooking cycle ends, press Cancel. Allow the appliance to cool and release pressure naturally, about 25 minutes. (The pressure is released when the small metal float valve next to the pressure-release valve sinks back into the lid and the lid is no longer locked.)

25 min

Remove the lid. Wearing oven mitts, remove the inner pot (be careful-it's hot!) and drain the chickpeas through a colander.

5 min

Chickpeas will keep, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 5 days. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Make the dressing: Place the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a Mason jar with a lid (or an airtight container) and shake to combine.

5 min

Place the cucumber, feta, chickpeas, and dill in a large bowl and toss to combine. Pour the dressing over the salad and then toss the salad to distribute the dressing. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

10 min

Chickpeas with Lemon, Feta, and Fresh Dill will keep, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 2 days. Serve leftovers chilled.

Make them crispy and crunchy: Toss cooked chickpeas with olive oil, salt, and pepper. (Add garlic powder, ground cumin, or curry powder for a twist.) Place them on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in a preheated 450°F oven, shaking the pan occasionally, until browned, about 30 minutes.

30 min

Red Pepper Chickpeas: Toss cooked chickpeas with chopped red bell pepper, olive oil, and salt and pepper for a brightly colored, fresh-tasting salad.

5 min

10.

Chicken Chickpea Pizza: Place equal parts lightly mashed cooked chickpeas and whole chickpeas on a raw pizza crust, drizzled generously with extra-virgin olive oil, and bake the pizza as normal. Just before the pizza is finished. Remove it from the oven and top with diced cooked chicken breast and crumbled feta cheese and then cook until the chicken and feta are warm.

20 min

11.

Chickpea Salad Spread: Coarsely mash cooked chickpeas with mayonnaise and diced celery. Use as a stand-in for tuna in a sandwich.

10 min

12.

Greek-Salad Chickpeas: Tossed with olive oil and lemon juice, cooked chickpeas can be tucked into a pita with Greek yogurt, chopped tomatoes, and fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley. Sprinkle with ground cumin or smoked paprika.

10 min