Everyone has their easy go to recipe. Whether it’s because it’s simple to throw together or because your family loves it, you have that ace in your pocket you know is a crowd pleaser. For us, it’s chicken salad. We often buy rotisserie chickens and keep the shredded meat on hand for quick meals or snacks. A little prep goes a long way, especially with busy schedules. When we start to get down to bits and pieces I love to make chicken salad for sandwiches or wraps.

But sometimes it’s fun to change it up. I saw this idea in a magazine and incorporated it into my usual recipe.

GARBANZO BEANS!

They are a great substitute for any one not liking chicken or perhaps you have a vegetarian in the mix. And if I do say so myself, this is up there with one of my favorite trade outs for a recipe. And it’s incredibly easy.

All you need is one can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), grapes, apples, celery, and walnuts. By all means if you have a different recipe you like better, just change out your chicken for beans and give it a try! I used about 15 grapes, one small apple, 2 celery stalks and approx 1/2 cup walnuts.

Slice up all your fruits and veggies.

I’ve made this two ways. One not smashing the beans and one with. It’s much better and easier to eat with them smashed up. Just an easy smash with a fork. Be sure you rinse and drain them first. No likes syrupy beans.

Toast your walnuts, if they are raw, like mine were. Untoasted ones just taste really bitter to me. Just a few minutes in a hot pan. Let them cool and chop up to add at the end.

Now onto the dressing. This makes more than what I choose to dress my salad with, but I tend to like a drier salad. Some like it really coated, this gives you room to play with it.

DRESSING:

1/2 c mayo ( I like doing half mayo, half greek yogurt)

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp sugar

s & p, and a pinch of granulated garlic

Mix up all your dressing ingredients. Often I just use greek yogurt all together in place of mayo, I like the tartness it gives the salad. Coat your salad as preferred and add the walnuts in last. This made 8 small wraps.

It was a delicious change to a favorite recipe and I’m hoping you’ll try it out and see for yourself!