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This easy homemade hummus is smooth, creamy, and packed with fresh flavor. Made in minutes with just one can of chickpeas, it’s a go-to dip you’ll want to make again and again!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Made with one can of chickpeas and ready in minutes.
- Everyday Ingredients: Uses simple items you likely already have.
- Smooth Texture: Blends into a creamy, scoopable hummus.
- Balanced Flavor: Garlic and lemon add bright, bold taste.
What I love most about this hummus is how easy it is to make and how incredibly fresh it tastes. With just a few basic ingredients, you get a smooth, flavorful dip that always feels like a little kitchen win. I make this often for a quick snack or light lunch, and it never disappoints!
Enjoy this hummus with fresh veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers, or scoop it up with tortilla chips. It also makes a great spread for wraps and sandwiches, especially in a turkey wrap for added flavor.
Featured Comment
“This hummus is soooo good. I’ll never buy store brands again. Love it, love it, love it!!”
– Lila
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch hummus recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Chickpeas: Use 1 (15-ounce) can of chickpeas, drained (about 1 1/2 cups). For dried chickpeas, soak 3/4 cup overnight and cook until tender. Measure out 1 1/2 cups for the recipe. Leftover chickpeas can be used in salads, soups, or our Slow Cooker Chickpeas and Sausage recipe. Cannellini beans can be used as a substitute, but the flavor will be slightly different.
- Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds rich flavor, but light olive oil or avocado oil can be used for a milder taste.
- Tahini: Adds creaminess and a mild nutty flavor. It’s a traditional ingredient in hummus but can be left out if needed. The hummus will still be smooth, but slightly less rich in flavor. Sunflower seed butter can also work as a substitute.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens the flavor. Bottled lemon juice can be used if needed, but the taste won’t be as fresh.
- Garlic: One clove adds enough flavor without overpowering. Chop or mince it before blending. If using garlic powder, start with 1/4 teaspoon.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Start with 1/2 teaspoon each and adjust to taste.
- Optional Toppings: Sprinkle with pine nuts, smoked paprika, or chopped parsley before serving for extra flavor and texture.
Recipe Variations
Want to change up the flavor? Try one of these simple twists:
- Spicy: Add a dash of cayenne pepper or a small spoonful of Sriracha.
- Herby: Blend in fresh parsley or cilantro for a bright, earthy flavor.
- Citrusy: Swap some lemon juice with orange or lime juice for a fresh, tangy twist.
How To Make Hummus
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas: Rinse under cool water to remove excess salt and starch.
- Add ingredients to a food processor: Combine the chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
- Blend until smooth: Process until creamy. If it’s too thick, add a little water or olive oil to adjust the consistency.
- Taste and adjust: Add more salt, lemon juice, or garlic as needed.
- Serve or store: Spoon into a bowl and enjoy right away or refrigerate for later.
Optional Garnishes
Top with a drizzle of olive oil, toasted pine nuts, or a sprinkle of smoked paprika for extra flavor and texture.
Expert Tips
- Tahini Substitutes: If you don’t have tahini, you can still make great hummus. Use sunflower seed butter or leave it out completely—your hummus will still be smooth, just a little less rich and nutty in flavor.
- Blending Without Tahini: If skipping tahini, add a little more olive oil or a splash of water to help the chickpeas blend smoothly.
- Balance the Flavors: When making hummus without tahini, taste and adjust the lemon juice, garlic, and salt to get the right flavor.
- Fix the Texture: If the hummus is too thick, blend in a tablespoon of water at a time until you reach the texture you like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can leave it out. The hummus will still be creamy, just a little less rich. Add a bit more olive oil or water to help achieve a smooth texture, as mentioned in the tips section.
Blend longer and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or olive oil until you reach the texture you like.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4–5 days.
RELATED: Simple Canned Bean Recipes
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this easy hummus recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Small Batch Hummus
Equipment
- mini food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 (15.5-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) – rinsed and drained
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons tahini
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- Optional toppings: ¼ cup toasted pine nuts, ½ tablespoon olive oil, and ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Add chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper to a food processor or blender.
- Blend until smooth. For a thinner consistency, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water as needed.
- Taste and adjust the salt, if needed.
- Spoon into a bowl and top with pine nuts, a drizzle of olive oil, and smoked paprika, if desired. Serve with pita chips or raw vegetables.
Notes
- Tahini Substitutes: If you don’t have tahini, you can still make great hummus. Use sunflower seed butter or leave it out completely—your hummus will still be smooth, just a little less rich and nutty in flavor.
- Blending Without Tahini: If skipping tahini, add a little more olive oil or a splash of water to help the chickpeas blend smoothly.
- Balance the Flavors: When making hummus without tahini, taste and adjust the lemon juice, garlic, and salt to get the right flavor.
- Fix the Texture: If the hummus is too thick, blend in a tablespoon of water at a time until you reach the texture you like.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
……This was WONDERFUL! I didn’t have fresh garlic so i used garlic powder (please don’t seek to have me arrested) and it still came out great. I almost think this is a great base recipe as it would be fun to start exploring. Nonetheless, so simple and quick….AND YUMMY! Thank you!…..
I’m thrilled to hear you loved the recipe! No worries about the garlic powder—it’s all about making it work with what you have. I’m glad it turned out great for you! Enjoy experimenting with it, and thank you for your kind words!
This is delicious!! It tastes great and I know I will be making this again! I love spreading hummus on a slice of sourdough toast topped with blistered tomatoes and a few shakes of Za’atar.
I made it yesterday…delicious….I went light on the salt as I wasn’t sure how salty the peas would be but rinsing them removes most of it…I stuck to the recipe but still needed to thin it more so used about 1/4C of the drained liquid…I DID find that after it sits for a bit (like to chill in the fridge) it thickens up so next time I will thin it more…I recommend this recipe though….WAY less expensive and healthier than store bought….Thank you Joanie
Tahini can be frozen, I freeze in cubes for just the right amount of tahini for my hummus.
This hummus is soooo good. I’ll never buy store brands again. Love it, love it, love it!!
I’m so glad you love it Lila. It’s so easy and I love the flavor – I won’t buy store brands either. Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed it.
Joanie – can you suggest a brand of tahini that you use. I know nothing about it. Thanks.
Eileen, There are a few brands I like a lot, they are Peloponnese Tahini, Whole Foods 365 Organic Tahini, and Trader Joe’s has a brand of tahini that’s good too.
Here’s a great tip I got. If you peel the skin of chickpeas the hummus will be creamier! It works!