The Best and Easiest Hummus

This is the BEST and EASIEST hummus recipe! With just 7 simple ingredients, you can have oh-so-creamy hummus in 5 minutes! No need to peel or boil chickpeas. Serve with pita bread and veggies.

Homemade hummus is so easy to make and tastes much better than store bought. It’s a lot less expensive, too! Plus you can control what goes into it. If you have 5 minutes, you can make hummus!

If you search “how to make hummus”, you will find many different opinions on how to make the best tasting hummus at home. Some recipes insist that you peel each individual chickpea, while others want you to only use from scratch chickpeas that have been overcooked.

While I’m sure some people might be able to tell the difference in “peeled chickpea hummus” versus my recipe, I’m all about easy over here and I have figured out how to make amazing hummus without the fuss. If you like fuss free, I think you will love the simplicity of my recipe.

What is hummus?

Hummus is a classic spread or dip from the Middle East and Mediterranean. It is made from chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans), tahini (ground sesame seeds), lemon juice and garlic. Of course nowadays you can find a million different variations and flavors at any grocery store. It’s delicious served with warm pita bread (I also like it with my homemade naan), and veggie sticks.

How to make hummus

I use a food processor, but this also works with a Vitamix or other high powered blender.

Simply add 1 can of drained and rinsed chickpeas to the food processor, along with 4 tablespoons of tahini, a clove of garlic, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and 4 tablespoons of cold water.

Puree for about 4-5 minutes until smooth and creamy. If it’s too thick, add a few more tablespoons of cold water. This will help it thin out and become smooth. Cold water is the key to creating smooth and creamy hummus, so make sure it’s not lukewarm.

Even though it will be blended in just a few minutes, I encourage you to let it puree for the full 4 or 5 minutes; it really does result in creamier hummus!

Tips for success

• Use quality tahini – Tahini does vary in terms of quality, so look for a good brand. I love Trader Joe’s tahini.
• Fresh lemon juice – Don’t use bottled lemon juice; fresh makes a big difference!
• Add garlic to taste – I like to start with 1 clove, because if you add too much garlic, it can be a bit too much.
• Cold water – It really is key to getting that smooth texture.
• Puree for the full 4-5 minutes – Though it will be blended before that, letting it puree for longer really makes a difference in the creaminess of the final spread.
• Garnish! – Garnishes are important when serving hummus, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. I went with chopped parsley, a sprinkle of paprika and a drizzle of olive oil.

Can you make hummus without tahini?

Tahini is pretty essential for that authentic flavor, but if you really can’t find it and want to make hummus, you could go without. Try subbing olive oil instead, which will give it a creamy richness. Or if you use any of the optional flavor options above, I bet you would hardly notice there is no tahini.

Hummus variations

Here are a few of my favorite flavor combinations, though classic is always a hit!

• Roasted Red Pepper – Add 3/4 cup chopped jarred roasted red peppers and perhaps a pinch of cayenne pepper.
• Spicy – Add 2 tablespoons of Sriracha or other hot sauce, or to taste.
• Cilantro Jalapeño – Add a handful of chopped cilantro and 1-2 jalapeños, stems and seeds removed.
• Sun Dried Tomato – Add 1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes + 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves.
• Roasted Garlic – Instead of fresh garlic, roast about 4-5 cloves add to the mix.
• Chipotle – Add 1 chipotle pepper in adobo, or just a few tablespoons of the adobo sauce for less spice.

How to use it

Hummus is most often used as a dip, but I like to use it many other ways, such as:

• Sandwiches – Spread it on both sides of the bread and layer on lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers.
• Wraps – Filled with a variety of lettuce and veggies.
• Pasta – Mix into cooked pasta noodles for a quick and flavorful meal.
• Baked potato – Hummus in a baked potato is delicious!
• Hummus toast
• Salad – Water it down slightly for an easy salad dressing.

More dip recipes you might enjoy

• Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Vegan Buffalo “Chicken” Dip
• Vegan Ranch Dip
• Restaurant Style Salsa
• Lemon Dill Hummus