What to Eat with Hummus: The 12 Best Options

Hummus is the king of all dips in our eyes - why? It’s creamy, delicious, and healthy for you. Here are 12 creative things to do with hummus: salad dressing to soup and the classic hummus and pita chips.

Chickpeas are tasty enough on their own, but somehow, they taste 10x better blended with a few other simple ingredients. 

Hummus has Middle Eastern origins and has gained fame worldwide as a tasty, nutritious dip that even vegans can enjoy, as it contains no animal products. 

Scooping up hummus with soft-baked pitas is the classic way to enjoy it, but there are countless other recipes with hummus that all provide a completely different taste experience. 

We’re here to explain all about hummus ingredients and give you some tips and tricks to try out some of our favorite ways to eat hummus.

What is hummus?

Traditional hummus starts with a base of chickpeas, which are mashed or blended with lemon juice, tahini, olive oil, and garlic. It has a fresh, creamy taste that pairs well with many different foods; hummus dip is delightful with chips, crackers, and pitas. 

As hummus has risen in popularity, we’ve seen some exciting variations of the traditional recipe, from beets to peanuts, caramelized onion, black olives, and more. You can even make hummus with a different base than chickpeas, like zucchini, cauliflower, and white bean, handy for anyone with allergies.

Today, we’re going to focus on the traditional hummus recipe and the best ways to use hummus daily in your kitchen.

Things to Eat with Hummus

What can you eat with hummus? As it turns out, almost everything. Here are some different hummus uses for you to try out. 

#1: Pita Chips, Bread, and Crackers

Pairing a pita bread and hummus is a classic way to enjoy this savory dip. You can slice some pitas into triangles, bake until crispy, and serve warm with hummus, or simply tear some soft pita apart and dip it directly - either is fantastic.

Hummus and crackers are a dynamite combination too. Almost any cracker will do, but avoid overly-flavored varieties that will compete with the hummus, which should be the star of the show. One of the best crackers for hummus are shredded wheat crackers, like Triscuits, which provide a textured crunch that goes well with smooth hummus. Rice crackers are light, crisp and make a great combo dipped in hummus.

You can also try out other chips for hummus because, well, everyone loves chips. Again, go for classic salted chips over crazy flavors, like tortilla chips and hummus, for a perfectly blended party snack.

#2: Sandwiches

What’s better than mayo or butter on a sandwich? Hummus, that’s what! Spread hummus on a slice or two of your favorite whole-grain bread, top with lettuce, tomato, and falafel or meat of choice, and you’ve got yourself a fancy lunch that was easy to make.

Another delicious variant is a grilled hummus sandwich that you can easily make with a panini press or pie iron. Sounds mouth-watering? It sure is! One of the best ways to eat hummus is to have it slightly sizzled! Cover both pieces of bread with it and stuff the middle with your favorite ingredients: hummus will bind everything together all while providing a creamy texture and rich flavor. Put it in a pie iron or panini press, cook for 3–5 minutes on each side, and enjoy the crispy goodness!

If you want the crispiness but don't have the time, there's one easy solution: toast! If you love fresh avocado toast as much as the rest of America, try spreading a little hummus first, then topping with fresh slices of avocado, sea salt, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Yum!

#3: Creative Veggies and Fruit

You likely already know that hummus is a healthy dip for carrots, fresh cucumbers, and bell peppers. 

Carrot sticks and hummus are great, but you can switch things up and try these creative options of different veggies to dip in hummus, too:

What veggies to eat with hummus:

• Celery and hummus
• Sugar snap peas
• Thinly sliced, baked sweet potato
• Cauliflower
• Sliced Radishes
• Asparagus
• Jicama

Sweet and salty make some of the best flavor combinations - popcorn, salted caramel, the list goes on. It might be a bit surprising, but one of the best things to dip in hummus is fruit. Many sweet fruits pair well with salty and rich hummus in a big way. 

Try out dates, strawberries, or sliced apples and hummus to gain a whole new perspective on the dip.

#4: Salad Dressing

Hummus makes a perfect, nutty salad dressing on any mixed greens or kale salad. The tang of the lemon juice gives it just enough acidity. You can spread it as is or mix in a little extra olive oil and lemon to thin it out and make the dressing pourable. 

Either way, it’s going to take your salad game to the next level. 

#5: Pasta Sauce

Vegans will love one of our favorite ways to eat hummus in a creamy pasta that contains no dairy or animal by-products at all. Add it to freshly-cooked pasta with a touch of oil and salt, or mix it into any homemade pasta sauce to add some creamy depth to your dish.  

#6: Brownies

If you’re wondering what to eat with hummus besides pita, this next option is anything but classic. It might seem weird to add hummus to your ooey, gooey brownies, but trust us, it’s worth a try. 

The best brownies have a dense, almost raw texture that is irresistible, and the texture of hummus works well in this unique combination. You’ll be making your brownies a little more nutritious, and the hummus taste is undetectable in each rich, chocolate bite.

#8: Tofu Scramble

Tofu scrambles are a fantastic vegan breakfast option, especially with the addition of black salt, or kala namak, giving the homemade tofu dish an eerily similar taste to the real deal. 

Cook your tofu scramble, and top the hot meal with a scoop of hummus to make them even more rich and delicious. 

#9: Deviled Eggs

Devilled eggs are the best, snackable morsels for holiday entertaining or everyday snacks. Instead of using the typical mayo and dijon mustard filling, up the protein even more by merely mixing hummus with your cooked egg yolk, scooping back into your boiled eggs, and topping with a generous sprinkle of paprika.

#10: Soup

What can you do to make your soup creamy without adding cream? Vegan soups can sometimes be a little watery, so hummus is an excellent add-in to pureed vegetable soups, like squash, sweet potato, broccoli, or carrot. 

#11: Tacos and Wraps

Hummus is right at home on any Mediterranean-style or Middle Eastern wraps, like falafel. Still, it doesn’t stop there - try spreading hummus on homemade beef, chicken, or veggie tacos to amp up dinner on Mexican night. 

#12: Mashed Potatoes

If you prefer to omit dairy from your cooking, try mixing a generous dollop of hummus into your next batch of mashed potatoes. You’ll get the ideal creamy texture, add some tasty garlic flavor, and make the side dish a whole lot healthier, too. 

Final Notes: What do you eat with hummus?

Start trying out some of these 12 out-of-the-box ways to incorporate this healthy food into your diet a little more often for an extra boost of fiber and other nutrients.

From sandwiches to salad dressing and soups, hummus clearly isn’t just for pita chips. Vegans especially can enjoy hummus as a replacement for dairy to make dishes creamy while keeping the protein levels high. 

Enjoy your hummus-based treats!