Learn how to make homemade hummus with this easy, 7-ingredient hummus recipe! It comes together in minutes, and it's SUPER creamy, smooth & fresh.
Is there anything better than creamy, nutty, velvety homemade hummus?
While I’ve posted many hummus variations here on the blog and even more in my first cookbook, I’ve recently gotten requests for my go-to classic homemade hummus recipe. Even though I think it’s fun to mix veggies into all kinds of chickpea dips (see below for many of those options), this is the hummus recipe I make when I’m craving that classic tahini-forward, ultra-creamy, smooth dip, just like the kind I enjoy at a good Middle Eastern restaurant. It’s simple to make – with just 5 minutes of prep, 7 basic ingredients transform into delicious homemade hummus. It’s lusciously smooth, with a bright lemon flavor and a little kick from garlic. Whether you enjoy it with fresh veggies, slather it on a sandwich, or scoop it up with wedges of pita, I hope you love it as much as I do!
Homemade Hummus Ingredients
You only need 7 basic ingredients to make this easy homemade hummus recipe!
- Cooked chickpeas. Though I cook dried chickpeas on occasion, I typically use store bought canned chickpeas in my homemade hummus, and it always comes out great. If you cook your chickpeas yourself, make sure to soak them ahead of time, and let them boil for a bit longer than you normally would, until they become mushy, soft & creamy.
- Tahini. A good amount of good-quality tahini is the key to smooth hummus. I use 1/3 cup in my recipe, and I choose a brand with a smooth texture and a mild, nutty flavor that’s not bitter. My favorites are Cedar’s (available at most grocery stores), Seed & Mill (the best ever), and Soom.
- Extra-virgin olive oil. I blend 2 tablespoons of olive oil into the dip, and I love to serve it with an extra drizzle of oil on top!
- Fresh lemon juice. Squeeze it yourself for the best bright, zingy flavor.
- Garlic. I use one fresh garlic clove in my basic recipe, but you could also swap in 2 roasted garlic cloves for a caramelized taste.
- Water. I start with 5 tablespoons and add more, as needed, to give it a delectable light, fluffy texture!
- Sea salt. I use 1/2 teaspoon to heighten the bright, nutty flavors in this homemade hummus recipe.
How to Make Hummus
Once you assemble your ingredients, you can make this recipe in one easy step! Just add the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, water, garlic, and salt to a high-speed blender, and process until smooth. That’s it!
As you blend, add more water, as needed, to reach your desired consistency. If your blender has a baton, you may want to use it to help get things going.
If you don’t have a high-speed blender, you can use a food processor to make this recipe. However, a blender will make a smoother dip faster, so if you use a food processor, know that you may have to let it run for a few minutes to get super creamy hummus.
Hummus Recipe Variations
If you go to the hummus section of a grocery store, you’ll find tons of ideas for seasoning it! Feel free to try experimenting with different flavors at home. I love it the traditional way, but if I’m in the mood for something different, I usually turn to one of these variations:
- Spice it up! 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin and/or coriander adds an extra layer of flavor.
- Add roasted red peppers. For a nutty, romesco-style dip, blend in 1 roasted red pepper, 1/4 cup toasted almonds, and 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika.
- Blend in pesto. Add spoonfuls of pesto, to taste, to make an extra-lemony, herbaceous dip.
- Go green. Blend in 1/2 cup fresh parsley, cilantro, or basil, or up to 1 cup spinach.
- Turn it pink! Find my beet hummus recipe here.
- Make it sweet & smoky. Add 1/2 baked sweet potato, 2 teaspoons maple syrup, a big pinch of chili powder, and more water as needed, to the blender along with the other hummus ingredients.
- Give it an autumn harvest twist. Add cumin, coriander, cayenne, and roasted butternut squash to the traditional dip for a delicious autumn variation! Find the full recipe here.
Let me know what variations you try!
Hummus Serving Suggestions
Once you have hummus on hand in the fridge, you’ll find a thousand ways to use it. Here are a few suggestions:
- Enjoy it with veggies or crackers (or straight off a spoon) as a quick snack.
- Slather it onto cute crostini to serve as an appetizer.
- Put it at the center of your next crudité board, or serve it as part of a Mediterranean mezze platter with tzatziki, baba ganoush, Greek salad, and tabbouleh!
- Add it to your next sandwich or wrap! I love it on these chickpea shawarma wraps, these veggie wraps, or this “club” sandwich.
- Stir in water to thin it to a drizzle-able consistency. Then, use it as a salad dressing for your favorite fresh and roasted veggies!
Of course, it’s also good on its own with lots of pita. If I’m serving a big plate of hummus, I like to garnish it with a generous drizzle of olive oil, finely chopped parsley, sumac, and a simple Israeli salad. Sesame seeds, pine nuts, fresh mint leaves, smoked paprika, or even Everything Bagel Seasoning would be good too.
If you love this homemade hummus recipe…
Try another of my favorite dips like curried red lentil dip, guacamole, pico de gallo, chipotle sauce, cilantro lime dressing, tomatillo salsa, or spinach artichoke dip next!
For more appetizer ideas, check out this post with 50 easy appetizers.
BEST Hummus
Equipment
- Blender (I've used my trusty Vitamix for years)
Ingredients
- 1½ cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ⅓ cup smooth tahini*
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, more to taste
- 1 garlic clove
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 5 tablespoons water, or as needed to blend
- paprika, red pepper flakes, or parsley, for garnish
- warm pita bread , and/or veggies, for serving
Instructions
- In a high-speed blender, place the chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Use the blender baton to blend until very smooth, adding water as needed to blend, and/or to reach your desired consistency.
- Transfer to a serving plate, top with desired garnishes and serve with warm pita and veggies, as desired.
Notes
For 15 years my best friend was a rather exuberant Israeli and his Hummus was the best. I have never found any in the store as good. In his honor ( he was huge Kansas City Chiefs fan) I am going to use your recipe for Super Bowl Sunday. I will let you know how it works! Wish me luck!!
Hi Pat, good luck! I hope you love the hummus. 🙂
I normally do not like hummus but this was very good. I made butter chicken and served naan with the hummus, everyone loved it.
I tried this recipe today and it turned out perfect. This is indeed the best hummus recipe. Thank you!
Hi Eylul, I’m so glad you loved the hummus!
How long will this last in the refrigerator?
Hi Megan, about one week.
I made it exactly as written, and then I usually tweak the recipe (add more garlic, salt, lemon juice or something). There was nothing to adjust. It was perfectly balanced, perfectly creamy. This will definitely be my go-to hummus recipe. Thanks SO much!
I’m so glad you loved it!
this recipe is a little tahini-forward for my taste, so next time I will add less, however it’s a great basic hummus recipe! I’d love to experiment in the future with adding other flavors.
I don’t know if I was doing something wrong but I had to use at least double the amount of water called for, my blender could not hack it, so then I switched to my nutra bullet, worked better but still added more water. I also added more lemon juice and olive oil and cumin.
Hi Margy, brands of tahini can vary in consistency – I would just add more water until it’ll blend.
My ancient Osterizer does just fine as long as I add the tahini last and keep the speed low.
Delish! I always add 1/2 -1 tsp cumin & serve it with Crunchmaster crackers. I can’t keep it in the house, it just disappears
Hi Lily, I’m so glad the hummus is a hit!
How long does it last in the fridge for?
Hi Manda, about a week.
I’m sensitive to sesame. What do you think I could sub for it?
Hi, you could leave it out. I would also leave the water out and only use it as needed to blend. Hope that helps!
This really is the best hummus. No way I could even buy it from the store anymore. This recipe is super easy and so creamy.
Hi Teri, I’m so glad you love the recipe!
I intend working my way through many of the recipes on your site; unfortunately this proves a little more complicated for me as I am having to convert your measurements in into grams and millilitres.
That said, I have launched my ‘Love & Lemons journey’ with your hummus recipe and must say that, although this isn’t my first time making hummus, this is most definitely some of the best that, not only have I made but possibly, I have ever eaten and I’m sure this is due in part to my choosing a good tahini as you recommend (and too, a beautifully flavoured olive oil). So, great and thank you for the recipes,
Hi Andrew, I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the recipes!
I have another recipe for hummus that I love and is similar to this. I decided to try this cause it looks so much faster and easier to make and it was. Same wonderful taste but this was fast and wonderful. Only difference is I boiled the beans for a couple minutes in water with 1/2 tsp baking soda to remove the skins and soften them. Then I drained and rinsed. It worked really well and the hummus is very smooth. Very few skins. I’m going to use this recipe from now on. Far superior to store bought and I love the taste of homemade. I also like the idea of using the aquafaba.
Hi Rebecca, I’m so glad you loved it!
Delicious! So easy to make.
I was wondering how long does it last in the refrigerator?
Thanks
Hi Annamarie – about 5 days in the fridge!
I use the “juice” from draining the canned chickpeas instead of water to thin out the hummus.
It works great and seems like a waste to discard it and add water instead.
Great recipe. Thank you!
I have to say, I tried a recipe off of Bon Appetite and it didnt work out. I found your recipe and it’s perfect. I used 1/2 c. tahini instead and 2 cloves of garlic because we love garlic. Thank you for a lovely recipe
Hi Heather, I’m so glad you loved this one!
any tricks to make it last longer
Make more!
Added some smoked paprika and did sauté the garlic first. Yummy!!
Hi Rebecca, that sounds delish! So glad you enjoyed the hummus.
Tasted very good. I never used tahini and I bought the Seed +Mill brand. I didn’t like it because it was very hard to mix thr oil with clusters of what I think was the seed. I mix it, and mixed it, and mixed, and still, after using 1/3 cup for my recipe, there were clusters of whatever it is that will not mix with yhe oil. Any suggestions?
Hi Araceli, if it’s separated I just stir it for awhile until it’s cohesive… kind of like when you get natural peanut butter and it has to be stirred.
I stirred for over 10 minutes it separated somehow, but not entirely. Yes, I was trying to make it cohesive, like peanut butter. It id not work. The balls in it would not separate, they have like a “glue” consistency. I will contact Seed + Mill. it should not be so hard to mix it.