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Classic Creamy Hummus

Everyone’s favorite dip gets a homemade makeover and the results are a quick homemade hummus recipe that’s even better than the store bought stuff. Classic creamy hummus folks, are you excited?

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Classic Creamy Hummus with olive oil and parsley in a bowl with pita wedges.

This is THE BEST Hummus You’ll Ever Have.

Everyone loves a giant veggie platter with a generous bowl of hummus at its center, amiright? From Super Bowl parties to afternoon snacks, catered luncheons to last-minute dinner guests, hummus is the workhorse of the dip family. We’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like it, which is saying a lot. But if you think you like hummus now, just wait until you try our recipe for the best homemade hummus out there. It’s a game-changer.

A bowl of homemade hummus on a serving tray with vegetables and pita bread

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Here Are a Few Reasons We LOVE This Healthy Homemade Hummus

  • It’s ridiculously creamy.
  • It’s not grainy or overly-airy (like many store bought versions).
  • Lemon juice and zest make it delightfully zippy.
  • It is perfect for dipping just about anything into (trust us, we’ve dipped it all!).
  • It can be tweaked and adjusted in a myriad of ways to mix up its flavor profile.
  • It’s vegan, gluten-free, sugar free, and dairy-free.
  • It can be made completely from scratch in just a few minutes.
Ingredients laid out for homemade hummus recipe canned chickpeas, tahini, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt garlic and olive oil

So, What is Hummus Exactly?

Hummus, which translated from Arabic is a centuries-old dish that originated in the Middle East. Made of chickpeas, tahini (sesame paste), olive oil, and garlic, this classic dip has become an American staple for good reason. And, while most store-bought hummus tastes good, homemade hummus is so much better.

Here are a few things we love about it.

  • Creamy—Chickpeas are so wonderfully versatile!
  • Rich—Thanks tahini (and olive oil)!
  • Smooth—blend, blend and blend some more!
  • Tangy—lemon juice and lemon zest FTW!
  • Healthy—good fats and lots of fiber!

Homemade hummus: the ideal dish to serve to guests for an appetizer, as an elevated snack, or for a simple meal at home.

Is Hummus Good For You?

Great question! By now we’ve all learned that there are plenty of foods out there that seem healthy but aren’t. Thankfully this homemade hummus IS healthy! Not only is it gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free and vegan, this chickpea-based dip is also high in fiber, protein, and B vitamins. And, thanks to the olive oil and tahini, it’s brimming with “good for you” fats.

chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and garlic in a blender for homemade hummus recipe
homemade hummus blended in a vitamix blender

How Do I Make Healthy Homemade Hummus?

We love it when something is impressive and super simple at the same time, don’t you? Well, this classic homemade hummus is just that.

Here’s the “how to” on the creamiest, dreamiest hummus you’ve ever had:

  1. Dump all of the ingredients into a high powered blender.
  2. Blend until smooth—really, really smooth. (This should take about five minutes.)
  3. Pour hummus into your favorite bowl, garnish to your heart’s delight, and go to town dipping with all your favorites.
  4. That’s it!

Some Tips and Tricks for Making the Best Homemade Hummus:

  • Use a high powered blender! If you don’t have one, a food processor will work, but you may want to remove the chickpea skins first, which can easily be done with a quick soak in water and an extra five minutes of hands-on time. (This would be a perfect job for the kiddos to help with, as it’s oddly satisfying to pop those skins off!)
  • All brands of canned chickpeas have a different salt content. For this reason, we like to add our salt a little at a time, tasting as we go. If you taste your finished hummus and it’s “flat” it definitely needs more salt!
  • Make a big batch! This healthy and quick hummus dip lasts up to seven days in the fridge and is perfect for school lunches, snacks, and as a salad topper.
Creamy Classic homemade Hummus in a bowl with olive oil and parsley

What Should I Serve With Hummus?

I’m so glad you asked. This simple and healthy hummus is so versatile and the perfect dip for:

  • Veggies! Carrots, snap peas and tomatoes are popular choices, but there’s no need to stick to convention. Perfectly Roasted Broccoli or Cauliflower, raw, thinly sliced beets and jicama, and flash-fried zucchini are fun and unexpected ways to go.
  • Carbs, of course! Toasted pita is a lovely choice, as are your favorite crunchy chips.
  • Make a mezze platter: serve this simple homemade hummus with crumbled feta, large olives and falafel for an impressive and filling spread.
creamy hummus in a bowl served with pita and veggies on a platter
Close up of Creamy homemade Hummus recipe in a bowl with olive oil and parsley

Hungry For More?

Want to make this classic homemade hummus into a meal? Try it alongside our Chicken Shawarma Sheet Pan Dinner, Mediterranean Wedge Salad, or Beef Kofta Kebabs with Tzatziki. Add some warm pita to scoop it all up with and you’re good to go! If you give this healthy homemade hummus a whirl (that’s a blender joke...get it?) we’d love to see how it turns out! Be sure to post it to Instagram and tag @themodernproper and #themodernproper, along with the approximate number of batches you’ve made that week so we don’t feel too bad about the many bowls we’ve already consumed. Happy eating!

Classic Creamy Hummus

  • Serves: 10
  • Prep Time:  5 min
  • Cook Time:  10 min
  • Calories: 274

Ingredients

Hummus

  • 2 15 oz cans chickpeas, drained with liquid reserved
  • 3/4 cup (or more) reserved chickpea liquid
  • 2/3 cup tahini
  • 3 tbsp olive oil + more for serving
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest (packed)
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt

For Serving

  • flat leaf parsley (optional)
  • paprika for serving (optional)
  • za’atar for serving (optional)
  • vegetables for serving
  • toasted pita bread for serving

Method

  1. Add all ingredients for the hummus to a high powered blender. A standard blender will not achieve desired consistency. If you do not have a high powered blender a food processor can be used. However, if a food processor is used all chickpea skins will need to be removed or you will end up with dry grainy hummus. (No Good).
  2. Once all ingredients are added, start to blend on at a low speed until ingredients are mixed together. Slowly increase the speed, and blend on high for 5 minutes until smooth and creamy. You may need to use your tamper. If the hummus appears to be too dry and isn’t blending nicely, add more reserved chickpea liquid 1 tbsp at a time. A little bit will go a long way.
  3. Every brand of canned chickpeas contains different levels of sodium. Adjust the salt to your liking. If the hummus tastes a little “flat” try adding more salt and a bit more lemon juice and blend again.
  4. To serve, use the back of a spoon to spread the hummus out into a shallow bowl, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with chopped flat leaf parsley, paprika and za’atar. Serve with warm pita and plenty of seasonal vegetables.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories274
  • Protein11 g
  • Carbohydrates28 g
  • Total Fat15 g
  • Dietary Fiber6 g
  • Cholesterol0 mg
  • sodium124 mg
  • Total Sugars0 g

Classic Creamy Hummus

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

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  • Hallie

    I noticed you all use and recommend a blender for this, I'm curious as to why you would recommend a high powered blender over a high powered food processor? And in what types of recipes would you prefer a food processor, if any?

    You can use either! It comes out a bit smoother if you use a blender.

  • Darcy

    Hi! Would you consider a Ninja to be high-powered? Or are we really talking Vitamix here?

    Ninja would count as high powered. Hope you enjoy Darcy!

  • Taylor

    Gorgeous presentation! ...looks super yummy too!

    Thank you!

  • Sarah

    This is my favorite hummus recipe! I’ve made it many times; especially love the lemon!

    YAY! Thanks Sarah, we are so happy you loved it!

  • Chris

    Delicious and so creamy! Made this with my low powered blender. I removed the skins from the chickpeas and it turned out great.

    So happy you enjoyed it Chris!

  • Lesley

    Loved it!
    Made it for my lunch today with roasted cauliflower and cheese
    Very satisfying.(I am not vegetarian nor vegan)
    It is worth taking the time to skin the chickpeas for the creamy end result 😋👌

    Thank you Lesley, we are so glad you loved it!

  • Cynthia

    DELICIOUS!! I absolutely loved it, and so did my 12 year old son. He said it was too lemony and then proceeded to devour almost half the recipe (but I might omit the zest from his half next time). Everything I've made from you guys has been simple, easy, so delicious and nutritious. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Thank you Cynthia! We really appreciate such a kind review! Glad you and your son loved it!

  • Lou

    Absolutely delicious. I’m about to make it for the second time right now! Thanks for sharing!