Our 14 Favorite Hummus Recipes

White Bean Hummus Dip (Gluten-free), served with pita chips and peppers

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Hummus is a spreadable dip that is traditionally made from chickpeas. (In fact, hummus is the Arabic word for chickpea.) It's also one of the oldest foods known to humankind, dating back to ancient Egypt.

Hummus is probably one of the best known Middle Eastern foods, due to its popularity worldwide. This chickpea-based dip can be found in most grocery stores in North America and on many non-Middle Eastern restaurant menus.

If you frequent Middle Eastern restaurants and eat hummus, you know that hummus tastes different everywhere. Some types of hummus have a zesty lemon flavor, some have a strong garlic flavor, some hummus dips are mild, and yet others are spicy. When making your own hummus at home, you'll want to keep your own taste buds in mind. Part of the fun of making hummus is that it's a versatile recipe, that you can adjust easily to suit your own culinary preferences.

Hummus is perfect for enjoying as an appetizer with pita wedges, crackers, tortilla chips, or vegetable sticks. You can also use it as a flavorful condiment for sandwiches and wraps. Also, you can even freeze leftover hummus.

When serving hummus as a dip, you can drizzle a bit of olive oil on top or sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese or red pepper flakes for a more interesting presentation. Other add ons include roasted garlic, preserved lemon, chili oil, green salsa, and smoked paprika. Serve hummus in brightly colored bowls to add excitement.

Here are some excellent hummus recipes that have a variety of ingredients to make traditional Middle Eastern hummus even more enticing.

  • 01 of 14

    Classic Hummus With Tahini

    Hummus With Tahini

    The Spruce

    Want to make the traditional hummus that's been popular for centuries? Here's the ultimate classic recipe for this Middle Eastern dip, which includes tahini (sesame paste). Tahini gives hummus its characteristic nuttiness, fattiness, and slightly bitter flavor. Don't be tempted to skip it in this recipe.

  • 02 of 14

    Hummus Without Tahini

    Hummus without tahini in bowl on plate with pita triangles

    The Spruce

    Traditional hummus recipes are made with tahini, but if you have an allergy to sesame, here's an alternative hummus recipe to try. This hummus without tahini recipe uses olive oil instead to add texture and smoothness.

  • 03 of 14

    Black Bean Hummus

    Black bean hummus

    The Spruce

    Southwestern cuisine meets a favorite Middle Eastern recipe in this protein- and antioxidant-rich hummus recipe that uses black beans instead of the traditional chickpeas. Serve this yummy appetizer dip with crackers or tortilla chips.

  • 04 of 14

    White Bean Hummus Dip

    White Bean Hummus Dip (Gluten-free), served with pita chips and peppers

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    White bean hummus is super easy to make, and a great way to add variety to your appetizer table at parties and cookouts. Just a handful of ingredients go into this easy hummus dip recipe you can whip up in minutes in your food processor.

    Continue to 5 of 14 below.
  • 05 of 14

    Peanut Butter Hummus

    Peanut butter hummus

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    Peanut butter hummus is a fun and unexpected appetizer that kids and adults alike will love. Packed with yummy flavor and high in protein, peanut butter hummus is great for vegetarians and peanut butter lovers.

  • 06 of 14

    Cilantro and Lemon Hummus

    Cilantro and Lemon Hummus
    Yulia_Davidovich / Getty Images 

    Do you love the herbaceous green flavor of cilantro? If you do, you're sure to flip your lid over this sweet, earthy, lemony hummus recipe with a delightful cilantro twist.

  • 07 of 14

    Carrot Hummus

    Carrot Hummus
    The Spruce / Laurel Randolph

    Roasted carrots and garlic are combined with the usual hummus ingredients for a vibrant, creamy carrot hummus dip. Roasting the veggies adds a light sweetness and lots of nutrition.

  • 08 of 14

    Pumpkin Hummus

    pumpkin hummus

     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

    Pumpkin adds pretty color and nice creaminess, making it a delicious fall appetizer. Fresh sage is a nice addition to this pumpkin hummus.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below.
  • 09 of 14

    Lebanese Moutabel (Spicy Eggplant Dip)

    eggplant dip in bowl with vegetables and pita for dippping

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

    Calling all eggplant lovers, this delectable hummus recipe features roasted eggplant as its main ingredient. It has a smoky flavor a little bit reminiscent of baba ghannouj, a Middle Eastern eggplant dip.

  • 10 of 14

    Hummus With Pine Nuts

    Hummus with Pine Nuts

    Sedaeva / Getty Images 

    Toasted and chopped pine nuts (also called pignoli) add texture and flavor to traditional chickpea hummus. This delicious recipe is fancy enough to serve as an appetizer at dinner parties.

  • 11 of 14

    Jalapeño Hummus

    jalapeno hummus with oatcakes on plate
    Harald Walker / Stocksy

    For a hummus recipe with some kick, add some jalapeño to the mix. Jalapeño peppers have a bright, green taste that adds freshness to your usual hummus appetizer. You can dial up the spiciness of this hummus recipe by adding in the jalapeño seeds or leave them out for a milder flavored dip.

  • 12 of 14

    Artichoke Hummus Recipe

    Artichoke Hummus Recipe

    Steven Krug / Getty Images 

    Easy-to-make artichoke hummus has a complex flavor that makes it a welcome appetizer at all your buffet parties.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below.
  • 13 of 14

    Kalamata Olive Hummus

    Kalamata Olive Hummus

    Silvia Jansen / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images 

    The savory, salty taste of Kalamata olives adds something special to this simple hummus recipe. Serve this tasty dip at buffet parties, alongside a tray of pita bread triangles, pita chips, crackers, or raw vegetables.

  • 14 of 14

    Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

    Roasted red pepper hummus

      Mariha-kitchen / Getty Images

    The sweetness and smokiness of roasted red peppers make a fantastic way to kick up the flavor of the traditional hummus recipe a notch. This easy hummus recipe that's made in a food processor uses store-bought or homemade roasted red peppers to add extra flavor.