The 7 Best Store-Bought Hummus Brands At The Grocery Store, According To Chefs

These picks are pretty close to the real thing you can get at a restaurant, according to the pros.
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There’s nothing quite like the hummus you order at a Mediterranean restaurant. Typically served with toasty pita bread and a side of perfectly pickled vegetables, somehow those chefs just get it right. 

Then there’s the hummus you find in the refrigerated aisles of your local grocery store. While there’s nothing wrong with it, it just hits different — and not always in a good way.

While we know we’re never going to pick up a tub of hummus that’s quite as good as the stuff at our favorite Mediterranean restaurant, we were determined to find a close second. With that in mind, we asked chefs for their favorite store-bought hummus picks. Here’s what they had to say. 

1
Sabra Classic Hummus
If you're a consumer of hummus, you've likely seen or tried Sabra at one point or another. Sabra is available at almost every grocery store, which is good news because chefs highly recommend it. "When looking for hummus in the store, I usually gravitate toward Sabra traditional hummus," said Beau Owens, a chef at the Mediterranean restaurant The Lazy Goat in Greenville, South Carolina. "I love how creamy the texture is and how consistent it is. The best thing about it is how simple and natural all of the ingredients are. It is also always readily available in any store that I shop in."

Norah Clark, an experienced chef in restaurants and hotels worldwide, is in agreement. "My go-to store-bought hummus has to be Sabra Classic Hummus. It's creamy, has a balanced flavor of chickpeas and tahini, and works well with almost everything, from pitas to veggies," she said. "I also appreciate that they maintain a simple and straightforward ingredient list without any unnecessary additives. The texture is pleasantly smooth without being overly processed, which is often the case with many store-bought hummuses."

Plant-based chef Matthew Kenney is all about Sabra classic hummus, as well. "As a chef who specializes in plant-based and vegan snacks, I've sampled quite a bit of store-bought hummus over time. When it comes to my go-to brand of choice for store-bought hummus, my first pick has always been Sabra hummus," he said. "Their texture and flavor make for delicious snacks, they use high-quality natural ingredients in their recipes, it is vegan friendly as well as gluten-free making it the ideal option for anyone with dietary restrictions, not forgetting its versatility: Add it as topping on sandwiches wraps as a dip for veggies and crackers snacks aplenty!"
2
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's Dill Pickle Hummus
Max Simon, the owner of the Greek restaurant Theía in Los Angeles, is a fan of the Trader Joe's Dill Pickle hummus. "I love the Trader Joe’s Dill Pickle hummus," he said. "It’s seasonal, so it’s a treat when they have it in stock but it gives an extra salty and vinegary taste that’s so surprisingly tasty. It sounds weird but it’s the perfect flavor combination when you’re looking for something out of the ordinary."
3
Fresh Cravings Lemon Garlic Hummus
George Duran — a chef, culinary contributor for "Good Morning America" and host of the Food Network Show "Ham on the Street" —loves Fresh Cravings' Garlic Hummus. "I’m enamored with Fresh Cravings Lemon Garlic Hummus especially because the garlic is actually roasted," he said. "I grew up with Lebanese-born parents, so lemon is a must when it comes to hummus. I love its creamy texture and how the combination of ingredients bursts with flavor in every bite!”
4
Lantana Foods Sriracha Carrot Hummus
Owens says that while he typically gravitates toward Sabra, when he wants to mix it up, he opts for the hummus brand Lantana. "If I want to do a hummus spread or trio, I go with Lantana hummus," he said. "I love all the different varieties, and it's always fun to try something new. The Sriracha Carrot and Edamame hummus are absolute must-tries from Lantana."

Stephen Parker, a corporate chef at the Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer franchise, loves Lantana hummus as well: "I love their creativity and innovation through all of the different varieties they offer. Whether it be the Cauliflower Pizza Crust, Black Bean or Sriracha Carrot Hummus, the flavor profiles really shine through. They are also all seasoned very well and not too salty. No matter the flavor, the texture is also perfect and super creamy. My favorite flavor is the Everything Bagel Hummus."
5
Whole Foods
Cedar's Original Hommus
Charlie Levy, founder and executive chef at Motek in Miami, is all about Cedar's hummus. “Before opening Motek, the closest hummus to my childhood in Israel was a brand I discovered called Cedar’s. Whenever I wasn’t making hummus from scratch, Cedar’s was my family’s go-to," he said. "They use simple and clean ingredients including steamed chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and most importantly, not an overpowering amount of garlic like most other brands."

When choosing store-bought hummus, he added, simple ingredients are key. "The way Cedar’s chickpeas are treated makes the texture smooth and creamy making it taste similar to classic Israeli hummus I grew up knowing and loving.”
6
Miami Twist
Miami Twist Hummus
Looking for hummus with a twist? Miami Twist has you covered — and Kristina Marrero, a chef at Pura Vida in South Florida who makes her own hummus at work daily, highly recommends it.

“Over the years I have made and bought several store-bought brands of hummus," she said. "When it comes to looking for the right store-bought brand of hummus, the first thing I do is to look at the ingredients: A simple ingredient list with the highest quality products like organic chickpeas, tahini, and fresh lemon juice instead of your typical citric acid ingredient you find in other store-bought brands, will make all the difference."

"Miami Twist hummus is my personal go-to," Marrero continued. "They are like no other brand when it comes to the creamy texture you would find in an authentic Hummus made from starch. Miami Twist hummus is also local, which I absolutely love because I know that I am getting the freshest hummus, even on a mass production scale sold at my local Plum Market and 20 other local grocery stores."

Miami Twist also carries a variety of flavored hummus, she added, including Everything Seasoning, Carrot, Roasted Garlic and Jalapeno.
7
Citarella Housemade Hummus
If you happen to live in the vicinity of a Citarella — which are only located in New York City, the Hamptons and Connecticut — you're in luck, because chef Laurent Tourondel, the executive chef of Laurent Tourondel Hospitality, says they make his go-to store-bought hummus. "It's the best because it has fresh ingredients, amazing flavor and its texture is very, very smooth," he said. "Avoid all the other brands if you can, I only recommend Citarella hummus!"

Before You Go

Just 10 Kitchen Items That Reviewers Say Make Them Enjoy Cooking Meals
A colorful set of Cuisinart knives(01 of10)
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Each stainless knife in this 6-piece set from Cuisinart comes with a matching safety blade guard and has been finished with a colorful nonstick coating for easy slicing. The set includes a utility knife, two slicing knives, a chef's knife, a Santoku knife and one for paring.

Promising Amazon review: "These were a functional and fun addition to my kitchen. Each knife has it's intended use, and they work excellently to that end. The handles are comfortable and do not slip in my large hand. The blades are sharp and of good quality. I would definitely buy these again!" — Adam
(credit:Amazon)
A 10-in-1 Always Pan(02 of10)
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Meant to do the job of 10 pieces of traditional cookware, the Always Pan is made from an exclusive nonstick ceramic coating and is capable of braising, searing, steaming, straining, sauteing, frying, storing and more. The fact that it comes in a selection of ultra-displayable colors doesn't hurt, either.

Promising Our Place reviews: "Love our new pan. Easy to use and easy to clean. Makes cooking a lot more fun." — Hollie Z.

"The Always Pan is a game-changer! It's not only beautifully designed but also incredibly functional. The non-stick surface is a dream to cook with and clean. Plus, the modular design and thoughtful features make it versatile and convenient. Highly recommend this pan for anyone looking to simplify their cooking experience and add style to their kitchen!" — Parlin S.
(credit:Our Place)
A hot and cold cooking blender(03 of10)
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If mealtime calls for a silky smooth purée, a piping hot soup or a protein-packed smoothie, this hot and cold blender from Ninja has you covered. It features a heat-safe borosilicate glass pitcher, 12 intelligent and customizable settings and an 800-watt heating element that can cook soups or sauces at the same time as it blends for a simple one-step process.

Promising Amazon review: "I would definitely recommend this. It has a ton of power and a lot settings, heats up really fast and even has a self cleaning feature. I love it. Thank you again for making great products that I actually look forward to using."Brettstewart
(credit:Amazon)
A breakfast sandwich maker(04 of10)
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Hamilton Beach's electric sandwich maker promises you a fresh and custom-made breakfast sandwich in just four easy steps and all with one appliance. Each nonstick cooking layer is removable and dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup and allows you to prepare an egg directly in a designated egg pan.

Promising Amazon review: "I bought this as a gift when I saw it advertised on Facebook and thought my 86 yr old mom would enjoy it. It may have been one of the best Mother's Day gifts I ever got her. Take the pre cooked sausage out of the freezer the night before and in the morning you're all set to go and eating a hot delicious sandwich five min. later. It was actually fun to use, and I think the more it is used the easier it will be to prepare. Thank you Hamilton Beach." — Kim
(credit:Amazon)
A nonstick mashing tool(05 of10)
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If breaking up ground beef in your pan for taco night is wearing your wrist out, let this clever meat-mashing tool do the work for you. It's made of BPA-free and heat-resistant nylon that's also nonstick and dishwasher-safe. The five non-serrated blades are also great for breaking up softer cooked vegetables, making mashed potatoes or shredding chicken breast and won't damage the bottoms of your pots or pans.

Promising Amazon review: "Since I cook a lot with ground beef I got myself this utensil. I used to break down the meat with the same wooden spatula or spoon I used for stirring but it was a task I kind of dreaded. This tool makes it faster and more fun. It is sturdy, resists high sauté temperature and I can just throw it into the dishwasher right after using it. Is it necessary? No, but it makes my life better." — delasoupus


(credit:Amazon)
An herb-stripper and chopper(06 of10)
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This helpful tool takes the onerous task of plucking herb leaves from their stems into quick work by simply feeding your fresh herb through one of the nine various-sized holes. It's made from food-grade stainless steel and can be used for stripping things like kale, cilantro, thyme and rosemary. At the base of the tool, there's also a built-in blade meant to finely chop your fresh herbs so they're ready to be added to your dish.

Promising Amazon review: "So much fun and easy to use. It has a lot of sizes. It also has a chopper blade with safety cover. Makes cooking with fresh herbs more fun!" — LK
(credit:Amazon)
Gracula: A garlic crusher and peeler(07 of10)
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Why have a regular garlic crusher when you can have this adorable little tool that transforms entire peeled or unpeeled cloves of garlic into perfectly crushed goodness in just a matter of seconds? The Gracula is a grinder-style crusher that can mince not just garlic, but ingredients like ginger and chilis with just a few twists. Its BPA-free, food-safe construction also means it's dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

Promising Amazon review: "Could you spend half the amount for a plain garlic crusher that does the exact same thing? Sure. Would it be as fun as having a lil' Dracula sitting on your counter? Absolutely not." — Nancy
(credit:Amazon)
An automatic stirrer(08 of10)
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Never break a butter sauce again or let a creamy purée go lumpy thanks to this automatic stirrer that continually mixes contents for you. The stirrer offers a timer function, multiple settings and comes available in either a battery-powered or rechargeable option which lasts up to nine hours per charge.

Promising Uncommon Goods review: "This gadget is by far the strangest in my collection (it's basically a vibrator with feet) and it's an immediate favorite. The kitchen is so much more fun when you're not stuck stirring. I'm going to buy one for every chef on my list." — Allison
(credit:Uncommon Goods)
A 4-in-1 chopping tool(09 of10)
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I think most people would agree that the least enjoyable aspect of cooking is the slicing, dicing and chopping of all the essential ingredients. This BPA-free chopping tool makes hovering over a cutting board a thing of the past thanks to its versatile collection of attachments, which include everything from a spiralizer to a dicer to a blade that promises not to squish ripe tomatoes.

Promising Amazon review: " I can’t believe how great this thing is. Easy to use. Easy to clean. I’ve used it about five times so I hope it lasts but so far 11/10. Now I’m eating more veggies because it’s so satisfying to chop." — Kellie Rowe
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A corn cob peeler(10 of10)
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There's few kitchen tasks more daunting (and potentially dangerous) than trying to cut away corn kernels from the cob. This compact, Y-shaped peeler is made with Japanese stainless steel blades and an ergonomic handle to safely and swiftly peel away kernels so you can have fresh corn whenever you want.

Promising Amazon review: "Okay, I've been using a knife for many years to cut corn off the cob and it works just fine. But this gadget is so efficient that I was stunned by the difference. For my first few passes on a tough ear of corn I didn't even notice that the blade was covered by a piece of plastic meant to be removed. Still cut so smoothly, without corn flying all over the counter. Works even better without it! I could live without this gadget, but I will definitely make lots more corn recipes this summer now that I have it. It is a joy to have the exact right tool for the job." — M. Baird
(credit:Amazon)

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