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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Main Dish ยป Easy Meals

    Chickpeas Broccoli and Bacon

    Published: Dec 7, 2022 ยท Updated: Dec 8, 2022 ยท Post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    text overlay that reads easy, gluten free, budget friendly broccoli and bacon chickpeas over a photo of two bowls full of bacon topped chickpeas and broccoli

    Chickpeas and Broccoli with Bacon is a tasty weeknight meal that's ready in 35 minutes and costs less than $10. Easy, gluten-free, and budget-friendly.

    bowls of broccoli and chickpeas topped with bacon next to a microplane with parmesan wedge, cream and yellow napkin, and blue pot with broccoli
    • About Broccoli Chickpeas and Bacon
      • Ingredients
        • Cost of Recipe
    • How to Make Chickpeas and Broccoli with Bacon
    • Recipe Tips
      • Variations
        • Ingredient Options
        • How to Make Allergy-Friendly
        • How to Fix a Mistake
      • Make-Ahead Ideas
      • Storage Suggestions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Nutrition Benefits
      • What to Serve with Bacon Chickpeas with Broccoli

    About Broccoli Chickpeas and Bacon

    If you're looking for chickpea and bacon recipes that cost less than $10 and are ready in 35 minutes, you've found it!

    This recipe takes advantage of the convenience of canned chickpeas, similar to the Balsamic Chickpeas and Spinach recipe, to have a simple meal ready in under an hour.

    The beauty of this recipe is that you can use fresh broccoli and onions as well as frozen or pre-chopped veggies.

    The frozen/pre-chopped veggies will cut your prep time (and dish washing time) in half. Simply open the bag and add the veggies when needed.

    If you're using fresh veggies, save time by chopping the onions, broccoli, and garlic while the bacon is cooking.

    Not in the mood to mince garlic? Simply use garlic powder.

    Either way, this chickpea and broccoli with bacon recipe is satisfying and delicious.

    Quick note that this recipe serves 3 for a substantial 2-cup serving size. If you want to serve 4 people with this recipe, serve with some bread or over some cooked pasta.

    wedge of parmesan, head of broccoli, package of bacon, onion, jar of oregano, jar of italian seasoning, jar of crushed red pepper, head of garlic, peppercorn container, salt container, can of chickpeas

    Ingredients

    Bacon: Start the recipe by cooking the bacon, so you can use the bacon grease to sauté the onions. Your preferred bacon is best. Thick, regular, center-cut, turkey, whatever works. You can cook it whole and crumble, or chop it before cooking (as shown in the photos).

    Broccoli: Two crowns of broccoli are about 16 ounces. When chopped, it's about 5 to 6 cups of broccoli. You can also use pre-chopped broccoli or frozen. If using frozen broccoli, cover the pot after adding and cook for an extra 5-10 minutes.

    Onion: The onion adds flavor and substance to this bacon broccoli and chickpeas recipe. Yellow, white, Vidalia, or red onions are all great options. You can also use pre-chopped or frozen diced onions. You need 1 heaping cup of diced onions.

    Spices: To season this dish, you'll use oregano, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. You can use all oregano or all Italian seasoning if needed - for a total of either 1 teaspoon of oregano or 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning instead of ยฝ teaspoon each.

    Garlic: There are four cloves of garlic in this dish because garlic is delicious. You can decrease if desired, and one teaspoon of garlic powder can be used in place of fresh.

    Chickpeas: One can of drained chickpeas provides the base of this dish. You can also use about 1.75 to 2 cups of cooked chickpeas.

    Parmesan: To add extra protein and flavor to your chickpeas and broccoli with bacon and onion, parmesan cheese is sprinkled on top. There are tons of other suitable options like cheddar, gruyere, asiago, romano, manchego, mozzarella, pepper jack, or Monterey jack. Nutritional yeast is a non-dairy option.

    Cost of Recipe

    • bacon 6 slices: $2.25
    • broccoli 2 crowns: $2.38
    • onion 1 medium: $0.50
    • dried oregano ยฝ teaspoon: $0.04
    • Italian seasoning ยฝ teaspoon: $0.09
    • red pepper flakes ยผ teaspoon: $0.05
    • garlic 4 cloves: $0.24
    • salt ยผ teaspoon: $0.01
    • black pepper ยผ teaspoon: $0.03
    • chickpeas 15-ounce can: $0.79
    • parmesan 2 ounces: $1.74

    TOTAL COST: $8.12 or $2.71/serving (Based on San Diego grocery stores 2022)

    Note that this is not the recipe; it's simply to show the cost breakdown of ingredients. Be sure to scroll down to the full recipe to see the specific ingredients and directions.

    six photo collage of a blue put on a counter with bacon being cut into the blue pot, onions being cooked in the blue pot, broccoli added to pot with salt and pepper, broccoli cooked in pot, chickpeas added to pot with broccoli next to bacon and a wedge of parmesan with a cheese grater, close up bowl of bacon topped broccoli and chickpeas

    How to Make Chickpeas and Broccoli with Bacon

    Time needed: 35 minutes.

    This a simple recipe using canned chickpeas, lots of veggies, and flavorful bacon and parmesan. The whole meal is ready in about 35 minutes, from start to finish. Here's how to prepare the recipe:

    1. Cook chopped bacon in a pot or large skillet.

      Drain and set aside. Leave bacon dripping in the pot.

    2. Sauté the onions in the bacon grease until softened.

    3. Add broccoli and spices to the onions.

      Stir and cook for about 10 minutes.

    4. Stir in the chickpeas.

      Cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes.

    5. Serve with bacon and parmesan.

    6. Enjoy!

      bacon and parmesan topped broccoli with chickpeas next to a yellow and cream napkin on a white countertop

    Recipe Tips

    Variations

    Ingredient Options

    Bacon: Chopped ham can be used in place of the bacon. Use about ยฝ cup of chopped ham in place of the bacon. For a vegetarian version, sauté the onion in 1 tablespoon of oil, and sprinkle with extra parmesan or nutritional yeast for protein.

    Oregano or Italian Spice: Use all oregano or all Italian spice for a total of 1 teaspoon.

    Parmesan: Some alternatives are cheddar, gruyere, asiago, romano, manchego, mozzarella, pepper jack, or Monterey jack. Nutritional yeast can also replace parmesan cheese.

    blue pot with broccoli and chickpeas next to a microwave with a wedge of parmesan and a napkin with cooked bacon

    How to Make Allergy-Friendly

    This recipe is already gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free.

    Dairy-free: omit parmesan cheese, which can be replaced with dairy-free parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast.

    Vegetarian: omit the bacon and sauté the onion in 1 tablespoon of olive oil or butter. Sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese for more protein and/or add toasted walnuts or pecans for crunch, if desired.

    Vegan: omit the bacon, sauté the onion in olive oil, and use nutritional yeast to sprinkle on top.

    two bowls with chickpeas, broccoli, and bacon next to a pile of bacon, wedge of parmesan, and a blue pot with broccoli

    How to Fix a Mistake

    Not enough flavor: Sprinkle with a little more cheese or nutritional yeast. You can add more salt if desired, but this is already higher in sodium in case that's a concern for you.

    Broccoli too crispy: Add an extra 2 tablespoons of water to the pot, and cook for a few more minutes.

    Make-Ahead Ideas

    This can be made in advance as directed. Wait to top the broccoli and chickpeas with bacon until just before serving, if possible.

    Storage Suggestions

    If possible, store the bacon separately from the broccoli and chickpeas. This will help it stay crispy; however, it's not completely necessary.

    Keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days. It's not recommended to freeze this dish because the texture of the chickpeas isn't ideal when defrosted.

    broccoli tossed with chickpeas and onions topped with bacon and shredded parmesan in a white bowl on green patterned napkin
    (from the original post in 2012)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What to pair chickpeas with?

    Chickpeas pair with tons of different ingredients. Bacon and chickpeas are a great combo, as are broccoli and chickpeas. In this recipe, you combine canned chickpeas with broccoli and spices. Then sprinkle with crispy cooked bacon and parmesan.

    Nutrition Benefits

    One serving has a satisfying 25 grams of protein to keep you full and 12 grams of fiber which is half of the recommended amount for the day.

    Plus, each serving is an excellent source of Vitamin C (24% RDA), Vitamin A (182% RDA), Iron (22% RDA), Calcium (37% RDA), and Potassium (24% RDA).

    This chickpea and bacon recipe is also full of veggies thanks to broccoli and onions, so you get antioxidants and phytochemicals from the plants.

    white bowls with bacon topped broccoli next to a blue pot and yellow and cream napkin

    What to Serve with Bacon Chickpeas with Broccoli

    This meal is a little on the lighter side. To bulk it up, serve the bacon chickpeas with a slice of garlic bread, or you can toss it with cooked pasta.

    Final thoughts:

    An excellent weeknight dinner or lunch that's ready in about 35 minutes. You can use fresh ingredients or convenience ones, like prechopped or frozen veggies.

    To top it all off, it is budget-friendly, even if you use pre-chopped veggies. Yay for nutritious and easy!

    MORE CHICKPEA RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

    • Avocado Chickpea Toast
    • Balsamic Chickpeas and Spinach
    • Cheesy Beef, Chickpeas, and Veggies
    • Chickpea Salmon Burgers
    • Lemon Chickpea and Rice Soup
    bowls of broccoli and chickpeas topped with bacon next to a microplane with parmesan wedge, cream and yellow napkin, and blue pot with broccoli

    Chickpeas with Broccoli and Bacon

    Chickpeas and Broccoli with Bacon is a tasty weeknight meal that's ready in 35 minutes and costs less than $10. Easy, gluten-free, and budget-friendly.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 3
    Author: Meme
    Total Cost: $8.12 or $2.71/serving

    Ingredients

    • 6 slices bacon chopped
    • 1 medium onion chopped
    • 2 crowns broccoli chopped
    • ยฝ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ยฝ teaspoon Italian seasoning no-salt added
    • ยผ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • ยผ teaspoon salt
    • ยผ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas drained and rinsed
    • 2 ounces Parmesan cheese freshly grated (about ยฝ cup)

    Instructions

    • In a very large skillet or dutch oven, add bacon. Cook over medium heat until bacon is done, about 7 minutes.
    • Once bacon is cooked, transfer to paper towels. Leave the bacon grease in the skillet.
    • Heat skillet over medium heat, and add the diced onions. Cook until the onion has softened about 5 minutes.
    • Stir in broccoli, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 5 minutes, until broccoli is tender.
    • Add chickpeas to the pan, and cook another 5 minutes.
    • Transfer to plates, and top each serving with about 3 tablespoons of Parmesan. Enjoy!

    Notes

    *Two crowns of fresh broccoli equals about 16 ounces. You can use 12-16 ounces of pre-chopped frozen or fresh broccoli.
    *Can also use 1.75 cups of cooked chickpeas.
    *Total recipe makes about 5-6 cups.
    *Based on this recipe from Cooking Light Magazine

    What to Use in This Recipe

    Dutch Oven
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo

    Meme

    This post was originally published on July 25, 2012. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.

    Bacon Chickpeas and Broccoli Nutrition Facts

    Nutrition Facts
    Chickpeas with Broccoli and Bacon
    Serving Size
     
    2 cups
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    366
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    13
    g
    20
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    31
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    28
    mg
    9
    %
    Sodium
     
    798
    mg
    35
    %
    Potassium
     
    857
    mg
    24
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    42
    g
    14
    %
    Fiber
     
    12
    g
    50
    %
    Sugar
     
    9
    g
    10
    %
    Protein
     
    25
    g
    50
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1178
    IU
    24
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    150
    mg
    182
    %
    Calcium
     
    369
    mg
    37
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme, a thirty-something registered dietitian nutritionist from Alabama living in San Diego. Here to help you enjoy food, feel better in your body at any size, and live free of diets & shame.
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