Description
Creamy High Protein Pesto Chickpeas is a rich, comforting dish made with tender chickpeas simmered in a velvety pesto cream sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chickpeas
- 2 cups canned chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
For the Creamy Pesto Sauce
- ½ cup basil pesto
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Optional Add-ins
- Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- Spinach
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
1️⃣ Sauté the Base
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
2️⃣ Add Chickpeas
Stir in chickpeas and cook for 3–4 minutes to warm through.
3️⃣ Make it Creamy
- Add pesto, heavy cream, vegetable broth, and Parmesan.
- Stir well and let simmer for 5 minutes until thick and creamy.
4️⃣ Finish
- Add lemon juice and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Toss in spinach or tomatoes if using and cook briefly until wilted.
5️⃣ Serve
Serve warm:
- Over pasta
- With rice
- On toasted bread
- Or as a hearty side
- Prep Time: PT10M
- Cook Time: PT10M
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg