Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (2024)

byChristine |Dinner| 10.23.23

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4.84 from 43 votes

This easy vegetarian dinner is so full of flavor! Baked sweet potatoes that are perfectly tender, stuffed with roasted and seasoned chickpeas, then topped with a light, creamy, savory broccoli pesto that brings everything together. Make this recipe as a healthy weeknight dinner or next-level side dish – your choice!

Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (1)

Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (Video)

There are lots of ways to make baked sweet potatoes, but if you’ve never had them stuffed with savory flavorful chickpeas and topped with a fresh, creamy broccoli pesto, then you absolutely have to try this recipe! It’s perfect as a vegetarian meal, can easily be made dairy-free with just one ingredient swap, and can also be made as a bowl recipe with cubed sweet potatoes instead of stuffed.

No matter how you approach this recipe, one thing is for sure: it’s SO good. I’m completely obsessed, and I know you will be, too!

You’ll Also Love: Crispy Chili Lime Chickpea Salad

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients
  • How to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes
    • Roasting the Chickpeas
    • Baking the Sweet Potatoes
    • Making the Broccoli Pesto
    • Stuff the Sweet Potatoes
  • Tips/Variations for Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
  • More Healthy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
  • Baked Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (2)

Ingredients

Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

  • Sweet Potatoes(halved)
  • Chickpeas(drained and rinsed)
  • Cumin
  • Paprika
  • Salt/Pepper
  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – Or melted butter.

Broccoli Pesto Sauce

  • Broccoli Florets
  • Fresh Basil
  • Pine Nuts
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt/Pepper
  • Garlic Powder
  • Lemon Juice
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese – Easily make this recipe vegan and dairy-free by substituting with vegan mozzarella or vegan parmesan.
Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (3)

How to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes

These baked sweet potatoes are so easy to make! Here’s a rundown of how to make the recipe:

Roasting the Chickpeas

Toss the chickpeas in olive oil, cumin paprika, salt, and pepper. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Baking the Sweet Potatoes

Cut the sweet potatoes into halves and place them flesh-side down on the same sheet pan. Poke holes in the tops and roast for about 40 minutes, or until they’re fork-tender.

Making the Broccoli Pesto Recipe

Quickly blanch the broccoli in boiling water, then add to a food processor (or small blender) along with basil, pine nuts, olive oil, seasoning, lemon juice, and parmesan cheese. Blend until smooth!

Stuff the Sweet Potatoes

Mash up the middle of each sweet potato half, then fill with roasted chickpeas. Add fresh broccoli pesto on top and enjoy!

RELATED: 25+ Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes

Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (4)
Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (5)
Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (6)
Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (7)
Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (8)

Tips/Variations for Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

  • If using a blender to make the broccoli pesto, it helps to use the tamper tool to push everything toward the blade.
  • While this recipe is best served fresh, the sweet potatoes and the chickpeas can be roasted ahead of time and stored in the fridge (in an airtight container) for up to 2-3 days.
  • Feel free to cube the sweet potatoes and turn this into an easy bowl recipe instead of stuffing them!
  • Add a dollop of plain Greek yogurt, sour cream, hummus, or tahini.
  • Sprinkle red pepper flakes over everything for a little kick!
  • Feel free to add chicken, chopped kale, pumpkin seeds, chopped nuts, or anything else you want for added protein.
Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (9)

More Healthy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

  • Miso Noodle Bowls w/ Roasted Mushrooms
  • Tandoori Paneer Salad
  • 4-Ingredient Potato Soup
  • Roasted Harissa Stuffed Eggplant

Sign up for my email list to get my FREE7 Meal-Planning Secrets To Making Wholesome Dinners (In 30 Minutes Or Less)course!

Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (10)

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4.84 from 43 votes

Print Recipe

Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto

This easy vegetarian dinner is so full of flavor! Baked sweet potatoes that are perfectly tender, stuffed with roasted and seasoned chickpeas, then topped with a light, creamy, savory broccoli pesto that brings everything together. Make this recipe as a healthy weeknight dinner or next-level side dish – your choice!

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 404 kcal

Author: Christine McMichael

Ingredients

  • 2 large sweet potatoes (halved)
  • 2 15-ounce cans chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  • 3/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoons pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil

Broccoli Pesto

  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 1 cup packed basil
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 3 Tablespoons parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

  • In a mixing bowl, combine the drained and rinsed chickpeas, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Toss to combine.

  • Add to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

  • On the side, add the halved sweet potatoes, cut side down. Poke a few holes in the tops with a fork.

  • Bake for about 40 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are easily pierced with a fork. Toss the chickpeas halfway.

  • Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil and add in the broccoli florets.

  • Cook for about 45-60 seconds.

  • Drain and add to a blender or food processor with all the remaining pesto ingredients.

  • Blend until completely smooth.

  • When the sweet potatoes and chickpeas are done, carefully flip the potatoes over and mash up the flesh.

  • Scoop in the chickpeas, then top with a generous dollop of pesto.

  • Garnish with fresh basil, red pepper flakes, and lemon if desired. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • If using a blender to make the broccoli pesto, it helps to use the tamper tool to push everything toward the blade.
  • Easily make this recipe vegan and dairy-free by substituting with vegan mozzarella or vegan parmesan.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Half | Calories: 404 kcal | Carbohydrates: 39 g | Protein: 7 g | Fat: 26 g | Saturated Fat: 4 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15 g | Cholesterol: 3 mg | Sodium: 892 mg | Potassium: 778 mg | Fiber: 7 g | Sugar: 8 g | Vitamin A: 24990 IU | Vitamin C: 27 mg | Calcium: 130 mg | Iron: 3 mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @jar.of.lemons or tag #JarOfLemons!

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4.84 from 43 votes (38 ratings without comment)

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20 Comments

  1. Julie @ Running in a Skirt says:

    Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (20)
    This is GENIUS! I love the pesto idea with the baked potato and the chickpeas really round out a meal. Perfect for lunch!

    Reply

  2. Maddie says:

    Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (21)
    Thanks for sharing this =)
    Me and my family love these and have had them several times!!!

    Reply

  3. Catherine says:

    Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (22)
    Great recipe ! I really love the combo of sweet potatoes and the broccoli pesto. I made it today with a couple changes, instead of the raw cabbage I decided to cook the cabbage and season it with rosemary, red wine vinegar some salt and a tiny bit of sugar. I also added some garlic to the pesto and it was so so delicious !

    Reply

    • Christine McMichael replied:

      Thanks, Catherine! So glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂 The garlic in the pesto sounds amazing!

      Reply

  4. Johanna says:

    Do you use canned or dry chickpeas?

    Reply

    • Christine McMichael replied:

      Hi, Johanna! I always used canned chickpeas, but either should work. Enjoy the recipe!

      Reply

  5. Layna says:

    Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (23)
    Currently making this and another similiar recipe combined since I didnt have all the ingredients. Looks so good! Although my sweet potatoes have been in the oven for 25 minutes already and are pretty much raw still :/

    Reply

    • Christine McMichael replied:

      That’s awesome, Layna! Oh no, I’m sorry! Different ovens and sizes of potatoes could affect them. I hope you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply

  6. Ida Borneskog says:

    Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (24)
    Hi Christine!

    I’m so happy I found you, I love your recipes and overall health perspective! Hoping to help you spread the word and share your recipes on Pinterest.

    Thank you for great content!

    Sincerely,

    Ida Borneskog

    Reply

    • Christine McMichael replied:

      Thank you, Ida! Thanks so much for the shares! 🙂

      Reply

  7. Agness of Run Agness Run says:

    I always choose sweet potatoes instead of the white one. This recipe is so mouth-watering! Great job!

    Reply

  8. Gabriella says:

    These really do look so fancy, Christine! So glad I stumbled upon your recipe. They sound downright delicious!

    Reply

    • Christine McMichael replied:

      Thanks, Gabriella! 🙂

      Reply

      • Misguidedmommy replied:

        Is the broccoli cooked or raw before blended?

        Reply

        • Christine McMichael replied:

          I recommend steaming them a little bit to make them easier to blend! But keeping them raw should work great, too. Enjoy! 🙂

          Reply

  9. Lauren says:

    Are the chickpeas canned or … ? This looks delicious and I’m super keen to make it 🙂

    Reply

    • Christine McMichael replied:

      Hi, Lauren! Yes, I always use canned chickpeas since they’re a little bit easier to deal with. I hope you enjoy the recipe! 🙂

      Reply

  10. Jenn says:

    Love everything about this dish!! It’s beautiful, the flavors I love, and that broccoli pesto looks so darn good!!! Saving this for sure!

    Reply

    • Christine McMichael replied:

      Thank you, Jenn! 🙂 Enjoy!

      Reply

Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli Pesto (2024)

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