This simple pork and chickpea stew is packed with flavor, protein and is a tasty easy weeknight dinner idea that you can meal prep for the week! A bonus: you can put it together without guarding the stove like a dog all night long. You’ll need some meat, chickpeas, carrots, tomato paste, one pan and a little over 30 minutes. So if you’re looking for a healthier pork recipe that doesn’t call for a grill – this is it.
Slow And Low
The name of the game here is – slow and low. I’d usually cook any type of meat within like 20 minutes at higher temperature and no moisture, but for this meal, you need to cook at low heat and practice the magical skill of patience.
And also, this healthy stew recipe will work with chicken too. Or whatever other meat you like…although lean beef or turkey might turn a bit too tough. Here’s the recipe and below you’ll find some more explanations with photos. Hope you enjoy it!
Easy Pork and Chickpea Stew
This simple pork and chickpea stew recipe is packed with flavor, easy to make and a great high-protein dinner idea that is great for meal prep!
Ingredients
- 340g/12oz pork steak, no bones
- 1 cup canned or cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 carrot, thinly chopped
- 1/2 bell pepper, thinly chopped
- 1 medium-sized onion, thinly chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp oregano, dried
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp water or stock (or as needed)
Optional
- 1/2 cup whatever other veg you need to use up (I had some red cabbage)
Instructions
- Start making the healthy pork stew recipe by thinly chopping the onion, bell pepper and carrot. Next, cut the pork steak into bite-sized pieces.
- Add the onion to a pan with olive oil and saute until fragrant. Add in the paprika, crushed red pepper, oregano, and garlic. Stir to coat the onion, then add in the garlic, carrots, bell pepper, as well as your vegetable of choice.
- After 2 minutes, add in the pork and stir well to combine everything. Add the tomato paste and the water and stir until the paste has dissolved. Then add a generous amount of salt and pepper. Skip this if you're using stock - it usually comes with salt.
- Next cover with a lid for a minute and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and let cook for about 15 minutes with lid on.
- Add in the rinsed and drained cooked chickpeas and cook for 10 more minutes at low, again lid on.
- If at any point the sauce is too thin add another tbsp of tomato paste and allow to cook a few minutes longer, without the lid. If it turns out too thick - add some water.
- Turn off and serve with fresh herbs, vegetables and a yogurt garlic sauce. You can make the garlic sauce using 1/2 cup yogurt, 2 minced garlic cloves and some salt (I highly recommend it!)
Nutrition Information
Yield 3 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 557Total Fat 31gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 20gCholesterol 110mgSodium 325mgCarbohydrates 32gFiber 8gSugar 9gProtein 38g
How To Make Pork And Chickpea Stew
Start by thinly chopping the onion, bell pepper and carrot. Next, cut the pork steak into bite-sized pieces.
Add the onion to a pan with olive oil and saute until fragrant. Add in the paprika, crushed red pepper, oregano, and garlic. Stir to coat the onion, then add in the garlic, carrots, bell pepper, as well as your vegetable of choice.
After 2 minutes, add in the pork and chickpeas and stir well to combine everything. Add the tomato paste and the water and stir until the paste has dissolved. Then add a generous amount of salt and pepper. Skip this if you’re using stock – it usually comes with salt.
Next, cover with a lid and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for about 25 minutes, again covered.
If at any point the sauce is too thin, add another tbsp of tomato paste and allow to cook a few minutes longer, without the lid. If it turns out too thick – add some water.
Turn off and serve with fresh herbs, vegetables and a yogurt garlic sauce. You can make the garlic sauce by mixing 1/2 cup yogurt, 2 minced garlic cloves and some salt.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
I hope you enjoy this easy pork and chickpea stew! For more healthy dinner ideas, check out these recipes:
Originally published in January 2024, last updated in October 2025.