Are you ever stuck in that all-too-familiar weeknight dinner rut? It’s 6 PM, you’re tired, you’re hungry, and the last thing you want is a complicated recipe with a mountain of washing up. We’ve all been there. That’s precisely when we turn to this incredible Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry Chickpeas. It’s our secret weapon for a meal that feels both wholesome and wonderfully indulgent, all without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s a vibrant, flavour-packed dish that proves simple ingredients can create something truly special.

What makes this stir fry a cut above the rest is its perfect harmony of textures and tastes. We have tender-crisp broccoli florets, creamy chickpeas that get a lovely golden crust, and it’s all drenched in a savoury, garlicky sauce with a hint of sweetness that clings to every single bite. This isn’t just another boring vegan dinner; it’s a symphony of flavours that will have you scraping the pan clean. It’s the kind of meal that satisfies on every level – it’s quick, it’s nutritious, and it’s bursting with the kind of umami goodness you crave.

This recipe is for everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan, trying to incorporate more plant-based meals into your week, or simply a busy person looking for a delicious and fast dinner solution, this stir fry ticks all the boxes. It’s a fantastic recipe for beginner cooks and a reliable go-to for experienced chefs. If you enjoy other quick and satisfying meals like our Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls, you’ll feel right at home with the simple yet powerful flavours here.

Recipe Overview

This Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry Chickpeas is a delightful vegan dish inspired by classic Asian stir-frying techniques. The flavour profile is deeply savoury and aromatic, led by pungent garlic and a balanced soy-based sauce. The broccoli remains crisp and fresh, while the chickpeas provide a hearty, protein-packed base. It’s an exceptionally easy recipe to master, making it a perfect entry point for those new to stir-frying. Expect a vibrant, satisfying meal that’s on the table in under 30 minutes.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Servings: 4 people
• Difficulty: Easy

Why You’ll Love This Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry Chickpeas

• Incredible Flavour: We’ve perfected the sauce to be the ideal blend of salty, sweet, and savoury. The combination of fresh garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and a touch of maple syrup creates a truly addictive flavour that you won’t be able to get enough of.
• Quick & Easy: This is the ultimate weeknight hero. With minimal prep and a cook time of just 15 minutes, you can have a delicious, home-cooked dinner on the table faster than you could order a takeaway.
• Versatile: Think of this recipe as a fantastic template. You can easily swap in different vegetables like bell peppers or mangetout, add some tofu for extra protein, or serve it over noodles instead of rice. It’s a great way to use up any veg you have in the fridge.
• Perfect For: It’s ideal for busy weeknights, healthy meal prepping for the week ahead, or a light yet substantial dinner. It packs brilliantly for lunch the next day, too!
• Crowd-Pleaser: This dish has universal appeal. It’s naturally vegan and gluten-free (if you use tamari), making it an excellent choice for feeding a group with varied dietary needs. Even committed meat-eaters will be impressed by how hearty and satisfying it is.

Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry Chickpeas

⏱️ 15 min prep  •  🍳 15 min cook  •  👥 4 servings

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Ingredients You’ll Need

We believe in using fresh, simple ingredients to create the best flavour. You should be able to find everything you need at your local supermarket. The key is to have everything prepped and ready to go before you turn on the heat, as a stir fry comes together very quickly!

• For the Stir Fry:
• 1 tbsp vegetable or rapeseed oil
• 1 large head of broccoli (about 500g), cut into bite-sized florets
• 1 x 400g tin of chickpeas, rinsed and thoroughly drained
• 5 large cloves of garlic, finely minced
• 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
• 3 spring onions, whites and greens separated and thinly sliced
• For the Sauce:
• 60ml low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for a gluten-free option)
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 60ml cold water
• For Garnish (Optional):
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
• A pinch of red chilli flakes

Pro Tip: Don’t skip drying the chickpeas! After rinsing, lay them on a clean tea towel or paper towels and pat them completely dry. This simple step is crucial for helping them get a lovely golden-brown colour in the pan rather than just steaming.

How to Make Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry Chickpeas

The beauty of a stir fry is its speed. We’ll start by preparing all our components (a technique known as ‘mise en place’), which ensures the cooking process is smooth and stress-free. Get your wok or a large frying pan ready!

1. Prepare the Ingredients & Sauce: First, get everything ready. Chop your broccoli into even-sized florets. Mince the garlic and grate the ginger. Slice the spring onions, keeping the white and green parts separate. In a small bowl or jug, whisk together all the sauce ingredients: soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornflour, and cold water. Whisk until the cornflour is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Set aside.
2. Sauté the Chickpeas: Place a large wok or frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and let it heat up for a moment until it shimmers. Carefully add the dried chickpeas to the pan in a single layer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are lightly golden and have a slightly firm exterior.
3. Add the Aromatics: Turn the heat down slightly to medium. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the pan with the chickpeas. Stir-fry continuously for about 1 minute until they become incredibly fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic burn, as it can become bitter.
4. Cook the Broccoli: Add the broccoli florets to the pan along with the sliced white parts of the spring onions. Pour in 3 tablespoons of water, then immediately cover the pan with a lid. Let the broccoli steam-fry for 3-4 minutes. We’re aiming for a vibrant green colour and a texture that is tender but still has a pleasant bite.
5. Pour in the Sauce: Uncover the pan. Give your prepared sauce a quick final whisk to ensure the cornflour hasn’t settled at the bottom. Pour the sauce all over the broccoli and chickpeas in the pan.
6. Thicken and Combine: Stir everything together continuously. The sauce will begin to bubble and thicken very quickly, usually within 1-2 minutes. Keep stirring until the sauce becomes glossy and coats every piece of broccoli and every chickpea beautifully.
7. Serve Immediately: Once the sauce has thickened, turn off the heat. Your delicious Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry Chickpeas is ready! Serve it straight away over a bed of fluffy rice or noodles. Garnish with the sliced green parts of the spring onions, a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, and a pinch of red chilli flakes if you like a little heat.

Expert Tips for Perfect Results

• Temperature Matters: A key to a great stir fry is high heat. This cooks the vegetables quickly, so they sear on the outside while staying crisp on the inside. According to food science experts at BBC Good Food, a hot wok ensures vegetables are stir-fried, not steamed, preserving their texture and colour.
• Don’t Skip the Prep: The cooking part of this recipe is very fast. Having all your vegetables chopped and your sauce mixed before you even turn on the hob is the most important step for a smooth, enjoyable cooking experience.
• Make It Ahead: You can save time by prepping the components in advance. The broccoli can be chopped, the aromatics minced, and the sauce mixed and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to eat, the cooking will take just 15 minutes.
• Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The broccoli will soften slightly upon reheating, but the flavours will be just as delicious. Reheat in a pan over a medium heat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.

Delicious Variations to Try

One of the best things about this recipe is how adaptable it is. Feel free to get creative and make it your own!

• Spicy Version: For those who love a bit of a kick, add 1-2 teaspoons of sriracha or your favourite chilli garlic sauce into the sauce mixture. You could also toss in some freshly sliced red chillies with the garlic and ginger.
• Add More Veggies: This stir fry is a fantastic canvas for other vegetables. Try adding sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, or mangetout. Add harder vegetables like carrots with the broccoli and quicker-cooking ones like peppers towards the end.
• Nutty & Creamy: For a satay-style twist, whisk one tablespoon of smooth peanut butter into the sauce mixture before pouring it into the pan. This adds a wonderful richness and depth of flavour.
• Protein Boost: For an even more substantial meal, add a block of pressed and cubed firm tofu. Pan-fry the tofu separately until golden before you start the chickpeas, set it aside, and then toss it back in at the end with the sauce. Or, if you’re not strictly vegan, this flavour profile pairs wonderfully with other proteins, similar to our popular Black Pepper Chicken.

What to Serve With Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry Chickpeas

This dish is fantastic on its own, but it truly shines when served as part of a complete meal. Here are some of our favourite pairings:

• Rice: Serve over a bed of fluffy steamed Jasmine rice to soak up all of that delicious sauce. For a healthier, nuttier option, brown rice or quinoa works beautifully.
• Noodles: This stir fry is wonderful tossed with cooked udon, soba, or rice noodles for a hearty and satisfying noodle bowl.

–Just Greens: For a lighter, low-carb meal, serve it alongside a simple cucumber salad or on a bed of fresh spinach.

• Beverage Pairing: A crisp, cold lager or a light white wine like a Riesling cuts through the richness of the sauce perfectly. For a non-alcoholic option, iced green tea is a refreshing choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry Chickpeas

A quick and flavorful vegan stir fry featuring tender-crisp broccoli and golden chickpeas tossed in a savory garlic-ginger sauce. Perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• For the Stir Fry:
• 1 tbsp vegetable or rapeseed oil
• 1 large head of broccoli about 500g, cut into bite-sized florets
• 1 x 400g tin of chickpeas rinsed and thoroughly drained
• 5 large cloves of garlic finely minced
• 1- inch piece of fresh ginger peeled and grated
• 3 spring onions whites and greens separated and thinly sliced
• For the Sauce:
• 60 ml low-sodium soy sauce or tamari for a gluten-free option
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 60 ml cold water
• For Garnish Optional:
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
• A pinch of red chilli flakes

Method

 

1. Prepare the Ingredients & Sauce: First, get everything ready. Chop your broccoli into even-sized florets. Mince the garlic and grate the ginger. Slice the spring onions, keeping the white and green parts separate. In a small bowl or jug, whisk together all the sauce ingredients: soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornflour, and cold water. Whisk until the cornflour is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Set aside.
2. Sauté the Chickpeas: Place a large wok or frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and let it heat up for a moment until it shimmers. Carefully add the dried chickpeas to the pan in a single layer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are lightly golden and have a slightly firm exterior.
3. Add the Aromatics: Turn the heat down slightly to medium. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the pan with the chickpeas. Stir-fry continuously for about 1 minute until they become incredibly fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic burn, as it can become bitter.
4. Cook the Broccoli: Add the broccoli florets to the pan along with the sliced white parts of the spring onions. Pour in 3 tablespoons of water, then immediately cover the pan with a lid. Let the broccoli steam-fry for 3-4 minutes. We're aiming for a vibrant green colour and a texture that is tender but still has a pleasant bite.
5. Pour in the Sauce: Uncover the pan. Give your prepared sauce a quick final whisk to ensure the cornflour hasn't settled at the bottom. Pour the sauce all over the broccoli and chickpeas in the pan.
6. Thicken and Combine: Stir everything together continuously. The sauce will begin to bubble and thicken very quickly, usually within 1-2 minutes. Keep stirring until the sauce becomes glossy and coats every piece of broccoli and every chickpea beautifully.
7. Serve Immediately: Once the sauce has thickened, turn off the heat. Your delicious Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry Chickpeas is ready! Serve it straight away over a bed of fluffy rice or noodles. Garnish with the sliced green parts of the spring onions, a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, and a pinch of red chilli flakes if you like a little heat.

Notes

Serve immediately over fluffy rice or noodles. For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.

We truly hope you fall in love with this simple yet spectacular Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry Chickpeas. It’s a testament to the fact that you don’t need complex ingredients or a lot of time to create a meal that is both incredibly delicious and good for you. It has become a staple in our kitchens for a reason, and we’re so excited to share it with you. Give it a try on your next busy evening, and let us know what you think in the comments below – we love hearing about your creations!