Fregola with chickpeas and bacon

Name: Fregola with chickpeas and bacon
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: Fregola pasta 11.3 oz; Smoked pancetta 3.5 oz; Dried chickpeas 1 ¾ cup; White onions medium 1; Garlic 1 clove; Peperoncino 1; Vegetable broth 2 ½ cups; Tomato purée 1 ½ cup; Parsley 1 bunch; Extra virgin olive oil 1 ¾ tbsp; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper to taste

339

Calories per serving

Lactose Free

Energy Kcal 339
Carbohydrates g 50.9
of which sugars g 4.6
Protein g 12.2
Fats g 9.6
of which saturated fat g 2.19
Fiber g 7.1
Cholesterol mg 11
Sodium mg 971

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Serving: 6
Cost: Average
Note + the time to boil the chickpeas

PRESENTATION

Rich, filling, and packed with flavor, fregola with chickpeas and bacon brings bold Italian comfort right to your family table. Simple round pasta pearls give this dish its signature look—a pretty base that soaks up every bit of hearty bacon and chickpea goodness. Big bowls of Sardinian pasta like this one always draw a crowd, since the mix of crispy, savory bacon and tender, earthy chickpeas is just DELICIOUS. Beautifully golden pasta, bits of smoky bacon, and soft chickpeas create a dinner that tastes as good as it looks…with something about those little pasta shapes that feels both new and familiar. For regular family nights or special gatherings, Sardinian pasta recipes with these cozy flavors tend to have everybody reaching for seconds—it's a satisfying meal that stands out while still delivering familiar, family-friendly flavor.

Kids and adults enjoy how fregola recipes fit into all kinds of routines—solid choice for weeknight dinners, since you get that reliable Italian comfort food feel. Busy families often look for dishes that feel special (without any stress), and traditional Sardinian cuisine like fregola with chickpeas and bacon really works. Serve it plain for a straightforward, comforting plate, or add a quick green salad alongside to make things fresh—either way, those fun pasta balls and smoky bacon pieces help everyone feel satisfied. The simple ingredients and comforting flavors work across seasons, from cool fall evenings to spring get-togethers. Sometimes, a simple bowl with just a sprinkle of cheese delivers all you need—other times, a little drizzle of olive oil or handful of fresh herbs takes it even further (just something you pick up after making these bacon pasta recipes a few times). This kind of Italian comfort food makes cooking for your family less of a chore and more of a pleasure…every bite brings a tasty, warm finish that’s hard not to love when sharing dinner together.

How to prepare Fregola with chickpeas and bacon

To prepare fregola with chickpeas and bacon, start by boiling the chickpeas. Soak them the night before in cold water 1, then drain them and boil them in a large pot for about 1h/1h and 30 minutes, depending also on what is indicated on the package 2; they can also be cooked in a pressure cooker reducing the cooking time by half, or you can use pre-cooked chickpeas. Also prepare the Vegetable broth.

Clean and finely chop the onion 1 and the garlic 2, then remove the seeds from the fresh chili pepper and also mince it 3.

In a large non-stick pan drizzled with olive oil, place the garlic, onion, and chili to cook: they should fry for 5 minutes 7. Lastly, chop the bacon: slice it and then cut it into small cubes 8. Add it to the sauté 9.

and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes 10. At this point, pour in the tomato sauce 11, stirring again until it reaches a slight boil. Add the well-drained boiled chickpeas to the sauce and continue cooking for another 5 minutes 12.

Finally, add the fregola 13: continue cooking as if it were a risotto, gradually adding the vegetable broth 14, but keeping in mind that the preparation should remain a bit soupy. Adjust with salt and pepper 15.

When the fregola is al dente, turn off the heat and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Finely chop the bunch of parsley 16 and add it as a final touch 17. One last stir and your fregola with chickpeas and bacon is ready 18: serve it piping hot!

Storage

Once the fregola has cooled, it can be stored in the refrigerator for two or three days in an airtight container: when you need to serve it, you can heat it with a ladle of broth.