Vegetarian Costco Chicken Bake (Print-Friendly Version)

Chickpea and cheese-stuffed bakes with savory dough, inspired by a Costco classic, all in a vegetarian version.

# Ingredients:

→ Chickpea Filling

01 - 8 pieces vegan bacon, cooked until crisp
02 - 1.275 kg canned chickpeas, drained (3 x 425 g cans)
03 - 240 ml shredded mozzarella cheese
04 - 6 slices smoked provolone cheese, cut into small squares
05 - 3 green onions, sliced
06 - 240 ml vegetarian Caesar dressing
07 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
08 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
09 - 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Assembly

10 - 680 to 900 g pizza dough
11 - 1 egg, whisked
12 - 60 ml shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - 60 ml shredded parmesan cheese

# Steps:

01 - Set oven to 190°C and allow it to fully preheat.
02 - Cook vegan bacon until crispy and chop into bite-sized pieces. Roughly smash half the drained chickpeas using a potato masher or fork. In a large bowl, combine smashed chickpeas, vegan bacon, shredded mozzarella, provolone squares, sliced green onions, Caesar dressing, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until well distributed.
03 - Divide pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a rectangle approximately 23 x 13 cm.
04 - Scoop a quarter of the chickpea mixture onto the center of each dough rectangle, forming a compact log. Wrap dough over the filling and pinch edges to seal tightly.
05 - Place filled dough logs seam-side down on a lined baking sheet.
06 - Brush each bake with the whisked egg to promote browning.
07 - Mix shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the tops of each bake.
08 - Bake on the center rack for 20 to 25 minutes or until the crust is deep golden brown and cheese is melted.
09 - Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving, as the filling will be very hot.

# Notes & Tips:

01 - Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in the microwave for 3–4 minutes, then finish in an air fryer to re-crisp the exterior.
02 - For the best flavor and texture, use a high-quality vegan bacon, such as Morningstar.

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