Make it a Tuscan-themed dinner with other Italian recipes like Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks and a Hugo Cocktail! Have you ever heard of Marry Me Chicken? It’s this amazing Tuscan-inspired dish with sun-dried tomatoes, cream, and basil that’s so good people will want to marry the chef who made it! I’ve wanted to make a vegetarian version for a while so I started with Marry Me Chickpeas and millions of viewers LOVED it on social media. With such a positive response, I knew I needed to make some new variations – first up these Marry Me Butter Beans. I chose to use butter beans because they are larger than some other types of beans which helps add substance to this dish that chicken would otherwise add. And using my nutritionist hat, they’re also super high in protein and fiber making them a great carbohydrate choice. So before you want to propose to me, let me show you how to make these Marry Me Butter Beans!
Your new favorite dinner
Quick to make thanks to canned beans and flavor-packed sun-dried tomatoes. Made in one pot, unlike its chicken counterpart, which would need to cook the chicken separately. One pot means less mess and fewer dishes—big win!
Ingredients for marry me butter beans
This butter beans recipe only requires a few ingredients, one in particular that really shines. Sun-dried tomato is the secret little ingredient in Marry Me dishes. They add a super unique and special sweetness and flavor that brightens the whole dish in a way only tomatoes dried in the sun can!
Butter: Yes, you still need butter even though we are using butter beans. Grab some unsalted butter or margarine for a vegan version. Garlic: Some say garlic is an aphrodisiac… It’s probably because your love still wants to propose even with your garlic breath. Seasonings: Salt, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper come together for a flavor song that will get that happy food dance going. Sun-Dried Tomatoes: This is the ingredient I was talking about!! They are a staple of Tuscan dishes because they are advertised as being vine-ripened in the warm Tuscan sun. Full transparency, most are vine-ripened in sunny California but the climate is nearly the same so I’d still count it. Broth: You will need vegetable broth, either homemade vegetable broth or store-bought from a carton or cube. Butter Beans: You will need 2 cans of butter beans for this dish. Just a PSA, sometimes they are labeled as lima beans in the store. The Creamy Good Stuff: I use heavy cream for this dish but many readers have had success with using canned coconut milk or vegan heavy cream as dairy-free options. Parmesan: This brings a salty and umami flavor with a little bit of that cheesy goodness every Italian dish is known for. You can use a vegan parmesan if needed. Basil: Finally, the photo finish of a handful of torn fresh basil! You can use dried basil or the refrigerated kind that comes in a tube but the flavor will not be as pronounced and fresh.
How to make Marry Me Butter Beans
This dish is so fast to make (15 minutes fast!) and only uses one pan. Let me prove it to you! This is a quick overview, and you can jump to the recipe for the full printable instructions!
Storage
This recipe keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days (it’s great for vegetarian meal prep) in an airtight container! When ready to reheat, just pop it in the microwave in 30-second bursts until warm.
Recipe Variations
With thousands of comments describing our reader’s unique takes on my Marry Me recipes, I wanted to include some of the most popular recipe variations.
Tofu – cube and crisp it up (air fried tofu is my personal favorite) Mashed beans – try mashing some of the beans with the back of a fork for a thicker base Added veggies – you can add air fryer roasted vegetables like zucchini or cauliflower for more veggie goodness
Or for a vegan version closer to “chicken” try my Vegan Marry Me Chicken!
How do you serve these butter beans?
I like to serve these on toast, with rice, or over pasta. It’s also delicious just plain too!
Can this recipe be made vegan or dairy-free?
Yes, you can use coconut milk or vegan heavy cream and vegan parmesan to make it dairy-free or vegan.
Can you freeze this?
No, I don’t recommend freezing this dish because the heavy cream becomes icy when frozen. It then separates when reheated.
serving ideas
These butter beans are so good you might just end up eating them from the pot. But, if you’re looking for serving ideas for making them a rounded vegetarian dinner, here are my go-to ways!
With bread, like crusty sourdough or fluffy naan (here’s how to make your own naan). With rice, like jasmine or basmati rice (though any type of rice works well). On toast, like a thick slab of sourdough or rye. With pasta, like a shell, rigatoni, or other type of pasta that will hold sauce well.
