Tuscan “Marry Me” Butter Beans
These creamy Tuscan "Marry Me" butter beans are simmered with sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, and herbs, then stirred with wilted spinach, heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan. You'll love this vegetarian, gluten-free weeknight meal (or a side dish with your favorite protein).
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (or oil from the sun-dried tomato jar)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup red onion (diced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed, roughly chopped)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 30 oz canned butter beans (drained and rinsed (two (15-ounce) cans))
- 3 cups spinach (or more)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated, plus more for serving)
- Heat the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic. Cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute, stirring constantly, allowing it to darken slightly.
- Add the sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth and butter beans. Bring to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes.
- Using the back of a spoon, gently mash about ½ cup of the beans, against the side of the skillet. Alternatively, you can remove a scoop of beans, mash them in a small bowl, and then return them to the skillet. Stir the mashed beans into the sauce to help thicken it.
- Add the spinach. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until the spinach is wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Immediately stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until the cheese is melted and the cream is fully incorporated into the sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and black pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Quick One-Pot Vegetarian Dinner
By now, I bet everyone has heard of " Marry Me Chicken " - I definitely didn't invent it myself - it's been all over internet and social media! The whole concept is a creamy sun-dried tomato-Parmesan sauce that's supposedly so good that it will inspire an immediate marriage proposal, though whether you accept or decline is totally up to you (and I provide no guarantees LOL). These Marry-Me Tuscan Butter Beans are a vegetarian version that uses butter beans instead of chicken and smothers them in a sun-dried tomato sauce with spinach, fresh and dried basil, tomato paste, garlic, and onions not dissimilar to my very popular meatless Sun-dried Tomato and Mushroom Pasta in a Garlic and Basil Cream Sauce. It's a one-pan, 35-minute recipe that uses pantry staples to create the ultimate fall/winter comfort food. You can serve it as an easy vegetarian weeknight dinner or a side dish when entertaining guests.
Tuscan Marry Me Butter Beans
butter beans are simmered with sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, and herbs, then stirred with wilted spinach, heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan. You'll love this
vegetarian, gluten-free weeknight meal (or a side dish with your favorite protein). You can also
easily make it vegan. Serve it with my
