Marry me butter beans are incredibly delicious butter beans that are ready in under 20 minutes. They are basically Tuscan Style Beans minus the spinach - creamy, with tons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and Sun-Dried Tomatoes. Pair them with some toasty Dutch Oven Bread for dipping and it's THE perfect marriage proposal dinner or just a delicious weekday meal! Try Marry Me Chicken Soup next for another cozy and creamy "marry me" recipe concept.
Swap chicken for buttery, tender beans in this creamy and comforting Tuscan-inspired dish that's based on popular Marry Me Chicken recipe! In savory, tangy, slightly spicy creamy sauce! These Marry Me Butter Beans are a twist on the viral chicken recipe.
Food is one of my love languages, just like it is for many of you. The amount of effort I put into making delicious food for my family is a way of showing my love and dedication to them. So it comes to no surprise that I make these creamy marry me beans quite often. They are so good that if you make it for your a partner, or even a friend, a marriage proposal will be their next question.
Why you'll love Marry Me Butter Beans
- Brings out the best flavors of Tuscany - Marry me beans is Americanized "Tuscan" recipe that looks and tastes exactly like the Italian version, minus the spinach. So, basically all the good stuff!
- You will get married - If you make it for your partner they'll instantly fall in love with your cooking and will propose immediately:). I personally fell in love with these Marry Me Beans the very first time I made them.
- The way to a man's heart is definitely through his stomach, BUT with the right kind of Mary Me Butter Beans!
Marry Me Butter Beans
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves peeled and finely sliced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 15oz cans butter beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup finely grated parmesan plus extra to serve
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh basil to serve
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over a medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but take care not to brown the garlic.
- Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, smoked paprika, oregano and tomato paste to the pot and cook for 2 minutes.
- Tip in the butter beans and stir to coat then pour in the vegetable broth. Bring to a gentle simmer while stirring then cook for five minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low then slowly add the heavy cream and parmesan. Mix to combine then simmer gently for 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly. If it gets too thick add a splash of boiling water.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. Scatter over the fresh basil and some extra parmesan.
- Serve with slices of toasted sourdough baguette.
- Enjoy!
Key Ingredients
- Olive oil - Cornerstone of Marry Me Butter Beans recipe and Tuscan cooking due to its rich flavor and slight spiciness. Just make sure it's extra virgin olive oil.
- Butter beans -Butter beans, also known as Lima beans, are a great choice for this creamy recipe because they are naturally smooth and have (surprise!) buttery texture. I used a couple of cans of butter beans.
- Sun-dried tomatoes - Opt for oil packed sun-dried tomatoes if you can. They are softer and more flavorful and bring out a lovely richness to the sauce. Most people will discard the oil from the jar, but you must use it! It adds a lot of flavor to the recipe.
- Garlic - Crush or slice those garlic cloves! Garlic is one of the most identifying ingredients in Tuscan cuisine.
- Smoked paprika - Smoked paprika is used for warmth and not heat. It deepens the smoky flavor without being overpowering. If you want to add a little more spice you can increase the red pepper flakes.
- Heavy cream - What really makes Marry Me Butter Beans so delicious is the ultra-creamy sauce! If you want to make it lighter, half-and-half will work just great.
- Parmesan - finely grated Parmesan is what you will need.
How to make Marry Me Butter Beans
Start with the sun-dried tomatoes. I love using a jar of oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes. Not only are the tomatoes delicious, but the oil from the jar can be used to cook the butter beans!
Sauté garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant but take care not to brown it. Then add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, smoked paprika, oregano and tomato paste to the pot and cook for 2 minutes.
The cream should be added over a low heat and gently simmered for 3-5 minutes only. If you bring it to the boil it might split so keep the heat low and remove the pan from the heat once the sauce has thickened.
Add the butter beans and stir to coat; then pour in the vegetable broth. Bring to a gentle simmer while stirring then cook for five minutes. Once the sauce has thickened slightly, add Parmesan cheese. The cheese will melt into the creamy sauce.
The fresh basil for garnishing really brightens the entire dish and tastes wonderful. You can swap it out for parsley if you prefer.
Tips for making Marry Me Butter Beans
- Take care not to overcook the butter beans: They are already cooked straight from the can so all you want to do is give them enough time to soak in the flavor and warm through.
- Be careful to not brown garlic: Be sure to gently cook the garlic in the oil but don't brown it. It should be sautéed until just fragrant. If it browns too much this can lead to a bitter tasting sauce so cook he garlic on a very low heat and keep a close eye on it.
FAQ
- How do I thicken the sauce? Because butter beans are naturally creamy and have a high starch content - they help thicken the sauce quickly, sometimes too much.
- What if my sauce too thick? If it gets too thick, simply add a splash of boiling water.
- How do make this vegan? Simply use a vegan hard cheese since authentic Parmesan contains animal rennet. This is a great option for non meat eaters to see what all the fuss is about marry me chicken!
Why Is My Marry Me Butter Beans Sauce Too Thick?
Butter beans are naturally starchy and release creaminess as they simmer, which can reduce the liquid too quickly.
Easy Fixes:
- Stir in a splash of boiling water, vegetable broth, or cream to loosen the sauce.
- Add liquid gradually, cooking on low heat to preserve creamy texture.
- Avoid simmering uncovered for too long - this causes excess evaporation.
Pro Tip: If you prefer a thinner, silkier consistency, replace heavy cream with half-and-half or unsweetened coconut milk.
Why Are My Butter Beans Mushy or Falling Apart?
Because Butter beans are already cooked (if canned) - they soften quickly when simmered too long. To fix that, always add beans after the sauce thickens, heating gently for 3-5 minutes just to infuse flavor and a void stirring aggressively-beans are delicate.
Substitution Tip: Try lima beans or cannellini beans for a similar texture with slightly firmer bite.
Can I Make Marry Me Butter Beans Vegan or Dairy-Free?
Yes! This dish adapts perfectly to vegan versions with minimal swaps.
Easy Substitutions:
- Butter → Olive oil or vegan butter
- Heavy cream → Coconut cream or cashew cream
- Parmesan → Nutritional yeast or vegan Parmesan
- Dairy milk → Oat milk or almond milk for lightened, creamy texture.
Serving suggestions
- Butter Beans are perfect for soaking up the rich and indulgent marry me sauce. Served them with simple toasted Dutch Oven Bread, Soft French Bread or Buttermilk Bread.
- Great with Pan-Seared Chicken Breast or Pan-Seared Pork Chops!
- The creamy sauce begs for dipping-choose crusty crostini with golden edges for soaking up every drop
How to store creamy marry me beans
Marry me butter beans are perfect for a quick and comforting dinner and are excellent as leftovers; you'll be trying to come up with excuses to make this one again and again! So here's how to store them.
- Refrigerate: Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Marry me beans can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Reheat gently on the hob or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or stock to loosen the sauce if needed.
Terri says
Absolutely delicious!
Will definitely have me eating beans more often.
Happy to add this recipe to my Copy Me That app.
Thank you
🍁🍂
Lyuda says
Perfect
Janice says
Sooo good!
Kelly says
My husband said this is the best thing I’ve ever made! We’ve been married 20 years
Olya says
I'm so glad you cooked them for him!