If you are longing for a comforting, creamy, and irresistibly flavorful dish, the Marry Me Butter Beans Recipe is exactly what you need to add to your culinary repertoire. This dish is a harmonious blend of tender butter beans simmered in aromatic herbs and spices, enriched with a luscious cream sauce and the savory touch of Parmesan cheese. Every bite feels like a warm hug, making it perfect for cozy dinners or impressing guests with minimal effort. Trust me, once you try this recipe, it might just become your new favorite go-to comfort food!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Marry Me Butter Beans Recipe requires a handful of simple yet essential ingredients that come together to create a rich and comforting dish. Each element plays a crucial role—from the fragrant herbs and smoky spices to the creamy texture that makes it so special.
- Olive oil: Provides a silky base for sautéing onion and garlic, adding depth to the flavor.
- Medium onion, chopped: Offers sweetness and body when sautéed to translucent perfection.
- Garlic, minced: Infuses the dish with an aromatic punch that wakes up every other ingredient.
- Dried thyme: Adds an earthy, herbaceous note that balances richness.
- Dried rosemary: Brings piney, fragrant accents for complexity.
- Smoked paprika: Introduces a subtle smokiness and vibrant color.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: Lends a gentle heat that livens the palate.
- Vegetable broth: The flavorful cooking liquid that softens the beans and ties the dish together.
- Butter beans (canned): The star ingredient, offering a creamy, buttery texture perfect for soaking up all seasonings.
- Heavy cream: Adds luxurious creaminess, making the dish indulgently smooth.
- Grated Parmesan cheese: Imparts a salty, nutty finish that enriches the sauce.
- Salt and black pepper: Essential seasoning to enhance all flavors.
- Fresh parsley, chopped: Provides a fresh, bright garnish that cuts through the richness.
How to Make Marry Me Butter Beans Recipe
Step 1: Heat the Olive Oil
Begin by warming the olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. This warming step creates the perfect foundation to build layers of flavor, ensuring the aromatics sauté evenly without burning.
Step 2: Sauté Onion Until Soft
Next, add your chopped onion to the hot oil and sauté it gently for around 5 minutes. You want the onion to become supple and translucent, coaxing out its natural sweetness, which forms the heart of this dish’s flavor profile.
Step 3: Add Garlic and Cook Until Fragrant
Once the onion softens, stir in the minced garlic and let it cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. The moment the garlic’s aroma fills your kitchen, you’ll know the base flavors are perfectly coming together.
Step 4: Mix in Spices
Sprinkle the dried thyme, dried rosemary, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper flakes into the skillet. Stir thoroughly to coat the onion and garlic in these fragrant herbs and spices, unlocking a vibrant flavor bouquet that makes this Marry Me Butter Beans Recipe truly special.
Step 5: Pour in Vegetable Broth and Simmer
Pour vegetable broth into the pan and bring everything to a gentle simmer. This simmer will allow the flavors to meld beautifully and prepare the beans to soak up all this deliciousness.
Step 6: Add Butter Beans
Once the broth is simmering, add the drained and rinsed butter beans. Gently stir to evenly distribute them so that every bean absorbs the rich broth and seasoning.
Step 7: Simmer to Blend Flavors
Let the beans simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. This slow melding helps the beans soften further and lets the liquid reduce just enough to concentrate all those incredible flavors.
Step 8: Stir in Heavy Cream
Lower the heat and carefully mix in the heavy cream. This step transforms the dish by adding silky richness, making it irresistibly creamy and comforting.
Step 9: Add Parmesan Cheese
Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan and stir until it melts completely into the sauce, enriching it with nutty, salty goodness that takes this recipe to the next level.
Step 10: Season to Taste
Now it’s time to season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste as you go to make sure the seasoning perfectly complements the creamy beans without overpowering the delicate herbs.
Step 11: Garnish with Fresh Parsley
Before serving, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the beans for a pop of color and freshness that brightens the whole dish.
Step 12: Serve Hot and Enjoy
Your Marry Me Butter Beans Recipe is ready! Serve it up hot and relish the creamy texture and aromatic herbs in every mouthful.
How to Serve Marry Me Butter Beans Recipe
Garnishes
Fresh parsley is a simple but effective garnish for this dish, adding a lively green contrast and subtle herbal brightness. For an extra touch, consider a light drizzle of good-quality olive oil or a sprinkle of extra Parmesan cheese just before serving.
Side Dishes
This dish pairs beautifully with crusty bread to soak up the creamy sauce or alongside a fresh green salad for a lighter contrast. For a heartier meal, serve with roasted vegetables, grilled chicken, or even a pile of fluffy rice to round out the experience.
Creative Ways to Present
Try serving the beans in individual ramekins or shallow bowls for an elegant touch. Adding a lemon wedge on the side can offer guests a splash of brightness to customize their bites. Alternatively, dollop a spoonful of tangy yogurt or tangy goat cheese on top to balance the richness.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Marry Me Butter Beans keep beautifully in an airtight container stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keeping the beans cool and sealed will preserve their creamy texture and vibrant flavor.
Freezing
You can freeze leftover butter beans in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Though the texture might soften slightly, the flavor remains wonderfully intact. For best results, cool the dish completely before freezing.
Reheating
To reheat, warm the beans gently on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally. Adding a splash of broth or cream while reheating can help restore the lovely creamy consistency that makes this Marry Me Butter Beans Recipe so irresistible.
FAQs
Can I use fresh butter beans instead of canned?
Absolutely! If you have fresh butter beans, cook them until tender before using them in the recipe. Just be sure to adjust cooking times as fresh beans usually take longer to soften than canned ones.
Is this recipe vegetarian and vegan-friendly?
The recipe as written is vegetarian but not vegan due to the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. To make it vegan, substitute plant-based cream and vegan cheese alternatives.
What can I substitute for heavy cream in this recipe?
You can use full-fat coconut milk or cashew cream as a dairy-free alternative. These substitutions will keep the creamy texture while offering a slightly different flavor profile.
Can I add protein to this dish?
Yes! Adding cooked chicken, sausage, or even crispy bacon can make this a more filling meal. These proteins complement the creamy beans nicely.
How spicy is this recipe?
The crushed red pepper flakes add just a gentle heat that you can easily adjust up or down depending on your preference. For a milder dish, reduce or omit the flakes entirely.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly magical about the Marry Me Butter Beans Recipe that feels both simple and indulgent at the same time. It’s a dish that invites comfort, warmth, and a little dash of romance to your table. Give it a try soon—you just might find yourself making this creamy, flavorful recipe again and again!
Print
Marry Me Butter Beans Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Marry Me Butter Beans is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender butter beans simmered in a fragrant blend of herbs, spices, and vegetable broth, finished with heavy cream and Parmesan cheese for a rich, comforting side or main dish.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cans (15 ounces each) butter beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil: Warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat to prepare for sautéing.
- Sauté onion: Add the chopped onion and cook for about 5 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent, releasing its natural sweetness.
- Add garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Add spices: Sprinkle dried thyme, dried rosemary, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper flakes over the onion and garlic mixture, stirring well to combine and release their aromas.
- Pour vegetable broth: Add 2 cups of vegetable broth to the skillet and bring it to a gentle simmer to blend the flavors.
- Add butter beans: Stir in the drained and rinsed butter beans, incorporating them carefully into the broth and spices.
- Simmer: Let the beans and broth simmer for 8 to 10 minutes to reduce the liquid slightly and fully develop flavors.
- Incorporate cream: Lower the heat and gently stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream until thoroughly blended with the sauce for a creamy texture.
- Add Parmesan cheese: Stir in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce becomes creamy and well combined.
- Season: Taste the beans and season with salt and black pepper according to your preference.
- Garnish: Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped parsley over the beans just before serving for a fresh finish.
- Serve: Serve the creamy butter beans hot as a comforting side dish or a satisfying vegetarian main.
Notes
- For a vegan version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream or cashew cream and use a vegan Parmesan alternative.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to control the level of heat according to taste.
- Use fresh herbs instead of dried for a brighter herbaceous flavor, adding them at the end of cooking.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop to avoid breaking the cream sauce.
