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Win hearts and prepare to fall in love with these Marry Me Chickpeas, a vegetarian twist on Marry Me Chicken! With over 35 million views across social media, this incredible 15-minute meal chickpea recipe has been devoured in thousands of kitchens around the world.

Pairs well with Air Fryer Veggies on the side. Finish the meal with Vegan Panna Cotta!

Marry me chickpeas in a pan.
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These Marry Me Chickpeas – the vegetarian equivalent of Marry Me Chicken – are about to have you head over heels for chickpeas! Wrapped in a creamy Tuscan sauce and absolutely loaded with flavor, they’ve quickly become one of my favorite ways to use a can of chickpeas! They’re:

  1. Easy to make, requiring just 1 pan and 15 minutes
  2. Served any way, like with a thick slice of sourdough bread or over a bed of rice
  3. Made with mostly pantry staples so you can enjoy this without much advanced planning!

Reader rating

★★★★★

“I made this dish for the first time about a month ago and last week my boyfriend proposed. Could be a coincidence, but also could be the power of delicious Tuscan cooking.” —Kyra

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Marry me chickpeas in a pan.

Key Ingredients

The ingredients are mostly pantry staples, so you can make it just about whenever the mood strikes! Jump to the recipe for measurements–this is just an overview.

  • Chickpeas: We’re using two cans of chickpeas, or you can cook your chickpeas from dried.
  • Garlic: Alright, garlic may not be the most romantic ingredient, but if you’re about to propose, we should be past the point of caring about garlic breath, right?
  • Seasonings: Salt, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper bring flavor and spice!
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Bring that savory Tuscan flavor. Get the kind packed in oil!
  • Broth: Vegetable broth, either from a carton, cube, or homemade from veggie scraps.
  • Cream: In testing, I found heavy cream to give the best texture, but feel free to use half-and-half for a lighter dish, or coconut milk for a vegan option.
  • Parmesan: Brings a savory taste perfect for rounding out this dish. Vegans should omit or use a plant-based parm.
Marry me chickpeas in a pan.

How to make Marry Me Chickpeas

Making this dish takes just 1 pan and less than 15 minutes. This is an overview, jump to the recipe for the full printable recipe!

  1. Make the flavor base, a delicious combination of butter, garlic, and spices.
  2. Add the fillings and cook for a few minutes.
  3. Finish it off with cream, parmesan, and basil!

I like adding veggies

While I absolutely love this dish just how it is, sometimes I’ll bulk it up with veggies! I’ll cook a bunch of veggies in the air fryer (zucchini and cauliflower are my favorites for this one), then stir them in right before serving.

Protein Variations

Not a fan of chickpeas? Try one of these variations!

Reader rating

★★★★★

“Holy h*ll this was amazing!!! Wow I was scared it wasn’t going to be much because of how few ingredients it called for but WOW it packed a flavorful punch!” —Sam

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Dipping bread into marry me chickpeas.

Serving Suggestions

  • With vegetables, like these air fryer veggies which can cook while the chickpeas cook
  • With bread, like crusty sourdough, fluffy naan, or toasted rye
  • With rice, like jasmine or basmati rice

How To Make Marry Me Chickpeas

4.90 from 378 ratings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Win hearts and prepare to fall in love with these Marry Me Chickpeas, a vegetarian twist on Marry Me Chicken! With a creamy Italian-style tomato sauce and nutritious chickpeas, this incredible 30 minute meal is perfect for date night.

Ingredients 

  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, 28 g
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp each salt, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup vegetable broth, 236 mL
  • 2 15-oz cans chickpeas, drained, 425 g cans
  • 1 cup heavy cream, can sub half-and-half
  • ½ cup grated parmesan
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
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Instructions 

  • Flavor Base: Heat 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, 4 cloves garlic, ½ tsp each salt, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, and ¼ tsp ground black pepper in a large saute pan or pot over medium heat. Cook for about 2 minutes, until garlic is fragrant.
    Garlic and butter in a pan.
  • Fillings: Stir in ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1 cup vegetable broth, and 2 15-oz cans chickpeas. Continue cooking on medium, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
    Chickpeas and sun dried tomatoes in a pan.
  • Finish: Remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup heavy cream ½ cup grated parmesan, and 2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil. Serve warm with crusty bread.
    Marry me chickpeas in a pan.

Notes

Storage: This recipe does well stored in the fridge for up to 7 days. When ready to reheat, just pop it in the microwave in 30 second bursts until warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 432kcal | Carbohydrates: 44.2g | Protein: 15.7g | Fat: 22.3g | Saturated Fat: 12.9g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 1204mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 8.3g | Sugar: 0.8g | Calcium: 215mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.

did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

Meal Prep it!

Make a batch of these proposal-worthy chickpeas and portion them into 4 or 5 meal prep containers with a grain (like brown rice or quinoa) and a steamed veggie (like broccoli or asparagus). I like to add a handful of cherry tomatoes as well!

Marry me chickpeas as vegetarian meal prep.
Eat vegetarian cookbook.

Let's eat more plants!

Packed with over 100 reader-favorite vegetarian recipes, my cookbook is your go-to guide for easy, healthy meals that make plant-based eating a breeze.

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4.90 from 378 votes (92 ratings without comment)

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585 Comments

  1. Elise says:

    5 stars
    Yum! I made this with dried black chick peas & half & half. It was a big hit at dinner tonight. Will definitely make again

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      I’m so happy to hear it, Elise! Enjoy!! 😀

  2. Terri Guajardo says:

    5 stars
    Made this tonight. Super yummy!!

  3. Trentchi says:

    I made this exactly as written and it was SO hot!! It was so delicious we all ate it (except my 3yo). Next time I will add a little less pepper and red chili flakes.

  4. Berita Prescott says:

    5 stars
    I made it chickpeas and black beans from the refrigerator I had leftovers delicious

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      That’s a great idea! Enjoy!

  5. Pip says:

    5 stars
    One of the best things I have ever eaten and so very simple to make

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      I’m so happy to hear it, Pip!

  6. Suzanne says:

    5 stars
    I used ( plain ) oat milk instead of cream and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese for a healthier version. It tasted wonderful.

  7. Caryl N says:

    Recipe sounds great! But why so much sodium?

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      It’s from the veggie broth and salt! 🙂

  8. K Smith says:

    5 stars
    I was in a total food rut with my family, sick of the same ole same ole recipes in rotation. So I tried Sarah’s Marry Me Chickpeas and WOW. Flavor blast! I browned the butter with the spices and then added the garlic. I also used half n half. Everyone in my family loved them so much, my brother even demanded the recipe. He said it was just as good as any entree you’d get at a restaurant in The Village (NYC). The flavors definitely meld together very well and pack a punch. I’m looking forward to trying the other Marry Me… recipes. Thank you for getting me out of my boring same ole, same ole rut!

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      Yay! I’m so happy this could get you out of the rut 😀 The brown butter is genius, I’m trying that next time!

  9. Mary McSorley says:

    5 stars
    Thanks so much, my favorite kind of recipe. Great base flavors and ideas, but also very customizable. I added zucchini I had on hand with the beans and broth and used fresh tomatoes since I was out of sun dried. I can easily see adding other types of veggies when I make it again, which I definitely will!

  10. Vee says:

    5 stars
    Wow, this is sooo good ! I made it exactly as you said to. No extra veggies though.