A creamy tomato-based stew with white butter beans and wilted spinach in a rustic pot, garnished with fresh herbs.

Easy One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans Recipe (30-Minute Creamy Dinner)

ByMaria Canilssom
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A creamy tomato-based stew with white butter beans and wilted spinach in a rustic pot, garnished with fresh herbs.
Our easy, viral One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans—a creamy, cozy vegetarian dinner ready in 30 minutes!
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One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans: The Viral Cozy Dinner

Get ready to make a meal so good, it might just earn you a proposal! These One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans are the latest viral recipe to take over kitchens, and for good reason. This dish transforms humble canned beans into a luxuriously creamy, deeply flavorful stew that’s incredibly easy to make. With a rich tomato base, warm spices, and a finish of cream and greens, it’s the ultimate vegetarian comfort food that feels special enough for a date night but simple enough for any weeknight dinner.

Why This Dish Is a Guaranteed Winner

This recipe earns its charming name by delivering on every promise. It’s unbelievably easy, requiring just one pot for minimal cleanup. It’s incredibly versatile, easily made vegan with coconut cream, and packed with plant-based protein and fiber. Most importantly, the combination of savory, creamy, and slightly spicy flavors is downright irresistible. It’s the perfect example of how a few simple ingredients, cooked with care, can create a truly memorable meatless meal.

Your Guide to Customizing the Recipe

The beauty of this dish is how easily it adapts to your taste and pantry.

  • Make it Vegan/Dairy-Free: Use full-fat coconut cream instead of heavy cream and a plant-based cheese or omit it entirely.
  • Boost the Greens: Swap spinach for chopped kale, Swiss chard, or even arugula.
  • Adjust the Heat: Control the spice level by reducing or increasing the red pepper flakes.
  • Add Protein: For a non-vegetarian version, sauté diced chicken sausage or ground turkey with the onions at the start.

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Total Time: 30 mins | Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
  • 2 (15 oz) cans butter beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup vegetable broth
  • â…“ cup heavy cream or coconut cream
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

Instructions

Part 1: Building the Flavor Base

  1. Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Bloom the Spices: Add the red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, oregano, and thyme to the pot. Stir constantly for 1 minute to toast the spices and unlock their full flavor.
  3. Create the Tomato Base: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Part 2: Simmering the Stew

  1. Add Beans & Simmer: Gently stir in the drained butter beans and vegetable broth. Let the stew simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and the flavors to meld.
  2. Creamy Finish: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream (or coconut cream) and the fresh spinach. Cook for 2-3 more minutes until the spinach is wilted and the sauce is creamy.

Part 3: The Final Touches

  1. Add Cheese (Optional): If using, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the top of the stew. Cover the pot with a lid and let it sit off the heat for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted.
  2. Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Ladle the creamy butter beans into bowls, garnish with fresh herbs, and serve immediately with crusty bread for dipping.
A creamy tomato-based stew with white butter beans and wilted spinach in a rustic pot, garnished with fresh herbs.
Maria Canilssom

One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans

Make this viral One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans in 30 minutes! A creamy, cozy vegetarian dinner with tomatoes, spinach, and herbs. Simple, impressive, and so delicious. For more easy, one-pot wonders, try our Creamy Sausage Potato Soup or our One-Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta. This recipe puts a vegetarian twist on the famous flavor trend, similar to the One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans from LadySavor.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Calories: 380
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 2 cans (15 oz) butter beans, drained and rinsed
  • 0.5 cup vegetable broth
  • 0.33 cup heavy cream or coconut cream
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 0.5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

Equipment

  • Dutch oven or large pot Essential for one-pot cooking.
  • wooden spoon For stirring without scratching the pot.

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 more seconds until fragrant.
  2. Add the red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, oregano, and thyme to the pot. Stir constantly for about 1 minute to toast the spices and release their oils.
  3. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes, allowing it to coat the onions and darken slightly. Pour in the can of diced tomatoes with their juices and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for 5 minutes.
  4. Gently stir in the drained butter beans and the vegetable broth. Bring the stew back to a simmer and cook uncovered for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly.
  5. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream (or coconut cream) and the fresh spinach. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring, until the spinach is wilted and the stew is creamy.
  6. If using cheese, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top of the stew. Cover the pot with a lid and remove it from the heat. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted.
  7. Taste the stew and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Ladle into bowls, garnish with fresh basil or parsley, and serve immediately with crusty bread on the side.

Notes

Pro Tips: For the deepest flavor, let the tomato paste cook for a full 1-2 minutes until it darkens slightly. Be gentle when stirring in the butter beans to keep them intact. If the sauce thickens too much, thin it with a splash of extra vegetable broth. For a vegan version, coconut cream works perfectly and adds a subtle sweetness. This dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld.

For more easy, one-pot wonders, you have to try our Creamy Sausage Potato Soup or our One-Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta. If you love cozy bean dishes, our Southern Black-Eyed Peas is a classic. This recipe puts a vegetarian twist on the famous “marry me” flavor trend, similar to the approachable One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans from LadySavor, which proves impressive meals don’t have to be complicated.