Marry Me Chickpeas

This rich and creamy Marry Me Chickpeas recipe is addictive for a reason! Inspired by the viral recipe trend, this vegan version swaps chicken for hearty chickpeas and uses cashew cream to create a luscious dairy-free sauce packed with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and vegetables. It’s a cozy weeknight dinner that’s ready in about 30 minutes and made with simple pantry staples. Gluten-free with a nut-free option!

Watch how to make Marry Me Chickpeas over on my YouTube channel! And don’t forget to subscribe while you’re at it  😉

Inspiration & Ingredients

If you’re a human being with internet access, you’ve undoubtedly seen “marry me” recipes all over the place in the last few years. This viral recipe trend is known for its rich, creamy sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, cream, garlic, and herbs. It started as a chicken recipe and has since been adapted into countless pastas, soups, stews, and one-pot meals.

The idea is that the dish is so irresistibly delicious that serving it to your sweetheart might inspire a marriage proposal. Whether that’s true or not, I can confirm that this creamy chickpea version is seriously good!

I don’t always jump on viral food trends, but this one had all the flavours I love, so I had to try it. For my Marry Me Chickpeas, I’ve made a few personal tweaks based on ingredients I usually keep on hand, my favourite flavour combinations, and of course, made it completely vegan and dairy-free.

Why You’ll Love Marry Me Chickpeas

• Ready in about 30 minutes
• Made in just one pot
• Rich, creamy, and packed with flavour
• High in plant-based protein and fibre
• Budget-friendly pantry ingredients
• Naturally gluten-free
• Easy to customize with whatever vegetables you have on hand
• Perfect served over rice, pasta, potatoes, quinoa, or with crusty bread

Ingredients & Inspiration

• Chickpeas: The star of this recipe! Chickpeas become incredibly satisfying when simmered in the creamy sauce and provide plenty of plant-based protein and fiber.
• Cashews: Soaked cashews blend into a silky cream that creates the luxurious texture traditionally provided by heavy cream. For a nut-free option, you can substitute full-fat canned coconut milk.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes: A signature ingredient in any “marry me” recipe. They add concentrated sweetness, tanginess, and lots of savoury flavour.
• Onion & Garlic: The aromatic foundation that builds flavour throughout the dish.
• Tomato Paste: Adds richness, depth, and helps create a beautifully savoury sauce.
• Bell Peppers & Mushrooms: These vegetables add texture, color, and extra nutrition. They also soak up all that delicious sauce.
• Vegan Chicken Broth: Provides savoury depth while keeping the recipe completely plant-based. Vegetable broth works perfectly too.
• Spinach: Adds freshness, colour, and an easy serving of greens.
• Vegan Parmesan: A finishing touch that adds extra umami and cheesy flavour.

How to Make Marry Me Chickpeas

Instructions

1. Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until golden and fragrant.
2. Stir in the tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, bell pepper, mushrooms, red chili flakes, thyme, basil, salt and pepper, and continue cooking for 4 to 5 minutes until the tomato paste has deepened in colour a bit and the veggies have softened slightly.
3. Make cashew cream: Simply add the soaked cashews with ½ cup water to a high speed blender and blend with a pinch of salt until completely smooth. Pour in the cashew cream and vegan chicken broth. Stir to combine into a sauce and simmer for about 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Stir in a handful of spinach and finally add the chickpeas. Allow the chickpeas to heat through and the spinach to wilt a few minutes.
5. Serve with rice, quinoa, pasta, mashed or roasted potatoes, or toasted crusty bread. Garnish with some grated vegan parmesan and a few fresh basil leaves. Enjoy!

Yes, it’s really that easy!

Make It Your own

One of my favourite things about this recipe is how flexible it is. Here are a few easy swaps:

• Substitute cauliflower for the mushrooms.
• Use zucchini instead of mushrooms.
• Swap the bell pepper for diced fresh tomatoes.
• Replace the cashew cream with a can of full-fat coconut milk for a nut-free version.
• Add kale instead of spinach.
• Stir in white beans alongside the chickpeas for even more protein and fibre. Or just use white beans.

A Recipe Worth Proposing To

Whether or not this recipe results in a marriage proposal remains unconfirmed, but one thing is certain: these creamy Marry Me Chickpeas are comfort food at its finest. Rich, savoury, packed with nourishing ingredients, and ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the kind of meal you’ll find yourself making again and again.

If you liked this recipe, try my other variation of this meal, Marry Me Tofu!

Love this recipe? I’d really appreciate if you gave me a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below! Lastly, if you made any of these recipes and decide to share them on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @SteamyVegan and use hashtag #SteamyVegan! I seriously love seeing what you’re cooking up! Plus make sure to check me out on YouTube — I have HUNDREDS of recipe videos to give you limitless plant-based inspiration!