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Another tasty dish with everyone’s favorite creamy Italian-style sauce that will win some hearts! These creamy Tuscan marry me chickpeas are a delicious vegetarian twist on the ever-popular marry me chicken. Instead of chicken, this tasty sauce is made using chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. The sauce is incredibly creamy and luxurious, making this dish the ultimate comfort food. You’ll love that this chickpea with Tuscan sauce recipe can be on the table in just 20 minutes! It works well as a main or a side dish, making it versatile.

Make my creamy Tuscan marry me chickpeas over mash, rice or pasta, and enjoy its incredibly delicious and rich flavors.
If you love the sound of this dish, try marry me salmon, this gnocchi version, marry me chicken meatballs, or classic marry me chicken.
Why You’ll Love It
Packed with flavor: Bold sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian herbs, and parmesan create a delicious medley of flavors.
Quick and easy: You can have this tasty meal on the table in under 30 minutes, great for busy weeknights.
Versatile: Serve it with pasta, rice, or crusty bread, or enjoy it as a side dish with your favorite protein. Great as a main or a side dish.
One-pan wonder: Minimal cleanup is required since everything comes together in one skillet. Yay!
Creamy Tuscan Chickpeas Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Olive oil: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil or substitute it with your preferred frying oil.
Sundried tomatoes: Use pre-sliced sun-dried tomatoes or slice your own into strips.
Garlic: For best results, use fresh garlic cloves. Or you can swap the fresh garlic cloves for 4 heaped teaspoons of minced garlic.
Italian seasoning: Use store-bought Italian seasoning or a homemade version.
Chicken stock: The chicken stock can be substituted with vegetable stock.
Heavy cream: For best results, use whole-fat heavy cream in this recipe. Whole-fat coconut cream could be used in place of heavy cream.
Chickpeas: Use canned chickpeas that have been drained and rinsed.
Baby spinach leaves: The baby spinach leaves are a great addition to this dish but you can leave them out if you prefer.
Parmesan cheese: Use pre-shredded parmesan cheese or grate your own.
How to Make Marry Me Chickpeas
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Sauté the aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 1 minute, stirring, until fragrant.
Simmer the sauce: Pour in chicken stock, heavy cream, and chickpeas. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes or until the mixture thickens.
Add spinach and cheese: Stir in baby spinach and parmesan cheese. Cook for another minute until the spinach wilts and the cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper. Top with fresh parsley and serve.
Substitutions and Variations
Sun-dried tomatoes: If you prefer a milder, less tangy flavor, use roasted red peppers or fresh cherry tomatoes. For a different taste, try marinated artichokes.
Heavy cream: Swap with Half & Half or coconut milk for a lighter or dairy-free option. Add a touch of cream cheese for a thicker, richer sauce.
Chickpeas: For a similar creamy texture, use white beans (cannellini beans or butter beans) or swap with lentils for more fiber. For a heartier meal, skip the chickpeas entirely and add cooked pasta or gnocchi.
Baby spinach: Kale, arugula or Swiss chard can replace spinach for a heartier, more textured green. Mix in frozen spinach or a handful of fresh basil for extra flavor.
Parmesan cheese: For a saltier or milder taste, use Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano. For a dairy-free option, try nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
Chicken stock: Use vegetable stock for a vegetarian-friendly dish or white wine for a more decadent sauce. Replace stock with tomato sauce for a more robust, tomato-based dish.
Fresh parsley: Swap with fresh basil, cilantro, or chives for a different herb garnish. Skip the garnish or use lemon zest for a fresh, citrusy touch.
Flavor boosters: Add a little heat by adding some crushed red pepper flakes, diced bell peppers, extra veggies like asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, or mushrooms.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizer: Enjoy these cheesy corn dogs with jalapenos or this Heirloom burrata salad.
Main: Serve these marry me chickpeas with creamy mashed potatoes, rice or noodles.
Dessert: End with a slice of dreamy creme brulee cheesecake or my bright and breezy key lime pie. These lemon bars are pretty yummy too.
How to Store Creamy Tuscan Chickpeas
Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer: These chickpeas are suitable for freezing. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: Reheat until piping hot in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.
Top Tips
Make a thicker sauce: For a thicker sauce, make a cornstarch slurry by combining 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir through the sauce until thickened.
Use it in different ways: These marry me chickpeas are great served as either a main or a side dish.
Add animal protein: Slices of grilled chicken could be added to the chickpeas for a chicken and chickpea dish.
Rinse canned chickpeas: If using canned chickpeas, make sure to rinse and drain them well to remove excess sodium and improve texture.
Use fresh garlic: Fresh garlic gives the sauce a robust, aromatic flavor. It’s worth the extra effort over pre-minced or powdered garlic.
Tuscan Chickpeas FAQs
Yes! You can substitute the heavy cream with coconut cream or a plant-based milk alternative, use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock, and replace the parmesan cheese with a vegan cheese or nutritional yeast.
This recipe is naturally gluten-free as long as all the ingredients you use (like chicken stock or parmesan) are certified gluten-free.
If you prefer a thicker sauce, let it simmer a bit longer, or whisk in a little more parmesan cheese or a small amount of cornstarch slurry to thicken it up.
Chickpeas with Creamy Tuscan Sauce Recipe
Creamy Tuscan Marry Me Chickpeas
Equipment
- Skillet Large
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ Cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
- 4 Cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced
- 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 Cup chicken stock
- 1 Cup heavy cream
- 26 Ounces canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 Cups baby spinach leaves, packed
- ¼ Cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- ¼ Cup fresh parsley, chopped, optional garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium heat. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and Italian seasoning, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Add the chicken stock, heavy cream and chickpeas and bring to a simmer. Continue simmering for 5 minutes or until thickened.
- Add the baby spinach leaves and parmesan cheese to the chickpeas and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute or until the spinach has wilted and the cheese has melted. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Garnish with fresh parsley, if using, and serve.
Notes
Use it in different ways: These marry me chickpeas are great served as either a main or a side dish.
Add animal protein: Slices of grilled chicken could be added to the chickpeas for a chicken and chickpea dish.
Rinse canned chickpeas: If using canned chickpeas, make sure to rinse and drain them well to remove excess sodium and improve texture.
Use fresh garlic: Fresh garlic gives the sauce a robust, aromatic flavor. It’s worth the extra effort over pre-minced or powdered garlic.
Nutrition
This creamy Tuscan marry me chickpeas dish offers a fun twist on the classic marry me chicken. Instead of chicken, chickpeas soak up the rich, luxurious sauce, making it the perfect comfort food. The best part? You can have this delicious dish ready in just 20 minutes. It’s incredibly easy and works great as both a main course and a side, making it super-versatile.
Other Cozy Recipes to Try
- Every spoonful of this sausage and pumpkin gnocchi tastes better than the last.
- Make Italian drunken noodles and sink your teeth into the rich sausage, pappardelle noodles, veggies, and wine—so tasty.
- These slow cooker beans with ham and potatoes are the ultimate wholesome and hearty bowl.
- Nothing beats a slow cooker chicken stew with its soft textures and rich flavors.
- Cabbage and veggie soup is the perfect wholesome dish with hearty vegetables to fill you up.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This was one of the best dishes I have ever made!!! I am total foodie and am VERY picky, this was amazing! I will be making it all the time!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I tried the creamy Tuscan marry me chickpeas, and it was amazing! The sauce is so rich and comforting. Definitely making this again soon!
This was so comforting and easy to make! Perfectly creamy and delicious.