Creamy Tuscan White Beans (aka “Marry Me” Beans)

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• ½ tsp each: salt, oregano, smoked paprika

• ½ - 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

• ¼ tsp ground black pepper

• 1 tbsp tomato paste

• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped

• ¾ to 1 cup veggie broth (depending how thick you want the consistency)

• 2 15-oz cans navy, northern or butter beans (white lima beans), drained

• 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped

• 1 cup half-and-half, heavy cream, or non-dairy creamer (I like Sown oat milk creamer)

• ½ cup grated parmesan, pecorino or vegan parmesan or 2 tbs nutritional yeast

• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil (or more to taste)

Instructions

In a large sauté pan or pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic, salt, oregano, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often, until the garlic is fragrant, but not browned.

Add the tomato paste and stir continuously for about 1 minute.

Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, vegetable broth, and drained beans. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to mingle and the sauce to thicken slightly. (Add more broth if you prefer a looser, soupier consistency.)

Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the spinach and stir just until wilted. Pour in the cream (or non-dairy creamer), then stir in the parmesan, pecorino, vegan cheese, or nutritional yeast until melted and silky.

Remove from heat and stir in the fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve warm with crusty bread, spooned over rice, or tossed with pasta.

If you love a comforting one-pot meal you can make ahead and rely on all week, these “Marry Me” Tuscan Beans are a keeper. They’re filling, nutrient-dense, and really delicious. This is the kind of meal that works just as well for busy weeknights as it does for prepped lunches.

I’ve made this recipe both vegetarian and vegan, and honestly, you can’t go wrong either way. It reheats beautifully, freezes well, and has become one of those meals everyone in my family genuinely looks forward to. Easy, flexible, and nourishing which is exactly how everyday food should feel.

Creamy Tuscan White Beans (aka “Marry Me” Beans)

✨ Are you trying to care for yourself in a body that no longer responds the way it used to?

You’ve been doing your best to show up day in and day out,
even as your energy, symptoms, and capacity shift.

Living with chronic illness or recovering from cancer changes things —
not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too.

🌿 Maybe you’re still measuring yourself by expectations your body can’t meet anymore.
🌫️ Maybe you miss feeling like yourself — not just managing symptoms, but actually living.
💭 Maybe you’re grieving who you used to be while trying to understand who you are now.

This guide offers space to pause and rethink some of these expectations —
and to explore a kinder, more flexible way of relating to your wellness.

No pressure to do more.
No rigid rules to follow.
Just compassionate guidance and permission to design care that fits the body you’re living in now.

Living Well in a Body Navigating Illness

5 Gentle Shifts for Women Living With Chronic Illness or Recovering From Cancer

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