I’ve been loving this high-protein Marry Me Chickpeas recipe, and it’s quickly become a go-to for us! It’s effortless to make, comes together in just 25 minutes, and is packed with flavor. The creamy cashew sauce pairs perfectly with chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach, creating a comforting and nutritious dish. Plus, it’s high in protein with 28 grams per serving (before you’ve even paired it with a lovely slice of bread!), iron, and fiber, making it super satisfying while keeping you full and energized. Whether you’re looking for a quick, healthy dinner or a hearty meal prep option, this one ticks all the boxes!
This recipe is featured in my social media series, ‘Busy Girl Dinner’! If you’re focused on staying healthy, nourishing your body, and feeling your best, but don’t have time to spend hours in the kitchen every night, this series is made for you! It’s a collection of 20 tasty and wholesome dinners that come together quickly and make for excellent leftovers the next day. I couldn’t think of a better meal to kick it off with!
If you love this, try our Marry Me Chickpea Soup or High-Protein Marry Me Pasta Meal Prep for two more cozy “Marry Me” twists. For more creamy weeknight dinners, browse our High-Protein Romesco Pasta, One-Pot Lemon Zucchini Beans, and High-Protein Shepherd’s Pie.
Why I Love This Recipe
- High-Protein: With 28 g of plant protein per serving, this healthy, vegan recipe is perfect for a post-workout meal or just adding more plant-based protein to your diet.
- Iron-Rich: Packed with 9 mg of iron, this recipe helps you hit your daily iron intake, which is especially important on a plant-based diet. The addition of alliums (from the onion and garlic) and vitamin C (mainly from the bell pepper and lemon) helps increase iron absorption to make the most of this nutrient-rich meal.
- High-Fiber: With 18 g of fiber per serving and over 10 unique plants, it’s a great way to feed your healthy microbiome and improve your overall digestive health.
- Calcium-Rich: Provides 304 mg of calcium per serving to support bone health. When choosing plant-based milk, make sure to choose a calcium-fortified option!
- Quick and Easy: This meal comes together in just 25 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep days for a quick, healthy meal that will make you feel amazing.
Ingredient Notes
- Chickpeas: Packed with protein and fiber, chickpeas are the star of this vegan dish. They provide a hearty texture and are rich in iron, making them ideal for plant-based diets.
- Cashews: When blended with soy milk and nutritional yeast, cashews create a creamy sauce that adds richness to the dish. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, soak the cashews beforehand to ensure a smooth texture.
- Baby Spinach: Spinach brings added nutrients and freshness to the dish. It’s rich in iron and calcium, and you can substitute it with kale if desired.
- Sun-dried Tomatoes: These tomatoes add a tangy depth to the dish. They complement the smoked paprika and chili flakes, balancing the heat with a slightly sweet note.
How to make this recipe (summary)
Start by heating olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the finely diced onions and cook for a few minutes until softened. Add the chopped red bell pepper and sun-dried tomatoes, cooking for another 5 minutes. Add the garlic, tomato paste, chili flakes, mixed herbs, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt. Cook for about 2 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Blend the cashews, soy milk, and nutritional yeast into a creamy mixture. Pour this into the pan along with the chickpeas. Let everything simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the roughly chopped spinach and lemon juice. Cook until the spinach is wilted, then adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Top with fresh basil and serve with crusty bread. View recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Variations and Tips
- Substitute kale for spinach: Kale holds up a bit better if you’re meal prepping, adding a more robust texture to the dish.
- Add toasted pine nuts or almonds: For a nutty crunch, sprinkle some toasted nuts on top of the dish before serving.
- Turn it into a soup: Add vegetable broth to make this a comforting, creamy vegan chickpea soup.
- Pair with some gluten-free bread or GF pasta: The dish is naturally gluten-free, and you can serve it with a slice of bread such as our gluten-free buckwheat bread, or GF Red Lentil Quinoa Bread or add some gluten-free pasta for an even heartier vegan meal, like in our High-Protein ‘Marry Me’ Pasta (Meal Prep).
- Use parsley instead of basil: If you’re out of basil, parsley works just as well to add freshness to the finished dish.
- Choose low-sodium canned beans: For a healthier option, pick canned beans labeled as low-sodium or no-salt-added. Rinse the beans well to reduce the sodium content by up to 40%, and reduce oligosaccharides which can make us feel bloated.
- If you like this recipe, you will love our High-Protein Romesco Butter Beans or High-Protein Creamy Miso Butter Beans with Kale.
Why You’ll Love These Marry Me Chickpeas TLDR
- Protein-packed
- Rich and creamy
- Quick to make
- Hearty and satisfying
- Perfect for meal prep
Marry Me Chickpeas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tsp (5 ml) olive oil - (optional, substitute for 1/2 tbsp water, to water fry)
- 1 yellow onions - finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper - finely chopped
- 2 tbsp (14 g) sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- 1 tbsp (16 g) tomato paste
- ½ tsp (1 g) red chili flakes
- 1 tsp (1 g) mixed herbs - see notes
- 1 tsp (2 g) smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp (16 g) cashews - soaked if not using a high-speed blender
- 1.25 cups (295 ml) soy milk
- 2 tbsp (15 g) nutritional yeast
- 2 cups (330 g) cooked chickpeas
- 2 cups (60 g) baby spinach - roughly chopped
- 1.5 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
- ¼ cup (6 g) fresh basil
- Salt and pepper - to taste
Instructions
- To a large pan on medium heat, add the olive oil and onions, cook for a couple of minutes.
- Add the red bell pepper, and sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another 5 minutes. Stirring regularly.
- Add the garlic, tomato paste, chili flakes, mixed herbs, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt. Stir, and cook for 2 minutes.
- In the meantime, blend the cashews, soy milk, and nutritional yeast. Add to the pan along with the chickpeas. Let it simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Add the spinach, and lemon juice, cook until the spinach is just wilted.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Top with fresh basil. Serve with a slice of crusty bread.
Notes
Video
Per Serving/Portion
FAQ
Yes, it’s naturally gluten-free.
Yes, you can replace the cashews with sunflower seeds to make it nut free.
This dish keeps well for up to 4 days in the fridge, making it great for meal prep. Keep the greens (spinach and basil) separate and add when reheating for best texture and nutritional benefits.
Yes, the chickpeas and sauce can be frozen for 1 month. However, wait to add the spinach and fresh basil until you’re ready to serve.
It pairs perfectly with a slice of gluten-free bread, rice, or even pasta.
Yes. Any neutral-tasting milk should work, though swapping the milk will most likely lower the protein content. I do not recommend coconut milk for this recipe. You could also use some store-bought cream instead of making your own cashew cream.
Yes, you can absolutely skip it. Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast flakes, used as a seasoning. It has a cheesy, umami flavor and is a great substitute for cheeses like Parmesan in dairy-free cooking. It also brings B-vitamins and three to five grams of protein per tablespoon depending on the brand. If you skip it, you may want to adjust the seasoning a bit, perhaps a little more salt.
Yes, as long as it’s 100% natural raw cashews. Dilute it with a little liquid first so it doesn’t clump together. If it’s made from roasted cashews, it may not have the same creamy texture.
The cashews are what thicken the sauce, so depending on your blender they may not get blended enough (the liquid can be a bit grainy). If that happens, try soaking the cashews in boiling water for 1 hour to get them super soft. You can also simmer the sauce a little longer, as it thickens as it heats up. If you’ve cooked too long and the sauce reduces too much, just add a splash of milk or broth to bring it back to your desired consistency.
“Mixed herbs” typically refers to a blend of dried herbs commonly used in cooking. The exact mix can vary, but it often includes oregano, basil, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and parsley. You can buy it pre-mixed from the shop.
Yes, I always recommend draining and rinsing canned beans.
This recipe makes 2 servings. You can find the number just above the ingredient list and adjust it to your preference. For nutrition info, click “nutritional information” under the recipe instructions.
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Hi Sarah! I’m so excited to try this recipe! Do you have by any chance the macros and calories per serving for this dish? Want to meal prep and plan ahead of time and this would be super helpful!
Hi lovely, yes absolutely! Click “nutritional information” under all the recipe instruction to unveil, we keep them hidden as numbers do not serve everyone 💕
Hi Sarah, would frozen spinach work? I know it wouldn’t be as good, but if I don’t have time to get to the shop? Thanks!
Yes frozen spinach would be great in this! You might want to thaw them or add them a little sooner, so they have time to defrost properly, hope you love it 💚
This was absolutely delicious and now my most favourite meal to cook and eat. Thanks so much for all these free recipes, it’s made going plant based so much easier and fun!
Thank you so much for your lovely message Jasmin, you’ve made my day 💚
I love this recipe!!! I used coconut milk and fresh tomatoes because I had them both on hand, it was amazing! My dad and husband both raved about it!!!!
Hey Veronica, I’m so happy it was a hit with everyone 😍 thanks for sharing your substitutions, sounds delicious!
What is the serving size (in cups)? I may have overlooked this?
Thank you!
Hey Carolyn, this recipe makes 2 servings (you can find this number and adjust it to your preference above the ingredient list), sorry not sure about the cups volume! Hope you love it 💕