Marry Me Chickpeas | One Pot One Portion
These one-pan marry me chickpeas are a great, easy weeknight dinner that is super comforting and satisfying. Make it for yourself or double up and make it for someone you love- there's a reason they're called 'marry me' chickpeas. But don't forget to show yourself the love you would show someone else, even if that's just through your dinner. Cooking for one can still be completely delicious!
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My Marry Me Chickpeas for One
Are you searching for a dish so outrageously delicious, so deeply satisfying, and so incredibly easy that you might just want to propose to it? Look no further than my Marry Me Chickpeas! This recipe takes humble chickpeas and transforms them into a rich, creamy, and aromatic delight that’s perfectly portioned for one. It's the ultimate hassle-free, utterly scrumptious meal, designed entirely for cooking for one.
About This Dish: A Hug in a Bowl
My Marry Me Chickpeas are a truly special dish, bursting with warm, comforting flavours. Inspired by the internet-famous "Marry Me Chicken," this vegetarian twist delivers all the creamy indulgence and aromatic spice, but in a hearty, plant-forward form. It’s a beautifully balanced creation, combining tender chickpeas with a luscious, savoury tomato-based sauce infused with garlic, chilli, and Italian herbs. The finish of double cream, Parmesan, and fresh basil adds a touch of luxury that truly elevates this dish.
This is my absolute go-to recipe when I crave something quick, deeply comforting, and bursting with flavour. The sauce delivers a wonderful contrast: rich and indulgent, yet brightened by the lemon and fresh basil. It's a simple yet elegant dish that feels like a gourmet experience without any fuss. The incredible creaminess and depth of flavour make this a true standout, earning its "marry me" name.
Why You'll Want to Make My Recipe
My Marry Me Chickpeas are an absolute game-changer for anyone seeking a quick, satisfying, and utterly delicious meal designed specifically for a single serving. Whether you're a busy solo cook, a student looking for a substantial yet simple meal, an empty nester who's tired of cooking for a crowd, a single parent needing a fast and nourishing option, or simply someone who appreciates the efficiency of cooking for one, this recipe is crafted for you.
Single Serve
This recipe is inherently a single-serve sensation. Every ingredient is portioned to create one perfect bowl of creamy chickpeas, eliminating waste and ensuring you have just the right amount for a satisfying meal without leftovers. It's truly a one portion marvel, designed for effortless enjoyment when you're cooking for one.
15-Minute Meal
From start to finish, you can have this delicious chickpea dish ready in approximately 15 minutes. The fastest part is sautéing the aromatics, and then it's just a matter of simmering the sauce to perfection. This makes it an ideal choice for a speedy lunch or a fuss-free dinner for one. No long waits, just deliciousness in a flash.
One Pot
This is the true beauty of this recipe! My Marry Me Chickpeas are a genuine one pot meal. Everything, from sautéing the onion and garlic to simmering the creamy chickpea sauce, happens in a single pan. This significantly minimises washing up, making post-meal cleanup almost non-existent. It’s the ultimate convenience for cooking for one, ensuring you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying.
Top Tips for Perfect Marry Me Chickpeas: Mastering the One-Pot Method
Achieving perfectly creamy, flavourful marry me chickpeas in one pot is simple with these key tips.
- Build Your Flavour Base: Don't rush the initial steps of cooking the onion and garlic. Allowing the onion to soften slightly and the garlic to become fragrant truly builds the foundation of your sauce's depth of flavour.
- Cook the Tomato Puree: After adding the tomato purée, chilli flakes, and dried herbs, cook them for a few minutes. This step, often called "cooking out the tomato," helps to deepen its flavour and remove any raw, metallic taste, resulting in a richer sauce.
- Mind the Consistency: The aim is a "creamy curry" consistency, not a thick paste. The amount of liquid from your chickpeas (aquafaba) can vary. If your sauce becomes too thick during simmering, gradually add more water or even a little extra chickpea liquid until you reach the desired creamy, pourable consistency. You want it luscious, not stodgy.
- Freshness at the End: Adding the lemon juice, Parmesan, and fresh basil right at the end of the cooking process ensures their vibrant flavours and aromas are preserved. The heat will just warm them through, keeping the basil bright and the lemon zesty.
- Taste and Adjust: Always taste your dish before serving! Salt and black pepper are essential for balancing all the flavours. A little more salt can bring out the richness, and extra pepper adds a lovely subtle kick.
More Detail on Ingredients and the Tools You'll Need
Having the right ingredients and a few basic tools makes whipping up my delicious one pot chickpeas a breeze.
Essential Ingredients:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: For sautéing your aromatics and building the flavour base. A drizzle at the end adds a touch of fruity richness.
- White Onion: Finely diced, it provides a sweet and pungent aromatic foundation for the sauce.
- Garlic: Finely chopped or minced, garlic adds a crucial depth of flavour to any good sauce.
- Tomato Puree/Tomato Paste: This concentrated tomato product brings intense tomato flavour and helps to thicken the sauce.
- Chilli Flakes/Red Pepper Flakes: For a gentle warmth and subtle kick. Adjust to your preference for spice.
- Dried Mixed Italian Herbs: A blend of common Italian herbs (like oregano, basil, thyme) that infuses the sauce with classic Mediterranean notes.
- Cooked Chickpeas, plus their liquid: The star of the dish! Using cooked (canned or pre-cooked) chickpeas makes this incredibly fast. The liquid (aquafaba) from the can is vital for adjusting the sauce consistency and adding richness.
- Double/Heavy Cream: This is key to the luscious, velvety texture of the "marry me" sauce, providing indulgent richness.
- Parmesan: Grated Parmesan cheese adds a salty, umami depth and helps to thicken the sauce slightly.
- Lemon: The juice of half a lemon brings a vital zesty brightness that cuts through the richness of the cream and balances the savoury flavours.
- Fresh Basil: Chopped fresh basil adds a wonderful aromatic, peppery, and sweet note, indispensable for Mediterranean-inspired dishes. A handful is perfect for mixing in, with extra for garnish.
- Salt: To season and enhance all the flavours.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle warmth and aromatic finish.
To Serve:
- Extra Basil: For garnish, adding freshness and visual appeal.
- A Drizzle of Cream: A final touch of indulgence, enhancing the creaminess.
- Flatbread or Crusty Bread: Essential for scooping up every last drop of the delicious sauce. Think naan, pita, sourdough, or a fresh baguette.
Essential Tools:
- Large Frying Pan (Medium-Sized): This is your "one pot." A pan with deep sides is ideal to contain the chickpeas and sauce.
- Chopping Board: For preparing your onion, garlic, and basil.
- Sharp Knife: For finely dicing, chopping, or mincing ingredients.
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon: For stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking.
- Measuring Spoons/Cups: For accurate measurement of herbs, flakes, and liquids.
Step by step instructions
Add little olive oil to the pan over a medium heat, then add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly soft. Then add the garlic and cook for two more minutes.
Add the tomato purée, chilli flakes and dried mixed herbs and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes before adding in the chickpeas and double/heavy cream.
Let that simmer on a low heat for around 10 minutes. You don’t want the chickpea sauce to become too thick so you may need to add more water depending on how much liquid your chickpeas were stored in. You want the consistency to be like a creamy curry.
Once simmered, add in the lemon juice and Parmesan along with the fresh basil, stir together and cook for a final two minutes before tasting and seasoning with salt and black pepper.
Serve up with an extra drizzle of cream and a few leaves of fresh basil, and scoop everything up with your favourite bread.
Delicious Variations: Customising My Marry Me Chickpeas
My Marry Me Chickpeas are incredibly versatile! Feel free to adapt it to your taste or dietary needs.
- Making it Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free! Just ensure your chosen flatbread or crusty bread for serving is gluten-free.
- Making it Dairy-Free: This requires substituting the cream and Parmesan.
- Double/Heavy Cream: Swap for a good quality dairy-free cooking cream or full-fat coconut milk (from a can, shaken well) for a similar richness. Note that coconut milk will impart a subtle coconut flavour.
- Parmesan: Swap for a dairy-free Parmesan alternative (often made from nutritional yeast and nuts) or simply omit it for a lighter, dairy-free sauce.
- The rest of the ingredients are naturally dairy-free.
- Making it Vegan: This recipe is easily adaptable to be vegan. Follow the dairy-free substitutions above for cream and Parmesan. The rest of the ingredients are plant-based.
- Adding More Vegetables: While this recipe is rich on its own, you can easily sneak in more veggies. Stir in a handful of baby spinach or chopped kale during the last few minutes of simmering, or add diced bell peppers or courgette (zucchini) with the onion.
- Different Legumes: While chickpeas are fantastic, you could also try this sauce with cannellini beans or butter beans for a slightly different texture.
- Adding Protein: If you want to add non-vegan protein, some cooked shredded chicken, flaked salmon, or even sautéed prawns would be delicious additions at the very end of cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What are "Marry Me Chickpeas"?
A: "Marry Me Chickpeas" is my vegetarian take on the viral "Marry Me Chicken" phenomenon. The name comes from the idea that the dish is so incredibly delicious, rich, and satisfying that anyone you made it for would want to propose to you on the spot! It refers to a creamy, flavourful sauce, typically tomato-based with aromatics and herbs, that elevates the main ingredient to an irresistible level.
Q: Can you freeze chickpeas?
A: Yes, you can freeze chickpeas! If you cook dried chickpeas from scratch, you can cook a larger batch and freeze portions for later. Drain them well, let them cool completely, and then freeze them in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3-4 months. You can also freeze canned chickpeas once opened if you have leftovers, but it's often more convenient to just use a fresh can for a single-serve recipe like this.
Q: Why do you suggest using the liquid from canned chickpeas?
A: The liquid from jarred or canned chickpeas (known as aquafaba) is a wonderful ingredient! It contains starches and proteins that contribute to the sauce's body and creaminess. In my recipe, it's essential for achieving that "creamy curry" consistency, helping to thin the sauce without diluting the flavour, and adding a subtle richness. It's an excellent way to use an otherwise discarded ingredient.
Q: Can I make this dish spicier?
A: Absolutely! The amount of chilli flakes can be adjusted to your preference. If you like more heat, you can increase the amount of chilli flakes to 1/2 tsp or even a full teaspoon. For an even more intense heat, a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper could be added.
Q: What kind of bread is best to serve with this?
A: The best bread is one that's great for scooping! Flatbreads like naan or pita are perfect for soaking up the sauce. Crusty breads like sourdough, a baguette, or a rustic ciabatta are also excellent choices, offering a delightful contrast in texture to the creamy chickpeas.
Enjoy my incredibly easy, comforting, and perfectly portioned Marry Me Chickpeas! It's the ultimate example of how simple ingredients can create something truly delicious when you're cooking for one. What other clever single-serve meal ideas are you hoping to discover next?
If you like this recipe you might also like my Spiced Chickpea Noodle Soup, my Triple Lemon Chickpeas with Burrata & Green Olives, and my Tamarind Pasta withChickpeas and Crispy Garlic.
Ingredients
For one serving, you need:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/2 White Onion, finely diced
- 2 Cloves of Garlic, finely chopped/minced
- 1 tbsp Tomato Puree/Tomato Paste
- 1/4 tsp Chilli Flakes/Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/2 tsp Dried Mixed Italian Herbs
- 120-150g Cooked Chickpeas, plus their liquid
- 2 tbsp Double/Heavy Cream
- 25g Grated Parmesan
- Juice of 1/2 Lemon
- Handful of Fresh Basil, chopped
- Salt
- Black Pepper
To serve:
- Extra Basil
- A Drizzle of Cream
- Flatbread or Crusty Bread of your choice
Instructions
- Add little olive oil to the pan over a medium heat, then add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly soft. Then add the garlic and cook for two more minutes.
- Add the tomato purée, chilli flakes and dried mixed herbs and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes before adding in the chickpeas and double/heavy cream.
- Let that simmer on a low heat for around 10 minutes. You don’t want the chickpea sauce to become too thick so you may need to add more water depending on how much liquid your chickpeas were stored in. You want the consistency to be like a creamy curry.
- Once simmered, add in the lemon juice and Parmesan along with the fresh basil, stir together and cook for a final two minutes before tasting and seasoning with salt and black pepper.
- Serve up with an extra drizzle of cream and a few leaves of fresh basil, and scoop everything up with your favourite bread.
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"One Pot One Portion is, to borrow from The Parent Trap “a brilliant beyond brilliant idea”…I know many feel that it’s too much bother to cook ‘just’ for themselves — a sad admission, I feel — and to those people, and many others besides, I say: get this book and prove yourself liberatingly wrong!…Thank goodness for books! And thank goodness for Eleanor Wilkinson, a young talent to lift the spirits…There are so many people who could benefit from this book…this book is a boon and a blessing"
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I buy a lot of cook books and this is genuinely one of the best l've ever bought. I've tried 6 or 7 recipes so far and they're all winners. I'm well used to scaling recipes down to one portion, but not having to calculate measurements as l go along feels like a little luxury. One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up! Highly recommended.
I have been following Eleanor on IG for a while and have made several of her dishes before the cookbook came out. I was thrilled to see so many new things to try and have already made about 6 of them. Her recipes are approachable, the dishes are delicious, and they make me feel like I can cook! Highly recommend.
If you love eating good home cooked food but can't be bothered to cook just for yourself, then this is the book for you. Using ingredients that are easy to find, then mixing, cooking and eating from the same pan or dish means a minimum of washing up. Every recipe I have tried so far has been delicious and have all turned out well which isn't always the case with many cookery books. Definitely recommend!
Following Eleanor on Instagram and seeing her recipes come to life is one thing but then having them in my own kitchen is quite another. Not only are the recipes easy to follow and delicious she also help you not to waste food. This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?
Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This is perfect, as far as influencer chefs go, I find this book refreshing in what has become a cohort of lauded influencers who really aren't doing much more than the bog standard meals most people make anyway, or making googled recipes and adding their own "flair". This book is different as it's your normal fare you'd likely make yourself, given a little bit of a twist to speed up the process / use less utensils / ingredients / food waste, in really creative and tasty ways, all perfectly portioned for one.
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up!
This is the book I've been waiting for! I (very happily!) live alone, love to cook and read cookery books, but every recipe is for two people or more. This gorgeous book contains recipes perfectly proportioned for one person (and I'm always a very hungry one person!) which ensures more variety, less food waste, and pure, gluttonous joy.
It's so nice to finally have a recipe book that I can go to if I want a quick easy meal with minimal cleaning up required! Everything l've tried so far is delicious. And I salivate at the thought of everything in there!
Totally reignited my cooking mojo which had been MIA for a while. I'm going to buy my daughter a copy to take back to Uni too as everything is simple and delicious - perfect for a student!
Best cookbook for somebody single!
The fact I know I won't have loads to wash up really feels motivating and l've earmarked so many of the recipes already.
This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?