By Based on our super popular Tuscan chicken, this Marry Me sausage and beans is a quick one-pot dinner that uses staple high-protein secret ingredients: cottage cheese and bone broth! These make a creamy and flavorful broth, reducing fat and increasing protein (only 10g of fat for 10g of fiber and 50g of protein!). So grab some sun-dried tomatoes and basil. So let's go to Tuscany!
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Okay, Marry Me sauce or Tuscan sauce isn't actually Tuscan; it just uses ingredients local to Tuscany, like sun-dried tomatoes and basil. Regardless, I'm obsessed with all things Italian. After receiving such positive feedback from readers, family, and friends about our high-protein Tuscan chicken, I knew we needed to expand our Marry Me repertoire.
So, I created this sausage and beans version with more fiber from butter beans and more flavor from Italian sausage. I should note, too, that our original Tuscan sauce is so easy that my college brother makes it weekly as meal prep-so don't try to tell me it's too complicated!
Jump to:
you're going to want to marry this recipe
- One-Pot Meal: Less cleanup, more flavor, and a super easy high-protein dinner!
- Protein-Packed: Italian sausage, butter beans, and cottage cheese bring the protein power.
- Versatile: Swap out beans for gnocchi if you're feeling adventurous! Or swap the pork sausage for chicken.
grab these ingredients
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Italian sausage: Any kind you like will work. I like pork, but chicken works too.
- Garlic: Fresh is best!
- Spices: To season this dish, use dried oregano, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: This is the key ingredient for a great Tuscan-style sauce! They are sweet and SO flavorful.
- Bone broth: Chicken bone broth adds protein and flavor.
- Cottage cheese: Our sneaky way of packing more protein and added creaminess. For more ideas, check out our list of cottage cheese dinner recipes!
- Butter beans: A creamy and classic bean. One of our favorite ingredients to use in our high-protein high-fiber recipes!
- Italian staples: Don't forget the parmesan and fresh basil.
- Spinach: We always need veggies!
- Cornstarch: This is optional but helpful for thickening the sauce.
- Sourdough: For serving.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
high protein ingredient spotlight: butter beans
Butter beans are a popular bean in the grocery aisle. They are very tender and creamy in texture while also packing in lots of fiber, protein, and healthy carbs. They also make a delicious Italian butter bean salad.
here's how to make marry me sausage (with photos & video)
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe!
- Build the flavor base: Brown the sausage, then add the spices and garlic when it's half done.
- Sauce it Up: In a blender, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, chicken bone broth, and cottage cheese. Add the blended sauce and butter beans to the pot with the sausage. Stir to combine and boil, stirring constantly to prevent sticking. Simmer until thickened (see tips for how to help with this).
- Finish with greens & cheese: Stir in the parmesan, spinach, and basil until the cheese is melted and the spinach is wilted. Serve hot with toasted buttered sourdough and some flaky sea salt. Trust me, you'll want to soak up every drop of that sauce!
quick recipe video
expert tips
- Not a fan of beans? Use gnocchi instead and add an additional 1 cup of broth. Push the gnocchi into the sauce, bring to a boil, cover, and cook for 5-10 minutes until soft. Stir every few minutes to prevent sticking.
- Adding pesto: Many people who make our other Tuscan dishes will also blend pesto into the sauce. You can try this for more basil punch!
how to thicken the sauce
If the sauce is too thin, mix the cornstarch with a small spoonful of the hot sauce in a separate bowl, then stir it back into the pot.
common questions
You can, but the protein will be less. You can swap the parmesan with a plant-based version and cottage cheese for vegan heavy whipped cream.
Sun-dried tomatoes give the sauce a unique depth of flavor, but you can use fresh tomatoes in a pinch. Just note the sauce might be less rich.
I guess you don't have to do anything, but blending it makes it act like heavy cream. Without blending it, the sauce won't be as creamy and will still have curds in it.
troubleshooting & testing notes
The sauce is too spicy
You can reduce the red pepper flakes or use mild Italian sausage. You can also blend in more cottage cheese to mellow out the heat.
The sauce is sticking to the bottom of the pot
Stir constantly when bringing it to a boil and simmering. Use a heavy-bottomed pot, like a Dutch oven, to prevent sticking.
how the heck do I serve this?
The great part about this upgraded recipe is that the beans make it heartier than the chicken version. So, you can serve it as is, more like a soup, or serve it with toasty sourdough and a side salad.
- Tuscan pasta is the next best option because Italian and pasta go hand in hand. Plate the sausage and sauce over your favorite pasta. Finish dinner with protein tiramisu to round it out.
- Tuscan chicken with orzo is another great option because you can cook the orzo with parmesan and an egg (check out this one pot salmon alfredo orzo for more details).
- Tuscan beans with salad is a delicious dinner pairing. High-protein salads like our green goddess salad or protein brussels sprouts salad make perfect side dishes to these beans!
Recipe
marry me sausage and beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian pork sausage (spicy or mild, can use chicken)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- ½ teaspoon oregano, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika (each)
- ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper (each)
- ½ cup sundried tomatoes (without the oil)
- 1.5 cups chicken bone broth
- ½ cup cottage cheese (low fat, small curd)
- 2 15 oz cans butter beans (drained)
- ½ cup grated parmesan (fresh grated is best)
- 2 tablespoon chopped basil
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (as needed)
- 4 slices of sourdough for serving (not included in nutrition)
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Brown the 1 pound Italian pork sausage over medium heat in a deep pot like a Dutch oven.
- Add the 4 garlic cloves ½ teaspoon oregano, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika¼ teaspoon salt and pepper when the sausage is almost done cooking. Reduce heat to low to medium and saute for 1 minute or so.
- Blend together the ½ cup sundried tomatoes, 1.5 cups chicken bone broth, and ½ cup cottage cheese until smooth.
- Add the sauce and 2 15 oz cans butter beans to the pot with the meat. Stir to combine and bring to a boil while stirring constantly so it doesn't stick to the bottom. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed.
- Simmer until thickened. If it's not thickening enough, take a small spoonful out and add it to a small bowl. Mix the 1 tablespoon cornstarch with this until a thicker mixture forms. Add this back to the full pot of Marry Me sauce and stir to distribute. Continue to simmer until thickened. Taste and add more salt or pepper as desired.
- Stir in the ½ cup grated parmesan, 2 tablespoon chopped basil, and 2 cups baby spinach until the cheese is melted. Enjoy with toasted bread (I love buttered sourdough!).
Video
Notes
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
This is the first recipe I’ve attempted to make from Joy to the Food and all I can say is 10/10! I halved the amount of red pepper flakes because I cannot handle spice of any kind, and while there was still a kick it was manageable! Definitely something I will be adding to rotation, easy enough to make on a week night after work.
So happy you enjoyed it!!
I only had one can of butter beans so I used one can of canelli beans. This was so easy! So yummy!!! I struggle meeting protein goals so 50g per serving is amazing…it was so filling i ate half a serving for dinner and then a little later the other half for dessert!! Paired with mini garlic naan. I plan to make more and freeze for easy meal prep!
So awesome to hear! Thanks for making it!
THANK YOU!!
The whole family ate it, and the husband had seconds!! The boys ( 9 & 11) are very difficult to please- at the same time. (pizza night is the exception)
So, seriously, thank you.
I used regular chicken broth, and I didn't have spinach, and knew everyone would be happier with peas, so I added two cups of frozen peas. Using what I had in the pantry, we had it with cannellini beans. Brilliant, again, thank you!
That's so amazing to hear!
New staple! It comes together so effortlessly and is budge conscious. Perfect for our busy night when we ate in shifts due to sports. Taste is 10/10 - even with subbed cannellini beans and less red pepper due to Little kids. And the little kids despite not liking beans and complaining at first sight, ate it up without a fight! Definitely win and can’t wait to remake! Sad there’s no leftovers!
Ya! So happy to help with the dinner time rush!
This dinner is delicious and easy to make. I doubled the sausage out of personal preference and it still came together perfectly. Will be a make again!
So happy to hear that!
This was terrific! Easy and family friendly. Thanks!