Butter Beans Recipe

Content… What Are They? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Fantastic Bean Recipes to Try Conclusion Watch How to Make It

What Are Butter Beans? 

These creamy, tender legumes have a mild flavor and similar color and texture to butter (hence the name butter beans in the South and UK). They’re called lima beans in the North because they came from Peru. And, of course, as with most beans, they’re an excellent meatless protein.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Butter Beans – These guys are used in a lot of stews and soups. I soak them overnight to shorten the cooking time.
2. Bacon – Of course, adding a savory and smoky flavor seals the deal. You can leave this one out if you want a vegetarian dish.
3. Vegetables – Onions, carrots, bell peppers, celery, and garlic turn this recipe into a one-pot meal. Yum!
4. Seasonings – Bay leaves and thyme add earthy, minty flavors while red pepper flakes and Creole seasoning ramp up the heat.
5. Liquids – Chicken broth gives it extra meaty goodness. But you can replace it with vegetable broth if you want to go vegetarian. 

How to Make Butter Beans

• Soak Beans – Pour butter beans into a large bowl, rinse under cold water, and remove debris or broken beans. Fill the bowl with 4 cups cold water, and let them sit overnight or for 8-12 hours. After soaking, drain the beans, rinse under cold water, and set aside. (Photo 1)
• Cook the Bacon – Heat a large 6- or 8-quart saucepan over medium-high. Add the bacon. Cook, stirring frequently, until it’s golden, 3-5 minutes. Transfer the crispy bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate and set it aside. (Photo 2)
• Sauté Veggies – Add the onion, carrots, bell pepper, celery, garlic, and thyme in the same cooking pot. Sauté for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften. (Photos 3-4)
• Seasonings – Next, add the drained beans, bay leaves, bouillon powder, Creole seasoning, and half of the cooked bacon into the pot, stirring to combine well. (Photo 5)
• Simmer – Then add the chicken broth and water and mix well. Bring it all to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 1-1½ hours until the butter beans are soft. Stir occasionally to distribute the starch evenly and make a nice, creamy broth. (Photo 6)
• Serve – Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed, gently mix, then remove from the heat. Sprinkle with finely chopped parsley, serve, and enjoy.

Recipe Variations

1. Bean Swap – Fava beans, cannellini, and white kidney beans are good substitutes if you don’t have lima beans. Mayocoba beans are harder to find, but they’re really delicious if you can. They’re also from Peru, and you can find them at Walmart sometimes. 
2. Bacon Swap – Ham or a ham hock works if you don’t have bacon. 
3. Spice it Up – Add more chili flakes or up the heat with serrano, Scotch bonnet, or jalapenos.
4. Vegetarian Version – With a couple of tweaks, you can make this vegetarian or even vegan. Omit the bacon and use vegetable bouillon and broth instead of chicken. A teaspoon of smoked paprika will replace some of the smokiness the bacon would have given the recipe.

Tips and Tricks

1. Some people like firmer, intact beans (about an hour), while others like them softer and creamier (about 1½ hours). So you can adjust the total cooking time to suit your preferences.
2. You can also adjust the thickness to your liking. If you want soup, then add broth or water. And if you want it thicker, mash some of the beans and then simmer it for a few minutes longer.
3. Don’t sweat it if you forget to soak the beans because it only takes about 30 minutes longer to cook. Or use canned butter beans if you’re short on time and can’t hold off the craving anymore. 😉
4. If you don’t have Creole seasoning on hand, check out my super easy recipe. 

Make Ahead Instructions

This butter bean recipe is even better the next day. So you can make it a day or two early, let it cool to room temperature, and store it in the fridge. Reheat and add the parsley when ready to serve.

Serving and Storage Instructions

You can serve butter beans hot off the stove as a side dish or the meal’s star player.

Once leftovers cool, put them in an airtight container or freezer-safe resealable bag. They’ll keep in the fridge for 3 -5 days or three months in the freezer.

To reheat, use a deep saucepan and heat it on low, occasionally stirring, until it bubbles. It’s probably better to defrost first in the fridge overnight, but sometimes I forget. So a little extra broth helps it thaw on the stovetop without burning.

FAQs

What to Serve With Butter Beans

1. Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
2. Collard Greens
3. Air Fryer Pork Chops
4. Skillet Cornbread
5. Seasoned Rice

More Fantastic Bean Recipes to Try

1. Southern Baked Beans with Bacon
2. Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
3. Pinto Beans Recipe
4. Puerto Rican Style Beans
5. Beef Tripe and Beans

Conclusion

This creamy and flavorful butter beans recipe is perfect for any weather. What’s your favorite comfort food? If you’d like more comfort food recipes, sign up for my newsletter. 😍

Watch How to Make It

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