Butter Beans Recipe

Classic Southern Butter Beans – This tried-and-true Butter Beans with Bacon Recipe makes tender, flavorful lima beans that are perfect to serve as a side with your favorite southern dishes.

Classic Butter Beans

Tender and creamy old fashioned butter beans are a classic Southern comfort dish served as the main attraction or side dish. Beans from scratch starting with large lima beans.

Prep: 15min

Total: 165min

Serving Size: 0.5 cup

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 0.5 cup, calories 207 kcal, Carbohydrate 26.7 g, Protein 13.9 g, Fat 10.7 g, Cholesterol 41 mg, Sodium 584 mg, Fiber 14 g, Sugar 1.4 g

Ingredients:

• 1 pound dried large lima beans
• 1/2 large onion (diced)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Creole seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 1 cup diced ham (optional)

Instruction:

1. Sort and rinse the beans. Beans do not need to be soaked.
2. Place the beans into a large saucepan with enough water to cover the beans by an inch or two.
3. Place the pan of beans over high heat and cook just until boiling.
4. Remove the beans from the heat and cover with a lid and allow the beans to sit for at least one hour.
5. Drain the beans and rinse again.
6. Place the beans back into the pan and cover with water.
7. Place the beans back on the stove and bring to a boil. When the beans begin to boil reduce the heat to a simmer.
8. Add the remaining ingredients, except ham if using, and stir well to combine.
9. Allow the beans to simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the beans are tender, stirring occasionally and adding water as necessary.
10. If using ham, allow the beans to cook at least an hour before adding the ham.
11. When beans are tender, remove from heat and serve with cornbread or over rice for a complete meal.

Southern Butter Beans Recipe (Best Lima Beans)

Classic Butter Beans with bacon recipe for the most tender, flavorful lima beans that are perfect to serve as a side with your favorite southern dishes!

Prep: 10min

Total: 760min

Yield: 12

Serving Size: 0.5 cup

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 0.5 cup, calories 191 kcal, Carbohydrate 27 g, Protein 10 g, Fat 5 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 8 mg, Sodium 304 mg, Fiber 8 g, Sugar 4 g, unSaturated Fat 3 g

Ingredients:

• 1 pound dried butter beans (lima beans)
• 4 slices thick-cut bacon (diced)
• 1 large onion (diced)
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1 cup sliced celery
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons chicken base (bouillon or vegetable base)
• 4 cups water

Instruction:

1. Soak the beans: Place the dried beans in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Soak for 12-24 hours. If you are in a hurry, most bags of beans have a “speed-soak” method listed on the package.
2. Set a large 6-8 quart sauce pot over medium heat. Add the bacon. Stir and brown for 3-5 minutes. Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Sauté for 5 minutes to soften.
3. Drain the beans. Then pour the beans into the pot. Add in the chicken base and water. Stir well.
4. Cover and simmer for 30-45 minutes, until the butter beans are soft.
5. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.

Creamy Butter Beans

Creamy Butter Beans have lots of smoked ham flavor. They’re so thick and creamy and make a fantastic side for any southern meal.

Prep: 10min

Total: 135min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 345 kcal, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 pound dried large lima beans
• 1 tablespoon bacon grease or butter
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/3 cup diced celery
• 1/4 cup diced carrot
• 1 1/2 cups chopped smoked ham
• 2 ham hocks
• 1 (32-ounce) carton chicken broth
• 4 cups water
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning

Instruction:

1. Rinse and sort the beans, getting rid of any broken pieces. Place in a stockpot or Dutch oven and cover with 1-inch of water. Bring to a boil. Place lid on pot and remove from heat. Let sit 1 hour.
2. Meanwhile, in a large pot or Dutch oven, heat bacon fat over medium heat.
3. Add onion, celery, and carrots and saute until soft, about 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Add ham, ham hocks, chicken broth, water, bay leaves, garlic powder, thyme, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
5. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Simmer for 1 hour.
6. Once beans have been sitting for an hour, drain them.
7. Add beans, butter, and Cajun or Creole seasoning to the chicken broth mixture after it has simmered for 1 hour. Continue to simmer for 60 to 90 minutes. If liquid level gets too low (ie not all the beans are submerged), add more water.
8. Remove ham hocks. Let cool slightly and then remove any meat from the bone, chop it up and return it to the pot.
9. Serve as is for a side dish or serve over rice with a side of cornbread for a main dish.

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe

FAQ

Are butter beans and lima beans the same?

What do you eat with butter beans?

1. Baked fish or grilled fish.
2. Shrimp.
3. Roast chicken.
4. Rice (use the beans as a vegetarian or vegan main)
5. Grain salads.
6. Pasta main dish.

Are butter beans and great Northern beans the same?

How long do you cook butter beans for?