Butter Beans

Nothing hits the spot like a big ole pot of creamy Southern Butter Beans simmering away in the kitchen. This is just like the kind of down-home recipe your mama and grandma used to whip up: classic, flavorful, warm and inviting. This butter beans recipe is slowly cooked and loaded with earthy herbs, aromatics, and spices until the beans are melt-in-your-mouth tender, rich and silky y’all. So throw on a pot of this nostalgic recipe that serves up comforting flavor, old-school vibes and a whole lotta soul.

I made these yesterday and they were fantastic! I served them over a bed of greens and made my own lemon + olive oil dressing and it was everything warm and cozy. Thanks!!– Allison

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Southern mamas know a thing or two about some butter beans. And trust me when I say my Mississippi mama made a whole lot of em when I was growing up. They were cheap, filling and timeless. I never got tired of em. And you won’t either. This recipe is made with those same vintage notes and just a few modern elements sprinkled here and there. Traditionally, my big mama would cook her big pot of creamy butter beans with ham hocks, neck bones or smoked turkey but we made just a few swaps so everyone could enjoy this.

What are Butter Beans?

Butter beans are basically large lima beans which are white and moon-shaped legumes. They are called “butter beans” because after they cook, they develop a buttery flavor and creamy texture.So when you are in the grocery store, just grab a package of “large lima beans” if you don’t see butter beans listed specifically.

The Lowdown on the Best Butter Beans Recipe

Cuisine Inspiration: Southern Comfort
Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop Simmering
Dietary Info: Meatless and Gluten-Free (Can be made vegan with a few substitutions)
Key Flavor: Buttery, Savory, Flavorful Creaminess
Skill Level: Easy (No-Sweat Fam!)

• Rich Texture: These Southern butter beans melt in your mouth baby. Ain’t nothing like it.
• Protein-Packed: No meat? No prob boos. We get a ton of protein from these plus some fiber and other nutrients too.
• Flexibility: This works as a main, a side or even as a base for other dishes. It’s your world boos! Do you!
• Meal Prep Friendly: Make a big batch, and you’ve got a versatile base for meals throughout the week.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make These Creamy Butter Beans

• Butter Beans: Also known as large dried lima beans. They are large, flat, creamy-colored beans with a buttery texture when cooked. They are a staple in Southern cooking boos.
• Oil: We use this to sauté the onions softening them up.
• Butter: This adds richness and so much flavor to the beans.
• Onion: This is gonna add aromatic notes and texture.
• Spices: A little black pepper for mild heat, a bit of garlic powder for savory essence, and some salt to season up those beans right.
• Herbs: Dried parsley, thyme and bay leaves are giving freshness, color and some earthy notes to our beans.
• Liquid Smoke: This is gonna give us the smoky notes of Southern style smoked meats without the meat y’all.
• Sugar: Just a little is gonna balance out the salt and savory vibes.
• Chicken Broth Cubes: This is gonna flavor up that water giving the butter beans ample savory richness.

How to Cook Butter Beans

Step 1: Soak and Sauté That Aromatics

1. Start the process of making your butter beans the night before. Soak them for 8 hours or overnight in a large bowl covered with water. This is gonna make them tender and help your tummy digest them better too!
2. Set a large pot over medium-high heat and melt that golden combo of oil and butter. Toss in your chopped onions, black pepper, and garlic powder, and sauté them until they’re fragrant and softened up – about 3 minutes.

Step 2: Get Those Beans Flavored Up

1. Now, pour in water, chicken broth cubes, soaked lima beans, a dash of hickory liquid smoke , sugar, dried parsley, dried thyme, sea salt, and don’t forget the bay leaves.
2. Crank up the heat and bring it to a boil, which should take about 5 to 6 minutes.

Step 3: Simmer and Finish Them Up

1. Lower the heat to a simmer, pop a lid on, and let it do its thing for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. You’re looking for thick, creamy, dreamy beans.
2. Fish out those bay leaves—they’ve done their job. Give your seasoning a second glance, adding pepper or sea salt to make everything pop, if needed. Swirl in the remaining butter for an extra velvety finish. Let the beans chill for 10 minutes to reach peak lushness.

How to Serve Butter Beans

• Simple: Ain’t nothing needed but a big ole bowl of these creamy butter beans and a slice of Southern cornbread.
• Over Rice: Serve over some white rice for a nice hearty and satisfying bowl.
• Southern Supper: Make a delish Sunday supper and serve these along with smothered pork chops, mustard greens, sweet tea and some peach cobbler for dessert.
• Tex-Mex Vibes: Serve this up with some beef fajitas, Mexican rice, guacamole and strawberry margarita pie. That’s good eatin!

Recipe Substitutions

• Beans: If you want to skip soaking, grab some canned butter beans or frozen. Just adjust your cooking time since canned are already cooked and require less time.
• Broth: Go with your fave flavor. You can also use vegetable or beef instead.
• Oil: Grab any neutral oil you want. Vegetable or canola is great. You can also use olive oil.
• Herbs: We used dry herbs because they are convenient to grab but if you’ve got fresh herbs, use those. You can use 1 tbsp of fresh herbs for every teaspoon of dried herbs in this recipe.
• Sugar: Grab some maple syrup or honey if sugar ain’t around.
• Liquid Smoke: If ya ain’t got this, sprinkle in a little smoked paprika. It’s gonna flavor it up so well.
• Onions: You can grab shallots for a milder flavor that’s similar to onions if ya ain’t got any around.

Recipe Variations and Additions

• Vegan: Replace the butter with vegan butter like Earth Balance and use a vegetable broth cube. Then serve them up making the entire meal vegan with roasted sweet potatoes, and fried oyster mushroom recipe or vegan fried chicken.
• Dip It: Puree the cooked butter beans and turn into a delish creamy bean dip. Serve with some crackers, pitas or garlic bread.
• Soup It Up: You can blend these beans up and add a bit more broth to create a hearty and creamy soup.
• Meat it Up baby: Go Southern old-school and add in some smoked ham hock, neck bones or smoked turkey wings. It’s gonna add an abundance of flavor. You will need to cook it for a while in boiling water to break it down so the meat is tender.
• Curry: Add some coconut milk in place of some of the water along with some curry powder and ginger. That’s gonna give some bomb flavor.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Rinse Your Beans: Make sure you give them a nice rinse so you can remove any dirt or debris before you get to cooking them up.
• Forgot to soak overnight? You can just add an additional 45 minutes to your cooking time to soften these babies up.
• Low and Slow: In order to get that creamy buttery texture, simmer these beans on a lower heat. You will definitely be rewarded for your patience.
• Check Your Liquids: This is where you may have to deviate from the recipe. Keep an eye on your liquid level. If it looks dry, splash in more water. If it’s still too watery, simmer with the top off to reduce it faster.
• Extra Creaminess: If you want your beans even creamier, you can mash some up in the pot to cream it all together and have various textures going on.

How to Store Butter Beans

• Fridge: Make sure your Southern butter beans have cooled to room temp then add them to an airtight container or a sealable plastic bag before you pop in the fridge. They will last for 3-4 days.
• Freezer: These also freeze great. Add your room temp beans to a freezer-safe container or sealable plastic bag making sure you remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Write the date on the front. They should store great for up to 3 months. Just thaw overnight in the fridge when you want to serve again.
• Re-heating: Add to a saucepan and cook over medium-low heat until completely warmed through. Stir to ensure the heat is even throughout. Add more liquid if ya need to. You can also pop in the microwave for faster heating. Just heat in 1 minute increments covered with a damp paper towel stirring from time to time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Best Bean Recipes

• Pinto Beans
• Red Beans and Rice
• Hoppin John
• Black Eyed Peas
• Baked Beans
• Green Bean Casserole
• Southern Green Beans

Thank you so much to Vegan With Curves for sharing the bones of this recipe which we adapted.