Easy Southern Butter Beans

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These Southern Butter Beans are a classic southern side dish that will pair perfectly with just about any meal. They are loaded with smoky bacon flavor and a hint of Cajun spice that gives them a little kick.

Why not check out this Yellow Squash Casserole, Scalloped Corn or Smothered Potatoes.

Suitable for gluten free diets.

top down view of finished southern butter beans recipe

Butter Beans are the epitome of southern-style cooking. Slow simmered for an hour, these tender beans are finished with a touch of heavy cream for a luscious taste and texture that will melt in your mouth and warm your soul.

And if you’re anything like me, you’ll totally want to dig into a heaping bowl of these delectable down-home Southern Butter Beans on their own. #whynot

Folks, this butterbeans recipe really is a super versatile side dish that can be paired with all sorts of main dishes. It is great serve alongside Smothered Pork Chops, Instant Pot Whole Chicken or Air Fryer Turkey Breast and these southern candied sweet potatoes.

three bowls of butter beans served on a countertop

Why You’ll Love These

  • Did I mention the 12 slices of bacon?!
  • Frozen beans are a total time saver.
  • You probably have most or all of these ingredients on hand.
  • Affordable and loved by the whole family.

What Are Butter Beans?

Butter beans are lima beans, although the term butter bean often refers to the larger white lima bean variety rather than the smaller, fresh, green variety.

They are often cooked until tender and topped with butter and salt. They are velvety and tender and taste great on their own but can also be the star of soups, swapped for pasta, sprinkled into salads or stuffed into sandwiches.

How to Make Butter Beans

  1. Chop and cook 12 slices of bacon in a dutch oven, reserving 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease for flavoring the beans.
  2. Set aside the bacon and add in the diced onion, celery, and carrots, then sauté until they become tender.
  3. Toss in the chicken broth, bacon, seasonings, and beans (using frozen ones save so much time!) and then bring the whole pot to a simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.
  4. When the beans are tender, add in the cream and butter and cook for about 15 more minutes until the sauce is thickened.
  5. Season with salt and pepper and top with additional crumbled bacon before serving.
image collage showing the steps for making butter beans

Recipe Tips

  • If you aren’t a fan of spicy foods, simply omit the red pepper flakes and Cajun seasonings.
  • But if you love spicy foods, try adding a touch more red pepper and Cajun seasoning to really give this recipe a kick.
  • Cook a few extra slices of bacon and reserve them until the end of cooking. Sprinkle the crunchy bacon bits over the top of the beans just before serving.

Variations

  • Vary the meat – Smoked ham is a great addition to this recipe. Chop leftover ham and add to the beans along with the bacon and broth for a deeper, meatier flavor.
  • Make these vegetarian – To make this a vegetarian recipe, skip the bacon and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
the ingredients needed to make southern butter beans

Prep Ahead And Storing

Prep ahead – These can be cooked up to a few days in advance and reheated. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The beans will continue to absorb moisture so you may need to add a bit of stock or water to the beans when reheating.

Freeze – Follow the handy tips below on how to freeze this.

  • Let cool down then transfer into these very handy Ziploc freezer bags.
  • Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
  • Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
  • Store in the freezer for 3 months.
  • Leftovers – If you have any leftovers, freeze them and then add to your favorite homemade soups or stew recipes.

Questions You May Have

Can I use canned butter beans?

Canned beans are convenient. They are already cooked so you are really just reheating them. Using canned beans will cut down on your cooking time but you will be sacrificing some of that slow-cooked flavor for convenience.

Can I use dried butter beans?

Dried beans are usually packaged as lima beans and this recipe can be made with dried lima beans. You will want to rehydrate the beans by soaking them in plenty of water overnight.

You may also need to increase your simmer time to achieve a tender texture. Using dried beans can save money but will cost you more time.

side view of a serving dish filled with butter beans

Serving Suggestions

Other Southern Recipes You Might Like

Thank you for reading my easy Southern Butter Beans recipe post. And please visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

Originally published April 2020

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top down view of finished southern butter beans recipe
Print Recipe
5 from 12 votes

Southern Butter Beans

Butter Beans are classic Southern side that pairs perfectly with all sorts of dishes!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, southern
Servings: 8
Calories: 470kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 28 oz frozen butter beans
  • 32 oz chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ cup diced onion
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup butter
  • cup carrots
  • cup celery
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
  • ½ – 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning or to taste
  • 12 slices bacon divided (6 crumbled for garnish)
  • 1 tablespoon reserved bacon grease

Instructions

  • In a large dutch oven over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp.
  • Remove bacon and bacon grease, then return 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease to the pot and heat.
  • Set bacon strips on a paper towel to drain and cool, then crumble.
  • Add diced onion, celery, carrots and sauté until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
  • Add the butter beans, broth, bacon and seasonings.
  • Bring the broth to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 45 to 1 hour, or until tender.
  • Then stir in heavy cream and butter into bean mixture until thickened, about 15 minutes more.
  • Season with salt and pepper, and top with additional crumbled bacon before serving.
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Notes

Recipe Tips

  • If you aren’t a fan of spicy foods, simply omit the red pepper flakes and Cajun seasonings.
  • But if you love spicy foods, try adding a touch more red pepper and Cajun seasoning to really give this recipe a kick.
  • To make this a vegetarian recipe, skip the bacon and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
  • Cook a few extra slices of bacon and reserve them until the end of cooking. Sprinkle the crunchy bacon bits over the top of the beans just before serving.
  • Smoked ham is a great addition to this recipe. Chop leftover ham and add to the beans along with the bacon and broth for a deeper, meatier flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Nutrition

Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 1048mg | Potassium: 734mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1917IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 3mg

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