These delicious Southern Butter Beans (also called lima beans) are a hearty and flavorful side dish. This recipe utilizes the convenience of frozen butter beans that are simmered to tender perfection with savory bacon, chicken broth, brown sugar, and seasonings.
Although this recipe is considered a side dish, I’ve definitely eaten a bowl of these beans as a meal with skillet cornbread more than once!
Why You’ll Love These Butter Beans
- Easy to prepare. This recipe is easy, straightforward, and uses simple ingredients.
- Versatility. These beans can be served as a side dish or a main dish (with cornbread!) It can easily be adapted to suit your personal taste or dietary preferences.
- Meal prep friendly. This recipe stores and freezes well, making it a great option for meal prep.
Ingredients
- Butter beans (also known as lima beans) – You’ll need a 24-ounce package (or two 12-ounce packages) of frozen butter beans (do not thaw).
- Bacon
- Yellow onion
- Chicken broth – I use low sodium broth to better control the saltiness.
- Water
- Brown sugar – Adds a hint of sweetness to the beans.
How to Prepare
- Cook the bacon until crispy. Drain off the fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pot.
- Add the onions and cook until soft.
- Add chicken broth, water, frozen beans, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Stir to combine. Bring to just a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer.
- Cover and simmer for 40 to 50 minutes, or until desired tenderness.
Recipe Variations
- Make it vegan/vegetarian. Omit the bacon and use olive oil for cooking the onions. Swap out the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
- Spice it up. Add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Increase the sweetness. Add more brown sugar for added sweetness.
- Make it creamy. Remove about a cup of the beans and mash or puree. Stir them back into the pot for a creamy consistency.
Common Questions
Are butter beans and lima beans the same?
Butter beans and lima beans are the same type of bean. Butter beans are normally larger than baby lima beans and have a richer texture.
Can I use white granulated sugar instead of brown sugar?
Yes, but brown sugar adds a hint of molasses flavor. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious!
Storing Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Allow to cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Freezer: Allow to cool and store in a freezer-safe container. Leave about ½ inch of space at the top of the container to allow the beans to expand when frozen. These beans can also be stored in freezer-safe zip-top bags. Press out the air before sealing to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Southern Butter Beans
These delicious Southern Butter beans utilize the convenience of frozen beans and are flavored with savory bacon, chicken broth, brown sugar and seasonings.
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Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick cut bacon chopped
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth low sodium
- ¾ cup water
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 (24 ounce) package frozen butter beans (lima beans)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a 6 quart Dutch oven or pot over medium heat until crispy (about 8 minutes). Drain off fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pot.
- Add onions and cook until soft, about 4 to 5 minutes (stirring frequently).
- Add chicken broth, water, brown sugar, frozen beans, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Increase heat to medium high and bring to just a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40 to 50 minutes or until desired tenderness. Adjust heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.
- Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
Notes
Yields approximately 6 cups.
Nutrition
Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 542mg | Potassium: 690mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 224IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 3mg
If provided, nutritional info is a courtesy, is not guaranteed and should only be considered as a guideline.
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheBlondCook or tag #theblondcook!
These were delicious and your comment about your grandmother triggered a beautiful memory for me. Thank you❤️
Tooo Sweet! Think it would have been good if I had known to back off on the sugar.
How many servings would this be with the 16-ounce bag? It looks absolutely wonderful and I want to feed 4 people, two of them men who eat a lot. Should I make it with 2 bags if we want leftovers the next day?
Hi Cat, this is approximately 4-6 servings. Just to be safe I’d double the recipe if you want leftovers (especially with 2 hungry men!). Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Excellent, thank you for your help.
Hi,
This looks amazing!! Can this be cooked in a crock pot and if so how would you recommend cooking it? Would the recipe change any?
Thanks so much 🙂
Hi Becky, thanks so much! I’ve never tested this recipe in a slow cooker so I can’t say with complete certainty. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Let us know how it turns out if you try it! 🙂
Hi Amy, I will try it and let you know how it goes!
Thank You
Thank you, Becky!
What is the purpose of the brown sugar in the recipe? How much water do you add—just enough to cover the beans? My boyfriend ins a lover of these and I want to prepare them for him as he is from the deep South so I want them to be just right. Thanks!
Hey, Doris! The brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness… it’s really good! Yes, just enough water to cover the beans. I hope he enjoys them. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Can you use fresh limas and how much longer would it take to cook. Thankyou
Hi Roxanne, I’ve only used this recipe using frozen so I can’t say for sure. I’d keep an eye on them and cook them until they’re to the tenderness and texture you like. Hope you enjoy!
Making this recipe to take to a family reunion at my husbands’ parents house! Last time I made it for Thanksgiving it was a HUGE hit! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks so much, Susan. Hope everyone enjoyed it at the reunion!
This is without a doubt my favorite vegetable. I particularly like the speckled butter beans. I have never added onions when cooking mine but it looks delicious.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you… Was planning on baby limas tomorrow night and this will be perfect. Have not used brown sugar before but will tomorrow…
I usually change recipes to suit myself. I made this exactly as published and it is easily the best lima bean recipe I have ever made. Two helpings later, I am aground… Thanks for the suggestion. I love it and will easily give it 5 stars.
Thank you so very much, I’m so glad you enjoyed them! 🙂
Butter beans are my kryptonite haha This looks delicious!!
Amanda
http://anchoredtosunshine.com/
Thanks so much, Amanda!