Butter Beans Recipe

My Southern Butter Beans recipe is pure comfort food in a bowl. This smoky butter beans recipe is made by adding a smoked turkey drumstick to the pot, which adds great depth of flavor, and once cooked I like to shred the turkey and add it to the beans.

 

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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.

This is the best butter beans recipe as it is packed full of flavor and it makes a great addition to any meal, and can be served alongside a whole variety of different main dishes.

I've kept this recipe really simple, but you can add in other flavors and I've made some suggestions on how to do that later in the post. I've added a popular seasoning ingredient, smoked turkey meat, but I've also added a touch of hot sauce to the cooking liquor, just enough to add flavor but not too much chili heat.

The butter beans, or lima beans as they are also known, require very little hands-on preparation making this easy butter beans recipe one you will come back to again and again.

Ingredients

Here's what you will need to make this easy butter beans recipe:

• Beans - I use dried butter beans (also known as lima beans) which I quickly soak in just over 1 hour.
• Olive oil - or any oil made for high-heat cooking will do. I usually use light-tasting olive oil, canola oil, or avocado oil.
• Aromatics - onion and garlic for flavor. White onion or sweet onion will also work.
• Broth - chicken broth, but vegetable broth can work too.
• Turkey - for real depth of flavor a smoked turkey drumstick is cooked along with the beans.
• Hot sauce - hot sauce is added to the cooking liquor, I recommend Texas Pete or Frank's Hot Sauce.
• Seasoning - salt and black pepper is added to taste at the end of the cook.

How to make the Best Butter Beans recipe

How to cook butter beans:

Quick soak the beans by placing the beans and water in a large stockpot and bringing to a boil.

Boil for 5 minutes uncovered. Remove from heat and cover. Set the beans aside to sit for 1 hour.

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over a medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until softened, about 3-5 minutes.

Now add garlic and sauté for an additional minute.

Add the chicken broth, smoked turkey, and hot sauce to the pot.

Bring to a simmer, then cover the pot and reduce the heat to low.

Allow the beans to cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender. This will take somewhere from 1.5-2 hours.

Once the beans are tender, remove the drumstick from the pot, and remove the turkey meat from the bone.

Return the meat to the pot and stir through the beans.

Season the beans with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy.

Expert Tips

These tips will help you make the best butter beans recipe you've ever tried. 

• I prefer to quickly soak my beans for this recipe in 4 cups of water. You can also soak the beans overnight in 6-8 cups of water if you prefer. 
• You can skip soaking of the beans, they will just take a little longer to cook. 
• I prefer to use a milder flavored hot sauce, like Texas Pete or Frank’s Hot sauce in this recipe. They give the beans flavor and they don’t make them spicy. Avoid using very spicy hot sauces.

Flavor variations

• Add some extra aromatics like finely chopped celery and carrot to the onions and garlic.
• Try adding some fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or bay when you are cooking the beans.
• Swap the smoked turkey drumstick for some smoked ham or bacon instead.

What to serve with Butter Beans

This classic southern side dish is a great comfort food dish, ideal to serve alongside any main. Try it with my Classic Southern cornbread. Or serve it along with these main dishes, like Air Fryer Pork Chops, Garlic Parmesan Spatchcock Chicken, Air Fryer Steak with Garlic Herb Butter, or my Air Fryer Fried Chicken.

How to store 

To refrigerate: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When ready to enjoy, reheat the butter beans on the stove-top until piping hot.

To freeze: Once cooked and cooled, place the butter beans into an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator before reheating to piping hot.

FAQs

If you have tried this Butter Beans recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!