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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.

spoon and bowl filled with butter beans, topped with shredded smoked turkey


 

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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.
butter beans recipe ingredients

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.

Dutch oven containing dry butter beans

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.

Dutch oven with sauteed onion and garlic in olive oil

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

Dutch oven filled with butter beans, turkey drumstick and chicken broth

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.

Dutch oven filled with cooked butterbeans and smoked turkey drumstick

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

close up image of bowl of butter beans topped with shredded smoked turkey

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.
spoon and bowl filled with butter beans, topped with shredded smoked turkey and a separate bowl of steamed white rice

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 ChickenAir 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.

spoon and bowl filled with butter beans, topped with shredded smoked turkey

FAQs

Are butter beans healthy?

Yes, butter beans are are really good for you. They are packed full of protein and fiber, and low in fat. These nutritious beans are also rich in vitamins and minerals, and a great source of iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium and folate.

What’s the difference between butter beans and lima beans?

Nothing, they are the same bean. What you call them depends largely on where you live.

Can I make gluten-free butter beans?

Yes, absolutely, just ensure the chicken broth you use is a gluten-free broth.

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!

spoon and bowl filled with butter beans, topped with shredded smoked turkey
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5 from 1 vote

Butter Beans Recipe

Southern Butter Beans recipe is a 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 flavorand a touch of hot sauce, just enough to add flavor but not too much chili heat.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword best butter beans recipe, butter beans recipe, easy butter beans recipe, smoky butter beans recipe
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 401kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 1 lb dried butter beans picked over and rinsed
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 lb smoked turkey drumstick
  • 2 Tablespoons hot sauce eg Texas Pete
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • 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. 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 a 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.

Suggested Tools

Dutch Oven
1 Dutch Oven or large pot

Notes

  • 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 also 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 862mg | Potassium: 1526mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 7mg
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5 from 1 vote
Recipe Rating




jean

Saturday 22nd of April 2023

sounds good to me! can if needed use canned beans?

Laura

Thursday 18th of May 2023

@Tanya, If using canned beans, how many cans for this recipe?

Tanya

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

Hi Jean, yes you can. Canned beans are already cooked so would only need to be warmed up. I would cook the broth and smoked turkey for about an hour, to allow the smoked turkey to become tender and to allow the broth to build flavor. Then I would add drained and rinsed canned beans until they are warmed through.

Delitha

Friday 21st of April 2023

Do you have an Instant Pot receipt for these butter beans?

Tanya

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

Hi Delitha, I don't but these beans can me made in the Instant Pot. You will need to cook soaked beans for about 30 minutes on high pressure.