This is my absolute FAVORITE bean recipe of all time. It’s great for a side or main dish.
The broth alone from cooking the beans is so good. Perfect for those days where you need a comfort food, so don’t throw it out if you have too much liquid.
I also love that it’s a simple, one-and-done dish. Cooking with dried beans doesn’t have to be complicated!!!
*Note* This recipe is from Beth Mueller with Pear Tree Kitchen. I have included my modifications in the printable recipe below.

Hearty Butter Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb dried lima beans large or small
- 1/2 onion, diced can substitute with about 1-2 TB onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder Can substitute with 2-3 minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 - 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes Or more! This gives the recipe an extra dimension.
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 cup butter can use salted or unsalted
- 1 cup diced ham (optional) Can substitute with bacon, ham hock, pork necks, or 1/2 - 1tsp liquid smoke, or leave out completely.
Instructions
- Sort and rinse dried beans. You can soak them overnight, quick soak method, or don't soak at all.
- Place beans in pot with enough water to cover the beans by about an inch
- Add all other ingredients (if using fresh ham, add after cooking. Liquid smoke, ham hocks, bacon, pork necks, etc can be added before cooking for best flavor)
- Bring beans to a boil, then simmer until beans are done (about 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours). Check beans periodically to make sure enough water was added.