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
This is a recipe is based on Beth Mueller's recipe from Pear Tree Kitchen. Credit goes to her for the basic recipe!This recipe called for dried Lima beans. These beans can be served as a side dish or a meal of their own with some fresh, homemade cornbread!
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.
Notes
FREEZER MEAL:
Cook entire recipe, let beans cool, then place in freezer safe container or bag and freeze. When ready to eat, just thaw it out and warm up.
CROCK POT:
Add all ingredients to crock pot, make sure water covers beans by 1-2 inches. To be safe, add more water than you think to ensure beans don't burn from lack of water.
Cook on low for about 6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
HOW TO SERVE:
These beans are delicious as a side dish OR as a meal by themselves with some fresh, homemade cornbread!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
