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Creamy Southern Butter Beans Recipe is cozy, budget-friendly, and makes the perfect side dish. Tender butter beans simmered with onion, garlic, and other spices and ready in 20 minutes.

A bowl of cooked butter beans garnished with chopped parsley sits on a table beside sliced baguette, a pot of beans, a lemon wedge, chopped herbs, and stainless steel spoons—an inviting Butter Beans Recipe to savor.
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If you have made Marry Me Butter Beans then you are going to love these creamy Butter Beans Recipe. These beans cook tender, rich taste and are easy to make with simple spices. Start with canned beans and create a dish that everyone will love.

All the ingredients are added to a large pot for a hands-off cooking method. Serve them with Homemade Cornbread Recipe or Popeyes Biscuits Recipe to make sure you get every last drop of the delicious broth.

Why You’ll Love Butter Beans

  • Creamy Texture – Low, gentle simmer turns the broth cream as beans release starch.
  • Simple Pantry Ingredients – Canned Beans, chicken broth, and a few seasonings for a flavorful dish. You can even add a ham hock for added flavor.
  • Flexible cooking – Stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot options.
  • Great leftovers – Even tastier the next day and they freeze well.

Ingredients

A top-down view of various ingredients in small bowls on a white tiled surface, perfect for a Butter Beans Recipe, including seasonings, broth, chopped herbs, minced garlic, olive oil, onions, and two open cans of white beans.
  • Olive Oil – Use oil of your choice
  • Onion – Finely dice into small pieces
  • Minced Garlic – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves. Substitute with garlic powder
  • Italian Seasoning – See Homemade Italian Seasoning
  • Paprika – If you are out, see Best Paprika Substitute
  • Salt and Pepper – Simple addition
  • Red Pepper Flakes – Optional addition for a hint of spice
  • Butter Beans– You can use another canned white beans instead of butter beans in this recipe if you prefer.
  • Chicken Broth – Vegetable broth can be used instead of chicken broth.
  • Lemon – For the best flavor use fresh lemon juice
  • Chopped Parsley – Optional topping

Scroll to the recipe card for the recipe details.

How to Make Butter Beans

A stainless steel pot with oil inside on a tiled countertop, surrounded by small bowls of chopped onions, minced garlic, and salt—perfect for starting a Butter Beans Recipe. A blue-striped towel is partially visible in the corner.

Step 1 – Heat the oil in a large pan over medium high heat.

A metal pot on a white tile surface contains chopped onions sautéing in oil. Nearby are small bowls of spices, minced garlic, a can of white beans for your Butter Beans Recipe, a striped cloth, and a wooden spoon.

Step 2 – Add in the diced onions and sauté for 5-7 minutes until the onions are soft.

A stainless steel pot on a white countertop contains sautéed onions, minced garlic, and assorted herbs and spices. Surrounding the pot for this Butter Beans Recipe are a striped towel, wooden spoon, broth, canned beans, lemon juice, and chopped herbs.

Step 3 – Add in the garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for approximately 1 minute until you start to smell the garlic.

A pot of simmering butter beans sits in broth with spices on a blue-striped towel. Nearby are bowls of fresh herbs and a light liquid, perfect for finishing this butter beans recipe. A wooden spoon rests beside the hearty dish.

Step 4 – Stir in the butter beans and chicken broth.

Step 5 – Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer over medium high heat for 8-12 minutes until the beans are heated through and the sauce starts to thicken.

Step 6 – Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice.

Step 7 – Serve warm topped with chopped parsley and enjoy!

A pot of cooked beans from a classic butter beans recipe in seasoned broth sits on a striped towel, surrounded by sliced bread, chopped parsley, lemon wedges, stacked white bowls, and spoons on a white countertop.
A bowl of cooked butter beans dish garnished with parsley, surrounded by sliced bread, lemon wedges, chopped herbs, a pot of beans, and spoons on a table with a blue and white towel.

Butter Beans Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Creamy Southern Butter Beans Recipe is cozy, budget-friendly, and makes the perfect side dish. Tender butter beans simmered with onion, garlic, and other spices and ready in 20 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Cuisine American
Course Side Dish
Calories 296

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pan over medium high heat.
  • Add in the diced onions and sauté for 5-7 minutes until the onions are soft.
  • Add in the garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for approximately 1 minute until you start to smell the garlic.
  • Stir in the butter beans and chicken broth.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer over medium high heat for 8-12 minutes until the beans are heated through and the sauce starts to thicken.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice.
  • Serve warm topped with chopped parsley and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Vegetable both can be used instead of chicken broth.
Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
You can use another canned white beans instead of butter beans in this recipe if you prefer. Navy Beans, Cannellini Beans and Great Northern beans are great substitution options.
This recipe does have a slight kick. If you are sensitive to spice, then I recommend not using the red pepper flakes.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 296kcal, Carbohydrates 49g, Protein 18g, Fat 5g, Saturated Fat 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 3g, Cholesterol 2mg, Sodium 625mg, Potassium 1164mg, Fiber 16g, Sugar 8g, Vitamin A 112IU, Vitamin C 15mg, Calcium 55mg, Iron 6mg

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Recipe Tips

  • Red Pepper Flakes – This recipe does have a slight kick. If you are sensitive to spice, then I recommend not using the red pepper flakes.
  • Simmer – When cooking the butter bean mixture, keep the boil at a low simmer so that the beans do not split.
  • Other Cooking Methods – Instead of this stovetop version, make butter beans in the slow cooker on low for 6 hours or in the instant pot on high pressure for 25 minutes.

Variations Ideas

  • Vegetarian – Use veggie broth, add 1 tsp soy sauce or miso for umami.
  • Cajun – Add 1 tsp Cajun seasoning and ½ cup diced celery then when serving add hot sauce.
  • Tomato-Herb – Stir in 1 cup diced tomatoes and 1 tsp thyme in the last 20 minutes.
  • Additions – Fold in 2 cups chopped collards or kale for the last 10–15 minutes.
A white bowl filled with cooked butter beans is garnished with chopped parsley, showcasing a classic Butter Beans Recipe. It's surrounded by lemon wedges, sliced bread, fresh herbs, and a pot of beans on a tiled surface with a blue-striped towel nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type of Beans is Best?

We used canned butter beans but you can also use, Navy Beans, Cannellini Beans and Great Northern beans are great substitution options.

How to Store Leftover Butter Beans

Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Can I Freeze Butter Beans?

Yes, once the butter beans have cooled to room temperature place in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge when ready to serve and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

More Easy Beans Recipe

If you make this Butter Beans Recipe, please let us know how they turned out by leaving a comment. We love to hear from you.

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About the Author

Hi, Iโ€™m Carrie Barnard โ€” a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families โ€” without the stress.

5 from 1 vote

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  1. Casey says:

    5 stars
    These Butter Beans had a ton of flavor! It was the perfect side dish.