Plump and creamy when fully cooked, butter beans do in fact have a butterlike texture that is very appealing. Even though butter beans don’t have a ton of flavor, so they’re best when combined with the right spices, flavors, and vegetables. My butter bean recipe, although simple, pops with incredible flavors. Served as a side dish, or an entree, this butter bean recipe satisfies every savory craving you can imagine.
WHAT ARE BUTTER BEANS AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM LIMA BEAN?
Believe it or not, butter beans and lima beans are the same beans! Butter beans are oval-shaped, larger than black or pinto beans, and slightly off-white in color. Straight from the can, they are slightly bland, yet tender and rich. Since butter beans naturally taste like butter, I often use them in recipes like my Butter Bean Mash with Easy No-Chicken Gravy. By mashing the cooked butter beans into plain cooked potatoes, an incredible flavor emerges, making the perfect healthy mashed potato recipe.
In order to make this butter bean recipe, I decided to enhance the buttery taste of the beans with onions, red bell peppers, tomatoes, kale, and an array of seasonings.
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE NEEDED FOR THIS DELICIOUS BUTTER BEAN RECIPE?
- Onion (white or yellow)
- Garlic
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Red bell pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Nutritional yeast
- Vegetable broth
- Nutritional yeast
- Saffron threads
- Butter beans
- Kale
- Parsley
- Bay leaves
COOKING BUTTER BEAN RECIPE IN ONE-POT
No matter how busy I am, I love a recipe I can make in one-pot. Not only is this recipe easy to make, but there is only one pot to clean after cooking. Similar to other one-pot recipes, I cook the butter bean recipe ingredients in stages, beginning with the garlic, and onions, followed by the red peppers.
Next, I add the seasonings, canned diced tomatoes, as well as the butter beans and vegetable broth, reserving the kale until the end of the cooking process.
Once the main ingredients are added and combined, the flavors need to enhance and develop. In order to get the best results, I cover the pot and allow the butter beans to simmer for 30 minutes.
Then, after the mixture simmers and thickens, I add the chopped kale, so it wilts as it is stirred into the butter bean mixture.
Often, I serve this butter bean recipe with a salad and crusty bread or my favorite Oil-Free Vegan Garlic Cilantro Naan recipe.
As a side dish or an entree, this sassy recipe gives you all your beans and veggies in one bowl. So, the next time you are looking for a buttery and creamy bean recipe, give this butter bean recipe a try.
FAQs
HERE ARE MORE BEAN RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE
- White Bean Chili
- Vegan Baked Beans
- Bean Salad
- Creamy White Bean Soup
- The Best Ultimate Vegan Lentil Black Bean Burrito Ever
- Curried Pinto Beans
- Crockpot Butternut Squash Pinto Bean Chili
- Veggie and Pinto Bean Quesadilla
- Vegan Meatloaf Meatless Lentils!
- Lentil Burgers
- Lentil Chili Recipe
- Vegan Lentil Tacos
- Red Lentil Curry Wrap
- Detox Lentil Vegetable Soup
Butter Bean
Ingredients
- 1 cup Onion white or yellow
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 15 ounce diced tomatoes
- 1 cup red bell pepper diced
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon saffron threads crushed
- 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 30 ounces butter beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cups vegetable broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups kale chopped
- Parsley as a garnish
Instructions
- In a large non-stick skillet, saute onions and garlic until onions are translucent.
- Add diced red bell peppers, and cook a few minutes until they are softened.
- Now, add the canned tomatoes, bay leaves, smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, saffron, and drained and rinsed butter beans.
- Add 1 cup of vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
- Add bay leaves.
- Reduce heat and simmer, cover, and cook for 30 minutes.
- Add chopped kale and stir into the beans until the kale wilts.
- Remove from heat and pour into individual bowls.
- Top with parsley if desired
- Serve with crusty bread or vegan naan for dipping
Notes
Nutrition
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Anonymous
Alocasia
I used 2 bay leaves, and I'm about ready to add the broth. Ingredients call for 1 cup, but directions say to add 2 cups of broth. Help please.
Kathy Carmichael
Alocasia, sorry for the miscommunication. It is one cup of broth. If you simmer it longer or prepare it in advance, you may need more broth. I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Anonymous
Sharon
In the steps 2 and 5, the instructiins add bay leaves but there are none listed in the ingredients. Not concerned about when to add them, but how many total do you use? Thanks
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Sharon, I used 2 bay leaves. I add them before it simmers. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for letting me know, so I can fix it. I appreciate it.