In this post you’ll find how to make delicious Southern Butter Beans (Large Lima Beans).

Ingredients

1 pound bag Large Lima or Butter Beans
1 tablespoon of Bacon fat or Butter
1/2 cup of chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper
1 ham bone, ham hock, or a few pieces of country ham bit pieces
1 carton of chicken stock
4-6 cups of water
Kosher salt or sea salt to taste

You might also like these bean recipes: Southern Style Baked Beans, Green Baby Lima, or Red Beans & Rice.

Table of Contents

Southern Creamy Butter Beans Recipe

Begin by Rinsing and sorting the beans, place into a glass bowl and cover with half of the chicken stock and water to cover the beans. Leave them to soak for two hours.

I will typically cover them in the glass bowl and allow them to soak overnight. A Quick soak method – place beans into a stockpot with water to cover them, plus about an inch. Bring to a boil, cover and turn off the burner. Let soak covered for one hour, drain and set aside.

Country Beans Recipe

After soaking place the beans back into your stock pot with the bacon fat and ham bone, hock, or pieces. Add the remaining chicken stock and water to cover the beans about 2″ above the beans. Add the onion and seasoning and bring to a boil.

Reduce to simmer and cook for 1 1/2 – 2 hours on low simmer. The bean soup will become thick and creamy and beans tender when done. Reserve some of the fresh chopped onion for garnish.

How to Cook Butter Beans with Ham

4.50 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Save

Southern Butter Beans

Creamy Southern style butter beans recipe (also known as large lima beans)

Prep Time15

Cook Time1 30

Total Time1 45

Servings: Pot of Butter Beans

Calories: 90kcal

Author: Julia Jordan

Ingredients

1 pound bag Large Lima or Butter Beans
1 tablespoon of Bacon fat or Butter
1/2 cup of chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper
1 ham bone ham hock, or a few pieces of country ham bit pieces
1 carton of chicken stock
4-6 cups of water
Kosher salt or sea salt to taste

Instructions

Rinse and soak the beans, at least two hours, overnight is preferable.
Place the beans back into your stock pot with the bacon fat and ham bone, ham hock, or ham cooking pieces.
Next, add the remaining chicken stock and water to cover the beans about 2" above the beans.
Next, add the onion and seasoning and bring to a boil.
Reduce to simmer and cook for 1 1/2 – 2 hours on low simmer until the beans are tender. The bean soup will become thick and creamy as the beans cook.
Reserve some of the fresh chopped onion for garnish, if desired.

Nutrition

Cook’s Note: Fresh frozen butter beans may be used in place of dried. Fresh beans require no soaking before cooking.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Be sure to subscribe to my email list so that you never miss my latest recipes.

Try this 5 Bean Salad Recipe from Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen.

Julia - author and publisher of Julia's Simply Southern Food Blog Recipes

About Julia

Hey Y’all! I’m Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia’s Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Follow me on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

Learn more