Lima Beans Recipe - melissassouthernstylekitchen.com (2024)

This Southern Style Lima Beans Recipe is a simple side dish that’s certain to complement most any entrée. They’re super simple to make flavored with smoky bacon, onion and pantry seasonings all simmered together in a flavorful broth until the beans are soft and buttery.

Easy Southern Lima Beans Recipe

What’s the difference between lima beans and butter beans? They’re really the very same legume that comes in different sizes, colors and varieties. Baby lima beans as seen in this recipe, are green but equally as popular in the South are the large white butter beans that when cooked have a soft texture and buttery flavor. I’ve also heard lima beans called butter peas, Madagascar beans and one variety is known as a Dixie speckled butter pea lima bean. Whew, that’s a mouthful isn’t it? The bottom line is, in spite of the different varieties and places of origin, lima beans and butter beans are the same legume and come from the same plant. All will make a delicious addition to soups, stews, salads and casseroles. How to make simple Lima Beans:

• Lima Beans – Two poundsfrozen baby lima beans or butter beans.
• Bacon – Fourslicesclassic bacon
• Vegetables – Onesmallsweet onioni.e. Vidalia onion or similar.
• Liquid – Fourcupswater.
• Seasonings – Chicken base (i.e. Better Than Bouillon), black pepper, granulated garlic, onion powder.

How to Make the Best Southern Lima Beans Recipe

• Ingredients you’ll need to make these easy Southern Lima Beans: 2 pounds frozen baby lima beans or butter beans, bacon, onion, water, chicken base i.e. Better Than Bouillon or similar, diced onion, black pepper, granulated garlic and onion powder.
• Kitchen gadgets you’ll need: A heavy bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven with a lid, measuring cups and spoons, sharp knife and chopping board or small food processor, a large slotted spoon and large serving spoon for serving.
• You can use fresh shelled lima beans or frozen lima beans for this recipe. There’s no need to thaw frozen lima beans prior to adding them to the pot.
• Should you choose to go with a larger butter bean, they will naturally swell more than a small baby lima bean so adjust the amount of liquid to accommodate.
• When covering the beans with water, the amount can vary depending on the size of the pot used. Rule of thumb is, the beans should be covered with 1/2-1 inch of liquid for cooking.
• You can add 4 ounces of cubed ham to the pot in place of bacon or in addition to the bacon, if desired.
• Store leftover cooked Lima Beans chilled in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in single servings in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat.

More Southern Style Recipes to Serve with Lima Beans

• As you can see in the image, we love lima beans ladled over a piece of hot buttered Crackling Cornbread or Cornbread Muffins.
• They would make a terrific option alongside Lemon Rosemary Roast Chicken.
• Lima beans are a yummy side dish alongside Southern Meatloaf.
• Serve lima beans as a side dish at the holidays along with your Oven Roasted Turkey or Brown Sugar Bourbon Pineapple Ham.
• Individual Turkey Meatloaf Muffins topped with mashed potatoes.
• Serve it with Skillet Ham and Cheddar Cornbread for a complete meal.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Dutch Oven
• Kitchen Utensils
• Cutting Board
• Measuring Set