Southern Style Baby Lima Beans are cooked low and slow with bacon and seasoned to perfection. This country delicacy is melt in your mouth deliciousness!
There is an age-old debate over whether they are Lima Beans or Butter Beans! Technically they are the same bean... But in my neck of the woods, a lima is green, young, tender, and sweet!
A butter bean, however, is the larger, older, and dried version (now this is an opinion y'all)! Both are slap your momma good! And they both are paired wonderfully with some good old buttered cornbread.
These beans can be found fresh in the summertime and you are so lucky if you get your hands on them! For the most part, you find them in your freezer section. Frozen, fresh, young, and tender green limas can be enjoyed year-round! Thank the good LORD above! We love them at my house.
What about you? Do you love them too or have you never had them yet?? If you never have made them, now is the perfect time to give them a try! Either way, I think you will love this recipe!
What you need to make Lima Beans
- Bacon
- Chicken Broth or Water and Bouillon
- Garlic
- Onion Powder
- Sugar
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
- Fresh Frozen Baby Lima Beans
How to make Southern Lima Beans
Step 1. It starts with some glorious bacon. Yep, you gotta have bacon to make this delish! I like to cut pieces of bacon with my kitchen scissors. Let them cook up a few minutes to render that delicious fat in the bottom of the pan. Now, if you don't like the pieces of bacon in the beans, just cook the slices whole and then pull them out after they cook.
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Step 2. Add the broth, baby limas, minced garlic, onion powder, sugar, black pepper, and red pepper (if you like a kick). Bring to a boil, then cover with a vented lid (that just means don't cover completely, leave a little opening), and then reduce to simmer. My stove is about a medium-low. Each one cooks differently, so you know your settings best.
Step 3. Cook for about 30 minutes stirring occasionally. Then give it a taste and add the salt to taste. If it needs more liquid, add a little water or more broth now. They don't have to be completely covered or drowning, but you want enough liquid in there so that they stay moist and don't burn.
Step 4. Then cook another 30 minutes until nice and tender.
Now it is time to enjoy these beauties!!
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Southern Style Baby Lima Beans
Ingredients
- 2 slices bacon, sliced
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth or stock
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ to ¼ red pepper flakes, (optional)
- 16 ounces frozen baby lima beans
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, slightly saute bacon about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer.
- Cook for 30 minutes, stirring periodically. If needed add water. You do not need a lot of liquid, but you don't want them to burn. So add if necessary. Season with salt if desired.
- Cook for another 30 minutes until buttery tender and enjoy.
Debbie says
Best limas we have ever eat! Thanks so much for sharing!
Nikki Lee says
Thank you so much, Debbie! I am so glad you love them as much as we do! Happy New Year!
Rose says
My boyfriend, who never has liked lima beans, LOVED them in this recipe! That should be the highest rating this recipe could get. By the way, I didn't have bacon handy so I used about 1/2 cup of chopped ham.
Nikki Lee says
Now that is the best compliment ever! Ham is also awesome in limas! Great substitution! Thanks so much for sharing.
Carl says
This is one of those basic simple recipes that consistently produce great taste. I do use chicken broth instead of water and also reduce the salt since the broth already has some.
Nikki Lee says
Thank you, Carl! Yes, the recipe calls for chicken broth and that does add tons of flavor! Using less salt or low sodium broth are both great was to reduce sodium intake if desired.
Jewel says
I used this recipe but with a bag of the dried larger lima beans. So I soaked the beans for 8 hours and cooked them in my slow cooker first, then added the ingredients listed but also added a teaspoon of Italian seasoning. I kept the bacon separate and crumbled and sprinkled them on the beans before eating. This is the first time I can say I love lima beans. I'll being making them pretty regularly from now on. I did have two family members who refused to try them sadly. Their lose.
Nikki Lee says
Thank you, Jewel! I am glad you have a newfound love of limas. I also enjoy them dried as well! Both are so delicious! Maybe you can convert those family members too!
Lee Carlson says
You know, many people who think they hate lima beans will totally change their minds if the skins on each bean are removed before serving (my husband is one of these people!). There are two ways of doing this, both are a bit fiddly, but really worth it. Either let the frozen beans thaw a little, then make a slit in the skin at the top with the thumbnail and pop out the bean; or - once they are cooked do the same. I usually use the first method, the cooked beans are HOT! For fresh beans (in UK called broad beans) blanch them and then remove skins before final cooking. Please try this, it makes all the difference in the world.
Nikki Lee says
Thanks for sharing! Great information!
Debbie L Purvis says
My husband has always referred to these as butter beans. I had to Google it before I finally quit arguing with him. This is a great butter bean recipe, he said.
Nikki Lee says
Thank you so much! Right, who can keep it straight! They really are butter beans or lima beans interchangeably. I always called the larger dried limas butter beans, either way, they are both delicious.
Deb Clark says
Five Stars!! This is such a great side dish, the bacon is the perfect salty touch!!
paige says
Just like my Mom used to make! Outstanding flavor in this recipe!
Kathleen says
I have never been a lima bean lover, BUT, I was asked to bring a southern dish to a potluck and brought these and everyone went ga-ga! This recipe might just make a lover out of me!
Michaela says
This is hands down the best Lima bean recipe I have ever made! I’ll never make another!
Lynn Spencer says
I came to Lima Bean appreciation late in life...and always looking for great recipes. Thanks friend!
Donna L. Bridges says
My husband loved these. We've been married 21 years and this was the first time I've cooked baby lima beans for him. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you so much Donna! That makes my heart glad to hear! Limas are one of my husband's favorites and I am glad to hear now yours as well! After 21 years you finally talked him into trying them - YAY!
daryl flederbach says
Just like Texas road green beans, excellent !!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you Daryl! I have not tried TRH green beans. I am going to have to order them next time!
Kathleen A Harrington says
My BF is a southerner and I wanted to make him some limas. I like them too but Cracker Barrel is the only place I've had them. Well... that southern boy said they almost tasted like his mama's. Win Win for me.
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Best compliment ever! Thank you so much!
Bernetta says
How do u pressure cook them to put in canning jar
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Here is a great resource for how to pressure can them. https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/uga/using_press_canners.html
Pam C says
This is hands down THE best recipe for limas I've made! This is the second time I've made them. If you're making 2 (16oz.) pkgs of beans just make sure to double rest of ingredients. The longer you simmer them the better they get! We love the limas at Cracker Barrel but I believe these are as good if not better.
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you so much Pam! I so appreciate it!
Gladys Cox says
I tried the southern style baby lima recipe using smoked turkey wings. Came out very good. Thank you
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Turkey would add wonderful flavor! Thank you Gladys!
Dr. Luv says
I use to hate the consistency of lima beans until I added your southern touch. Thank you! My family and I truly enjoy this recipe!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
I am so thrilled you enjoy them now! Thank you so much!!
Linsey says
ABSOLUTELY LOVE these Lima beans!!!!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you Linsey! And it was good to hear they were a hit at Thanksgiving this year!
Suzy says
So I made a few minor modifications and we love them. I used a whole onion chopped up and sautéed it and garlic in some butter. Then I used some leftover ham instead of bacon. ( I did use frozen Baby Lima Beans) It worked and they were awesome. Thanks for the starting nudge. Yum!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
I am so glad you enjoyed and added your favorite flavors!
Marie says
Loved the Lima beans. I used pancetta and grated garlic and some minced onion. Delicious.
This will be a staple in my meals.
Simple and easy and tasty....thanks
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Marie that sounds so good! I love the seasonings you used. Thank you so much and I am so glad you will enjoy this dish again and again.
Sandra Shaffer says
Ok, I have never tried to cook lima beans even though they're my husband's favorite! Found some frozen in my grocery store and made these over the weekend. Soooo simple and delicious! My husband claimed the leftovers, so next time I'll make a double batch!
Healing Tomato says
Your recipe for lima beans looks amazing! They are perfect dinner meal
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
They are one of my favorite sides. Although, a slice of cornbread and I could make this a meal.
Debi says
Lima beans have been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. Your recipe is fabulous. Perfect and yummy.
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you Debi! These are one of my favorite vegetables too!
Michaela Kenkel says
These turned out so perfectly!! I finally found a lima bean recipe that I truly love!!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thanks so much Michaela! I could eat Lima's weekly!
Julie Menghini says
What a delicious dish! We loved this tonight with our grilled chicken!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you Julie! I bet they went perfectly with your delicious chicken!
Deb Clark says
Definitely giving this recipe a try. I just made green beans with bacon - these sound even heartier and more delicious!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you so much Deb! Both are good southern recipes, I hope you enjoy this as much as the green beans and bacon!
micheleq says
These were a huge hit! They had fresh lima beans at the farmers market and made them for dinner. My husbands announced this recipe is a keeper! Can't beat that kind of review! Thanks so much!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you so much Michele! Hubby approved is a big win!
Courtney says
I don’t have any bacon. Can I substitute fatback instead?
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Absolutely!
Ryan says
I made them last night and they were delicious! I did use canned lima beans, which seemed to work well and were done pretty quickly as they are already cooked. Thanks for sharing!
Ginger says
The canned beans are ok but fresh or frozen better. If you are cooking fresh or frozen in the last few minutes of cooking try putting whole okra in. I use frozen because it is hard sometime to get fresh. Soooo good. I learned that years ago from my mother in law. We were from Savannah, the home of good southern cooking. Enjoy !!! ?
Pam says
If I use fresh lima beans instead of frozen how long should I cook them?
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
You may want to add 10 to 15 minutes, as often frozen are blanched.
Joette says
This one of my husbands favorites and I’ve never known how to prepare them but I’m looking forward to trying this recipe
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
I hope that he enjoys them! They are my husbands favorites too!
Heather says
Can you cook in the crockpot?
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Heather, Yes. I would try high for 3 to 4 hours or low 6 to 8 hours. I would initially add enough liquid to cover the beans and then add more if needed.
Rachel says
I do them in the crockpot frequently and they are just as delicious!
Sue Lau says
A favorite comfort food!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
I agree! Love comfort food!
Amy says
We love Lima Beans and this recipe looks delicious.
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you! We love them at our house too!
Julia says
We love baby lima beans and these look PERFECT!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you! WE love them at our house too! I have been craving them lately! I am not sure what that means 😉