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Southern Style Baby Lima Beans are cooked low and slow with bacon and seasoned to perfection. This country delicacy is melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
This Southern Lima Bean Recipe will change your world!
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!
How to Season Lima Beans
- Bacon
- Chicken Broth or Water and Bouillon
- Garlic
- Onion Powder
- Sugar
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
- Fresh or Fresh Frozen Baby Lima Beans
How to Cook Lima Beans
Step 1 | Saute Bacon
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.
Step 2 | Combine Lima Bean Ingredients in Pot
Add the minced garlic, onion powder, sugar, black pepper, and red pepper (if you like a kick) to the pan. Let that saute for about 1 minute.
Then, add lima beans and chicken broth and give then a good stir to combine.
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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 | How long to cook Lima Beans on the stove?
Cook for about 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
Then, give the limas a taste and add the salt to taste.
Step 4 | Add More Liquid if Needed and Continue Cooking
If it needs more liquid, add more broth or water 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.
Then cook another 30 minutes until nice and tender.
Now it is time to enjoy these beauties!!
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Southern Style Frozen Lima Beans
Ingredients
- 2 slices bacon, sliced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ⅛ to ¼ red pepper flakes, (optional)
- 16 ounces frozen baby lima beans
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth or stock
Instructions
- In a large pot, slightly saute the bacon for about 1 to 2 minutes (or until how you like it).2 slices bacon
- Add in garlic and spices and stir and saute for about 1 minute1 clove garlic, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp sugar, salt to taste, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/8 to 1/4 red pepper flakes
- Then add in lima beans and broth. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low to simmer.16 ounces frozen baby lima beans, 1 1/2 cups chicken broth or stock
- 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.
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Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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This was very good. I subbed the bacon for vegetarian bacon + 1/8 tsp liquid smoke and added chopped okra.
Thank you, Christina. Great vegetarian substitutions. A little okra to change things up = YUM!
I made this recipe today. It is delicious! The only thing I did differently was to use bacon grease instead of slices of bacon.
I am so glad you made it and loved it too! Bacon grease works too! Lots of flavor!
Perfect recipe!
thank for sharing
Thank you, Mike! This one is a family favorite. I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to rate the recipe!
These lima beans tasted exactly how I remember they tasted when my Mom used to make them. They were my favorite growing up. I never attempted to make them myself as she always used an old pressure pot to cook them in. I figured that’s what made them taste so good. But I followed this recipe and did them on my stovetop and they tasted absolutely perfect. Thank you. Will make these regularly for my family now. My daughters and husband loved them too.
I am so glad you stopped by to share your story and your results. There really isn’t anything better than the memories a home-cooked recipe can bring with them. I am so glad these lima beans could do that for you. It makes my heart happy you will be enjoying these with your family time and time again.
Could I make these in an instant pot? If so, how long would you recommend on high pressure?
Bee, I haven’ tested in the Instant Pot. But I would try for fresh frozen on high pressure for 4-5 minutes and then natural release for about 10 minutes before manual release. For dried lima beans I would cook at high pressure for 15-20 minutes and natural release for 15 minutes. If they are soft enough for you start again for 5 minutes. Usually about 20 will result in a nice tender bean. Hope this helps. Please feel free to reach out any time!
Tasted like grandmas and so good. Thank you for my HOLIDAY table recipe!!
That the best compliment I can receive. I am honored you tried them and will enjoy them over the holidays. Have a blessed holiday season!
I made these using frozen baby lima beans and added butter, but I didn’t add any red pepper flakes. They were delicious! I will definitely save this recipe!!
Thank you so much, Jill! I am so happy you enjoyed them!
I have made these a couple times, although I leave out the red pepper. My husband and daughter adore lime beans, but I’ve never been a fan until I found this recipe. It’s wonderful! It takes some time but we’ll worth it!
Thank you so much Nancy! All the flavors and slow cooking them makes a big difference in the taste. I am so glad to hear you enjoyed them!
Closest thing to what my Grandmother fixed that I have found!!! And she was a great rural NC cook with requirements such as – gotta pick the beans before the dew dries, shelling and cooking immediately for the mid-day dinner.
I used fresh butter beans, reduced to one slice of thick bacon, and did not add the optional red pepper flakes. Oh my – I am in heaven!!!!!
Thank you so much! I am so happy to hear you loved them and that they remind you of your grandmother’s. Best compliment I could receive!
Looove
Do you soak your beans before cooking?
If using dried beans, yes I soak them first. Or you can do a quick boil first and then proceed.