25 Comforting Butter Bean Recipes For Dinner

Need ideas of what to make with butter beans? Check out these 25 butter bean recipes for dinner! You'll find everything from vegetarian butter bean side dishes to hearty dinner dishes on this list.

Butter beans vs lima beans

Butter beans and lima beans are the same plant. The beans are green when they are small, and are typically called lima beans at the younger stage. They grow large and white when fully mature, and are called butter beans because of their tender buttery texture. This list below has recipes specifically for large butter beans, not for smaller green baby lima beans / butter beans.

Butter beans are a favorite of mine because they are so tender, buttery, soft, and really hearty. They make a GREAT addition to so many dishes thanks to their wonderful texture. They contain fiber and plant protein and are just wonderful.

Now, obviously, butter beans can be used in place of any recipe that calls for white beans. But I specifically tried to find recipes where the large tender butter beans will be the star of the dish, where their large size and texture will be SO MUCH BETTER than throwing in any ol' white beans.

Bon Appetit!

Butter Bean Recipes

Most of the recipes on this list call for canned butter beans, but there are a couple where you can cook the beans from scratch, for an even more budget-friendly dinner!

Butter Bean Sides, Salads, and Appetizers

Butterbean Hummus

Serve this lemony garlic butter bean hummus at a party and it will be devoured fast! It's also great as a healthy snack with veggies. It's super smooth and creamy because butter beans blend so well. Dare I say it is even better than classic hummus??

Toast with Butter Beans, Burrata, and Pesto

This butter bean toast makes a great quick lunch! And be sure to also check out these burrata toast ideas.

Mashed Butternut Squash with White Beans

This white bean and butternut squash mash is amazing with butter beans because they're so tender and blend well into a nice mashed side dish. This recipe has roasted butternut squash and roasted garlic along with a few classic Fall herbs. It's a very flavorful and savory side dish!

Garlic Chive Mashed Butter Beans

Here's another great mashed bean recipe: Butter beans are blended with sauteed crispy garlic and a little lemon juice, then fresh chives are added for an even brighter flavor. It's a great high protein high fiber side dish.

Harissa Butter Beans

Creamy, rich, flavorful, spicy, delicious. Serve these beans as a side dish or spooned over some crusty bread or toast. This would also be amazing as part of a baked potato toppings bar!

Gigantes Plaki

Here's a Greek side dish to make with butter beans. It's also great as a vegetarian gyro topping!

Warm Spring Salad with Crispy Butter Beans

Butter beans don't have to be prepared stewy or saucy. They make a great crisp topping for a salad, too!

Creamy Leeks & Butter Beans

This dish is so hearty and full of savory flavor thanks to leeks. It's dairy free because it has a vegan cashew sauce. And it's delish!

Za'atar and Mint Butter Bean Salad

This gorgeous green salad is so flavorful thanks to middle eastern za'atar seasoning and fresh herbs. Perfect salad for grilled dishes and summer cookouts.

Creamy Miso Butter Beans

Salty umami-rich miso paste is the perfect pairing for butter beans. The creamy sauce in this butter bean side dish can be made with coconut milk or heavy cream, depending on your preferences.

Sauteed Butter Beans with Tomatoes & Garlic

This butter bean side dish has just a few healthy whole ingredients and is ready in under 20 minutes! It's Mediterranean diet-friendly and goes great with any protein.

Spiced Carrot and Butter Bean Soup

A little spice, a little creaminess, and lots of coziness. What more could you want from a soup?!

Green Olive Soup with Olive Oil

This unique soup has olives to give it a great tang and butter beans for a nice creaminess without any dairy.

Southern Butter Beans

Of course we can't have a list of butter bean recipes without the classic southern butter beans. This recipe is made from dry butter beans that are simmered for hours until tender and are flavored with bacon, garlic, and a few other simple ingredients.

Main Dishes with Butter Beans

Butter Bean Curry with Coconut Milk

A main dish ready in 35 minutes! Pair this delicious curry with some basmati rice and naan. So good!

Sheet Pan Baked Feta Dinner

I love a good sheet pan dinner where everything is assembled right on the baking pan. Minimal dishes, maximum flavor! Scoop up the crisp beans and melty feta and veggies with some crackers or crusty bread, or serve over pasta.

Vegan Butter Bean Stew

If you need dinner on the table in 20 minutes, then this butter bean stew is it! It's delicious and made with a few wholesome ingredients. Amazing served over rice, noodles, or on its own as a soup or stew.

One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans

You might have heard of "Marry Me Chicken" — a recipe so good it makes men propose. Well here's the vegetarian version with butter beans and the same irresistible sauce. This one is also topped with melted cheese for the ultimate WOW experience for your taste buds.

Calico Beans

This amazing dish has a few types of beans in it, including butter beans. It's loaded with protein thanks to beef, pork, and bacon. It kind of reminds me of my baked beans with ground beef recipe, and would be amazing served with a slice of jalapeño cornbread!

Creamy Tomato Butter Beans

This dish is not only gorgeous in a hearty rustic way, but is also bursting with flavors. Large butter beans are the key to taking this dish from "just" a bean dish to this masterpiece. It's super simple to make in 30 minutes.

Jamaican Oxtail Stew With Butterbeans

Have you ever had oxtail stew? It is SO flavorful and delicious! It has a spicy and subtly sweet broth, and it is made even better with the addition of butter beans. Do yourself a favor and make this!

Vegan Pearl Couscous Salad

Even though this is a salad, this is still in the "main dish" section thanks to filling pearl couscous, hearty butter beans, and loads of veggies. The fresh herbs and crunchy toppings make it extra delicious!

Sausage and Butter Bean Casserole

This dish has all the comforts of a casserole but made on the stovetop with just about 30 minutes of cooking. So comforting and so delicious.

Spanish Fish Stew with Butter Beans

A little something for the pescatarians! This fish stew is great with lots of herbs for garnish and some crusty bread for dipping.

Poached Cod with Butter Beans

Here's another pescatarian butter beans recipe. This one has the fewest ingredients. It's creamy without any dairy, comforting without any hassle. You can use any white fish if cod is not your thing.

Sweet Potato, Spinach & Butter Bean Stew

This stew is loaded with healthy ingredients and makes a great healthy dinner. Serve it over couscous or rice for a heartier dish.

To summarize, butter beans taste great in a sauce or stew. Throw in some fish to poach or some cooked chorizo or sausage or add extra veggies and keep it vegetarian. But another way to serve butter beans is in a salad or creamy mash/hummus type of situation. Herbs go great with butter beans, so play around to try different flavors!