If you’ve got a can of butter beans sitting in your pantry, you’re halfway to dinner.
These 7 easy butter bean recipes turn humble beans into creamy, cozy, and totally satisfying meals. You might also like our healthy budget recipes and quick lentil recipes.
Butter beans are one of those ingredients people either love… or just haven’t met yet.
They’re soft, mild, and soak up flavor like nothing else – kind of like little edible sponges for olive oil, herbs, and lemon.
If you’re new to them (or haven’t quite figured them out yet), here’s what we’ve learned from testing them in everything from healthy soups to easy salads:
- Mash a few: Thickens sauces and soups without cream.
- Rinse canned beans: Makes them taste cleaner and less salty.
- Warm gently: Don’t boil — they’ll stay creamy, not mushy.
- Add acid last: Lemon or vinegar brightens flavor without toughening.
- Finish with fat: Olive oil or butter makes them rich and silky.
Pro Tip: Butter beans love contrast – something creamy, something bright, something crunchy. Think lemon zest, chili oil, or toasted breadcrumbs for texture.
7 Easy Butter Bean Recipes
Marry me butter beans: Creamy, tangy, and rich, this one converts butter bean skeptics on the first bite. Louise swears by extra sun-dried tomatoes for a deeper, almost bacon-y flavor. Serve with crusty focaccia bread to mop up every bit of sauce.
Butter beans Marsala: Like chicken Marsala, but heartier and plant-based. The mushrooms and wine give it that cozy, steakhouse depth – no meat required. We love it over garlic mashed potatoes or soft polenta.
Greek butter bean skillet: Our go-to lazy dinner. Everything cooks in one pan: butter beans, tomatoes, garlic, and oregano. Top with crumbled feta and a drizzle of olive oil, it’s sunshine in a skillet.
Three bean salad: Fresh, crunchy, and perfectly tangy. The kind of side dish that steals the show at barbecues and is also excellent for meal prep.
Cherry tomato orzo with beans: A 20-minute dinner that feels fancy. The orzo turns creamy as it cooks with the burst tomatoes, and the butter beans make it filling enough to skip the meat. Add basil and parmesan and call it a night.
Pesto pasta salad: Bright, herby, and picnic-ready. The butter beans soak up the basil pesto and lemon dressing, making every bite flavorful. We toss in cherry tomatoes and arugula for color and crunch.
Butter beans florentine: Creamy spinach meets buttery beans in this easy Italian-inspired skillet. Think creamed spinach, but upgraded into a full meal. Louise and I like it with a poached egg and grilled sourdough bread on the side.
How to Store Butter Beans
- Fridge: Store leftover butter beans or any of these dishes in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Soups, stews, and saucy recipes like Marry Me Butter Beans freeze perfectly for up to 3 months. Just thaw in the fridge and warm gently on the stove.
- Avoid freezing salads: Instead, toss leftover beans into a quick couscous salad or a Mediterranean grain bowl.
Ways to Reuse Leftovers
- Smash on toast: Spread warm butter beans on crusty sourdough, drizzle with olive oil, and top with lemon zest.
- Add to salads: Toss a handful into your next Greek pasta salad or chickpea apple salad.
- Turn into soup: Blend with vegetable broth, garlic, and herbs for a 5-minute creamy soup.
If you tried these Butter bean recipes or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!
