Southern Butter Beans Recipe With Vegan Bacon
If you’ve ever craved that rich, comforting taste of southern butter beans but wanted to skip the meat, you’re in for a treat. This vegan twist on a classic Southern staple delivers everything you love—creamy texture, smoky flavor, and tender beans—without relying on traditional ingredients like ham hocks, salt pork, or bacon grease.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh canned butter beans or frozen butter beans, or dried large lima beans (soaked)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon vegan butter plus more to finish
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 pack Thrilling Foods vegan bacon chopped
- 3 cups vegetable broth instead of chicken broth or chicken stock
- 1 –2 cups enough water as needed
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
Prep the Beans
- If using dried baby lima beans, small lima beans, or large lima beans, use the quick soak method or soak overnight. Drain and rinse well. (If using canned or frozen butter beans, you can skip soaking entirely—perfect for a quick version!)
Sauté Aromatics
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper, cooking until softened and fragrant. Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds—this step builds that classic base found in southern peas, green beans, and other Southern staples.
Bloom the Spices
- Add Cajun seasoning, paprika, and oregano directly to the pot. Stir continuously for about 1 minute to bloom spices—this unlocks deeper flavor and gives your beans that signature smoky flavor usually achieved with bacon fat or salt pork.
Add Vegan Bacon
- Toss in the chopped Thrilling Foods vegan bacon. Let it crisp slightly and infuse the aromatics with a rich, smoky depth—this is the plant-based answer to bacon grease and ham hocks.
Add Butter Beans
- Stir in your butter beans, coating them in the spice mixture. Add vegetable broth and enough water to cover the beans by about an inch (think “just above the top of the beans”).
Simmer to Perfection
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 2–3 hours until you have tender beans with a creamy texture.
Stir occasionally
- Add more water if needed
Taste and adjust seasoning
- (Slow Cooker Option: Transfer everything to a crock pot and cook on low for 6–8 hours.)
Finish with Vegan Butter
- Once the beans are soft and rich, stir in vegan butter for that signature buttery texture—the best part of any true butter bean recipe.