One Pot Brothy Butter Beans with Kale

This one-pot brothy butter beans recipe is deliciously simple and a great go-to for those cold weather nights when you want something comforting. Ready in 30 minutes or less, these creamy beans are loaded with garlic, herbs, kale, and a splash of heavy cream. Serve with toasted sourdough bread and shaved Parmesan for an easy weeknight dinner.

 

You Will Love This

• You are going to be obsessed with these brothy beans! Yes, they are a one-pot meal made with pantry staple ingredients, but the flavors are AMAZING. The butter beans simmer in a creamy broth loaded with flavor from onion, garlic, and dried herbs. The kale adds a delicious earthiness and texture and a sprinkle of shaved Parmesan and toasted sourdough completes the dish. The best part is you can have a bowl of warm brothy beans on the table in 30 minutes, but it’s got that simmered all-day flavor.
• While these butter beans are different than a classic butter beans recipe or southern recipes, they are delicious in their own right!
• If you loved this butter beans recipe, be sure to check out my vegan beans and rice, vegan chili with black beans, and my one-pot creamy vegetable soup.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Olive Oil & Butter – I like to combine olive oil and butter because the butter has a delicious flavor and the olive oil has a higher smoke point. This allows you to get the flavor of butter while enjoying the benefits of being able to saute the onions in oil. They are a great team!
• Onions & Garlic – The simple addition of sauteed onion and garlic takes any dish to the next level and these beans are no exception. These veggies are the flavor base for this dish so I recommend chopping them fresh.
• Italian Seasoning – Italian seasoning adds a ton of flavor to the onion and garlic mixture and lends a delicious herby flavor to the dish overall. Feel free to substitute with your favorite dried herbs.
• Smoked Paprika – Smoked paprika is different than regular paprika in that it has a very distinct smoked flavor and aroma. You can substitute with regular paprika but the flavors will not be the same, unfortunately. If you haven’t worked with smoked paprika much, this is a great first recipe to try it!
• Butter Beans – Butter beans are the same as lima beans. Depending on which brand you buy, they may be labeled as either. However, you can really use any type of white bean for this recipe and it will turn out delicious.
• Vegetable Stock – Vegetable stock is the main cooking liquid in this recipe and an easy way to add an extra layer of flavor to any soup or brothy dish. It’s got a more concentrated flavor than vegetable broth so in a simple dish like this it really does make a difference. You can sub with vegetable broth but the flavor won’t be quite as rich. You could also sub with chicken stock if you aren’t worried about these butter beans being vegetarian.
• Bay Leaves – Bay leaves are such an easy way to elevate the flavors of a simple dish. In this recipe, the simmer time is relatively short so the addition of dried bay leaves really adds a lot.
• Kale – The kale wilts so beautifully into these broth beans and just adds such a delicious earthy flavor. Feel free to use spinach instead or omit it if you prefer.
• Heavy Cream – Heavy cream will give you the best rich flavor, creamy texture, and stew like consistency. Half and half will work in it’s place but the broth will be thinner. If you want to keep this meal vegan, use canned full-fat coconut milk in place of heavy cream.
• Balsamic Vinegar – Balsamic vinegar is my secret ingredient for all creamy dishes! Just a touch of acid is the perfect way to balance out the creamy flavor and rich texture of this broth. You can sub with white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or white balsamic vinegar as well.

Instructions

Saute onion in olive oil and butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika along with a couple pinches of Kosher salt and black pepper.

Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.

Add beans to the pot.

Add stock and bay leaves along with salt and pepper. Gently simmer for 15 minutes, then add kale.

Stir in heavy cream and balsamic vinegar.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. Don’t be afraid to salt this dish moderately since it’s made with such simple ingredients! Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Serve with shaved Parmesan and toasted sourdough and enjoy!

Tip

• Salt this dish at every step! Taste as you go and season liberally throughout the cooking process. Because these ingredients are fairly straightforward and uncomplicated, a moderate amount of salt and pepper is going to go a long way in creating a delicious dish.
• This recipe relies on canned beans for a quick and easy dinner, but if you prefer to cook with dried beans that works too! You can boil or cook them using your preferred method, then use them in this recipe just like you would canned beans.

Variations

Feel free to add your favorite proteins or extra veggies to this dish. Some of our family’s favorites include:

• smoked pork
• smoked sausage
• sliced smoked chuck roast
• shredded smoked chicken thighs
• crispy bacon
• diced ham
• ham hocks
• sliced carrots
• sliced celery

Are butter beans and lima beans the same?

Yes! Butter beans and lima beans are the same beans but with different names, so when you’re shopping for your canned beans you can choose either for this brothy beans recipe.

Are butter beans good for you?

Butter beans, like most beans, are packed with nutrients like potassium, magnesium, folate, iron, zinc, calcium, and protein. Because of this, beans are one of our family’s favorite foods!

Are butter beans a vegetable?

Butter beans, AKA lime beans, are technically a legume.

Make-Ahead, Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

• Make-Ahead: These butter beans are the perfect make-ahead meal as their flavors will just get better with time.
• Storage: Store leftover butter beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
• Freezing: Freeze these brothy butter beans in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat.
• Reheating: Reheat butter beans in a medium saucepan on the stovetop until warmed through. You can also reheat them in the microwave. Season to taste before serving.

Easy Vegetarian Recipes

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