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    Home » Vegetarian

    One Pot Brothy Butter Beans with Kale

    Published: Nov 9, 2022 » Modified: Nov 9, 2022 » By: Kylie » This post may contain affiliate links. » 2 Comments

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    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.

    White bowl filled with brothy lima beans, Parmesan cheese, and toasted sourdough bread.
    Table of Contents show
    You Will Love This
    Ingredients and Substitutions
    Instructions
    Tip
    Variations
    Are butter beans and lima beans the same?
    Are butter beans good for you?
    Are butter beans a vegetable?
    Make-Ahead, Storage, Freezing, and Reheating
    Easy Vegetarian Recipes
    Brothy Butter Beans and Kale

    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.
    White marble counter top with ingredients to make brothy lima beans.

    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.

    Sauteed onions in a large pan with minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and paprika being added.

    Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.

    Sauteed onions, garlic, and spices in a large white pan.

    Add beans to the pot.

    Lime beans being added to a large white pan with sauteed onions.

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

    Kale being added to a large pot with brothy beans.

    Stir in heavy cream and balsamic vinegar.

    Large white pot filled with ingredients to make brothy lima beans.

    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.

    Large white pot filled with brothy beans and kale.

    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
    White bowl filled with brothy lima beans garnished with parsley.

    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.

    White bowl filled with brothy lima beans, Parmesan cheese, and toasted sourdough bread.

    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

    • Easy One Pan Cornbread Casserole
    • Easy 20 Minute Lemon Garlic Pasta
    • 4 Ingredient Garlic Butter Sauce (10 Minutes!)
    • How to Make a Dessert Charcuterie Board

    Questions?
    Leave a comment below!
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    Brothy Butter Beans and Kale

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    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    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 butter 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.

    • Author: Kylie
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 8 servings 1x
    • Category: Main Dish
    • Method: Stove Top
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegetarian

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1 small yellow onion, diced
    • 6-8 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
    • 3-4 teaspoons smoked paprika
    • 3 (15 oz.) cans large butter beans, drained
    • 32 oz. veggie stock (or chicken stock)
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 2 cups thinly sliced kale
    • ¼ cup heavy cream
    • 1-2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
    • Kosher salt
    • fresh cracked pepper

    Serve With

    • grilled/toasted sourdough
    • shaved Parmesan cheese
    • red pepper flakes
    • fresh cracked pepper

    Instructions

    1. Heat oil and butter in a large saute pan over medium heat.
    2. Add onion and a couple pinches of salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently for 3-4 minutes.
    3. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika along with a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
    4. Add beans, stock, and bay leaves to the pot. Add a few large pinches of salt and pepper.
    5. Turn heat up to medium-high and bring to a simmer.
    6. Reduce heat and gently simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaves.
    7. Stir in kale until it wilts.
    8. Stir in heavy cream and balsamic vinegar.
    9. 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.
    10. Serve over toasted sourdough or Italian bread and enjoy!

    Equipment

    measuring cup

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    large saute pan

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    Notes

    • 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 your beans from dried that works too! Once you're done cooking them using your preferred method, you can use them in this recipe just like you would canned beans.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 206
    • Sugar: 2.3 g
    • Sodium: 518.8 mg
    • Fat: 8.9 g
    • Saturated Fat: 3.4 g
    • Carbohydrates: 25.5 g
    • Fiber: 6.6 g
    • Protein: 8 g
    • Cholesterol: 11.9 mg

    Keywords: white beans, lima beans, butterbeans, brothy beans

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pamela

      November 13, 2022 at 9:50 am

      Sooo good!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Luke

      November 09, 2022 at 3:15 pm

      These are SO good! The smoked paprika is really the key to the delicious flavor and that broth is amazing. Can't wait to make this one again and again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    HELLO FROM THE MIDWEST - I'm Kylie and as a mom and blogger, I understand how hard it can be to get a wholesome dinner on the table at the end of a long day. Here at Midwest Foodie, I focus on sharing simple recipes that make it easy to feed your family real food.

    More about me →

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