This hearty and satisfying butter bean stew is the ultimate plant-based comfort food—gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, oil-free, and protein-packed. If you love the creamy texture of butter beans, our Curried Butter Beans offer a warming, spiced twist. Both of these butter bean recipes are stick-to-your-ribs satisfying.
This butter bean recipe is great for weight loss. It's one of our favorite weight loss recipes. It's high in fiber and protein while low in fat. To learn more, check out the health wonders of beans.
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Why You'll Love This Butter Bean Stew
- Nutrient-Dense and Satisfying: This stew is a powerhouse of plant-based protein and fiber, thanks to the hearty butter beans and a medley of vegetables. It's designed to keep you full and energized without excess calories.
- Weight-Loss Friendly: Crafted with whole-food, low-fat ingredients, this stew supports healthy weight management. It's one of our top picks for nourishing meals that align with your wellness goals.
- Flavorful and Comforting: Infused with aromatic spices like smoked paprika, allspice, and thyme, each spoonful offers a rich, comforting taste that warms you from the inside out.
- Allergy-Friendly: Naturally free from gluten, soy, nuts, and oil, this stew caters to various dietary needs without compromising on taste or texture.
- Meal Prep Made Easy: This stew stores well in the fridge for up to four days and freezes beautifully for up to four months, making it a convenient option for batch cooking and meal planning.
- Versatile Serving Options: Enjoy it on its own, or pair it with whole grains like perfectly cooked quinoa, brown rice, or farro for an extra hearty meal. You can also add diced potatoes or leafy greens to customize it to your liking.
What's in This Vegan Bean Stew
Cooked butter beans (large lima beans): These creamy legumes are the star of the stew. They're an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, and important micronutrients like iron, magnesium, and folate. Their mild flavor and buttery texture make them ideal for hearty stews.
Fire roasted diced tomatoes: These tomatoes add a rich, slightly smoky flavor that deepens the taste of the stew. The fire-roasting process enhances their natural sweetness and umami, making them more flavorful than regular diced tomatoes. Tomatoes are packed with vitamin C, potassium, and the antioxidant lycopene, which supports heart health and reduces inflammation.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How to make this butter bean stew
If making butter beans from scratch, cook beans in the Instant Pot under high pressure for 40 minutes. Allow for natural release. Alternatively, you can use canned low-salt or no-salt-added butter beans. Drain and rinse canned butter beans, and set aside.
Preheat a medium-large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions, carrots, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Stir it and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
Add dried spices: thyme, oregano, allspice, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Stir in diced tomatoes and their juices. This helps to deglaze the pot.
Add cooked butter beans and low-sodium vegetable broth. Stir until well combined.
Bring the soup to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat, put a lid on the pot so it's partially covered. This allows the steam to escape so the soup doesn't boil over on the stove. Cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit for 5 or more minutes.
Salt to taste and top with fresh chopped herbs, if using, and enjoy!
This butter bean stew is great for meal prep. Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to four days. This stew is freezer-friendly. Portion out leftover stew into freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to four months.
Step-by-step instructions
This stew is delicious and filling on its own. But to increase the heartiness, add a diced Yukon or red potato. Alternatively, serve this butter bean stew with a whole grain of choice like quinoa, brown rice, farro, or sorghum.
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Recipe FAQs
Yes, butter bean stew is a healthy, nutrient-dense meal packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and essential vitamins. It's oil-free, low in calories, and supports weight management. With antioxidant-rich veggies and spices, it also helps reduce inflammation.
Butter beans and lima beans are actually the same legume—the names are used interchangeably, but they can refer to different varieties or stages of maturity. “Lima bean” may refer to the younger, green variety, which is smaller, firmer, and has a slightly starchy flavor. “Butter bean” often describes the mature, larger, cream-colored lima bean variety, known for its soft, buttery texture when cooked.
Yes! Butter beans have numerous health benefits. Butter beans are high in plant-based protein, which is important for building and repairing tissues. It's also rich in fiber, which supports gut health, regulates blood sugar, and promotes a feeling of fullness. The potassium and other nutrients in butter beans support heart health by regulating blood pressure.
Other Butter Bean Recipes to Check Out
We hope you love this butter bean stew recipe as much as we do. Please rate and leave a comment below. Be sure to share a picture on Instagram and tag us @danielsplaterecipes so we can see your creation!
Butter Bean Stew
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked butter beans large lima beans
- ½ onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 1 medium carrot chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp allspice
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 14.5 ounce-weight can of fire-roasted or regular diced tomatoes
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley or cilantro for topping optional
Optional Add-ons
- 1 cup of diced Yukon or red potato
- Whole grain of choice: brown rice farro, or sorghum
Instructions
- If making butter beans from scratch, cook beans in the Instant Pot under high pressure for 40 minutes. Allow for natural release. Alternatively, you can use canned low-salt or no-salt-added butter beans. Drain and rinse canned butter beans, and set aside.
- Preheat a medium-large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions, carrots, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Stir it and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add dried spices: thyme, oregano, allspice, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Stir in diced tomatoes and their juices. This helps to deglaze the pot.
- Add cooked butter beans and low-sodium vegetable broth. Stir until well combined.
- Bring the soup to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat, put a lid on the pot so it's partially covered. This allows the steam to escape so the soup doesn't boil over on the stove. Cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit for 5 or more minutes.
- Salt to taste and top with fresh chopped herbs, if using, and enjoy!
- This stew is delicious and filling on its own. But to increase the heartiness, add a diced Yukon or red potato. Alternatively, serve this butter bean stew with a whole grain of choice like brown rice, farro, or sorghum.
- This butter bean stew is great for meal prep. Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to four days. This stew is freezer-friendly. Portion out leftover stew into freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to four months.
Notes
EQUIPMENT / SUPPLIES
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Medium-large pot with a lid
- Cooking spoon
Vicci says
I made this soup tonight and my family and I are so satisfied. We have enough to freeze. Thank you ladies for this wonderful recipe. We are looking forward to making more of your delicious recipes!!
Mona Wimp says
I absolutely fell in love with this recipe! My husband is not a big fan of Lima beans but he said it was terrific!