Slow Cooker Butter Beans Recipe with Ham and Herbs
This butter beans recipe for the crockpot turns dried lima beans into a creamy, hearty pot with smoked ham and herbs. Slow cooking lets them go soft without breaking, and the broth turns thick and rich on its own.
8
servings15
minutes8
hoursDried butter beans cook low and slow with a smoked ham hock, onion and herbs. The beans turn creamy while the broth thickens into a rich pot liquor.
Ingredients
1 lb dried large lima (butter) beans, rinsed and picked over
1 smoked ham hock (about 1 lb)
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 celery stalk, diced
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 Tbsp butter
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
kosher salt, to taste
Directions
- Rinse the beans and pick out any stones or shriveled ones. Soak them overnight in cold water if you have time, then drain. Soaking is optional but shortens the cook time.
- Place the onion, celery and garlic in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Add the beans, then nestle the ham hock into the middle.
- Pour in the broth and water. Add the bay leaves, thyme, paprika, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours (unsoaked beans) or 6 to 7 hours (soaked), or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.
- Check at the early end of the range. The beans should be creamy inside and hold their shape.
- Remove the ham hock and bay leaves. Pull the meat from the bone, discard the skin and bone, and chop the meat.
- Return the meat to the pot. Stir in the butter and vinegar.
- Taste, then add salt a pinch at a time, since the ham adds salt on its own.
- Mash a few beans against the side of the pot for a thicker broth and serve hot.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, skip the ham and use vegetable broth with extra smoked paprika. Leftovers thicken in the fridge, so loosen with a splash of water when reheating. Serve over rice, with cornbread or alongside greens and fried chicken.
Why dried butter beans cook best slowly
Large lima beans are delicate. Boil them hard and the skins split before the centers soften. A slow cooker holds a steady, low heat that cooks them evenly, so they come out creamy and mostly whole. This is old-fashioned comfort food that costs very little and feeds a crowd, and the slow cooker removes the need to watch a pot for hours.
The ham hock gives smoke and body. As it simmers, collagen from the bone and skin thickens the broth into the kind of pot liquor people spoon over bread. The finished pot has a loose, spoonable texture, with some beans whole and some broken down into the broth, which is the way a good pot of beans should look.
Ingredient notes for the pot
Dried butter beans: choose large, pale beans that look plump, not wrinkled. Old beans can take hours longer, so buy from a store that moves stock quickly. Rinse well in a colander. Dried beans can carry dust and the occasional small stone.
Smoked ham hock: look for one with a good amount of meat. Smoked turkey legs are a fine substitute.
Broth: low-sodium lets you control the salt. A mix of broth and water keeps the flavor from being too heavy. A bit of chopped carrot added with the onion gives the broth a gentle natural sweetness.
Bay leaves: remove them before serving, because they do not soften.
Apple cider vinegar: a small splash at the end brightens everything and balances the smoke.
Tips for creamy beans every time
Salt late: very salty liquid at the start can slow how fast beans soften. Taste at the end and season then. If you did not soak, expect the long end of the time range, and keep the pot covered the whole time.
Check the beans, not the clock: age and hardness vary. Start testing at 6 hours.
Do not add acid early, the most common mistake: tomatoes or vinegar at the start keep beans firm and chalky. Add acid only after the beans are fully soft. Hard tap water or very old beans can stay firm for hours, so do not panic if they need extra time.
Swaps and variations
Use smoked sausage or diced bacon instead of a hock. For extra greens, stir in a few handfuls of chopped collards or spinach in the last 30 minutes. Cannellini beans also work but need less time. A few strips of bacon, crisped and crumbled over the top, are a nice finish. A spoonful of tomato paste gives a slightly sweeter version, but add it only once the beans are tender.
Do not substitute canned butter beans for the dried in the same timing. They will turn to paste in a full cook. If you only have canned, add them for the last hour.
What to serve with the beans
Serve in shallow bowls with a wedge of cornbread, sliced raw onion and hot sauce on the table. A plate of sliced tomatoes in summer or sauteed greens in winter completes it. Make a pot on Sunday and eat from it all week as a side with grilled or roasted meat.
Storing and reheating
Cool and refrigerate for up to 5 days. The beans soak up broth as they sit, so add water or broth when reheating on the stove. Leftovers are even better the next day because the beans keep absorbing flavor. Stir in a splash of hot water and a little butter when warming.
Freeze in portions with their liquid for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and warm gently, stirring now and then.
Slow Cooker Butter Beans Recipe with Ham and Herbs at a glance
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 8 hours
- Servings: 8 servings
- Ingredients: 15, led by dried large lima (butter) beans, smoked ham hock (about 1 lb), yellow onion, garlic
Tips for Slow Cooker Butter Beans Recipe with Ham and Herbs
For a vegetarian version, skip the ham and use vegetable broth with extra smoked paprika. Leftovers thicken in the fridge, so loosen with a splash of water when reheating. Serve over rice, with cornbread or alongside greens and fried chicken.
Slow Cooker Butter Beans Recipe with Ham and Herbs FAQ
How long does Slow Cooker Butter Beans Recipe with Ham and Herbs take?
Slow Cooker Butter Beans Recipe with Ham and Herbs takes 8 hours of cooking after 15 minutes of prep.
How many people does Slow Cooker Butter Beans Recipe with Ham and Herbs serve?
This recipe makes 8 servings.
What do I need to make Slow Cooker Butter Beans Recipe with Ham and Herbs?
15 ingredients, led by dried large lima (butter) beans, smoked ham hock (about 1 lb), yellow onion, garlic. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
