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By Beckie Hemmerling · Zero AI content
You are here: Home » Side Dishes

Spiciness: Mild

Butter Bean (Lima Bean) and Corn Succotash

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Succotash is a Southern comfort dish of cooked butter beans (AKA lima beans), corn, and other vegetables like red pepper and zucchini.

This butter bean and corn succotash recipe can be made using fresh or frozen corn and fresh or frozen lima beans.

Top View Corn & Lima Bean Succotash with diced Zucchini In A brown Bowl with a Wood Spoon this …
Purist Succotash. No bacon. No cheese.

Butterbeans and Lima Beans Are The Same Thing

Butterbeans (butter beans) are the same as lima beans. These three terms are all interchangeable.

Corn and lima bean succotash is the perfect picnic food. Succotash can be served room temperature or cold, makes a lot, and people love a good southern corn and bean side dish.

Use Fresh Butter Beans or Frozen Lima Beans For Succotash

Fresh butterbeans need to be boiled in water ~ 25 minutes before using.

Use canned or frozen lima beans for corn succotash if you can't find butterbeans or if you're trying to save time.  

Same with corn. Use frozen corn if you're trying to get dinner on the table fast.

Optional Add Ons For Lima Bean and Corn Succotash

Make butter bean and corn succotash a main meal by adding goat cheese and sliced cooked bacon.

Top View Corn & Lima Bean Succotash with diced Zucchini In A brown Bowl with a Wood Spoon. Crumbled goat cheese garnish.
Yumm. Add a little creamy chèvre (AKA goat cheese)

Troubleshooting Butterbean and Corn Succotash

Cook the onions, peppers, and zucchini in the skillet at the same time if you're pressed for time.

I cook the zucchini separately most of the time so it gets crisper instead of steaming it. This gives corn and bean succotash a more textured taste but is not neccessary.

Cooking the vegetables separately allows them to get a bit of caramelization and/or firmness. But this is not necessary, it's just a technique suggestion if you're into trying different ways of cooking the same recipe just to see the differences.

Side View of Butter Bean & Corn Succotash w/ Diced Zucchini, Chevre, and Diced Cooked Bacon. Wood spoon on the side. Bacon and goat cheese garnish.
I know nearly everyone loves bacon. Go ahead - splurge!
Print

Butter Bean (Lima Bean) And Corn Succotash

Top View Corn & Lima Bean Succotash with diced Zucchini In A brown Bowl with a Wood Spoon
Print Recipe

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EatSimpleFood.com

Succotash is a Southern comfort dish of cooked butter beans (AKA lima beans), corn, and other veggies.  If making it a main meal, try adding some chèvre (goat cheese) and some bacon.  Butterbeans and Lima Beans are the same thing.

  • Author: beckie
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 5
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American, Low Country
  • Diet: Comfort Food, Dairy-Free, Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups fresh Butterbeans (AKA lima beans), shelled OR 1 ½ cups frozen lima beans
  • 1 ½ cups of frozen corn, defrosted (or 2 ears of corn, kernels cut from the cob)
  • 1 ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup onions, diced
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • 1 zucchini, diced
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • pinch black pepper

Instructions

  • Boil the fresh butterbeans in salted water for ~25 minutes or until tender.  Frozen lima beans can be boiled for a couple minutes or until desired tenderness. Drain and set aside in a big bowl.
  • Add frozen corn that has been defrosted to lima bean bowl.
  • Bring a large skillet to medium high heat and add butter and olive oil.  
  • When melted add the onion and red pepper.  Cook uncovered ~ 4-6 minutes or until soft.  Place in bowl with butterbeans and corn.
  • In the same pan, add the zucchini and turn up the heat.  This is easiest to do if your using a non stick pan.  Try to get a little bit of brown on the zucchini.  Cook it longer if you like it soft.   I like it cooked just on the outside and still a little firm on the inside.  Cook ~ 3-5 minutes uncovered. Place zucchini in bowl with other ingredients.
  • Add white wine vinegar and a little more olive oil if needed.  Salt to taste.

Notes

  • You can add the onions, peppers, & zucchini to the skillet at the same time if your pressed for time.  I cook them separate so it doesn't steam and get soggy and can get a bit of caramelization and firmness in the vegetables.
  • Add goat cheese and cooked bacon if you like.

Things In My Kitchen:

  • 12" non stick skillet - I have all kinds of pans (cast iron, stainless steel, ceramic) for different uses but find this PFOA free skillet a good value.  It has a lid and it can take some heat to cook delicate veggies (like zucchini) & fish.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Serving Suggestion

Serve this lima bean and corn succotash recipe with a complementary southern dish like:

  • Wood bowl of pimento cheese with 3 crackers and a small spoon hanging out. Crackers on plate in background and one with pimento cheese on it.
    Easy Homemade Pimento Cheese
  • Breaded and Fried Green Tomatoes Layered and laying on a white paper towels on a white plate.
    Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
  • Shrimp In A Dark Roux With red and yellow peppers on yellow grits on a white plate.
    The Best Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits
  • Raw Okra on a Silver skewer over a bowl of cherry tomatoes and halved peaches.
    Easy Whole Grilled "unslimy" Okra

You May Also Like

If you like butterbean and corn succotash, you may also like these recipes with corn:

  • Oval white bowl of corn salad w/ quartered cherry tomatoes, jalapeños, red onions, and cilantro. Side view.
    Easy Frozen Corn and Tomato Salad
  • Verticle Bowl of Corn Chowder w/ Sweet Potatoes, Bacon, Cilantro, and Avocado Garnish. Close up.
    Sweet Potato Corn Chowder
  • Small Potatoes, Shrimp, Sliced Andouille Sausage, Corn cooked and laid out on craft brown paper. Close up.
    Easy Low Country Boil
  • Corn, Edamame, & Red pepper Succotash with red peppers with a fork in a brown bowl. close up.
    Easy Corn and Edamame Succotash

More Side Dish Recipes

  • 2 bowls of orzo pasta in a green herb sauce with diced cucumbers, red onions, and green onions. One bowl has shredded parmesan and a spoon. Side view.
    Lemon Dill Orzo Salad with Feta
  • Top view of a small white bowl of ceviche (diced white fish, red onions, yellow and red peppers, lime juice, and cilantro) with 3 crackers sticking out of bowl.
    Amberjack Ceviche
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts halves on a brown plate with cooked bacon. Side view. Close up.
    Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
  • Close up of halved cucumbers with seeds taken out tossed in a soy / sesame oil sauce and topped with sesame seeds and cilantro.
    Simple Asian Cucumber Salad

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Hey y'all!

I’m Beckie Hemmerling. I love food and glorify it sometimes but also think of it on a basic level of providing strength & nourishment. Cooking has helped me *try* to figure out life, not just my own, but also other peoples. I have cooked through many joys / sorrows and cooking has always been a meditative place through these highs & lows. As a professional cook, I have been a “food therapist” to each one of my clients. My clients keep me on my toes and contribute to my personal & professional growth more than words can say…. More background info →

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