butter bean
noun
1
chiefly Southern US and Midland US
a
: lima bean sense 2
Note: The name butter bean is used chiefly for either a small white or pale green lima bean or a large white to tannish lima bean.
For heartier appetites, a pair of succulent spring lamb chops cozy up to baby herbed lima beans (sometimes known as butter beans).—
Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens… we sampled big, silk-textured butter beans shimmering in their juices …—Jane and Michael Stern
Jane and Michael Stern
b
: a plant (Phaseolus lunatus) that bears butter beans
2
: wax bean
3
: a green shell bean especially as opposed to a snap bean
Examples of butter bean in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ground beef and bacon add heartiness to a combination of five types of beans, including pinto beans, kidney beans, and butter beans.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2025
Pick from kidney beans, butter beans, edamame beans, black beans, borlotti beans, pinto beans, chickpeas, and myriad others for maximum variety.
—Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 9 July 2025
They are also sometimes called butter beans on account of their texture.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 19 June 2025
Lima Beans Fiber: 13.2 g Serving size: 1 cup cooked
Lima beans (also known as butter beans) are part of the legume family.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 16 May 2025
Assemble and Bake In a bowl combine beef mixture, pork and beans, great Northern beans, pinto beans, butter beans, kidney beans, ketchup, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025
His family is partial to his lemony butter beans and glazed carrots with lime juice and butter.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
White beans: 71 mg per half-cup Like other bean varieties, white beans—which include fiber-rich navy beans, butter beans, cannellini beans, and Great Northern beans—are absolutely jam-packed with nutrients, including calcium.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 19 Feb. 2025
Practically, this means dishes like tuna crudo with sweet drop peppers, cucumbers, and caper aioli; grilled octopus with butter bean puree; and tagliatelle with conch and stone crab with tomatoes, shallot, and a broth made with Kalik, a local beer.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
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Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2025
Pick from kidney beans, butter beans, edamame beans, black beans, borlotti beans, pinto beans, chickpeas, and myriad others for maximum variety.
—Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 9 July 2025
They are also sometimes called butter beans on account of their texture.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 19 June 2025
Lima Beans Fiber: 13.2 g Serving size: 1 cup cooked
Lima beans (also known as butter beans) are part of the legume family.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 16 May 2025
Assemble and Bake In a bowl combine beef mixture, pork and beans, great Northern beans, pinto beans, butter beans, kidney beans, ketchup, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025
His family is partial to his lemony butter beans and glazed carrots with lime juice and butter.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
White beans: 71 mg per half-cup Like other bean varieties, white beans—which include fiber-rich navy beans, butter beans, cannellini beans, and Great Northern beans—are absolutely jam-packed with nutrients, including calcium.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 19 Feb. 2025
Practically, this means dishes like tuna crudo with sweet drop peppers, cucumbers, and caper aioli; grilled octopus with butter bean puree; and tagliatelle with conch and stone crab with tomatoes, shallot, and a broth made with Kalik, a local beer.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Butter bean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butter%20bean. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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