You’ve never tasted lima beans like these! Our copycat Cracker Barrel Lima Beans are so flavorful, the perfect combination of sweet and savory.
Cracker Barrel Baby Lima Beans
Lima beans are often a love-it-or-hate it veggie, but it’s hard not to love Cracker Barrel restaurant’s sweet and savory baby lima beans! They’re tender, buttery, with a hint of smoky-ness that makes them pair so well with home-cooking dinners.
The only problem is that Cracker Barrel recently took lima beans off their menu!
The good news is that we’ve got a spot-on copycat recipe to re-create those famous Cracker Barrel lima beans in your own kitchen. You only need basic pantry staples to make this simple country side dish and it is truly a one-pot dish!
Ingredients
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- 1 cup water
- 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen baby lima beans
- 1 chicken bouillon cube
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Dash of smoked paprika
Kitchen Tools Used
Stovetop Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan or Dutch oven pot over medium heat to medium-high heat.
- Bring to a boil, stirring regularly to help dissolve the bouillon cube.
- Reduce heat to low and cover pot.
- Simmer for 20 minutes, or until lima beans are tender.
Prep Tips
- Cracker Barrel uses baby lima beans on their menu, but you can also make this recipe with larger Fordhook lima beans or anything that is labeled “butter beans.”
- To amp up the flavor, try adding some chopped bacon or cubed ham to the pot. This will give a delicious, natural smoked flavor to your lima beans.
- Make them spicy by adding a dash of cayenne pepper.
- You can also add your own flavors by topping with your favorite fresh herbs, such as thyme or rosemary. When making any additions, start with just a little, taste, and adjust as needed.
- Most of the broth should soak into the lima beans during cooking, but you can always transfer to a large bowl for serving and drain excess. I do recommend leaving a little liquid so there will be moisture, but not enough that they get mushy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Cooked Lima Beans Stay Good In The Fridge?
Any leftovers should be kept refrigerated in an airtight container. They’ll last for up to 3-4 days when properly stored in the refrigerator. To reheat, you can microwave or steam.
What Day Does Cracker Barrel Serve Lima Beans?
Unfortunately, lima beans are no longer listed on the Cracker Barrel menu on their website. I’ve heard rumors that they may be a special item served only on certain days, such as Tuesdays and Saturdays, but you’d have to check with your specific location to make sure.
Can You Cook Lima Beans With Ham Hock?
Many bean recipes will call for a ham bone or ham hock to add flavor to the dish while cooking. However, since we’re starting with frozen lima beans and only cooking for 20-30 minutes, that likely won’t be enough time to thoroughly cook the meat. A big ham hock can take hours. Use chopped bacon or cooked ham to add protein and flavor to your beans instead for this particular recipe.
What Do Lima Beans Go With?
Lima beans pair well with just about anything, but especially home-cooking or Southern food dishes. Lima beans would be the perfect accompaniment for a holiday ham or a any pork dish. They also make a great dish for potlucks and backyard cookouts.
Here are a few of our favorites:
More Country Style Vegetables and Sides
- Swiss Green Bean Casserole
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Copycat KFC Coleslaw
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
- Old Fashioned Potato Salad
- 7-Layer Pea Salad
- Southern Baked Beans
Crackle Barrel Lima Beans Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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Cracker Barrel Lima Beans Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Dutch oven or saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup Water
- 1 Bag Frozen baby lima beans 16 ounce bag
- 1 Chicken bouillon cube
- 1 clove Garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
- Dash Smoked paprika
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan or Dutch oven pot over medium to medium-high heat.
- Bring to a boil, stirring regularly to help dissolve the bouillon cube.
- Reduce heat to low and cover pot.
- Simmer for 20 minutes, or until lima beans are tender.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin our Southern Lima Beans Recipe on Pinterest:
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