If you’re looking for ways to add some extra fiber, iron, and protein to your diet, look no farther than lima beans. These beans, also called butter beans in the UK and the Southern part of the US for their color and buttery texture, are an excellent addition to soups, stews, salads, casseroles, and side dishes. They’re a great substitute for meat and can be cooked in a variety of ways.
Lima or butter beans can be purchased in both dry and canned versions, and each has their benefits. While the flavor and texture will usually be better in dried beans, they must be soaked or simmered for a few hours to soften the beans before you can use them in a recipe. On the other hand, canned beans offer convenience and immediate use, but can be a bit mushy and not as flavorful. Many people like both versions, and we’ve found the best choices across a variety of categories to help you decide which lima beans to buy.
We reviewed dozens of lima beans to identify the best of the best. We looked at taste, price, packaging, and style to determine our top picks. You can buy all of these lima beans online at Amazon.
The Camellia Green Baby Lima Beans come in a 1 pound bag and is our top pick for the best lima beans. These USA grown lima beans are gluten free, non-GMO, and a great source of fiber and protein. They’re dry beans so they’ll need to be soaked or simmered before using, but they offer lima bean fans great texture and flavor.
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The 5 Top-Rated Lima Beans
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Lima Beans Overall | Camellia Green Baby Lima Beans | 4.2 |
| Best Organic Lima Beans | Hunza Organic Baby Lima Beans | 4.4 |
| Best Budget Lima Beans | Camellia Dry Baby Lima Beans | 4.3 |
| Best Canned Lima Beans | Joan of Arc Butter Beans | 4.4 |
| Best Seasoned Lima Beans | Margaret Holmes Medium Seasoned Green Lima Beans | 4.2 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change.
Best Lima Beans Overall: Camellia Green Baby Lima Beans
Camellia Green Baby Lima Beans are dry baby lima beans that are prefect for adding to stews, salads, soups, or as a side dish. These baby lima beans provide 8 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein per serving, making them a healthy ingredient to use in a meal. The beans are USA grown and are gluten free and non-GMO. Dry beans take longer to cook than their canned counterparts, but turn creamy in texture once they’re soaked or simmered. They can even be prepared and then frozen for later use.
The Camellia brand is known for their dry beans, peas, and lentils. They source the freshest and best quality beans from American farmers. These beans come in a 1 pound bag that is easy to store in the pantry. Reviews say this is one of their favorite lima bean brands, that these lima beans cook up wonderfully, and they are are very easy to prepare.
Camellia Green Baby Lima Beans Key Features:
- Green baby lima beans
- Comes in 1 pound bag
- Beans contain 8 grams of fiber, and 15 grams of protein per serving
- Gluten free
- Grown in the USA
- Verified non-GMO
Best Organic Lima Beans: Hunza Organic Baby Lima Beans
Hunza Organic Baby Lima Beans are locally grown in the United States and are certified organic by the USDA. They are also non-GMO and gluten free with no added preservatives. These lima beans are a great source of iron, dietary fiber, and protein and are a favorite for those looking to replace or avoid meat in their meals. The creamy, buttery taste of delicious lima beans complement a large variety of recipes and are perfect with grains such as quinoa or brown rice.
The resealable pouch is easy to use and convenient for storing. The beans come in a 2 pound bag and are also available as a 5 pound package. Reviewers say these lima beans are delicious and are prefect for Southern cooking recipes. Reviewers also say they prefer the taste of these dry beans over canned lima beans, and they appreciate the fact that these are organic.
Hunza Organic Baby Lima Beans Key Features:
- Certified Organic and non-GMO
- Grown in USA
- Comes in 2 pound bag
- Vegan and gluten free
Best Budget Lima Beans: Camellia Dry Baby Lima Beans
These Camellia Dry Baby Lima Beans are dry beans that come in a 1 pound bag. At a $6 price point, you’re only spending $0.37 an ounce, making these a cost effective addition to your meals. They are also available in a 3 pack and a 12 pack. The packaging includes cooking direction for the dry beans to make preparation easy. Camellia also offers additional recipes on their website if you’re looking for more delicious ways to use these beans.
The baby lima beans are non-GMO and gluten free. They’re also grown in the USA and a great source of fiber and protein. The Camellia Brand is a family owned company that has been selling a variety of high quality peas, beans, and legumes for nearly a century. Reviewers love how delicious these beans tasted when cooked in a slow cooker and in soups.
Camellia Dry Baby Lima Beans Key Features:
- Comes in 1 pound bag
- Beans contain 8 grams of fiber, and 15 grams of protein per serving
- Gluten free
- Grown in the USA
- Verified non-GMO
Best Canned Lima Beans: Joan of Arc Butter Beans
For those who don’t want to deal with soaking or simmering dry beans, Joan of Arc Butter Beans are an excellent alternative. Named butter beans for their color and creamy, buttery texture, these lima beans come in 15.5 oz cans and can be used right away in recipes. This pack of 12 cans provides you with plenty of beans any time your recipe calls for them. The firm texture of the pre-softened beans make these a great addition to salads, casseroles, or ham and beans, and they will retain their flavor and texture after cooking. The top quality beans are both high in protein and fiber.
These beans are both kosher and certified gluten free. Reviewers love the convenience of canned beans when they don’t have the time or energy to soak dry beans and prepare them for cooking. They say these beans have good integrity and didn’t have a mushy paste at the bottom of the can from crushed beans.
Joan of Arc Butter Beans Key Features:
- 15.5 oz cans
- Pack of 12 cans
- High in fiber and protein
- Gluten free
Best Seasoned Lima Beans: Margaret Holmes Medium Seasoned Green Lima Beans
When you’re looking for lima beans that already have some flavor try Margaret Holmes Medium Seasoned Green Lima Beans. These canned green lima beans are a smaller size than the brand’s larger lima beans, and are slow-simmered with a blend of spices to get the perfect Southern flavor. They can be eaten by themselves or used in recipes to provide some extra seasoning to side or main dishes. The Margaret Holmes brand website also provides multiple recipe suggestions if you’re looking for additional way to use these seasoned beans.
Reviewers like how these beans aren’t mushy and already have seasonings and a bit of spice to them. They say the beans have a great Southern tasting flavor and are perfect as a side dish or mixed into salads. They also say the seasoning isn’t overpowering, but good enough that you can eat them without adding anything else.
Margaret Holmes Medium Seasoned Green Lima Beans Key Features:
- 15 oz cans of seasoned lima beans
- Includes 6 cans
- Green lima beans seasoned with southern spices
Lima beans are a versatile legume that can be used in a wide variety of delicious recipes. They’re easy to cook with and are a excellent addition to a healthy diet. If you’re looking to have all your groceries delivered right to your door, take a look at our top picks for The Best Grocery Delivery Services.
