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This brothy butter bean stew is the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug in a bowl—rich, hearty, and packed with flavor. Tender butter beans soak up the smoky goodness of sausage and ham, while pearl couscous adds the perfect bit of chew. A touch of spice ties everything together, making each bite deeply satisfying. It’s a one-pot wonder that’s easy enough for a busy weeknight but cozy enough to feel like a special treat. Whether you’re feeding the family or just craving something comforting, this stew will hit the spot!
Warm up with a hearty butter bean stew that’s incredibly easy to make in one pot. Perfect for those cozy nights, this recipe is equal parts delicious and wholly satisfying.
You might also like one pot chicken stew, beef and vegetable stew, spicy Jamaican chicken stew, or this Irish lamb stew.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: This is such a simple stew to prepare. There isn’t much more to do that add the ingredients to a large pot and cook to perfection.
A one-pot dish: The whole thing is made in one pot, which means less washing up (always a bonus!)
Great for a crowd: Whip up a batch of this if you’re expecting company.
Nutrition benefits: Butter beans aren’t just tasty, they also offer vitamins and minerals.
Stewed Butter Beans Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Butter beans: A buttery tasting bean (hence the name!) these are also known as lima beans in some places. Canned beans work well, so I used those.
Aromatics: Onion and minced garlic add flavor to the stew.
Smoked meats: I used smoked ham and also smoked link sausage.
Pearl couscous: Also known as Israeli couscous, pearl couscous is made from wheat and is technically a type of pasta rather than couscous.
Herbs: Fresh parsley and thyme complement the creamy butter beans and rich meats in the stew.
Smoked paprika: Adds a smoky touch.
Lemon juice: To add some zesty brightness to the flavor.
Liquid smoke: An optional ingredient to add smokiness.
Extra virgin olive oil: To drizzle over the finished dish.
How to Make Sausage and White Bean Stew
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Sauté the onions and garlic: Heat oil in a large pan and then sauté the onions over a medium heat until they begin to soften. Add the garlic add butter and cook some more.
Add the couscous and broth: Add the couscous and let it toast for a minute. Add the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat.
Add more ingredients and cook: Add the beans, meat, herbs, paprika, and red pepper flakes and cook until the couscous is tender. Add some more broth at this point if you like. Adjust the seasonings if you need salt, black pepper and/or chili flakes. Add some liquid smoke too if you wish. Mix in the lemon juice and cream and cook for a couple of minutes, then serve drizzled with olive oil and garnished with parsley.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, swap the pearl couscous for rice.
Spice it up: More spice can always be added to this dish by using more red pepper flakes or a bit of cayenne pepper.
Butter beans: Feel free to use another type of bean, such as cannellini beans, kidney beans or garbanzo beans.
Chicken broth: You can use vegetable broth if you prefer, or even a pork or beef broth.
Parsley: Rosemary is a good substitute for the parsley if you like a slightly earthier taste.
Optional add-ins: Add fresh spinach or baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, canned tomatoes or sun dried tomatoes, grated parmesan cheese, or extra fresh herbs to customize the flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your meal with jalapeno popper tacos or scallop skewers.
Side dishes: Enjoy this brothy butter bean stew with crusty bread on the side or with a baked potato or sweet potato wedges and some fresh salad.
Desserts: Finish off with strawberry shortcake cheesecake.
How to Store Butter Bean Stew
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 to 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm the stew back up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.
Top Tips
Use fresh ingredients: Fresh onion, garlic and lemon juice give the stew a wonderful fresh flavor.
Don’t overdo the liquid smoke: Add a few drops for a subtle smokiness but don’t add too much or the smoke flavor will overwhelm the lighter flavors in the dish.
Let it cool before storing: Don’t store leftovers until they’re cooled, otherwise the condensation in the container will drip into the stew and make it watery.
Butter Bean & Couscous Stew FAQs
Yes. If you’d like a thicker sauce, try this cornstarch trick: add a teaspoon of cornstarch to about 2 teaspoons of cool or lukewarm water and stir until the cornstarch is dissolved. Add this to your beans towards the end of cooking while everything is still hot. This will thicken up the broth.
Actually, nothing! In the UK and American South, they’re known as butter beans, For the remainder of the United States, they’re called lima beans (since they’ve been grown in Lima, Peru for thousands of years).
Sausage & Bean Stew with Couscous Recipe
Butter Bean Stew
Equipment
- Pot Large or Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 2 Teaspoons olive oil, extra-virgin
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 Cloves garlic, minced
- ½ Cup smoked ham, diced
- ½ Cup smoked sausage, links, fully cooked and diced
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Cup pearl couscous
- 3 to 4 Cups chicken broth, low sodium
- 2 Cans butter beans, 30 Ounces total, drained and rinsed
- 2 Teaspoons parsley, freshly chopped
- 1 Teaspoon thyme, freshly chopped
- 1 to 2 Teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 Teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 lemon, juiced
- ⅓ Cup heavy cream
- salt and black pepper to taste
- ¼ Teaspoon liquid smoke, optional
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or pot, heat the oil over a medium heat.
- Add the diced onions and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until they start to soften.
- Add in the butter and minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the couscous to the pot and toast for about a minute.
- Next, pour in 3 cups of chicken broth and bring everything to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Add in the beans, sausage, diced ham, parsley, herbs, smoked paprika, and red pepper.
- Cook for 10 to 12 minutes in the uncovered pot or until the couscous is tender.
- At this point, you can add more broth if you’d like your beans a little brothier.
- Taste the beans and add salt, black pepper and/or more smoked paprika if needed.
- If you’d like a smokier flavor, add a few drops of liquid smoke to the dish.
- Add the lemon juice and heavy cream and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh parsley.
Notes
Don’t overdo the liquid smoke: Add a few drops for a subtle smokiness but don’t add too much or the smoke flavor will overwhelm the lighter flavors in the dish.
Let it cool before storing: Don’t store leftovers until they’re cooled, otherwise the condensation in the container will drip into the stew and make it watery.
Nutrition
This rich and meaty brothy butter bean stew is a hearty stew with butter beans, smoked meat, pearl couscous, broth, and more. It’s a very easy butter bean stew which is a breeze to prepare as it’s made using canned butter beans and you can make the whole thing in just one pot.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
My grandma made a stew like this—so hearty and comforting!
My goodness this is amazing! Thank you for sharing this incredible meal. It gave me a great opportunity to cook in my cast iron!
I’m happy you enjoyed this tasty dish!