Butter beans, also known as lima beans, are large, creamy beans that are filling and nutritious. They are the seeds of the plant Phaseolus lunatus and are available fresh, frozen, or dried, and are sold in both younger and mature forms. Butter beans are harvested and sold at different levels of maturity, starting with the baby limas, which are soft with a pale green color and are typically used fresh. Once mature, the beans are thicker, paler, and a bit more starchy. At this stage, they are usually dried after harvesting and are often referred to as large limas.

Butter beans are a pantry staple in early Mesoamerican and Andean households, and remain so in kitchens around the world. They are particularly smooth and creamy, hold sauces well, and are able to soak up the flavors around them, making them an exceptional addition to rich stews and braises. They are often used as an absorbent base for soups, paired with a savory cut of pork, or can stand alone with some simple seasonings.

Butter beans and lima beans are actually the same legume, but they are known by different names depending on where you are in the world. In the American South and the United Kingdom, they are called butter beans, while in the rest of the United States, they are typically called lima beans.