Hungry Healthy Happy

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Meal Plans
  • Recipes To Your Inbox
  • Shop
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Meal Plans
  • Recipes To Your Inbox
  • Shop
×
Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Soup

Butter Bean Soup

Nov 2, 2024 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 15 Comments

244 shares
  • 114
Diet: Gluten Free
Jump to Recipe
Butter bean soup with a text title overlay.

A bowl of creamy and filling butter bean soup is just what you need on a cold day. This nutritious vegan option soup is budget friendly and a great way to get more beans in your diet. This nourishing soup has some vegetables blended into it and it makes a filling lunch or light dinner.

A bowl of yellow coloured soup next to a checkered towel and some buttered bread.

Have you ever had bean soup before? It's so creamy and comforting - if you haven't had it then you are missing out. Butter bean soup is our favourite because the buttery beans make this a really creamy soup that feels far more indulgent than it actually is.

Our cupboard is always packed full of beans, because they are so versatile and perfect for making meals when you are on a tight budget. Really, all you need is beans and stock, but we have added a few extras to make this soup really special.

If you are looking for other ways to use butter beans, then why not try our awesome White Bean Salad, easy Butter Bean Hoummous, quick Butter Bean Salad, delicious Spanish Bean Stew or our vegan White Bean Pasta?

Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love It
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • How to Make Butter Bean Soup - Step by Step
  • What to Serve with Butter Bean Soup
  • Storage
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Soup Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why You Will Love It

  • A great way to use beans - Beans are so nutritious (more on that below). If you are looking for more ways to get beans in your diet, then blending them into a soup is an easy way to do it.
  • Protein packed - This is a hearty and filling soup, all thanks to the beans that are protein packed. This will help you feel fuller for longer.
  • Budget friendly - Beans are a great way to make meals on a budget and this butter bean soup is very cheap to make.
  • Quick and easy - This soup is ready in just 20 minutes and it is so easy to make.

Ingredients and Substitutions

All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Oil - We used olive oil to cook the shallots and carrots in. You could use sunflower or vegetable oil instead.
  • Shallots - This is the base of the soup. We used shallots because they are nice and sweet, but you could swap them for a small brown onion instead.
  • Carrots - This is an easy way to add some vegetable to the soup. Make sure to dice the carrots very very finely, as this is a quick cooking soup, so you want the carrots to be softened before blending.
  • Butter beans - The star of the soup. We used a can of butter beans. Don't throw away the liquid in the can, as is added to the soup and helps make it creamy.
  • Stock - We used vegetable stock, but you can use chicken stock which will give it a richer flavour. Try to use the best quality stock you can, as you really will be able to taste the difference.

More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.

How to Make Butter Bean Soup - Step by Step

One: Heat the oil in a large pan and add the carrots and shallots. Cook on a low heat for 5 minutes.

Two shot collage of carrots and onions in a pan, before and after cooking.

Two: Add the butter beans (including the water from the can).

Butter beans added to the pan.

Three: Add the stock and seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Two shot collage of stock added to the pan, before and after simmering.

Four: Blend until smooth. Serve topped with chopped bacon and chives (both optional).

The soup blended in the pan.

What to Serve with Butter Bean Soup

We topped this deliciously creamy soup with some chopped cooked bacon and chives. The bacon adds some nice crunch to the smooth soup, as well as saltiness so you don't need to add extra seasoning. The chives add some freshness, but they are both optional.

We also love serving this butter bean with some crunchy croutons on top. We make our own easy croutons by chopping up some bread into squares and drizzling over a little olive oil and a sprinkle of garlic granules and dried herbs.

Put them in the oven for about 5 minutes to crisp up. Perfect for adding to soups and salads. Have you tried our Sourdough Croutons?

We also love soup with our Easy Bagels, Slices of Homemade White Bread, Cheesy Garlic Bread or Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia, which are all really easy and delicious homemade breads.

Cooked chopped bacon and chopped chives on top of the soup.

Storage

Store: This soup is always best eaten fresh, however if you do have leftovers then you can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let it cool down and then store in an air tight container in the fridge.

Freeze: This freezes really well. The texture may be a bit different, but it will be fine once heated through. Allow it to completely cool first and then portion it out into air tight containers or freezer bags (these are great for space saving as you can lay them flat) and then it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 months.

Defrost: Defrost in the fridge overnight.

Reheat: Once fully defrosted, you can reheat it in the microwave or heat it through on the hob.

Extra Tips

  • Keep this vegan by using a vegetable stock.
  • You may need to add a little bit more stock to the soup after blending, depending on the consistency that you want. If you have cooked the soup on too high a heat, then it will need more stock, otherwise it will be very thick. But, you might like it that way.
  • Make this soup even more indulgent by adding some chopped bacon on top.
  • Top with some toasted seeds to add some crunch.
  • Use a stick blender to blend this soup. If you are going to use a jug blender, make sure it cools down first, as putting hot soup in can cause it to break.
  • If you are making this soup for young children, then use a low salt stock.
A hand holding a spoon and lifting some of the soup from the bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is butter bean soup vegan?

This version isn't vegan as we have used chicken stock, which gives a real depth of flavour. To keep it vegan, simply swap for a vegetable stock.

Is butter bean soup gluten free?

Yes, this can be gluten free if you use a gluten free stock and make sure that there is no cross contamination.

Why is my soup too thick/thin?

If your soup is too thick, then you may have cooked it at too high a temperature. Simply add a little more stock until it is the desired consistency. Equally, if it is too thin that you might not have had the heat high enough. Let it simmer a little longer to thicken up.

How to thicken butter bean soup

To thicken the soup, you will need to make a cornflour slurry. Simply mix together equal parts cornflour and water and then whisk that mixture into the soup. Usually 2 tablespoons of cornflour and 2 tablespoons of water mixed together does the job. You can use this tip for thin stews too.

Can you make butter bean soup in advance?

Yes, you can make this in advance and then leave it to cool in the pan, cover and refrigerate the whole pan. Then, when you want to serve it you can put the whole pan (uncovered) on the hob and heat it through.

Can I use dried beans?

Yes, you can cook dried butter beans before using them in this recipe. Dried beans work out cheaper and you can buy them in bulk.

More Soup Recipes

  • A bowl of broccoli and stilton soup.
    Simple Broccoli and Stilton Soup
  • Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup in a bowl with a spoon.
    Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup
  • A bowl of easy tomato soup with two small basil leaves on top.
    Easy Tomato Soup
  • A bowl of orzo soup next to a checkered towel.
    One Pot Orzo Soup

If you’ve tried this butter bean soup recipe, then let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

A bowl of butter bean soup topped with bacon and chives.

Butter Bean Soup

By: Dannii Martin
A bowl of creamy butter bean soup is just what's needed on a cold day. It's nutritious, vegan, budget friendly and ready in 20 minutes.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
4.88 from 25 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: British
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 15 minutes mins
Total: 20 minutes mins
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 316kcal
Allergens:
No Common Allergens

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 3 Shallots - finely diced
  • 230 g (1.75 cups) Carrot - finely diced
  • 235 g (1.25 cups) Butter beans - (canned, including water)
  • 500 ml (2 cups) Chicken stock
  • 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper
  • Bacon - cooked and chopped (optional)
  • Chives - finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat 1 tablespoon Olive oil in a large pan and add 230 g Carrot and 3 Shallots. Cook on a low heat for 5 minutes.
  • Add 235 g Butter beans (including the water from the can).
  • Add 500 ml Chicken stock and 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Blend until smooth. Serve topped with chopped Bacon and Chives (both optional).

Recipe Tips

  • Keep this vegan by using a vegetable stock.
  • You may need to add a little bit more stock to the soup after blending, depending on the consistency that you want. If you have cooked the soup on too high a heat, then it will need more stock, otherwise it will be very thick. But, you might like it that way.
  • Make this soup even more indulgent by adding some chopped bacon on top.
  • Top with some toasted seeds to add some crunch.
  • Use a stick blender to blend this soup. If you are going to use a jug blender, make sure it cools down first, as putting hot soup in can cause it to break.
  • If you are making this soup for young children, then use a low salt stock.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 822mg | Potassium: 1004mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 19228IU | Vitamin C: 90mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 31mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

You'll love these too...

  • A bowl of air fryer soup topped with a drizzle of oil and chopped herbs.
    Air Fryer Soup
  • A bowl of slow cooker tomato soup topped with cream, croutons and herbs.
    Slow Cooker Tomato Soup
  • Canned pumpkin and carrot soup ion a bowl with a soup spoon.
    Canned Pumpkin and Carrot Soup
  • Watercress soup in a large round bowl.
    Watercress Soup

Comments

  1. Bails says

    February 13, 2025 at 8:04 am

    5 stars
    Delicious thanks. I made this with croutons and bacon as you suggested. Very happy about it freezing too.

    Reply
  2. Jean Rice says

    January 17, 2024 at 5:22 pm

    With the current cold weather in the UK I made this soup for the first time today and served it with homemade brown Soda Bread. Very easy to make and absolutely delicious. I've never had butter beans before but the flavour and texture is lovely. I am tempted to add a little bit of chilli flakes next time I make as we love spicy food. I'm just about to start making Leek and Potato soup this evening and then tomorrow I'm making sweet potato and chilli soup so the freezer will be well stocked for a little while.

    Reply
    • Dannii Martin says

      January 25, 2024 at 8:36 am

      Ooh yum! You can't beat homemade bread with soup.

      Reply
  3. Vidya Narayan says

    December 28, 2021 at 12:19 am

    5 stars
    Loved the soup and the fact that it is naturally creamy and thick. Healthy weeknight meal that my family loves.

    Reply
  4. Nic says

    December 27, 2021 at 11:25 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy! Thanks for a great recipe! I also love that it's dairy free so I can make it for my sister in law and niece.

    Reply
  5. Jill says

    December 27, 2021 at 9:13 pm

    5 stars
    This soup is so pretty and I loved that it is pureed. That means my kids might actually try it (because the beans are disguised). Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  6. Biana says

    December 27, 2021 at 8:54 pm

    5 stars
    This bean soup looks delicious! What a great winter dinner idea.

    Reply
  7. Biana says

    October 30, 2021 at 8:37 pm

    5 stars
    This soup looks delicious! I like that you don't even add cream and it is so creamy anyway.

    Reply
    • Seema says

      December 28, 2021 at 4:31 am

      5 stars
      The soup was perfect in every spoonful. I loved the velvety creaminess of these beans.

      Reply
      • Tannietwee says

        April 04, 2022 at 7:23 pm

        5 stars
        This is delicious, definitely on my keeper list of recipes! Thank you.

        Reply
        • Dannii says

          April 09, 2022 at 3:45 pm

          So glad you enjoyed it :)

          Reply
  8. Jacqueline Meldrum says

    October 30, 2021 at 8:26 pm

    5 stars
    I think I'd have to use cannellini beans instead as I have a thing about butter beans from childhood. Don't ask!

    Reply
  9. Jess says

    October 30, 2021 at 7:18 pm

    5 stars
    I do not have enough recipes that use butter beans. This is perfect!!

    Reply
  10. Sally Humeniuk says

    October 30, 2021 at 5:03 pm

    5 stars
    I LOVE butter beans and this recipe is not only delicious but super flavorful. Easy to make vegan with vegetable stock, if needed. Healthy and full of flavor!

    Reply
  11. Jersey Girl Cooks says

    October 30, 2021 at 4:11 pm

    5 stars
    So creamy and I love that it is dairy free since my daughter avoids dairy.

    Reply
4.88 from 25 votes (13 ratings without comment)

Made this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Dannii with a sunset behind her.

Welcome

My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

About me...

Salad Recipes

  • Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad in a white dish surrounded by crumbled feta.
    Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad
  • A plate of kale, watermelon and feta salad surrounded by watermelon slices.
    Kale, Watermelon and Feta Salad
  • A large bowl of chickpea tuna salad with a serving spoon in it.
    Chickpea Tuna Salad
  • Chopped Blue Cheese Salad in a large white bowl.
    Chopped Blue Cheese Salad
  • A bowl of watercress salad with a wooden fork and spoon in it.
    Watercress Salad
  • Little Gem Salad in a round white bowl.
    Little Gem Salad

Recipe Books

The Hungry Healthy Happy book cover.
The healthy slow cooker book cover.
the front cover of The Picky Plate eBook.

Popular Recipes

  • Leftover chicken pasta on a black plate.
    Leftover Chicken Pasta
  • Mediterranean Rice Salad in a large round serving dish.
    Mediterranean Rice Salad
  • Fourteen healthy flapjacks on a sheet of parchment paper.
    Healthy Flapjacks
  • A tortilla chip being dipped into some nacho cheese sauce.
    2 Minute Nacho Cheese Sauce
  • Sticky Ginger Beef in a bowl with rice and broccoli.
    10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef Mince
  • Baked Egg Tortilla in a round baking dish.
    Baked Egg Tortilla (Tortilla Quiche)

Footer

Help & Information

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Advertising
  • Blog

About us

  • About us
  • Newsletter Sign Up!
  • Press enquiries
  • FAQ

Follow us


Featured in

A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

As an Amazon Associate we earn certain commissions from qualifying purchases. By using our site, you agree that we can collect and use your data. Our privacy statement has more details.

Copyright © 2011-2024 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved

  • 114

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.