Lemon Garlic Butter Beans (gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free)

Lemon Garlic butter beans with bright, lemony flavors are a super quick, 1-pan, 30 minute creamy refreshing recipe. Serve with pasta, or crusty bread or rice for an easy meal.

The garlicky lemon sauce is based on my lemon pasta with plenty of garlic and lemon and simple ingredients. Instead of pasta, you toss in butter beans for a hearty, simple main dish.

This is a vibrant, springy, delicious sauce with amazing flavor and it is pretty flexible. You can change up the flavor by changing up the herbs in the sauce, so feel free to use what you have and what’s seasonal where you are. 

You can also use other beans, like great northern beans, cannellini beans, or chickpeas. This sauce is also great tossed with baked or pan-fried tofu. And, of course, you can use this garlic lemon sauce on cooked pasta if you want, too!

Why You’ll Love Lemon Garlic Butter Beans

• 30-minute, 1-pan meal
• tender butter beans in a creamy, lemon garlic sauce with lots of amazing herb flavors
• simple dinner paired with crusty bread for dipping or served over pasta
• gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free

Ingredients and Substitutions

• extra virgin olive oil – To sauté.
• garlic and onion – For umami and flavor.
• salt and spices – Salt, black pepper, onion powder, nutritional yeast, and Italian herbs season the sauce.
• flour – All-purpose or gluten-free flour thicken the sauce.
• non-dairy yogurt – Makes the sauce creamy. You can use other vegan cream, like cashew cream, or use vegan cream cheese. If needed, choose nut-free and/or soy-free non-dairy yogurt.
• lemon – Lemon juice, zest, and lemon slices add so much amazing citrus flavor to this sauce!
• mustard – For tang. You can use stone ground mustard or mustard powder.
• water or stock – Adds moisture to the sauce.
• butter beans – Creamy butter beans taste so amazing in this sauce! You can use other beans, like great northern beans or chickpeas. You can also use crisped up tofu instead of beans.
• garnishes – Garnish your lemon garlic butter beans with black pepper, vegan parmesan, and fresh parsley.

How to Make Lemon Garlic Butter Beans

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil, and once the oil is hot, add the garlic. Mix and cook for 5 to 10 seconds, then add the onion and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add splashes of water or broth, as needed, to help the onions cook evenly and faster. 

Add in the onion powder, black pepper, flour, nutritional yeast, and Italian herbs. Mix in for a few seconds, then stir in the non-dairy yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, lemon slices, mustard, and the remaining salt.

Bring to a boil, then mix in the water and beans. Cover with a lid, and let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes to come to a good boil, then simmer for another minute, open the lid, and taste and adjust the flavor. Add more salt if you need, and if you want more heat add some red pepper flakes. If you want it more herbaceous, then add fresh dill or fresh Italian herbs, like oregano or basil.

Switch off the heat, garnish with black pepper, vegan parmesan, and fresh parsley and serve.