Creamy Butter Beans with Leeks & Lemon • Bakerita

This simple, affordable dish combines creamy butter beans with leeks and lemon for a comforting and fresh meal. It’s ready in less than 30 minutes, uses just 10 ingredients, and is filled with satisfying plant-based protein!

Today, I’m sharing one of my absolute favorite weeknight recipes, which has become a staple in my kitchen. I am such a big fan of white bean recipes, like this tomato white bean stew, this herby marinated white bean salad, but this is the newest favorite. This creamy white bean recipe featuring buttery lima beans and sautéed leeks with bright lemon is not only delicious but also super budget-friendly and ready in under 30 minutes. If you’ve been looking for healthy vegan dinner ideas or easy plant-based meals, this one’s for you!

Why you’ll love this easy white bean recipe

• Caramelized leeks are a superstar! If you’ve never cooked with leeks, these mild alliums bring amazing flavor and are worth seeking out. This quick leek recipe technique brings out their natural sweetness and creates a beautiful base for our dish.
• The other star ingredient: butter beans! These large white beans (also called lima beans) are perfect for creating creamy vegan dishes.
• The whole dish comes together in about 25 minutes, which makes it perfect for those evenings when I want something comforting but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. It’s genuinely one of the best white bean recipes for busy weeknights!
• You only need 10 ingredients (not including salt & pepper) and it’s easy to keep most of the ingredients on hand in the pantry.

My favorite ways to serve

This versatile, protein-rich vegan recipe works in so many ways! I love serving these creamy leek and butter beans:

• Over a bed of steaming rice or quinoa for a complete plant-based meal
• Alongside a simple green salad for a healthy Mediterranean-inspired dinner
• With crusty bread for dipping into all that creamy goodness (perfect comfort food!)
• As a hearty side dish with your favorite protein
• Topped with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and chives for a bit of heat
• In meal prep containers for quick and easy lunches all week

It’s also fantastic for meal prep since it tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld. This makes it one of my favorite make-ahead vegetarian recipes for busy weeks.

Best white bean varieties

Don’t limit yourself to just butter beans! While they’re my favorite for this vegan leek recipe because of their creamy texture and mild flavor, you can use other white beans with great results:

• Cannellini beans (Italian white kidney beans) are slightly kidney-shaped with a nutty flavor and perfect for Mediterranean-style dishes
• Navy beans are smaller and hold their shape well
• Great Northern beans have a delicate flavor and firm texture
• Gigante beans are extra large, super creamy when cooked, and make a statement in any bean recipe – these are my favorite for this recipe.

I love using XL white beans, like the butter beans I used here, but my all-time favorites are the ones you cook from dried, like Rancho Gordo Royal Corona Beans or any other kind of gigante white bean. If you have time to cook them up, please do it!! It makes this recipe even more delicious.

Each variety will give the dish a slightly different texture, so feel free to experiment based on what you have on hand or what’s on sale at your local store. White beans, in general, are nutritional powerhouses packed with plant protein, fiber, and nutrients, making them perfect for vegetarian and vegan cooking.

Easy substitutions

Don’t have all the ingredients? No problem! This healthy bean recipe is super adaptable:

• If you don’t have leeks, substitute a yellow onion or green onions for a milder flavor in this creamy white bean dish.
• Out of coconut milk (or just don’t love coconut flavor)? Any unsweetened plant milk will work for dairy-free creaminess, though coconut gives the richest result. If you’re not dairy-free, regular milk or cream will work.
• Fresh thyme can replace dried (use about one tablespoon instead of 1 teaspoon) for a bright herb flavor.
• If you’re not following a vegan diet, you can use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth.
• No nutritional yeast? Just skip it!
• Try adding baby spinach or kale in the last few minutes of cooking for extra nutrients.

This budget-friendly vegan recipe costs roughly $7-9 to make and serves 4-6 people, making it a perfect affordable dinner option. It stores beautifully in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for 3 months, so it’s ideal for plant-based meal prep or making ahead for busy weeks.

This creamy butter beans with leeks recipe has quickly become one of my most popular easy vegan dinner ideas. It’s proof that plant-based cooking can be simple, affordable, and delicious!

What’s your favorite way to prepare white beans? Are you a fan of cooking with leeks? Comment below and let me know if you try this creamy vegan butter bean recipe!

Want more easy plan-based dinner ideas?

One-Pot Miso Pasta with Mushrooms

This One-Pot Miso Pasta with Mushrooms is so creamy with coconut milk to keep it vegan, easy to make in just one pot, and so flavorful! This flavorful gluten-free pasta dish will become a weeknight staple – it’s ready in just 30 minutes!

Creamy Tomato White Bean Stew

The rich and comforting flavors of this Creamy Vegan Tomato White Bean Stew make the perfect easy lunch or dinner. This dairy-free & plant-based recipe is packed with wholesome ingredients, like protein-packed white beans, cherry tomatoes, and nutrient-dense greens. Learn how to make this easy and satisfying vegan stew in just 25 minutes.

Caramelized Leek Pasta

This Caramelized Leek Pasta features buttery, melt-in-your-mouth leeks, garlic, and shallots tossed with your favorite pasta and finished with lemon and parmesan. It’s the perfect quick weeknight meal – done in 30 minutes! Easily made both gluten-free and vegan.