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–+ servings
Hands holding a yellow cast iron skillet full of succotash.
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5 from 9 votes

Succotash

This traditional Southern succotash recipe is an easy side dish or affordable entrée that pairs sweet corn, lima beans, and tomatoes with savory bacon and butter.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Southern
Keyword skillet succotash recipe, southern succotash, succotash, succotash recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 203.3kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

  • 2 slices bacon
  • ½ cup diced sweet onion (such as Vidalia)
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
  • 1 (9 ounce) package frozen lima beans (or use 1 ½ cups fresh lima beans)
  • 1 (12 ounce) package frozen corn kernels (or use 2 ⅔ cup fresh corn off the cob)
  • 3 cups chopped fresh tomatoes
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • Salt and pepper, to taste (I use about ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper)
  • Optional garnish: chopped fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, or dill

Instructions

  • Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp (about 6-8 minutes). Remove bacon with tongs and set aside on paper towels to cool.
    Adding bacon to a cast iron skillet.
  • Add the onion and garlic to the bacon fat; cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent (about 3-5 minutes). Add the lima beans, corn, tomatoes, and water. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring regularly, until vegetables are tender (about 7-10 minutes). Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon as you stir the vegetables. Remove from heat.
    Succotash ingredients in a white bowl.
  • Stir in butter; season with salt and pepper to taste. Crumble bacon over top and garnish with herbs. Serve warm or at room temperature.
    Horizontal overhead image of a traditional succotash recipe on a wooden table.

Video

Notes

  • Vegetarian succotash: Skip the bacon and instead cook the onion and garlic in 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or extra butter.
  • If you like okra, you can also add ½ cup trimmed, chopped fresh okra to the succotash recipe along with the other vegetables.
  • Additional veggies that you can add to the skillet include: red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and diced zucchini.
  • Spice it up with jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or even just a dash of paprika.
  • For a Louisiana-style Southern Succotash recipe, try adding ¼ teaspoon of Creole or Cajun seasoning to the dish. You might also like some diced andouille sausage instead of the bacon.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 of the recipe | Calories: 203.3kcal | Carbohydrates: 32.3g | Protein: 8.2g | Fat: 6.5g | Saturated Fat: 3.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.2g | Cholesterol: 13.7mg | Sodium: 229.4mg | Potassium: 583.7mg | Fiber: 6.6g | Sugar: 3.3g