This End of Summer Succotash is a classic Southern side dish. Loaded with fresh corn, lima beans, sweet onion and bacon, it’s a satisfying, hearty dish that’s always a favorite!
Hello friends and Happy Monday!
Today, I’m sharing a dark, little secret that I’m not very proud of. But I feel like we’ve been friends for quite a while now, so I need to get it off my chest. I think most people have the conception that being a food blogger, everything that comes out of my kitchen is made from scratch. Well, I have to admit, I’ve been living a lie. I have been serving Tom succotash out of a can, yes I just said that, out of a can for the past 20 something years! OMG! That sounds really bad doesn’t it? Now, I didn’t say I ate it, just Tom, so that actually makes me feel a little better.
When I married Tom, I got the rundown from his mom on all his favorite meals. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, canned corn. Beef stew, bread and butter, canned peas. Steak, baked potato, canned beans. Are you seeing the pattern here?? He was a canned veggie guy through and through.
It’s taken me years, but Tom now prefers fresh veggies over canned. Yes, if I’m in a pinch, I will serve a small can of veggies, but that doesn’t happen quite often. Well, except for the darned succotash. See, I never grew up eating succotash. Not once. So when Tom has requested it over the years, I just grabbed a little can from my succotash arsenal in the pantry and served it up. Tom was happy, I was happy he was happy and that’s where the succotash story ended.
Well, until I started this little gig as a food blogger. I just couldn’t do the canned succotash thing any longer. Now, it’s the real deal and even I love it. Fresh lima beans, fresh corn right off the cob, Vidalia onion, fresh thyme, garlic, bacon, a little butter and honey for sweetness. It’s such a hearty and satisfying side. He’ll never go back to canned!
Hope you enjoy! Have an awesome week!
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh lima beans
- 4 slices bacon diced
- 1/2 cup Vidalia onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 4 cups fresh corn kernels
- 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tsp. honey
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- Add lima beans to a medium saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes until beans are tender. Drain all but a 1/4 cup of the liquid and set aside.If using frozen lima beans, just thaw in a colander.
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove from skillet with slotted spoon to paper towel lined plate.
- Add onion to skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about five minutes. Add garlic and continue to cook for one minute.
- Stir in corn and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring often, until corn is tender.
- Stir in lima beans with reserved liquid, thyme and honey and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
- Add butter, salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
I serve canned foods sometimes too – so no shame! I’ve never tried succotash canned or otherwise so I’m excited to try this! I bet the combo of limas and corn is so delicious :)
Yay! Hope you enjoy it Megan! Have an awesome week my friend!
Glad you got that off your chest :) And glad you converted him to fresh! Though, I do used canned products every once in a while, like beans and tomatoes…nothing wrong with that ;) This looks like the perfect salad, Mary Ann, especially with the addition of bacon! I could eat a big bowl of this all for myself!
Yes, the bacon! It’s a must. Hope you enjoy if you give it a go Dawn!
And Pinned, of course ;)
YAY! Thanks! XO
I admit that I absolutely love canned green beans. Fresh is usually best, but we all have our weaknesses. I’m glad Tom has come around to healthy fresh veggies and I can see why with this delicious summer succotash! Pinned!
My Dad loved the canned stuff too! I’m so glad Tom has come around though. More nutrients in the fresh stuff. XO
I love using frozen peas during the week for a quick dinner side. There is no shame in canned and frozen veggies to get dinner on the table fast. This succotash looks delicious and what a great way to showcase all those end of summer goodies that we have to say goodbye to. Have a great week Mary Ann!
I know Karen! Before we have to say goodbye for a while! So sad! I’m hanging on! XO
There’s no shame in serving canned food every now and then. One of our guilty pleasures is canned peaches served with ice cold evaporated milk. It is dangerously delicious. ???? Your succotash looks so delicious, I’m sure Tom will never want canned again.
That sounds delicious Alida! Tom now really loves the fresh over the canned! And I love it too! Happy week!
Beautiful dish! And sounds like your husband is a lot like mine :) If only I could break mine of his love of “Shake and Bake” ;)
OMGee Jennifer! Tom grew up eating that! I totally forgot to add that to the list!
Hahahahahaha – MEN! I think it’s hilarious that they are quite content on canned crap. Boy used to be the same way, so this post totally made me laugh Mary Ann! I happen to LOVE succotash, like looooooooooooove it! So I am sooooo digging this one!! I love that you added bacon to it! Boy hates succotash, but I’m thinking this version of it might get him to see the light! If not, I’m totally fine with there still being more for me! Cheers, friend! xo
Yes, more for you if you can’t talk him into it! Hope he gives it a try though! Enjoy your week! XO
I use canned beans and tomatoes (especially in soups) all the time. It’s a time saver and practical during the winter months when veggies aren’t in season (boo to bland winter tomatoes I say). I’ve never made or eaten succotash either, Mary Ann. Succotash is such a funny word – but you’ve made it look so simple and delicious – it’s about time I try some!
It is funny Geraldine! Tom grew up eating it! This one has way more flavor fresh than from the can! Enjoy! XO
When I met my boyfriend he was the same way and preferred canned green beans to fresh. I was so disgusted by the slimy green limp vegetable that I refused to serve them to him and 9/10 times use fresh vegetables – frozen when in a pinch.
This succotash looks gorgeous and sounds like the perfect side to serve alongside chicken.
Yes, perfect alongside chicken Nicole! You’ll love this side! XO
The bacon, thyme and butter … OMG this is amazing Mary Ann! Pinned!
You’re going to love it Lauren! And that’s coming from someone who was never a big succotash fan! Now, I’m hooked! Have a great week! You’re in my thoughts!
Oooh my mom never served canned veggies so I’ve always been a fresh veggie girl, but there’s no way anyone could want canned succotash again after trying this glorious fresh one! Mmm with the butter, thyme, and bacon?! You’re after my heart!
So glad you give this one the thumbs up Rachel! Tom loves it!! And so do I! Hope your week is off to a good start!
Noooooooooooo to end of summer, but YES!!! to succotash with bacon in in! Love this one, Mary Ann!
Grab all that end of summer sweet corn and lima beans and get going!! You’ll love this one!
Oh this is just gorgeous Mary Ann!! I make white trash tacos…my homage to growing up in the 80s. You know the Lawrys taco seasoning? It’s a major guilty pleasure. I’ve been making it from scratch for awhile now…but I’m really just trying to recreate that salty chili + garlic powder flavor. Sometimes those meals are best. BUT, when you can make an updated fresh version…so much better!!! Beautiful!! xoxoxo
Thanks Rebecca! We all have our vices I guess! Yes, the fresh version of this one is so much better! Even Tom agrees! Hope your week is off to a great start! XO
So glad you’ve come clean! I’ve never had succotash….probably because I’ve only seen it from a can :) This looks good enough for me to eat! :)
Ha! You should give it a try Kathy! So much better homemade!
Mary Ann I didn’t even know what succotash was until I read your post. Your recipe looks good so I have to try it. The problem is that my husband doesn’t like lima beans , he likes very few veggies. As to canned vegetables there nothing wrong using them once in a while.
I never ate succotash growing up Gerlinde, but Tom did and he loves it! I don’t like it from a can, but homemade with the bacon is a totally different story! Hope you enjoy it! XO
If this doesn’t convince Tom to quit his canned addiction than nothing will Mary Ann! So much goodness all in one dish!
Yes! And bacon!!
I love this story, Mary Ann! This looks so good and packed with flavor! I can see why you both like it :)
Thanks Jessica! I hope you give it a try! Tom and I love it!
Bookmarked to try this! It looks so fresh and flavorful
Yay! I hope you enjoy it Naomi!
I’ve never tried succotash but your from scratch version looks fabulous!
Give it a try Laura! It really is delicious!
Oh my gosh that is NOT even a competition. The only canned veggies I eat are tomatoes! Love all the fresh corn in this x
Thanks Claudia. I love making this during the summer when I can get fresh corn. It’s sweet and delicious.
Loved that you did not add any other vegetables to this dish! I used hot honey and added celery salt…it was amazing! Fantastic recipe!!!
So happy you enjoyed it Suzette. It’s my husband’s favorite, especially when we have fresh corn in season!