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Greek Baked Beans – an authentic recipe!

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Greek Baked Beans is a traditional Greek dish filled with tender beans bursting with flavor from the homemade tomato-herb sauce. A healthy meatless dish.

finished Greek Baked Beans recipe in bowl
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Greek Baked Beans

Perfect as a side at any time of the year, here’s one of the best-baked beans recipes you’ll ever eat, courtesy of one of my fabulous readers, Debra! This isn’t your normal baked beans recipe – it may just change your mind completely about beans. It did for me! 

I’ll be honest, when I made these baked beans the first time, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I didn’t know what it would look like, or what it would taste like. As I mentioned, it’s her idea and her recipe, I just followed Debra’s notes.

serving of Greek Baked Beans ready to eat

And as it turns out, this dish was absolutely mouth-watering! The smell while these beans are baking – oh, my! I could not wait to try them! It’s hard to imagine something so simple smelling so wonderful – but it truly does!

Let me admit that I was so impressed with the flavor of this dish that I may even try switching up the variety of beans later on. I think cannellini beans or great northern beans would be great in it too! 

ingredients to make this authentic Greek recipe

How did this recipe change my life, you may ask? I disliked lima beans (or anything like a lima bean) before trying this dish. Seriously, you could not get me to eat them my whole life.

When I originally published this post, I actually wrote a short little note in that post. I’ve decided to leave it in this updated post because it humored me when I read it again after all of these years!

soaking beans in pot

As they say, the rest is history


Dear butter beans, lima beans, and your kin –


I take back every mean thing I ever said about you. Back in the day, I called you vulgar, disgusting, vile, repugnant, an abomination to beans. I said you tasted like grass. For my whole life, I have hated you. Many times, I have sat in protest at your appearance on my dinner plate as a child. My parents have threatened me with “having you for breakfast” if I didn’t eat those said beans on my dinner plate. I have literally gagged myself trying to swallow you without chewing, just so I wouldn’t have to taste you.

But here’s the thing – I just hadn’t used you in the right way. I didn’t know any better. I didn’t know I needed to let you mingle with garlic, carrots, onion, and tomatoes. You went from being the worst thing imaginable to pure deliciousness. I now understand why Debra said she loves you! I thought she was crazy! Seriously, I had to try you for myself and the rest is now history.

First, I will never call you names again. Second, I will not scoff at you in the grocery store. Third, I will not pick you out of my mixed vegetables. And lastly, I might even tell people I “like” you. Please forgive my lack of a good recipe and everything I’ve ever held against you. Debra has changed my mind! 

Sincerely,

Jamie

In short, lima beans went from being one of the worst things imaginable to me actually calling them delicious!! THAT’S how GOOD this Greek Baked Beans recipe is! Now I know why my friend Debra loves this recipe!

vegetables in pan

Greek Baked Beans Recipe

** Ingredients are at a glance. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full amounts and printable recipe. **

  • dry butter beans
  • olive oil
  • carrots
  • medium onion
  • jalapeno pepper
  • garlic
  • crushed tomatoes
  • dried oregano
  • granulated sugar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • fresh parsley, chopped
  • Feta cheese, crumbled
making the sauce

How to make Greek Baked Beans

Time needed: 5 hours and 30 minutes.

How to make Greek Baked Beans

  1. In the morning, place the beans in a large pot. Cover with enough water to be about two inches over the beans and soak until about 2-3 hours before dinnertime. Bring the water to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, or until the beans are tender. Add more water, if necessary.

  2. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, drizzle a few swirls of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onions and jalapeno. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic, tomatoes, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

  3. Preheat oven to 350° F.

  4. Add 3/4-cup of the bean water to the reserved tomato mixture and stir. Drain beans. Add beans to the tomato mixture and mix well. Place in a 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Bake in oven for 45-60 minutes, or until most of the liquid and beans have formed a sauce.

  5. Top with chopped parsley and Feta cheese.

  6. Serve immediately!

adding the soaked beans into the sauce

Greek Baked Beans: FAQs

If you have questions about making this Greek Baked Beans recipe, I have answers! Take a look at this section before leaving a comment if you run into trouble or just want some suggestions.

Can you use canned butter beans instead?

Yes, I’m guessing you could use canned butter bean to make this a quicker meal. Prepare the tomato mixture and combine with the beans. Bake as noted above. You may or may not need to add the water, so use your best judgement!

Should the oregano be fresh or not (or does it matter)?

I prefer fresh oregano in this, but I don’t think it’ll matter in regards to the taste!

Is it normal for the beans to split when you soak them?

It is! Don’t worry, it won’t affect the recipe at all.

Can you use other kinds of beans?

Definitely experiment if you’d like! I honestly think butter beans are the best in this recipe. But, I’ve also heard that lima beans do well, too.

the casserole in baking dish before being baked

How did you like this recipe?

Did this Greek Baked Beans recipe change your life like it changed mine?! 😉 I’d love to know! Comment down below with your recipe experiences, or just with any questions you have. I love to hear from you!

finished casserole after being baked

More recipes

If you enjoyed this Greek Baked Beans recipe, then I have more bean recipe for you! Beans are one of those fantastic foods you can have for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can have them in the main dish, or as a side dish – and in every cuisine imaginable! Here are some of my favorite bean recipes:

  • Cuban Black Beans and Rice – a delicious and economical meatless dish that is quick and easy to make!
  • Instant Pot Baked Beans – requires no soaking! This hearty dish is perfect for summer BBQs, potlucks, with holiday dinner, and for an easy weeknight side.
  • Slow Cooker Refried Beans – easy recipe! It’s the perfect side dish for all of your Mexican meals.
  • Mexican Bean Salad – you will love how versatile and easy this dish is. Protein-packed beans and colorful veggies combine is a zesty and flavorful Mexican-style dressing!
a serving of Greek Baked Beans in a blue bowl with the casserole in the background

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Greek Baked Beans in blue bowl
blue bowl with Greek Baked Beans topped with Feta cheese

Greek Baked Beans

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 2 hours
Inactive Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 5 hours

Greek Baked Beans is a traditional Greek dish filled with tender beans bursting with flavor from the homemade tomato-herb sauce. A healthy meatless dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. dry butter beans
  • A few swirls of olive oil
  • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Parsley, chopped
  • Feta cheese, crumbled

Instructions

  1. In the morning, place the beans in a large pot. Cover with enough water to be about two inches over the beans and soak until about 2-3 hours before dinnertime. Bring the water to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, or until the beans are tender. Add more water, if necessary.
  2. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, drizzle a few swirls of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onions, and jalapeno. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic, tomatoes, oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. Preheat oven to 350° F.
  4. Add 3/4-cup of the bean water to the reserved tomato mixture and stir. Drain beans. Add beans to the tomato mixture and mix well. Place in a 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Bake in the oven for 45-60 minutes, or until most of the liquid and beans have formed a sauce.
  5. Top with chopped parsley and Feta cheese.
  6. Serve immediately!

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 311Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 117mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 16gSugar: 9gProtein: 18g

Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary greatly between brands. Always be sure to read labels.

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© Jamie Sherman
Category: Casserole

Originally published on August 16, 2012. Updated on September 12, 2020.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Cynthia L.

    I haven't eaten a butter bean in a long time. I used to eat them with ham hocks! Yum. This recipe looks good and I will add it to my list of things to make. I am always looking for a good vegetarian recipe!

    Reply

  9. Diane Balch

    Growing up in Italian family I ate well seasoned beans all of my life and love them. I can see if not seasoned that they would be pretty dreary to eat. So sorry you had such a bad childhood experience with them.

    Reply

  14. [email protected]

    I never knew there was Greek Beans – but one of my favorite cuisine is Greek. I love Greek food and beans wow – I'll so be trying this recipe. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration with Sunday’s Best – you helped make the party a success!

    Reply

  19. Debra Kapellakis

    Hi it's me Debra. This is one of the many recipes that I learned from my wonderful Greek Mother-in-Law. It is also one of the foods that I don't know how I ever lived without. lol Jamie I am a fan of yours. I am tickled pink to know that you enjoyed these beans. Have a wonderul week filled with filling yumminess.

    Reply

  20. Didi Dalaba

    Hello, I followed your link from Meatless Monday's at Gooseberry. This recipe immediately caught my eye because it reminded me of a Greek dish that I grew up with. Sure enough it is sans the jalapeno. I think that will only add to it. Just printed it out thank you!!

    Didi

    Reply

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Love Bakes Good Cakes delivers delicious and simple family-friendly meals. Find everything from healthier recipes to over the top desserts!