Summer Succotash is an easy skillet side made with vegetables like corn, lima beans, bacon, tomatoes, peppers, and onions for a colorful dish that’s packed with fresh summer flavor. Serve it as a hearty side or enjoy it as a light main dish.
Summer succotash is one of those recipes that tastes like summer in every bite. Sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, colorful peppers, and lima beans come together in one skillet for a side dish that’s hearty enough to stand on its own as a light meal on warm evenings.
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it uses frozen corn and lima beans, so it’s easy to make whenever you’re craving fresh summer flavors. The crisp bacon adds a delicious salty, smoky punch, but it’s just as delicious without it if you’re looking for a vegetarian side dish.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Onion: I like to use sweet onion in this recipe, but white or yellow onion works.
- Butter: You can substitute bacon fat for the butter if you prefer.
- Corn: You use fresh corn kernels cut off the cob if they’re in season.
- Bacon: The salty bacon gives the succotash some nice balance. If you want to keep the side vegetarian, you can omit it.
How to make succotash
Here you’ll find instructions and step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including ingredients, is given below.
Step 1: Cook onion and pepper in butter and olive oil until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes.
Step 2: Add lima beans and corn. Cook 5-6 minutes.
Step 3: Stir in tomatoes and garlic. Cook until the tomatoes are beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Step 4: Add basil, bacon if using, salt, and pepper to taste.
Recipe Tips!
- Use frozen corn and lima beans: They’re convenient and make this recipe easy to prepare any time of year.
- Don’t overcook the veggies: The corn and peppers should still have a little bite.
- Season to taste: The amount of salt you need will depend on whether you’re using bacon.
- Finish with fresh herbs: Fresh basil make a great finishing touch.
- Serving suggestions: I serve succotash with everything from burgers to grilled chicken to just about anything else that comes off the grill during the summer. It keeps well, and it doubles as a great make-ahead light lunch.
Variations
- Make it vegetarian: Simply leave out the bacon.
- Use fresh corn: Fresh corn cut from the cob is delicious when it’s in season.
- Add okra: Sliced fresh okra is a traditional ingredient in many succotash recipes and fits right in with the summer vegetables.
- Stir in fresh herbs: Basil, parsley, or chives all work well.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.
More summer side dish recipes!
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Summer Succotash Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup finely diced white or yellow onion
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 12 ounces frozen lima beans
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 4 sliced thick-sliced bacon cooked and chopped, optional
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Cook onion and pepper in butter and olive oil until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes.1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup finely diced white or yellow onion, 1 red bell pepper
- Add lima beans and corn. Cook 5-6 minutes or until thawed and warmed through.12 ounces frozen lima beans, 2 cups frozen corn
- Stir in tomatoes and garlic. Cook 2 minutes.1 pint cherry tomatoes, 2 cloves garlic
- Remove from heat.
- Add basil, bacon if using, salt, and pepper.3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, 4 sliced thick-sliced bacon
Notes
- Onion: I like to use sweet onion in this recipe, but white or yellow onion works.
- Butter: You can substitute bacon fat for the butter if you prefer.
- Corn: You use fresh corn kernels cut off the cob if they’re in season.
- Bacon: The salty bacon gives the succotash some nice balance. If you want to keep the side vegetarian, you can omit it.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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