Best Southern Succotash Recipe

Dish & Tell Team

Y’all I love me some succotash. I honestly think it’s the best way to eat veggies. Think about it, anytime you can serve up lima beans, corn, and okra in a tomato sauce with crisp bacon, its boss moves. No wonder we Southerners love it so so much. Now I’m sharing with you the proper way to make it. This recipe is adapted from the Sweetie Pie’s Cookbook. 

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How to Make Succotash

Step 1: Fry Up the Bacon and Get the Veggies Going!!!

Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the bacon pieces and cook em up until super crispy and delish! It takes about 3 to 4 minutes. Take them out of the pan and set aside.

Add the onion and bell pepper to the bacon fat and let it cook until it gets tender and soft, another 1 to 2 minutes. Lower the heat to medium low and add in the lima beans, corn, tomato, sugar, salt and pepper.

A collage of bacon bits cooking in a pan until crispy then peppers and onions in a pan before adding in corn, beans and much more to make a succotash recipe

Step 2: Sauce and Simmer It up

Add the tomato sauce and water, bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 15 minutes.

Next toss in the okra and simmer for 10 minutes more or until the okra is nice and tender but not mushy y’all.

A collage of tomato sauce and liquid being added to vegetables and okra being added in before cooking

Remove from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Add back in the bacon and serve it up y’all.

Southern succotash with bacon on top in pan on white background
Southern succotash in a white bowl with a tomato and corn in the background ready to serve

Succotash Recipe

This is the PERFECT Southern Succotash Recipe! Fresh okra, diced tomatoes, corn, flavorful bacon and so much deliciousness. 

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the bacon pieces, and cook until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes, then remove them from the pan with a slotted spoon to a plate.

Add the onion and bell pepper to the fat in the pan and cook until vegetables begin to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Lower heat to medium low and stir in the lima beans, corn, tomato, sugar, salt and pepper.

Add the tomato sauce and water, bring to the simmer, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the okra and simmer for 10 minutes more or until the okra is fork tender but not mushy. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Add back in the bacon and serve it up.

Storing Succotash:

Let it cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge, consuming within 3-4 days.

Reheating Succotash:

For best results, reheat on the stovetop with a splash of water, stirring until warm.
Alternatively, use the microwave, covering the dish and heating in short bursts, stirring in between.

Remember: Only reheat what you need to maintain the best texture and flavor. Enjoy!

Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 878mg | Potassium: 652mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 780IU | Vitamin C: 39.9mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1.9mg

Recipe Tips

Go Fresh When You Can: Nothing tastes better y’all. If fresh corn, okra and tomatoes are around, throw them in. If not, frozen is still a great sub.

Don’t Overcook: This helps you keep the different textures of all of the veggies strong, plus if you soften the veggies too much, they get mushy.

Let it Rest: Once you finish cooking, chill boos. Let all those flavors mingle and turn into something legit.

Serving Suggestions

A Southern succotash recipe in a pan with corn and green peppers in the white background

Recipe Help

My succotash is dry. What should I do?

You may have cooked it a bit too long boo. Add in some more stock or water to create more of a sauce.

I don’t like okra. Can I leave it out of this succotash recipe?

Yep. The best thing about this recipe is you can make it your own. Do you boo. Swap and switch out similar veggies as much as you want.

Can I used canned veggies in this succotash recipe?

I would go for frozen first if fresh isn’t available. If canned is all that’s available, drain and rinse before adding them into this recipe.

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