These Cheddar Butter Bean Bites are a delicious, protein-packed snack that's perfect for lunches, picnics, meal prep or dipping into your favourite sauce. Made with simple pantry ingredients, they're crispy on the outside, soft in the middle and packed with cheesy flavour.
Easy to make and wonderfully versatile, these tasty bites can be enjoyed warm or cold and are great for keeping on hand throughout the week. Serve them as a snack, add them to lunchboxes or pair them with a fresh salad for a light and satisfying meal.
Calories in Cheddar Butter Bean Bites
This recipe serves 2 and is 237 calories per serving
If you're looking for more recipes by calories, you'll find plenty of options grouped by calorie range here: Slimming Eats Low Calorie Recipes
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Butter Beans: Drain and rinse the butter beans well before using. They mash easily and create a soft, creamy texture that's perfect for forming into bites.
- Spring Onions: Add a mild onion flavour and a little freshness. Finely chop them so they mix evenly throughout the mixture.
- Reduced-Fat Cheddar: Adds plenty of cheesy flavour while keeping the bites lighter. A mature cheddar works best for the strongest flavour.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Season to taste, keeping in mind the cheddar already adds some saltiness.
- Wholegrain Mustard (Optional): Adds a subtle tang and extra depth of flavour, but the bites are just as delicious if you prefer to leave it out.
- Olive oil spray - a few sprays to mist the top before baking help these to go lovely and golden in the oven
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
These Cheddar Butter Bean Bites are easy to customise with different cheeses, herbs and seasonings.
- Try a different cheese: Swap the cheddar for Red Leicester, mozzarella, Gruyère, Monterey Jack or a vegetarian Italian-style hard cheese or parmesan (if not vegetarian).
- Use a different bean: Cannellini beans, navy beans or great northern beans all work well in place of the butter beans.
- Add herbs: Fresh chives, parsley, dill or thyme all add extra flavour.
- Boost the seasoning: Add garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning or chilli flakes for a different flavour.
- Add vegetables: Finely grated courgette (zucchini), carrot or sweetcorn make great additions. Be sure to squeeze out any excess moisture from grated vegetables first.
- Add extra protein: Mix in some cooked chopped bacon, diced ham or shredded chicken if you're not keeping them vegetarian.
- Change the mustard: Dijon mustard can be used instead of wholegrain mustard, or simply leave it out if preferred.
Serving Suggestions
These Cheddar Butter Bean Bites are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed warm or cold.
They pair perfectly with a bowl of vegetable soup, making a simple and satisfying lunch. You'll find plenty of delicious Soup Recipes here on Slimming Eats to serve them with.
They're also delicious served with your favourite dip, such as ranch dressing, garlic aioli, honey sriracha yoghurt dip, sweet chilli sauce, marinara or your favourite yogurt-based dip.
My favourite way to enjoy them is in a big salad bowl with crisp lettuce, cucumber, beetroot, pickled onions, avocado, cooked quinoa, couscous or rice, and a spoonful of fresh salsa. They're also perfect for lunchboxes, picnics or meal prep and taste just as good cold as they do warm.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
To Store: Allow the butter bean bites to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
To Freeze: Once cooled, place the bites in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper if needed. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: Reheat from the refrigerator in the oven or air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 5-8 minutes, or until heated through and lightly crisp. From frozen, reheat at 180°C (350°F) for 12-15 minutes, or until piping hot throughout.
More Bean Recipes
Looking for some other recipes to make with some beans in your pantry? Try one of these:
See more Bean Recipes →
or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.
All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.
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Recipe Card
Cheddar Butter Bean Bites
These Cheddar Butter Bean Bites are delicious cheesy bites, perfect for dipping, snacking, picnics or packed lunches.
Ingredients
- 400g (14oz) can of butter beans, drained
- 2 spring onions, finely chopped
- 80g (2.8oz) of reduced fat cheddar, grated
- Salt and black pepper season
- 1 teaspoon of wholegrain mustard (optional)
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200c or 400f (gas mark 6)
- Ensure the butterbeans are fully drained
- Place the butter beans and cheddar in a bowl and mash together thoroughly
- Add in the spring onions and mustard (if using) and mix to combine.
- Season as needed with salt and black pepper
- Form into 8 equal sized patties (bites)
- Place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and spray over the top with olive oil spray
- Bake in the oven for approx 30 mins until golden
- Great dipped into soup, served with a mixed salad or as a side to any dish.
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- Gluten Free Friendly
- Vegetarian Friendly
- ❄️ Freezer Friendly - see storing, freezing and reheating
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Nutrition Information
Yield
2Serving Size
1 (4 bites)Amount Per Serving Calories 237Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 5gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 39mgSodium 395mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 6gSugar 2gProtein 19g
Nutritional information is an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information
Julie says
I have just tried to make these for the first time. I followed the recipe to the tee but 8 minutes into the cooking time they have all spread into one mass.
Any idea why ??
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
hmmm they shouldn't of done that, did you drain them fully? As it sounds like the mixture was too wet and there is nothing in the ingredients that would cause that.
Jane Maclean says
I made these last night to have with soup at
lunchtime and as always they tasted great !
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
so glad you enjoyed them Jane, I love them with soup.
Steph says
Can I substitute the mustard for anything else as I really don't like the taste of mustard. Thank you in advance
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
Hi Steph, just omit it shouldn’t make too much difference,
Carol says
I made these tonight & they smelt delicious. Unfortunately they have ended up really dry & taste almost "floury". Any ideas?
Thank you
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
What cheese did you use? Was it already grated stuff in a bag? If so you need to avoid using that kind of cheese as it is usually coated to prevent it from sticking together and doesn't melt as good. That is the only thing I can think of.
Tony says
Superb!
Made them today. I wanted to eat them immediately but my wife said, "Don't even try it mate".
She wants me to make another batch ASAP. The only thing l find hard to do is make the patties even as l had keep taking pieces of each of them to make them them an even size. Besides that, what a lovely simple recipe. Thank you.
Clare Jones says
Made these for group taster and they were a massive hit with everyone. So tasty and so easy to make. Thanks for this little treat which is so much like a cheese scone! X
Becky says
These have become a regular in my house. I have to put them in the food processor though haha you must be a mean masher. Thanks again!
Lucea says
Made the butterbean bites today, they are delish! I used parmesan instead of low fat cheddar, very tasty. Will be making these again for sure.
Rachel says
Do these freeze well? Or do they break apart when you take them out? I’m only cooking for me so I don’t want them to go to waste!
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
I know many have frozen these and have said they are fine, but I personally prefer them fresh.
Catherine simms says
Hi Siobhan
Have made them for first time today.absolutly beautiful.but what's the best way to keep them for tomorrow how long do they keep?
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
I keep them in a tub in the fridge and warm up before serving, should keep for about 3 days.
Teresa Wright says
We’ve just made these. They smell divine and can’t wait to sample!
I struggle with arthritic hands and used an ice cream scoop to get the right size. We made 10 and cooked for 25 minutes.
Sue says
Omgoodness! These are soooooo good.......soooooo moreish!! Will defo be making these again! My masher didn’t square up to the challenge so the food processor had to make an appearance! Only took 20 minutes in my fan oven and was a great side dish to my husbands chicken guveç. Love love love!
Sandra Mullett says
Can I use haricot beans. No butter beans until next shop
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
yep those should be okay
Joan hogg says
Don’t like butter beans,could I make them with baked beans,do you think