Butter beans are quite mild, and don't have a TON of flavor on their own: They taste like a creamier version of other white beans, like chick peas/garbanzo beans or cannellini beans. (That mild flavor is what makes them a perfect blank canvas to absorb so many different flavors and work with a variety of recipes!) Butter beans are also surprisingly soft, with a rich, creamy, buttery center: You can easily smash them into a smooth mixture using just a fork.