These crispy butter beans are a delicious, high-protein vegan snack that is easy to prepare and store in the fridge. They are a nutritious meal prep option for the week and so versatile for different meals. Ready in just 15 minutes and made in the air fryer, this recipe is a great fuss-free snack or meal.

I love them served with a flavor-packed dip like romesco sauce or my spicy jalapeno creamy sauce, but they're also served like a high-protein crouton in salads, sprinkled over pasta dishes, or any other way you can think of!

For more amazing butter bean recipes, try my Marry Me butter beans, these creamy lemon and basil butter beans, or this butter bean curry recipe.

Ingredient Notes

• Butter Beans: You could use tinned or jarred butter beans, or even cook them from dried for this recipe. Make sure you rinse your beans and pat them dry before tossing them in the flour and seasonings for best results.
  
• Plain flour: I use a little plain flour to help the beans get that lovely crispy exterior. Cornflour would also work just fine as a substitution.
  
• Seasonings: In this recipe, I use smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Feel free to adapt the seasonings according to your tastes, though. You'll also need some salt (preferably flaky sea salt) to finish.
  
• Olive oil: A little olive oil is used to toss the beans before air frying for that perfectly crispy exterior.

Variations for these Crispy Butter Beans

• If you can't find butter beans, any white bean will work for this recipe. If using a smaller white bean, such as cannellini beans, reduce the cooking time by half.
• Use any seasonings you want for your crispy butter beans - dried basil and parsley will work well for a light and herby taste, while you could load them up with garlic powder, onion salt, and cayenne pepper for a spicy little treat!

How To Make Crispy Butter Beans

Here's a quick overview of making your crispy butter beans - check the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact ingredient quantities and cooking instructions.

1. Season the Beans

First, pat your butter beans dry. Then, add them to your bowl along with the flour and seasonings. Stir to coat thoroughly.

Drizzle the floured beans with your olive oil.

2. Air Fry

Add the beans to your air fryer at cook for 10 - 15 minutes at 200C | 395F, shaking the basket a couple of times for evenly crisped beans.

Sprinkle the cooked beans with some flaky salt, and serve with your dip of choice!

Serving Suggestion

In the pictures for this recipe, I've served my crispy butter beans with roasted eggplant and romesco sauce - it's perfect as a small plate to share or as a light meal!

Storing

These crispy butter beans are perfect for meal prep. Simply store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. You can eat them cold or just reheat them in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes.

FAQs

Can I use a different bean for this recipe?

Yes, this recipe would work with any bean, although the size of butter beans is perfect for crispy croutons. If you can't find butter beans, they're sometimes called lima beans. Any other bean would also work well, though.

Can I omit the flour in this recipe?

Yes, you could omit the flour, but be aware that your beans won't be as crispy!