Crispy Air Fryer Butter Beans

Crispy air fryer butter beans are a guilt-free and gorgeous graze for every day. Spiked with sriracha seasoning, these snacky little nibbles are portable, high fibre, and easy on the budget. Cutting out eating between meals? They make a great salad topper too. 

At the other end of the snack spectrum are candied almonds. I might be on a health kick, but I do have a sweet tooth!

Has the world fallen out of love with their This is an affiliate link.air fryers? There was a time when air fryer recipes were everywhere: garlic bread, French fries, whole chickens! Where has the love gone? 

I know that many people have invested in air fryers without getting a lot of use out of them. But in my kitchen, the air fryer is the most used appliance. I love the brilliance of air fried food without the added calories, so find every excuse to use mine, which is why so many air fryer recipes make in on this site.

On my new fibremaxxing flex, crispy butter beans is exactly the kind of snack I’m reaching for instead of crisps (potato chips), easy to demolish M&Ms, or jellybeans. They really satisfy that afternoon crunch craving! What’s more, the appealing nature of grazing foods makes them irresistible to kids too, so pack them in school lunch boxes or offer as an after school snack. 

Crispy butter beans

I have a ton of butter bean recipes on the blog!  But this one is unique; in this recipe the beans are air fried and crispy. Think something between corn nuts and Spanish habas fritas. 

If you’re wondering what the heck butter beans are, they are also known in some regions as lima beans. You might have disliked them as a child, but in my opinion, the misunderstood bean has been unfairly branded. Not only are they an inexpensive source of both fibre and protein, but they are also supermarket stocked and can be supremely delicious. Especially, when fried! 

The key is to start with a decent bean. I buy jarred, pre-cooked butter beans, rather than the dehydrated kind. They will be tender from the start with a nutty butter texture and taste. The second most important thing is adding flavour. 

Butter beans are naturally mild and receptive to seasoning. I’ve zhoozhed mine up with a hot Thai sriracha coating, but you can use any spice you like. For the fire-shy, try smoky barbecue seasoning or a warming cumin sprinkle for an Indian twist.

What goes with it

Essentially, crispy butter beans fall into the ‘Snack’ category. But I’ll never pass up an opportunity to up the fibre, crunch factor and flavour of a dish. So, it’s absolutely fine to liberally sprinkle these Sriracha spice-spiked beans over virtually anything. 

Here’s a few ideas:

• Salads: Italian chopped salad – the warming spice and crunch takes this summer salad through to the Fall.
• Side veg dishes: Oven roasted vegetables – crispy butter beans bring a fancy aesthetic and layered texture to these softened nightshades.
• Soups: Chicken vegetable soup – adding bean-based fibre to this nourishing chicken soup makes it all the more powerful when you need it most.

And I wouldn’t stop there! Try on a baked potato, curry or chili too. 

Storage and leftovers

I cannot count how many times I’ve written ‘store in an airtight container’. Well, not today!! The secret to keeping crispy butter beans crunchy is to store in a jar with a loose lid. Or better yet, cover a container with a paper towel. 

If you do make the mistake of sealing your jar and your air fryer beans turn out soft and squishy, give them another blast in the oven or air fryer for 5 minutes to re-crisp.

More snacking recipies

• Scandi Inspired Grazing Board
• Green Goddess Dip with Crudités
• Padron Peppers (Classic Spanish Tapa)
• Double Decker Devilled Eggs