Crispy Fried Green Beans – Make veggies the star of your next meal with these crispy fried green beans! These fresh green beans are coated in flavor-packed seasonings and tangy buttermilk and then fried to golden-brown perfection. Serve them as an appetizer, side dish, or snack with your favorite dipping sauce.
Fried green beans are one of my favorite things to order when I go out for dinner. The tangy, savory coating turns them into something truly special. So, I decided to create my own version and treat my family to this delicacy any day of the week.
This crispy, crunchy version of green beans is now one of my family’s favorites. When I serve them with ranch dressing, honey mustard, or sriracha mayo, they disappear in a flash! If you’re looking for a fun, fast, and easy appetizer or snack, these totally fit the bill.
Perfectly Crispy, Crunchy Fried Green Beans
For golden-brown green beans that crunch when you bite into them, make sure the oil is nice and hot (375℉/190℃) before frying. Otherwise, the veggies will absorb the oil and turn greasy instead of crispy. Oils with a high smoke point, such as vegetable, peanut, or canola oil, work best for frying.
Another tip for crispy, crunchy green beans is to avoid overcrowding the pan. If too many green beans go in at once, it lowers the oil temperature too quickly and prevents them from crisping up. So, for the tastiest results, you may want to fry your green beans in batches.
Fried Green Beans Ingredients
- Green Beans – Opt for fresh, regular green beans (string or snap beans) for tasty fried green beans.
- The Wash – Buttermilk and egg work together to provide an exciting tartness and help the breading stick to the beans.
- Seasoned Breadcrumbs – Amp up the flavor by creating seasoned breadcrumbs according to your palate. Garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne add zesty, slightly smokey flavors. Of course, you can customize this dish by adding other seasonings.
- Flour – All-purpose flour coats the green beans so the egg wash sticks. Then, the egg and buttermilk help the breadcrumbs stick. Teamwork!
How to Make Crispy Fried Green Beans
- Blanch – Bring a pot of water to a boil, add a teaspoon of salt, then add your green beans. Blanch green beans for 2 minutes and immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water.
- Drain green beans and pat them dry with paper towels. Make sure they are well-dried before proceeding.
- Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan (about 3 inches deep) to 350℉ (175℃).
- Combine – In a small bowl, mix the buttermilk and egg until well combined and set aside. In a second bowl, mix the bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, pepper, and salt until well combined. Pour flour into a third bowl.
- Dredge – Coat green beans with flour, then transfer to beaten egg and buttermilk mixture and coat evenly. Then, coat in the seasoned breadcrumbs. If you want a thicker coating, double-coat the green beans by dipping them again in buttermilk, followed by the seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Fry the breaded green beans in batches in hot oil until golden brown, 2-4 minutes.
- Drain – Transfer fried green beans to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Serve immediately with ranch sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Oil Temperature – Keep an eye on the oil temperature when frying. It should be 375℉ (190℃) to ensure the beans reach golden-brown goodness without burning!
- Dry the Beans after blanching so the breading sticks and crisps when fried.
- Shake off Excess – After dredging the beans, shake off the excess batter and breadcrumbs for an even coating for frying.
- Air Fryer – To air fry green beans crispy, place them after breading in a single layer in the basket and fry at 375℉/190℃ (the oil will cool slightly when you add the green beans) for about 5 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!
- Veggie Variations – This recipe works with asparagus spears, red pepper strips, or small broccoli florets for a new dish every time you make it!
- Add-Ins – Feel free to throw some sesame seeds in the batter for a tantalizing nutty crunch. Italian seasoning provides herby, piney notes. And a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese over the hot beans gives a rich finishing touch.
Storage Instructions
These beauties are definitely best eaten hot and fresh. Serve them with a creamy ranch dressing, sriracha mayo, or a delectable white BBQ sauce, and watch them fly off the table!
Transfer leftover green beans to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the oven or an air fryer at 400℉ (205℃) for about 5 minutes to return them to their original crispiness. You can also freeze them tightly covered for up to 3 months.
What to Serve With Crispy Fried Green Beans
Fried green beans go great with air-fried pork chops and Southern baked mac and cheese. Frito pie and finger-licking good honey garlic chicken wings are perfect if serving up appetizers.
More Scrumptious Green Bean Recipes to Try
- Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole Recipe
- Southern Green Beans and Potatoes
- Spicy Green Beans
- Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
Crispy Fried Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450g) green beans, ends trimmed
- water for blanching
- 2 teaspoons salt, divided in half
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon white or black pepper
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 egg
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil, add 1 teaspoon of salt, then add your green beans.
- Blanch them for 2 minutes and immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water.
- Drain green beans and pat them dry with paper towels. Make sure they're well-dried before proceeding.
- In a small shallow bowl, mix the buttermilk and egg until well combined and set aside.
- In another bowl, mix the bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, pepper, and salt until well combined.
- Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan (3 inches deep) to 350℉ (175℃).
- Get your breading station ready. Pour the flour into one bowl, set the beaten egg and buttermilk next to it, and your seasoned bread crumbs in third place.
- Coat green beans with flour, transfer them to the beaten egg and buttermilk mixture, and coat evenly. Then, coat in the seasoned breadcrumbs.
- If you want a thicker coating, double-coat the green beans by dipping them again in buttermilk, followed by more seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Fry the breaded green beans in batches in hot oil until golden brown, 2-4 minutes.
- Transfer fried green beans to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.
- Serve immediately with ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Keep an eye on the oil temperature when frying. It should be 375℉ (190℃) to ensure the beans reach golden-brown goodness without burning!
- Dry the beans after blanching so the breading sticks and crisps when fried.
- After dredging the beans, shake off the excess batter and breadcrumbs for an even coating for frying.
- To air-fry green beans crispy, place them after breading in a single layer in the basket and fry at 375℉ (190℃) for about 5 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!
- This recipe works with asparagus spears, red pepper strips, or small broccoli florets for a new dish every time you make it!
- Feel free to throw some sesame seeds in the batter for a tantalizing nutty crunch. Italian seasoning provides herby, piney notes. And a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese over the hot beans gives a rich finishing touch.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.