Fried Green Beans

Almost anything tastes good when fried, including garden-variety vegetables like asparagus, squash, mushrooms and zucchini. The light, tempura-style batter for these fried green beans creates a golden and shatteringly crisp exterior. Club soda and baking soda are to thank; the former adds tiny air pockets that puff and crackle as they fry, while the latter helps with added puffiness and browning. Blanching the beans first keeps them bright green and just tender enough to snap between your teeth, amplifying their fresh and grassy flavor rather than masking it with the savory, garlicky crust.

Fried green beans are substantial enough to serve as a vegetarian main alongside rice and a green salad. Still, most people treat them like the world’s most craveable appetizer, with one handful inevitably leading to another. When served hot from the fryer with a pile of napkins and your favorite dip, they disappear faster than you’d think possible.

Ingredients for Fried Green Beans

• Fresh green beans: These crisp pods provide the starring vegetable element, their mild, slightly grassy flavor and satisfying snap acting as the perfect canvas for the light, crispy coating.
• All-purpose flour: This pantry staple forms the base of the batter. It provides structure and helps the coating adhere to the beans during frying, resulting in a golden, crunchy exterior.
• Baking powder: A small amount of this leavening agent lightens the batter, producing an airy, tempura-like coating rather than a dense, heavy crust.
• Salt: Salt enhances the other flavors in the batter and balances the richness of the fried coating.
• Garlic powder: This aromatic addition brings savory depth to the batter, complementing the beans’ natural flavor without overpowering their delicate taste.
• Club soda: The carbonation in this fizzy water creates an exceptionally light, crispy batter, with the bubbles helping to produce a delicate crunch when the beans hit the hot oil.
• Egg: Egg is a binder that helps the batter cling to the beans while adding richness and contributing to the golden color of the finished coating.
• Oil for frying: The best oil for frying should have a high smoke point and neutral flavor. Think canola or vegetable oil, although peanut, avocado or safflower oil all work well.
• Dipping sauce: Sweet-hot Asian dipping sauce and Sriracha mayonnaise are good choices for fried green beans, but use any sauce you like. While optional, these condiments add moisture and complementary flavors that enhance the crispiness of the beans.

Directions

Step 1: Blanch the green beans

In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add beans and cook them, uncovered, just until they turn bright green, two to three minutes. Remove the beans and immediately drop them into ice water.

Drain the ice water and pat the beans dry.

Step 2: Prepare the batter and heat the oil

In an electric skillet or deep fryer, heat the oil to 375°F. In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and garlic powder. Stir in the club soda and egg (the batter may be slightly lumpy).

Step 3: Fry the beans

Dip the beans into the batter and then transfer them directly into the hot oil. Fry the beans, a few at a time, for one to two minutes, or until they’re golden brown. Drain them on paper towels. If desired, serve the fried green beans with a dipping sauce of your choosing.

Fried Green Beans Variations

• Try different vegetables: Substitute asparagus spears or broccoli florets for the green beans, adjusting the blanching time as needed for each vegetable’s texture.
• Make it spicy: Add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to the batter for a kick of heat that complements the crispy coating.
• Season them with ranch: Mix ranch seasoning powder into the flour mixture before adding the wet ingredients for tangy, herb-infused flavor.
• Go gluten free: Swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend or rice flour, which gives the crust an extra-crispy texture similar to tempura.
• Make Buffalo-style beans: Toss the fried beans in melted butter mixed with hot sauce and serve them with blue cheese dressing for a snack reminiscent of Buffalo wings.
• Add sesame seeds: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the beans immediately after frying them, and serve them with an Asian-style dipping sauce like ponzu or ginger-soy.

How to Store Fried Green Beans

It’s best to enjoy the fried green beans immediately, while the coating is still crispy. You can, however, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Place a paper towel in the bottom of the container to absorb any excess moisture, which helps prevent the coating from becoming too soggy. Keep in mind that fried foods inevitably lose some of their crunch during storage, so don’t expect them to be quite as crispy as they were when they were fresh.

How long do fried green beans last?

Fried green beans will keep in the refrigerator for three to four days when stored in an airtight container. However, the coating will gradually lose its crispiness over time, so they’re really at their best within the first day or two. If you notice the beans becoming soggy or developing an off smell, it’s time to discard them.

How can you reheat fried green beans?

The best way to reheat fried green beans and restore some of their crispiness is in the oven or air fryer. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and reheat them at 375° for five to seven minutes or until they’re warmed through and crispy again. You can also warm them in an air fryer at 350° for three to four minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Avoid the microwave, as it will make the coating disappointingly soggy.

Fried Green Beans Tips

Can you use frozen green beans?

You can use frozen green beans, but fresh beans will give you better results. If using frozen beans, thaw them completely and pat them very dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture; any water on the surface will prevent the batter from adhering properly and can cause dangerous splattering in the hot oil. Skip the blanching step since frozen beans have already been blanched.

Can you make fried green beans in an air fryer?

Yes, you can make fried green beans in an air fryer for a lighter version with less oil. But you may want to add a bread crumb or panko coating before placing them in the basket. Otherwise, the batter will stick, and they may not puff up. After coating the beans in batter, toss them in seasoned bread crumbs or panko, and arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray them with cooking oil. Air-fry them at 400° for 8 to 10 minutes or until they’re golden and crispy, shaking the basket halfway through. The texture won’t be quite as crunchy as it would had the beans been deep-fried, but they’ll still be delicious.

What else can you serve with fried green beans?

Fried green beans make a fantastic appetizer or side dish alongside burgers, sandwiches, or grilled meats like steak or chicken. They’re also great as part of a larger spread of finger foods for game day or parties, served alongside mozzarella sticks or onion rings.