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Make super crispy baked or air fryer green bean fries with just a handful of ingredients and no eggs or breadcrumbs! A quick, easy, and affordable crispy treat that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, paleo, low-carb, keto, and whole30 ready in just 15 minutes!

completed Crispy Green Bean Fries scattered on a white surface alongside ketchup
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Super Tasty Green Bean Fries in an Oven or Air Fryer

In our opinion, no Thanksgiving table is complete without a creamy green bean casserole, and we love throwing these fresh, vibrant beans into soups, stir-fries, and with noodles. However, green beans are just as delicious as a simple side dish with minimal ingredients—made even more impressive as crispy coated (kid-approved and crowd-pleasing!) green bean fries.

These crispy green bean fries are a delicious and healthy way to satisfy fry cravings. They require less than a handful of inexpensive pantry ingredients, and you can bake or air fry them in under 15 minutes.

Unlike many green bean fries recipes, this version skips messy and annoying dredging/egg wash steps. Instead, these vegan green beans use ground flax meal and minimal hands-on prep for green bean baked fries that are tender in the middle and crisp outside while remaining super diet-friendly.

However, they’re also super versatile—so if you want to use panko crumbs, you can. You can also further season the beans, and add other flavorful extras to tweak the recipe to your liking. No matter what you do, these crispy green bean fries are a delicious, crunchy, addictive, and healthy snack or side.

The Ingredients

ingredients for Crispy Green Bean Fries measured out against a white surface
  • Green beans: It’s best to use fresh green beans (string beans/ snap beans) with firm pods and a bright green color. French green beans should also work but take less time to cook.
  • Flax meal: To keep this recipe healthy and naturally keto and gluten-free, we’ve ditched breadcrumbs for flax meal. If you only have whole flax seeds, use a coffee/spice grinder to grind them into a meal consistency. However, you can also use almond flour, seasoned breadcrumbs, or panko breadcrumbs for this recipe
  • Oil: Use neutral cooking oil, like avocado oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil, etc.
  • Salt & black pepper: To season the green bean fries.

What Else Could I Add?

There are several ways to boost the flavor of these crispy baked green beans.

  • Nutritional yeast: Add 1-2 tbsp to the spice blend for vegan ‘parmesan’ green bean fries. Other vegan parmesan alternatives would work, too.
  • For spice: Add some chili or cayenne powder to the seasoning or garnish the green bean baked fries with red pepper flakes.
  • Spices: There are several ways to season the beans. Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, Cajun spice, cumin, etc. For a basic seasoning, we love to use a small amount of garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika (about ¼ tsp of each per lb. green beans).
  • Lime wedges: Add when serving for brightness.

How to Make Green Bean Fries in the Oven?

  • 1) First, preheat the oven to 425F/220C. Then rinse, pat dry, and trim the green beans by grabbing a bundle, lining up the ends, and slicing away the ends. Repeat on the other side. Remove any tough strings, too.
  • 2) Then, toss the green beans with all the ingredients in a medium bowl until well coated.
  • 3) Spread the green bean fries into an even single layer across a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes until they are brown and crispy outside and tender in the middle.
pre baked Crispy Green Bean Fries in baking tray against parchment paper

Air Fryer Green Bean Fries

Air fryer green bean fries are crispy and delicious and cook in half the time of baked green beans. To do so, prepare the beans as written above, then spread the green beans in the air fryer basket in a single layer (spray the basket with cooking oil first).

Air fry at 370F/180C for 7-9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.

FAQs

Can I use frozen green beans?

It may work if you allow them to thaw, pat away any moisture, and then continue with the recipe as written. However, the fries will be softer.

Are green bean fries healthy?

Yes, this recipe uses minimal oil and a crispy coating of ground flaxseed for a dish rich in dietary fiber, a small amount of protein, and several vitamins and minerals, like Vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, iron, and folate – all while remaining low in calories (just 30kcal per cup of beans).

Can I make green bean fries without oil?

This recipe uses oil instead of egg wash, so it will need to be replaced rather than outright omitted. You may be able to use aquafaba instead (the liquid from a can of chickpeas—use the beans to make hummus or chickpea tuna salad). Whip the liquid until white and fluffy before dipping the beans in, then sprinkling over the coating.

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

  • To save time: It’s possible to buy pre-trimmed green beans.
  • Remove any strings: Some green beans can contain tough, fibrous strings that are unpleasant to chew. If you notice any, peel them away when trimming the beans.
  • Don’t overcrowd them: The green bean fries require airflow to allow them to become properly crispy.
  • The cooking time may vary: Based on the batch size, the thickness of the beans, and your desired inner texture.
  • For softer green beans: Par-cook them by blanching or microwaving them for 2-3 minutes before adding them to an ice bath, patting them dry, and continuing with the recipe.
completed Crispy Green Bean Fries scattered on a white surface alongside ketchup

What To Serve With Crispy Green Beans?

You can also enjoy these crispy green beans on your Thanksgiving and holiday table alongside mashed potato, gravy, stuffing, and more.

Storage Instructions

These crispy green beans are best consumed directly after cooking for the crispiest texture, though leftovers will store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

To reheat the green beans, pop them back into the oven (at 350F/175C for 10-15 minutes) or air fryer (3-5 minutes) until heated and slightly crispy once more. Avoid using a microwave, as the beans will become very soft.

More Fries Recipes

Photos by Alfonso Revilla

completed Crispy Green Bean Fries scattered on a white surface alongside ketchup

Crispy Green Bean Fries [Baked + Air Fryer]

4.98 from 45 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Make super crispy baked or air fryer green bean fries with just a handful of ingredients and no eggs or breadcrumbs! A quick, easy, and affordable crispy treat that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, paleo, low-carb, keto, and whole30!

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound of fresh green beans ends snipped
  • 3 Tablespoons of flax meal
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of oil (avocado or other high heat oil)

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Toss green beans with all ingredients in a medium bowl until coated well.
  • Spread into an even layer on a baking sheet, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown and crispy.

Air Fryer Green Bean Fries

  • Prepare the beans as written above, then spread the green beans in the air fryer basket in a single layer (spray the basket with cooking oil first).
  • Air fry at 370F/180C for 7-9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.

Notes

  • To save time: It’s possible to buy pre-trimmed green beans.
  • Remove any strings: Some green beans can contain tough, fibrous strings that are unpleasant to chew. If you notice any, peel them away when trimming the beans.
  • Don’t overcrowd them: The green bean fries require airflow to allow them to become properly crispy.
  • The cooking time may vary: Based on the batch size, the thickness of the beans, and your desired inner texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 6gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 1180mgPotassium: 571mgFiber: 9gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1568IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 114mgIron: 3mg

Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Additional Info

Author: Renee Press
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Method: Oven
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! 🙂
About

Renee Press

Renee Press is the founder of Fire and Earth Kitchen in Seattle WA. which offers cooking classes, food coaching, and chef services. She’s on a mission to make vegan, gluten-free cooking easy, accessible, and delicious for everyone. fireandearthkitchen.com

More about Renee Press

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  1. 5 stars
    My new favorite snack! I adore green beans and I never thought to make them in the air fryer. Seriously delicious!