Crispy Roasted Butter Beans
Roasted butter beans are a delicious and healthy alternative to convenient fried crunchy snacks. With just 3 super simple ingredients, it’s easy to whip up a batch for wholesome snacking all week long.
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Crispy roasted butter beans
The popularity of my miso roasted chickpeas and crispy broad beans tells me one thing- you guys love healthy, vegan, crunchy roasted bean snacks. Today I’m upping the game with another savoury snack recipe.
This roasted butter beans snack has a delicious crunchy bite, and makes a great alternative to unhealthy fried snacks. They have delicious, crispy skins, and are just the right level of salty and garlicky.
You can customise this baked butter beans recipe to your taste, using any of your favourite herbs, spices or mixes. They’re delicious, easy to make, and best of all, good for you!
Butter beans or lima beans?
Although some think that they are different beans, butter beans are actually the same thing as lima beans! Butter beans are also sometimes referred to as baby lima beans. The name lima bean comes from their country of origin, Peru, and its capital, Lima. Consequently, these beans are very popular in South America.
They have a mild flavour, a creamy colour, and a buttery texture; hence the name! Their mild taste means that they are a great carrier for different flavours. They are delicious in soups, stews, salads, and casseroles, as simple pan fried side, or baked!
They’re super healthy, being low in calories and fat. They’re a good source of plant based protein and fibre, as well as being rich in vitamins and minerals including folate, potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc.
You can buy butter beans in dried, canned and frozen varieties. For this roasted butter beans recipe, I recommend using canned butter beans. As these are already cooked, they make the recipe so simple. All you need to do is drain and rinse them, and they’re ready to go.
Why I love roasted bean snacks
- They’re so quick and easy to make, with nearly no prep time and only 20 minutes in the oven.
- Crispy and satisfying, they remind me of all of my favourite fried snacks!
- The ingredients are easy to find in any normal store.
- Crispy butter beans are cheap to make, costing barely more than the cost of a can of butter beans for the entire recipe.
- They’re a healthy, convenient snack, which is also vegan and and gluten free.
What ingredients are needed for roasted butter beans?
You need only 3 simple ingredients to make these simple and delicious crispy butter beans:
Butter beans– Canned butter beans are best for this recipe, as they are already cooked. You can buy these in most stores, and they are very cheap. If you would rather use the dried variety, I have put instructions for this below.
Oil– To make these butter beans really nice and crispy, you will need to use a little oil. I’ve used ½ tbsp of canola/rapeseed oil, and found that this was plenty to result in crispy beans. You could also use olive oil.
Salt and pepper– For seasoning, you can simply use salt and pepper in this recipe. This is enough to give the beans a really delicious flavour.
Garlic powder or other spices (optional)– I’ve added ½ tsp garlic powder to my roasted butter beans, as I love garlic! You can do the same, or use your favourite spices.
Canned or dried butter beans?
I’ve written this roasted bean snack recipe using canned butter beans, as these are easy to find and accessible to everyone. They also make the recipe really quick and easy.
Dried butter beans are also a viable option for this recipe, but this would increase the preparation time significantly. To make roasted butter beans using the dried variety, you need to soak and boil them first.
Soak your butter beans overnight in cold water, before draining and rinsing them. Tip them into a large heavy pan, then add enough water to cover them and then some. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
You will need to simmer them until they are tender, which for most beans will take around an hour. Older beans may take longer to cook, so just keep checking them until they are done.
Drain and pat dry your beans, then continue as per the canned butter beans recipe.
Seasoning options
I have used garlic granules alongside salt and black pepper to season my roasted butter beans, but this isn’t the only option. Here are a few more ideas for seasoning your butter beans:
- Curried– Use curry powder or garam masala.
- Spicy– Cayenne pepper adds a great kick to roasted butter beans!
- Smoky– Try smoked paprika and smoked salt for a lovely smoky flavour.
- Cajun– Cajun seasoning is a great match for vegan crispy butter beans.
- Turmeric– Try mixing in a teaspoon of this super healthy spice.
- Zesty– Sprinkle over some lemon zest (and sumac if you have some).
Equipment needed
The only equipment needed for this healthy butter bean recipe is a baking sheet or tray. It’s important that this is large enough to leave plenty of space between the beans, so that they go crispy. I used a 1/4 sized or 13″x9″ baking sheet for one can of beans, which was perfect. If you increase the amount of beans, increase the size of the tray used.
How to roast butter beans
To make the crispy butter beans, start by draining and rinsing your canned beans. If using dried beans, cook them as I have explained above, then use the following instructions.
Preheat the oven to 200c/390f.
Pat the beans with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper to remove any excess moisture. Spread them out on your baking sheet, then drizzle over the oil, add the salt and black pepper, and sprinkle with any spices of choice.
Use a spoon or your fingers to rub the oil and the spices over the beans, then spread them out evenly on the tray.
Place them in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the skins are crispy and browned. The roasted butter beans can explode in the oven, as the skins pop. Don’t worry as this makes them super crispy by increasing their surface area.
Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool a little before enjoying!
Serving suggestions
These roasted butter beans are a delicious crunchy and nutritious snack! Portion them up and take them on-the-go. They’re perfect for work and are great for kids too. Schools will love them as they are nut-free.
They make a great little appetiser or posh nibble to have alongside a nice glass of wine before dinner too. You can increase this recipe as much as you would like, so make a big batch ready for a dinner party.
Roasted lima beans also work great sprinkled onto a salad or buddha bowl, or on top of some tahini toast.
Ingredient substitutes or additions
This baked butter beans recipe only uses simple ingredients, so there’s not much that can be changed. Further up this post I’ve discussed options for using dried butter beans, and for mixing up the spices.
Can I roast other beans?
Yes! In fact, this recipe works for most beans that you can find in a can. Try roasting up white beans, red kidney beans, black beans or chickpeas for delicious roasted bean snacks.
FAQ’s
These roasted butter beans will keep in an airtight container in the cupboard for up to 3 days. However, they are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven or within a couple of hours- this is when the skins will be crispiest.
Although they would keep for longer, I wouldn’t recommend keeping these beans in the fridge, as the moisture will likely make the crispy skins go soft. Luckily, it’s so easy to whip up a batch, that you don’t need to worry about making a batch in advance.
Although normal cooked butter beans can be frozen, roasted butter beans do not respond well to freezing. The moisture in the freezer would stop the butter beans being crispy, and instead the skins will go soft.
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Crispy Roasted Butter Beans
Equipment
- 13"x9" baking sheet (Use a larger sheet for a larger batch)
Ingredients
- 400 g can butter beans drained and rinsed
- ½ tbsp oil
- ½ tsp each salt and pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°c/390°f.
- Pat the rinsed beans with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper to remove any excess moisture, then spread them on the baking sheet.
- Drizzle over the oil, add the salt and black pepper, and sprinkle with the garlic powder (if using).
- Use a spoon or your fingers to rub the oil and seasoning over the beans, then spread them out evenly on the tray.
- Place them in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the skins are crispy and browned. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool a little before enjoying!
