These fried green beans are beer battered string beans deep fried to golden brown perfection. Serve with ranch dip for a unique and unexpected appetizer!.
When I have people over, I love to serve hot appetizers. Some of my favorites are fried ravioli, crab rangoon, and these incredibly tasty green beans.
My local burger restaurant serves fried green beans as an alternative to traditional french fries. I wasn’t sure about these green beans at first, but after trying them, I couldn’t believe how good they were! This easy recipe only takes minutes to make and is the perfect party snack.
If you love the crispy crunchy coating on fried foods, then you need to try deep frying fresh green beans. Taking the classic veggie side dish to new heights, deep fried green beans make an irresistible appetizer or snack. The hot oil transforms the beans into golden, crackling morsels bursting with flavor. Follow this easy recipe and guide to make your own batch of irresistible deep fried green beans at home.
What are Deep Fried Green Beans?
Deep fried green beans consist of whole fresh green beans coated in a crispy breading and then fried in hot oil until golden brown and cooked through. The result is piping hot green beans encased in a delicate, shatteringly crunchy exterior.
The preparation involves just a few simple steps:
- Blanching raw green beans briefly to partially cook.
- Dredging blanched beans in flour then egg wash.
- Coating floured beans with seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Deep frying breaded beans in 350°F oil until crispy.
The cooked green beans end up soft and tender inside with a crispy, textured breading that provides crunch and flavor. It’s a fun twist on plain steamed or boiled green beans!
Benefits of Deep Frying Green Beans
Deep frying gives green beans a crunchy texture and bolder flavor that contrasts nicely with the soft interior, Kids and picky eaters who turn their noses up at plain green beans will devour these crispy fried versions,
The breading adds taste and texture, coating each bean in a light, delicate crunch. Using panko or other flaky breadcrumbs makes the coating extra crispy.
Frying also brings out the natural sweetness of the green beans. The high heat caramelizes their sugars slightly.
Finally the golden fried exterior makes green beans far more visually appealing. The appetizing crunch and color makes them popular at parties and get-togethers.
Tips for Perfectly Fried Green Beans
Follow these tips for green beans with a crispy coating and a tender-crisp interior
-
Select slender, snap-fresh beans – Avoid bulky, thick beans which can be fibrous. Slender and tender beans fry up best.
-
Blanch beans first – A brief boil tenderizes beans so they cook evenly when fried.
-
Pat beans very dry – Eliminate excess moisture so the breading adheres.
-
Breadbeans immediately so they don’t discolor or become soggy.
-
Use instant-blending flour – It coats easily without clumping.
-
Beat eggs well – Thoroughly blending makes the wash coat evenly.
-
Toss beans gently – Coat without bruising delicate beans.
-
Use light, flaky breadcrumbs – Panko and others provide crispy texture.
-
Fry in batches – Avoid overcrowding beans for even cooking.
-
Use a thermometer – Maintain oil at 350°F for proper frying.
Follow these steps and tips, and you’ll be rewarded with crunchy golden fried green beans that keep their addictive crispiness.
Step-by-Step Guide
With the right preparations and techniques, you can make restaurant-worthy deep fried green beans at home.
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans
- 1⁄2 cup flour
- 1 egg
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 cups vegetable oil
Prep the Beans
-
Trim both ends off fresh green beans. Leave beans whole.
-
Bring a pot of water to boil. Blanch beans 2 minutes to partially cook.
-
Transfer beans immediately to an ice bath to stop cooking. Cool 1 minute.
-
Drain beans well. Pat very dry with paper towels.
Bread the Beans
-
Place flour in a shallow bowl. Beat egg in a second bowl. Pour breadcrumbs into a third.
-
Working in batches, dredge beans in flour, tapping off excess.
-
Dip floured beans in egg wash, coating evenly. Let excess drip off.
-
Add breaded beans to breadcrumbs. Toss gently to coat completely.
-
Transfer breaded beans to a plate. Repeat with remaining batches.
Fry the Beans
-
Heat 2 inches oil in a heavy pot or Dutch oven to 350°F.
-
Add a handful of breaded beans, gently lowering them in with tongs.
-
Fry 30 seconds then flip and fry another 30 seconds until golden.
-
Transfer fried beans to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle with salt.
-
Allow oil to reheat between batches. Don’t overcrowd.
-
Repeat with remaining beans. Serve beans hot and crispy.
Serving Suggestions
Deep fried green beans make a stellar appetizer for parties and game day. Serve with:
-
Ranch dressing, blue cheese dip, or garlic mayo for dunking.
-
Parmesan cheese or Cajun seasoning for sprinkling.
For a full meal, enjoy crunchy fried beans alongside:
-
Juicy burgers or steaks
-
Crispy fried chicken
-
Hearty sandwiches and subs
However you serve them, the crispy coating and tender interior make deep fried green beans irresistible!
Common Questions
Still have questions about achieving perfect fried green beans? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions.
What is the best oil for frying green beans?
Use a high smoke point neutral oil like canola, peanut, or vegetable oil. Avoid olive oil, which can burn.
Do I need a deep fryer to make them?
No, a heavy pot or Dutch oven works well. Just monitor temperature with a thermometer.
How long do the beans need to fry?
Around 1 minute total, flipping halfway, until the coating is crispy and golden brown.
Can I use frozen green beans?
No, the breading won’t adhere well to frozen beans. Thaw before breading.
Is there a baked version?
Yes, baked breaded beans won’t be quite as crispy but are lower fat. Bake at 425°F for 15-20 minutes.
Can I use pinto beans or other kinds?
Green beans work best. Pintos and other beans have a different texture when fried.
With this handy guide, you’ll be frying up the crispiest, crunchiest green beans around. Just beware – once people get a taste, these moreish morsels will disappear fast! Satisfy cravings and spice up sides and apps with these easy deep fried green beans.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
- You can use a whisk to get rid of any lumps in your batter.
- Make sure the oil stays at 375 degrees F with a thermometer.
- Keep the batter close to the oil while you fry the green beans so it’s easy to move the green beans from the batter to the oil.
- When the beans are done cooking, put them on a plate with paper towels on top to drain the extra oil.
- When you serve fried green beans, they taste best when they are still warm from being cooked. However, they can be refrigerated and reheated. You can use a toaster oven or a regular oven to warm them up and make them crispy.
You can put the green beans in the oil and take them out of the oil with a spider screen.
The beer should be a lighter colored beer. Use a lager if you want a mild flavored batter to let the green beans really shine. Use a lighter colored ale if you want a more complex tasting batter. I used a Belgian style wheat ale. The Belgian style wheat ale made for a delicious batter that was flavorful and golden when fried.
All you have to do to get your green beans ready for the fryer is wash them well and cut off the stem end. Line up a bunch of green beans and cut off all of their stems at once. This is the fastest way to get rid of the stem end. It makes prep time go a lot faster.
You don’t have to blanch green beans before you fry them because the hot oil will cook them through.
While this recipe is fabulous as-is, you can customize some of the flavors to suit your tastes.
- Spices: You can add more spices to the batter if you want to, like paprika, Cajun seasoning, Jamaican Jerk seasoning, or Italian seasoning.
- Don’t have any green beans? This batter can be used on other tender vegetables, like asparagus or small broccoli florets. You could also use it to make fried mushrooms.
- Spicy: Add cayenne pepper, chili powder, or hot sauce to the batter to make it hotter.
- Herbs: Fresh parsley is my favorite herb to use on top of green beans, but you can also use dill, green onions, or basil.
How Do You Make Fried Green Beans?
To make fried green beans, first you should wash and cut your green beans. Next, lightly coat them with flour. The flour helps the batter stick to the green beans and makes for a more uniform coating. Beer, flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder should all be mixed together in a medium bowl to make a batter. Dip the green beans in the batter and immediately fry them in hot oil. You can fry about 8-10 green beans at a time. Each batch of green beans should take 3-4 minutes. Remove the green beans from the oil when they are golden brown. Sprinkle the green beans with parsley and serve them hot.
