Air Fryer Lima Beans (Crispy Air Fried Lima Beans)
Description
These crispy air fryer lima beans are the easiest healthy side dish you'll make this week! Ready in just 15 minutes, this air fried lima beans recipe transforms frozen lima beans into golden, crispy, perfectly seasoned bites packed with fiber and plant-based protein. Perfect as a side dish, salad topper, or crunchy snack — and you can use frozen, canned, or cooked dried lima beans (butter beans) with the same simple method.
Ingredients
- 16 oz frozen lima beans, (or 1 can butter beans, drained and patted dry)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, or avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
- Place the frozen lima beans in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Toss until evenly coated.
- Transfer the seasoned lima beans to your air fryer basket in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding — work in batches if needed.
- Air fry at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through at the 6-minute mark.
- The beans should be golden brown outside and tender inside. Add 1–2 more minutes for extra crispy.
- Serve immediately with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and fresh lemon zest if desired.
Equipment
- Air Fryer, Air Fryer Basket or Air Fryer Oven
- Parchment Paper, optional
- Cooking Spray
Notes
Recipe Notes
- No need to thaw frozen lima beans — cook straight from the freezer.
- For canned butter beans: drain, rinse, and pat very dry. Reduce cook time to 8–10 minutes.
- Shake the basket halfway through for even crisping.
- Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days. Re-crisp in air fryer at 375°F for 2–3 minutes.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 183kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 9gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 350mgPotassium: 524mgFiber: 7gSugar: 0.04gVitamin A: 277IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 3mg