This Crispy Tahini Butter Beans recipe makes a great on-the-go or TV snack. The crunchy bites come together in just 30 minutes and require nearly no hands-on time (the oven does the work!). With just a few ingredients you can have these ready to munch on in no time!
It’s probably no surprise at this point that I love butter beans. They are larger in comparison to other beans and therefore feel a little more hearty and substantial.
And while their creamy texture lends itself well to Marry Me Butter Beans it also makes a great crispy snack or appetizer. Which I know sounds odd – crispy and creamy? Hear me out though!
These crispy tahini butter beans are roasted in tahini and spices for a cheese-like flavor that’s uber crunchy but the inside melts in your mouth. Think roasted potatoes or fried chicken level crispy…but better!
Why you’ll love it
- Requires no prep work because the beans are ready to go from the can. Okay, you do have to drain the beans but I don’t consider that much prep work…
- A cheap snack that’s also vegan and gluten-free. And the best part is the ingredients needed to make them can all be found at the store (there are only 3 main ones plus some spices).
- Versatile because they can be eaten as a fun crunchy or used as a salad topper – like a higher protein crouton!
Ingredients for Crispy Tahini Butter Beans
- The Main Ingredients: The key parts of this recipe are the butter beans (canned) and the tahini. The tahini should be very creamy if store-bought (or make your own tahini).
- The Flavor: While the tahini adds a lot of umami flavor, I also like to add olive oil for roasting and a handful of basic spices. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients.
Butter Beans vs Lima beans
There are so many types of beans out there so you might think lima beans and butter beans are different. But, they’re actually the same thing with just a different name! So for this recipe, either name works great!
How to make crispy butter beans with tahini
Like with most roasting recipes, you’ll need a sheet tray, an oven, and a bowl to mix everything in. I like to mix everything in a bowl first to evenly distribute the spices and tahini for maximum crispiness and flavor. Here’s a brief overview of how to make these butter beans extra crispy.
- Prep by draining and drying the butter beans
- Mix everything in a large bowl gently (the butter beans are delicate)
- Bake on a lined sheet tray until crispy
Storage
To store leftovers, pop them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to a week. They should be reheated in the oven to crisp up again. They can be stored at room temperature for the day if you want to take them on the go.
Recipe Testing Notes
- Lining the baking tray not only helps keep things cleaner but helps the tahini get crispy without burning. This is because parchment paper is lighter than most non-stick trays.
- Let the beans rest after baking for just a bit. They continue to cook and crisp up as they cool. As hard as it is to wait, I promise it’s worth it!
- Go crazy with the flavors! I’m using some of my favorite spices here, but it’s totally customizable. You could make them taco flavors with our chili seasoning, or go fresh with lemon pepper seasoning.
how to use crispy tahini beans
I love to just munch on these butter beans as a snack but you can also use them on and with other recipes. Here are just a few ideas.
- As a salad topper on this Vegetarian Caesar Salad or Loaded Sweet Potato Salad with Quinoa.
- On top of toast like on this Avocado Toast or add another texture to this Creamy Caesar Bean Toast.
- As a snack either in a Snack Box or paired with other tasty bites like Baked Carrot Chips.
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @liveeatlearn on Facebook or Instagram!
Ingredients
- 1 16-oz can butter beans drained, 453 g
- ¼ cup tahini 60 g
- 1 Tbsp olive oil 15 mL
- ½ tsp each salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Drain butter beans and pat as dry as possible with paper towels.
- Mix: In a large bowl, stir together ¼ cup tahini, 1 Tbsp olive oil, and ½ tsp each salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika. Gently fold in the butter beans.
- Bake: Arrange beans on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for about 30 minutes, flipping the beans once during cooking, until golden brown and crispy (they'll continue to crisp up as they cool).
Mary Kay says
Can the air fryer be used vs oven?
Sarah Bond says
Probably! I haven’t tried so I can’t say for sure though