Roasted cannellini beans are great for snacking and as a garnish, adding flavor and texture to salads, soups, and more! With a little olive oil and some spices, these humble white beans become a seriously tasty and satisfying snack. Prep is easy, and you can roast the beans in the oven or air fryer!
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Best White Beans for Roasting
Before we dive into the recipe, let's take a look at a few different types of beans you can use for this recipe.
- Cannellini beans: Creamy and mild in flavor, cannellini beans are a favorite of mine for everything from dips and soups to pasta dishes. Their creamy texture and delicate skin make them ideal for absorbing seasonings.
- Great Northern beans: Similar to cannellini beans, Great Northern beans have a delicate taste and a slightly nutty flavor. They are also an excellent choice for roasting.
- Navy beans: These small, oval-shaped beans have a mild flavor and a smooth texture.
- Lima beans: Also known as butter beans, they're larger in size, wonderfully creamy inside, and perfect for roasting.
Ingredients
Now that we have our beans ready, it's time to get roasting! The process is relatively straightforward and requires minimal effort. Here's what you'll need:
- Cooked Cannellini beans - see other varieties above; either canned or homemade
- Olive oil or another neutral cooking oil
- Salt and pepper
- Seasonings - try lemon zest and juice plus garlic, or fun spice blends like harissa, curry powder, za'atar (a personal favorite), or chili powder and cumin. Add cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes for some heat!
How to Roast Cannellini Beans in the Oven
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 420°F (215°C), and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare the beans: Drain and rinse the canned beans, then use paper towels or a tea towel to gently pat them dry. If you accidentally smash some of the beans that's okay! We actually enjoy the variety of having a mix of intact and smashed beans.
- Season the beans: Spread the beans out on the baking sheet. Add the oil and seasonings and toss gently to ensure they are evenly coated.
- Roast: Transfer the beans to the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness. Make sure to shake the pan or gently stir the beans at the halfway mark.
- Check for crispiness: Keep a close eye on the beans as they roast; the cooking time may vary based on your oven and the type of bean used. The beans are ready when they turn golden brown and crispy on the outside, but still tender on the inside.
- Taste and serve: Taste for seasoning and serve warm.
Air Fryer Cannellini Beans
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To make crispy beans in the air fryer:
- Preheat to 400 degrees F (204°C).
- Add the seasoned beans to the basket and give it a shake to spread them out.
- Air fry for about 12 minutes or until they're as crispy as you like.
Tip: I like to remove the grate that rests in the bottom of our air fryer because it has holes large enough for beans to slip through. So to simplify things, including clean up, I just place the beans directly in the basket.
How to Season the Beans
One of the best things about crispy roasted white beans is their versatility. You can experiment with various seasonings and spices to create unique flavor profiles. Here are a few variations we like:
- Lemon-garlic: add lemon zest and a few smashed garlic cloves. To keep the garlic from burning, make sure it is well coated in oil and add it at the halfway mark....or just use garlic powder!
- Curry-spiced beans: Season the beans with curry powder, turmeric, cumin, and a pinch of cinnamon. This variation delivers a burst of warm and aromatic flavors.
- Spicy-Sriracha beans: If you're a fan of spicy heat, toss the beans with sriracha and a dash of soy sauce before roasting.
- Tex-Mex crispy beans: Combine the beans with chili powder, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, and lime zest.
- Harissa white beans: Harissa is one of our favorite seasonings! Sprinkle on as much as you like.
Serving Suggestions
Now that you have your crispy roasted white beans, here are some ideas for serving and incorporating them into your meals:
- Snacking - Roast a batch of white beans before settling in for movie night!
- Salad toppers - Sprinkle the roasted beans on top of your favorite salads to add texture and protein. Try them in this hearty roasted broccolini salad!
- Soup garnish - Add a handful of roasted beans on top of soups and stews for an extra layer of texture and flavor.
- Appetizer platter - Include a variety of roasted beans on a snack board along with olives, nuts, crackers, and cheeses for an impressive spread at your next gathering.
FAQs
Yes, cannellini beans are a type of white bean and are also sometimes called white kidney beans.
In most recipes, any of the following beans can be considered a good substitute for cannellini beans: Navy, Great Northern, Lima, Pinto, and Butter beans.
Yes, white beans are a nutritious food high in fiber and protein and very low in fat. They're a good source of numerous vitamins and minerals, including folate, magnesium, iron, and vitamin B6.
Top Tips
- For the crispiest beans, be sure to pat dry with a towel before tossing with the oil and seasonings.
- Keep in mind that some spice blends contain salt, which means you won't need to add as much.
- Air fryers tend to vary by brand and model. You might need to adjust the cook time and/or temperature for your appliance.
I hope you enjoy this fun and easy bean snack! If you try the recipe, be sure to comment below and let us know.
Recipe
Roasted Cannellini Beans (Air Fryer or Oven)
Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans (or other white bean) - approx. 1 ¾ cups cooked beans
- 1 tablespoon olive oil - or a neutral cooking oil like avocado
- salt and pepper - to taste
- 2 teaspoons spice blends like harissa, za'atar, curry, or chili powder - adjust amount to taste; see Notes for variations
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 420°F (215°C), and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Or for the air fryer, preheat to 400°F (205°C).
- Rinse and drain the beans, then spread them out on a large tea towel or paper towels and pat dry. If you accidentally smash some of the beans that's okay! We actually enjoy the variety of having some intact and some lightly smashed.
- Spread out the beans on a large plate and gently toss with the oil and your choice of seasoning. Taste a few beans to make sure they're well-seasoned. Transfer to the baking sheet or air fryer basket, spread out in a single layer.
- Roast in the oven for 30–35 minutes or air fryer for about 12 minutes. Shake the pan or gently stir the beans at the halfway mark.
- Keep a close eye on the beans as they roast. The beans are ready when golden brown and crispy on the outside, but still tender on the inside. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Lemon-garlic: Add lemon zest and a few smashed garlic cloves. To help prevent the garlic from burning, make sure it is well coated in oil and add it halfway through cooking.... or use garlic powder.
- Curry-spiced: Season the beans with curry powder, turmeric, cumin, and a pinch of cinnamon or garam masala. This variation delivers a burst of warm and aromatic flavors.
- Spicy-Sriracha beans: Toss the beans with sriracha and a dash of soy sauce before roasting.
- Tex-Mex: Combine the beans with chili powder, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, and lime zest.
- Harissa white beans: Harissa is one of our favorite seasonings! Sprinkle on as much dried harissa as you like.
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used.
Linda says
This is such a great and easy recipe. We make them regularly at home, and I often share them at work. We have tried Harissa and curry flavors and they are amazing! Thank you!
Russ says
I bake these all the time. Favorite snack in my household.
3 (THREE) cans Great Northern
1 can Chickpeas
Coriander seeds (2-3) tbsp
Caraway seeds (generous shake)
Ginger powder (generous shake)
Onion powder (gentle shake)
Garlic powder (gentle shake)
Salt, Black pepper (to taste)
Chili powder (to taste)
(optional) curry powder (I prefer tikka masala powder)
Dried Rosemary, thyme
Olive oil
Right at the end, soon as you fish them out of the oven, a generous sprinkle of golden raisins/sultanas. Heap the beans over the raisins to help break them up. Then spread out to cool (and crisp up).
Tip: place the patted-dry beans on the tray and pop them in the oven with ONLY the oven light turned on. Leave for 15-30 mins. Works a treat to gently dry them out. If you have a bread-proof setting, use that, too.