One noticeable trend I’ve seen in the freezer aisles of late is an attempt to translate trendy restaurant dishes into quick-serve dishes for the home; I guess it’s not all that new in fairness, but I feel there’s been an uptick lately; cauliflower wings in buffalo sauce for example, or case in point, this crispy green beans.
This is a dish I’ve enjoyed in restaurants as a starter quite often. The sweetness of the green bean works really well with a fried coating – and of course then dipped in your favorite sauces. It’s actually a dish I’ve tried to replicate myself using the air fryer, but the breading just never comes off how I’d like it, too thin, too thick, too eggy, too floury. I’d recent given up, and then these came along from Birds Eye. Here’s a large handful right out of the air fryer:
While not a recommended tool to cook these on the packet, it worked great. And the results were fabulous. We scarfed down the test plate quickly, and the remainder of the packet didn’t see the week out.
The breading has a light seasoning of onion and garlic, much like you’d expect in a chicken nugget breading. It’s fairly unobtrusive stuff, but does help lift things. The breading is just right, not too thick or thin – and crisps up perfectly. Every bite has a fun crunch.
I’ve no problem recommending these as a way to start a meal or as a healthier side dish. I’m also going to stop trying to perfect these myself now, with this product available.
Birds Eye Crispy Green Beans nutrition and cooking instructions
Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC – Utah’s biggest and oldest online food magazine; I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV shows.
I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have covered the Utah dining scene for the better part of fifteen years. I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand. I started Shop Smart to catalogue my adventures in the grocery store and kitchen. Follow along on Instagram too!