Air Fryer Green Beans

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Air fryer green beans are a quick and easy side dish perfect to pair with all of your favorite mains! Green beans are coated in simple seasonings, then cooked until tender and crispy. Try this healthy recipe for a delicious way to eat more nutrients!

💚 Why you’ll love this recipe

• Quick & easy: Anyone can make air fryer green beans, no matter what your cooking experience is. Plus, it only takes 10 minutes!
• Customizable: Switch up the seasonings, add infused olive oil, or try frozen green beans. This recipe is easy to make your own!
• Diet-friendly: Green beans meet almost every dietary preference, whether vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or low-carb.
• Budget-conscious: Green beans are a widely available and cost-effective vegetable for most households to enjoy daily.
• Healthy: Green beans are low FODMAP, heart-healthy, protein rich, and a great source of vitamins and minerals.

If you like air fryer green beans, then you should really check out our air fryer pizza rolls, air fryer zucchini, air fryer quesadillas, air fryer eggplant, or air fryer sweet potatoes.

🌱 Easy air fryer green beans

Air fryer green beans are an incredibly healthy side dish that’s not only simple to make, but it’s also packed with flavor! Air fryer recipes are all the rage these days, and for good reason.

The flavor and texture of regular frying is preserved, but little to no oil is required. Plus, it’s much more convenient to use the air fryer since cleanup is a breeze.

We only incorporated a few simple seasonings, like garlic, in this recipe to showcase the natural flavor of green beans. Serve it as a quick snack or last-minute addition to any meal!

♨️ Air fried vs baked

We prefer making green beans in an air fryer over the oven, and here’s why:

• It’s faster: Green beans are ready in half the time compared to the oven.
• Requires less oil: If you want to save on calories or prefer oil-free cooking, you can use less (or none at all) by opting for an air fryer.
• Crispier: Not only can you use less oil, but the air fryer makes green beans even crispier than the oven.

More energy efficient: Stats show that using an air fryer is almost 50% more energy-efficient than a standard electric oven. That means more money in your pocket!

👌 Best green beans for air frying

With over 130 different types of green beans, you may be wondering which one is best for air frying. Well, wonder no more! Here’s what you should know:

• Quick answer: Any of them work perfectly well. Just choose the one that’s most convenient and available near you.
• Long answer: We have easy access to string beans, which are typically our number one choice. However, French green beans, long beans, or Romano beans are all great options too.

The listed time in this recipe is for standard green beans, so just keep in mind that other varieties may vary in how long they take to fully cook.

🧊 Can you cook frozen green beans in an air fryer?

While we recommend sticking to fresh, you can also cook frozen green beans in the air fryer just as well. We recommend preheating it first and adding 2-3 minutes to the total cook time.

When you are air-frying green beans from frozen, start cooking them straight from the freezer. There is no need to thaw them beforehand!

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Green beans: For this recipe, we’re using regular green beans. If you use another variety, like French green beans, your cooking time will vary.
• Olive oil: Use a good-quality extra-virgin olive oil to enhance the green bean flavor. You can also switch things up by using infused olive oil like chile, garlic, lemon, rosemary, or basil.
• Garlic: We love keeping things simple with just a pinch of garlic powder. But, you can also season your green beans with other herbs and spices like red pepper flakes, thyme, cumin, paprika, or cayenne.
• Salt, pepper: To bring out the flavor of the green beans and add a kick. Just a pinch of each is all you need!
• Lemon: To serve with the cooked air fryer green beans. The tart acidity of lemon juice helps bring out the freshness of the green beans.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make air fryer green beans

Step 1: Wash the green beans

Wash, drain, and trim the stem end off of the green beans. We usually leave the other end intact, but it’s completely up to you!

Step 2: Season the beans

Add them to a mixing bowl and toss them with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If you’re using other spices, add those now too!

Step 3: Transfer the beans

Transfer the green beans to your air fryer basket, but be careful not to add too many at a time. It may take a few batches for this recipe, depending on the size of your basket.

Step 4: Air fry the green beans

Cook them at 380 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, removing the basket halfway to toss the beans. Serve your air-fried green beans immediately as a side dish or snack with lemon wedges on the side. Happy eating!

If you have questions about making air fryer green beans, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🍋 Garnishes for air fryer green beans

Other than lemon wedges, here are some more of our favorite toppings and garnishes for air fryer green beans:

• Vegan Parmesan cheese for an umami-rich addition.
• Chopped and toasted nuts like blanched almonds, pecans, or pistachios.
• A dollop of vegan pesto for a pop of herbaceous flavor.
• Fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, or cilantro.
• A drizzle of balsamic glaze for a savory-sweet complement.
• A side of vegan ranch for a creamy and zesty dip.

🥗 What to serve with green beans

Air-fried green beans are the perfect side to accompany dishes like these:

• Potato cakes: Mashed potato patties mixed with dairy-free cheese.
• Espagueti blanco: Mexican-style white spaghetti with cashew crema.
• Lemon garlic pasta: A quick, vibrant, and light spaghetti dish perfect with vegan garlic bread.
• Lentil bolognese: A hearty, flavor-packed bolognese starring fiber-rich lentils.
• Lentil loaf: Meatloaf featuring savory vegetables, seasonings, and lentils.
• Vegan chicken: Tender, “meaty,” and flavor-packed plant-based meat!

🌡️ Storage & reheating

If you have leftover air-fried green beans, follow these quick storage and reheating tips to get the most out of your recipe:

• Fridge: Once the beans have cooled completely, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in your fridge for 3-4 days.
• Freezer: We don’t recommend freezing cooked green beans as they’ll end up turning mushy once thawed.
• Reheating: Add the green beans to a preheated air fryer and cook for 2-3 minutes at 380 degrees F. You can also heat them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds at a time (although they won’t crisp up as nicely).

♻️ Variations

• Panko: For an extra crunch, coat your green beans in panko before cooking them.
• Spicy: Toss the beans in cayenne, ancho chile powder, or sambal oelek for a little heat.
• Cheesy: Cook the green beans with cashew parmesan or nutritional yeast on them for a savory and umami flavor.
• Oil-free: Air fry the green beans tossed in lemon juice instead of olive oil for an even healthier version.
• Teriyaki: Toss the green beans in vegan teriyaki sauce and a touch of sesame oil for Asian-inspired flavor.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Preheat the air fryer: For the most consistent results, heat your air fryer while you wash and trim the green beans.
• Avoid overcrowding: Cook the beans in a single layer to help the hot air better circulate, ensuring a perfectly crispy result.
• Multiple batches: If you have a smaller air fryer basket, cook the green beans in multiple batches.
• Toss halfway: For an even cook, remove the green beans and mix or rotate the trays at the halfway point.
• Dry before frying: Make sure the green beans are dry prior to tossing them with olive oil. This will result in a crispier final texture. 
• Trim the ends: Depending on the quality of your green beans, it’s helpful to trim the ends to avoid a tough flavor. But, it’s not completely necessary!
• Cool first: Let the green beans cool for a couple of minutes before serving them. This allows them time to crisp up.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More recipes like this one

If you enjoyed this air fryer green beans recipe, take a peek at some more side dishes and snacks like these:

• Elotes: Grilled corn on the cobs topped with vegan mayo, cheese, chile-lime seasoning, and more.
• Calabacitas: Tender zucchini served with other summer vegetables and dairy-free cheese.
• Totopos: Homemade crunchy corn tortilla chips perfect for salsa.
• Air Fryer Hash Browns: Quick and easy hash browns made in the air fryer.
• Air Fryer Baby Potatoes: Crispy on the outside yet ultra-tender and buttery on the inside.

Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.