Quick and easy Air Fryer Green Beans make the ideal vegetable side dish for any meal! Ready in under 15 minutes, perfectly seasoned and tender-crisp to your liking, this is the best way to prepare green beans.
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We're big green bean fans here. When we first tried making green beans in the air fryer, all of us were snacking on them as we snapped the photos, so we had to wrap everything up quickly before they disappeared!
There are a lot of reasons to love green beans. They're highly nutritious, filled with essential vitamins and minerals, and have practically no calories (source). Most of all, they are so tasty and easier to make than ever in the air fryer.
Kids might turn up their noses at most greens, but serve these air fryer green beans with a little Parmesan and garlic butter, and you'll change their minds!
Why air fry green beans?
- The best texture: Air fryer string beans preserve the vibrant green color of the beans while cooking them to your preferred tender-crispness. We know not everyone is a fan of super crispy green beans, just like everyone isn't a fan of green beans that are too soft. You can achieve your favorite texture with this recipe.
- It uses less oil: You don't have to use much oil to cook green beans in the air fryer, so if you want to cut down on added fats from oil to foods like your veggie sides, air frying is the way to go.
- It's so quick and easy: We're serious! Oven-baked green beans can take up to 30 minutes to make, while boiled green beans generally take 15-20 (especially waiting for the water to boil). You're saving so much time when you air fry green beans - they reach a tasty al dente texture in just 6 minutes. That's fast!
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Ingredients
- French Green Beans: Look for fresh green beans in the produce section of your local grocery store. We like the French-style green beans (sometimes labeled as haricot verts). They should be vibrant green and free from blemishes.
- Oil: You can use any cooking oil you prefer, like olive oil or avocado oil. See our guide to Air Frying Oils.
- Kosher Salt, Garlic Powder, and Black Pepper: These are common kitchen staples available in the spice aisle. Although we love fresh garlic, it will burn when air frying the green beans, so we recommend using garlic powder in this recipe. Want to learn how to roast garlic in the air fryer? Try our roasted garlic recipe.
How to Air Fry Green Beans
Step 1 - Preheat your air fryer to 375°F while you prepare the green beans. In a mixing bowl, add green beans, oil, kosher salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Toss together to evenly coat the beans with the seasoning.
Step 2 - Place the seasoned green beans in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don't overcrowd the basket; you want to make sure they get the necessary airflow to cook properly. Cook in batches if you need to.
Step 3 - Cook the green beans in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through the cook time to ensure even cooking. If your air fryer doesn't have a timer function to remind you to shake it, we recommend setting a timer!
Step 4 - Once the green beans are crisp-tender to your liking, transfer them to a serving dish. We like to drizzle ours with garlic butter and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, but you can also serve them with a little fresh lemon juice or any other flavors you prefer to your taste. We're serving them with Air Fryer Breaded Chicken here!
Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
The following instructions are for toaster-oven style air fryers with a tray, such as the Breville Smart Oven Air. Note that these models take longer to cook than air fryers with a basket.
- Preheat air fryer toaster oven to 375°F.
- In a mixing bowl, add green beans, oil, and seasonings. Mix to coat the green beans.
- Arrange green beans in a single layer on the air fryer tray. Avoid overcrowding to ensure even cooking.
- Air Fry 7-9 minutes or until they are crisp to your liking.
- When tender crisp to your liking, remove the green beans to a serving dish and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in a single layer to allow airflow around the food.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer model, as all brands have their differences.
- Use an oil sprayer with your preferred oil. Avoid using a pressurized cooking spray with additives as it can damage the air fryer surface. Learn more: Air Frying Oils.
- Recipe time and temperature is based on a preheated air fryer. If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they might cook more quickly.
- Remember to set your timer if your air fryer doesn't remind you to shake halfway through cooking!
Storage Instructions
Before storing, allow the air-fried green beans to cool completely. Then, store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. You can reheat them using any method you prefer.
Suggestions for Variations
- Add some spice: If you like spice, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or red-pepper flakes.
- Lemon zest and juice: Lemon is delicious with green beans. Try adding some zest and juice from a fresh lemon for a zing of citrus flavor.
- Soy sauce green beans: This is so tasty! Try pairing this air fryer green beans recipe with soy sauce to serve over rice with glazed chicken or pork for dinner.
FAQ
Fresh green beans work best for this recipe, but you can air fry frozen green beans too. We have a recipe for you to try: Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans!
No, you can use the shorter style of green beans, too. We just prefer French green beans ourselves!
Air Fryer Vegetables
- Air Fryer Red Potatoes
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
- Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
- Try all of our air fryer side dishes and vegetables!
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Green Beans
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb French green beans trimmed
- 1 Tablespoon oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Parmesan cheese optional
- Garlic butter
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Trim 1 lb French green beans by arranging them in a uniform pile and cutting off the stems. Easy peasy!
- In a mixing bowl, add green beans, 1 Tablespoon oil, ½ teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Place green beans into the air fryer in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding to ensure even cooking.
- Air fry 5-7 minutes, shaking basket halfway through air frying.
- When tender crisp to your liking, remove the green beans to a serving dish and drizzle with Garlic butter and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if you like.
Notes
-
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in a single layer to allow airflow around the food.
-
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer model, as all brands have their differences.
-
- Use an oil sprayer with your preferred oil. Avoid using a pressurized cooking spray with additives as it can damage the air fryer surface.
-
- Recipe time and temperature is based on a preheated air fryer. If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they might cook more quickly.
-
- Remember to set your timer if your air fryer doesn't remind you to shake halfway through cooking!
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