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This easy recipe teaches you how to make Air Fryer Green Beans crispy and tender in 10 minutes. With just 3 ingredients, they are perfect as a healthy side dish for weeknight dinners and holiday meals.
I wasn’t a big fan of French beans until I accidentally air fried them. It was dinner time, and the stove was occupied by my Cajun chicken pasta. Needing a quick fix, I threw my green beans in the air fryer basket and couldn’t but be amazed at the result. They turned out perfect, even my girlfriend who never liked them ended up eating – and loving – them so much.
Why you will love this recipe
- Quick and easy. You only need 3 main ingredients and 10 minutes to whip up a basket of air fryer fried green beans. Ideal for weeknight dinners, when you come home tired from work and want something fast.
- Satisfying and delicious. This recipe delivers the perfect balance of textures — crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Even picky eaters, including kids, will find themselves reaching for more veggies after trying this!
- Healthy and diet-friendly. Low in calories and fats, they are healthy enough to be considered a diet food. Additionally, they’re also suitable for gluten-free, low carb, keto and paleo meals.
- Customizable and versatile. From seasonings to extra ingredients such as Parmesan cheese or bacon, the ways how you can make green beans in the air fryer are endless.
Ingredients
This easy recipe only requires 3 ingredients — green beans, olive oil, and your favorite seasonings. Stick with classic salt and black pepper, or get creative by adding garlic powder, onion powder, or even a pinch of chili flakes for extra flavor.
- Green beans. You can use fresh French beans (haricot verts), regular green beans, or yellow beans (wax beans), washing them and trimming ends. If fresh aren’t available, air fry frozen green beans – read further for more details.
- Olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil enhances the flavor and helps achieve a perfectly crispy texture. For a twist, you can substitute with avocado oil or melted butter. Skipping the oil isn’t recommended, as it’s key for crispiness.
- Seasonings. This simple recipe uses classic seasonings like kosher salt and black pepper. Feel free to customize with your favorite spices, such as onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, or chili flakes.
How to make air fryer green beans
Step 1 – Prep. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). If you haven’t already, wash the green beans and trim their ends. Using a clean kitchen towel or paper tissue, pat them dry well before seasoning.
Step 2 – Toss. In a large bowl, add the prepared green beans and combine with olive oil, salt, pepper and seasonings of your choice. Using a fork or kitchen tongs, toss until they are evenly coated.
Step 3 – Arrange. Spread the vegetables in your air fryer basket, arranging them in a single layer. This ensures that they crisp up on the outside, remaining perfectly tender inside.
Step 4 – Air fry. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until they are tender and crispy. If you prefer them crunchier cook for 1-2 minutes more, being careful not to burn them. Serve immediately or set aside and store for later.
Recipe variations
- Balsamic: After cooking, toss with 1 tablespoon of Italian balsamic vinegar. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and top with crushed walnuts or pecans for extra flavor and crunch.
- Bacon: Once cooked, mix with pieces of crispy bacon or pancetta. For a sweet-savory twist, try drizzling with a teaspoon or two of maple syrup.
- Honey-sesame: Toss air fried green beans with sesame seeds, honey and a pinch of chili powder or a dash of hot sauce for a sweet and spicy kick.
- Parmesan cheese: Once cooked, toss with 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Add garlic powder or Italian seasoning for extra flavor and a delicious crispy garlic Parmesan touch.
- Asian-style: After cooking, mix with 1 tablespoon of low-sodium soy sauce and sprinkle with roasted sesame seeds.
- Frozen: Take a bag of frozen green beans, season and air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until they’re crispy and tender.
Success tips
- Pat dry the green beans. After washing, make sure to pat dry them dry before tossing with seasonings and oil. This helps to get the best coating with olive oil, salt, and pepper, ensuring they crisp up nicely in the air fryer.
- Do not overcrowd the basket. For crispy green beans, make sure the basket is not overcrowded. Give them enough space to cook evenly, working in multiple batches if necessary.
- Shake halfway through. To ensure an even cook, shake the basket halfway through the cooking time. This will help them brown evenly on all sides.
- Adjust cooking time based on air fryer size. Depending on the size and power of your air fryer, you may need to adjust cooking times. Larger machines cook faster, so keep an eye on your veggies.
- Add extra seasonings and ingredients. Feel free to experiment with different seasonings or add extras like Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds or lemon zest.
- Serve warm. Air fried green beans are best served immediately while they’re still warm and crispy. Enjoy them right after cooking for the perfect texture.
Storage directions
- To store. Allow the green beans to cool completely before placing them in an airtight container. In the refrigerator, they will stay fresh for up to 4 days.
- To freeze. Place leftovers in an airtight container or pack in zipper bags and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To reheat. For best results, reheat in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 2-3 minutes until hot and crispy. Alternatively, you can bake them for about 5 minutes in hot oven. If reheating from frozen, no need to thaw — simply add 2-3 extra minutes to the cooking time.
Serving ideas
These roasted green beans make an easy and tasty side dish for both weeknight dinners and holiday meals like Thanksgiving or Christmas. They pair wonderfully with proteins like air fryer chicken tenders, air fryer chicken wings, turkey meatloaf, air fryer tofu or lentil patties. For a more filling meal, serve alongside egg white omelette or cottage cheese lasagna, or even toss them into pasta dishes like a Greek yogurt pasta sauce, cottage cheese Alfredo, or creamy salmon pasta.
Frequently asked questions
No, there’s no need for soaking or boiling them in advance. Just wash green beans, trim their ends and pat dry. Toss with olive oil and your favorite seasonings, then air fry.
The recommended temperature for crispness is 400°F (200°C). Cooking time may vary slightly depending on your air fryer’s power and size, so check for doneness after around 8 minutes.
More easy vegetable recipes
- Honey glazed carrots
- Air fryer Brussels sprouts
- Air fryer zucchini chips
- Fire roasted tomatoes
- Broccoli salad
- Cucumber tomato salad
- Spinach salad
- Creamy cucumber salad
Air Fryer Green Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ⅓ to ½ tsp salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- If you haven’t already, wash the green beans and trim their ends. Using a clean kitchen towel or paper tissue, pat them dry well before seasoning.
- In a large bowl, add the prepared green beans and combine with olive oil, salt, pepper and seasonings of your choice. Using a fork or kitchen tongs, toss until they are evenly coated.
- Spread green beans in the air fryer basket, arranging them in a single layer.
- Air fry for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until they are tender and crispy. If you prefer them crunchier cook for 1-2 minutes more, being careful not to burn them.
- Serve immediately or set aside and store for later.
Notes
How to make frozen green beans in air fryer
- Add to a bowl, without thawing, together with olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Mix to coat all vegetables.
- Air fry frozen green beans at 400°F (200°C) for 10–12 minutes, shaking halfway through.
