Air Fryer Green Beans

Air Fryer Green Beans are a quick and easy side dish that you can make in under 15 minutes. They can be paired with a variety of entrees for a complete meal or served with other air fryer vegetables for a full vegetarian meal. This is a dish your whole family will love. 

 

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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.

This green bean recipe is the perfect addition to a weeknight dinner or a holiday meal. It's versatile and can be cooked with other vegetables or seasonings and topped with sliced almonds, cheese, or lemon juice. It's a low carb option and a great alternative to eating a meal piled high with pasta and bread. This is one recipe you need to add to your rotation!    

Ingredients

There are only four ingredients for this simple recipe.

• Green beans
• Olive oil 
• Salt 
• Pepper 

How to make air fryer green beans 

The steps to make this easy air fryer recipe is incredibly quick and easy. You can get this dish on the table in under 15 minutes.

Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, toss the green beans with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Place the green beans in a single layer in the pre-heated air fryer and cook for about 8 minutes or until tender.

Shake the basket halfway through cooking.

Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Expert Tips

These tips and tricks will help you make this easy green bean recipe.

• For an added touch, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the green beans before serving. 
• I recommend using kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to season the green beans. 
• Swap out the green beans for asparagus if you don’t like beans or can’t find them at the store.
• You can use avocado oil or a cooking spray instead of olive oil. 
• Add other fresh veggies to the air fryer as well for a hearty vegetarian weeknight dinner. 

What can I add to this dish?  

You can add all kinds of ingredients with your green beans depending on what you like best or if you're pairing it with your meal. Here are some options for this tasty side dish.

• Bacon 
• Pancetta 
• Toasted almonds 
• Carrots 
• Parsnips 
• Lemon zest  
• Parmesan cheese
• Potatoes
• Spicy 
• Garlic 
• Red pepper flakes
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Garlic powder
• Chili powder
• Top with soy sauce   

Different ways to cook green beans 

Besides cooking this easy side dish in the air fryer, you can also make them in the instant pot, sauté them, or boil them.

Each option gives you a different result and texture.

Cooking them in a pressure cooker or boiling them in a pot is a wet cooking method that will make them incredibly tender all the way through.

Sautéing and air frying are dry heat methods that will make them crispy on the outside while cooking them on the inside.

How to pick the best green beans

Cooking a side of green beans to go with dinner is a delicious way to eat your vegetables.

To make crispy green beans, it's best to buy them fresh. You can usually find them in your local grocery store in the summer when they're in season.

If not, look for the closest farmer's market and buy them from there. You'll find the best selection at the farmers market, which will make the perfect side dish.

If you're really craving green beans but they aren't in season, you can use canned or frozen beans instead. The texture will be much softer, and they won't need to cook as long.

How to prep green beans before cooking?  

Between getting your tender green beans home from the store and taking that first bite, what do you need to do?

Once you get the green beans home, prep them to cook by cutting or snapping off the ends. Then all you have to do is toss them with the oil and seasonings, and into the air fryer basket they go.

There's no need to soak the string beans before cooking when making them in the air fryer. This handy appliance will cook them all the way through with no trouble.  

How to serve air fryer green beans   

Serve this green beans recipe with seafood like baked salmon, shrimp, or scallops. They also go well with casseroles or heavy dishes to help balance out the meal.

You can also serve them as a healthy side dish with your favorite dipping sauce.

Try serving them with smothered pork chops, air fryer turkey thighs, or this oven-baked shrimp recipe. 

How to store 

Refrigerate: Store leftover green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Reheat: Heat the beans in the same container or on a plate in the microwave in 30-second increments or until heated all the way through.

Alternatively, you can reheat them in the air fryer. This option will firm them up a bit, whereas the microwave will keep them soft.

Freeze: It's not a good idea to freeze cooked green beans. They will be too mushy when they thaw to be used well. The good news is that you can always cook up a batch quickly in the air fryer.

FAQs

How long should green beans cook in the air fryer? 

Green beans need about 8-10 minutes to be perfectly cooked. You can adjust this easy recipe based on your preference. 

Why are my green beans mushy? 

The biggest reason why your green beans might be mushy is that they were cooked too long. 

If they are too hard or crunchy, they weren’t cooked long enough. 

It's best to taste them to test and see if they cooked to your liking.

Can I use frozen green beans to make this dish? 

It’s best to use fresh green beans, but you can use frozen as well. The longer you allow them to thaw before cooking, the less time they will need in the air fryer.

If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!