Air Fryer Green Beans

If you want a healthy side on the table fast, you’re gonna love this Air Fryer Green Beans recipe. You won’t believe how easy it is to season green beans and toss them in the air fryer. In less than 10 minutes, you’ll have the best side dish for an Easter or holiday dinner, or even a busy weeknight.

Best Air Fryer Green Beans

If I ever want to cook things more quickly I turn to one device… the air fryer.

It generally gets things done in almost half of the time as the oven and gives them double the crispiness.

But one vegetable I had not tried in this trusty kitchen gadget yet was Air Fryer Green Beans.

I had boiled green beans and even sautéed green beans with garlic and even made Green Beans Almondine.

So I took the air fryer asparagus recipe that I make WAY more often than I’d like to admit, swapped out the stalks for beans and adjusted the cook time a bit.

The result?! The crispiest, most tender, perfectly cooked green beans, ready in just 10 minutes and full of flavor from garlic and lemon.

Trust me… this just might be the best and easiest recipe you’ve made in your air fryer to date! It’s the perfect side dish for just about any meal, too!

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this air fryer crispy green beans recipe include:

• Green beans. Be sure to get fresh, and not canned or frozen green beans, for the best results. You can buy them in bulk with the ends still on, or purchase a bag of trimmed beans to save time. You might see them labeled as French green beans or string beans.
• Oil. You want a neutral oil with a higher smoke point. A great go-to is avocado oil.
• Garlic. Fresh minced garlic is so important in this recipe; garlic powder won’t give the same flavor.
• Lemon. While this ingredient is optional, fresh lemon zest and lemon juice add the perfect amount of brightness to the dish.

How to Air Fry Green Beans

Below you’ll find the steps to follow to make this easy air fryer green beans recipe:

Prep the Green Beans

If you didn’t buy trimmed green beans, you need to remove the ends.

You can either use your hands or a sharp knife to carefully cut or snap away the tips of the beans.

Make the Seasoning

Preheat the air fryer to 375-380℉. You want it nice and hot before adding the vegetables. Give the air fryer at least 3 minutes to warm up.

Add the oil, garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper to a large mixing bowl. Mix with a fork or whisk.

Place the green beans in the bowl with the seasonings and toss until each piece is coated.

Cook in the Air Fryer

Put the green beans in the air-fryer basket. Spread them out as much as possible. If you’re worried about sticking, you can spray the basket with cooking spray first but you shouldn’t need it.

The more overlap there is, the more uneven the beans will cook. Depending on the size of your air fryer and the amount of beans you’re cooking, you might need to cook them in more than one batch.

Cook the beans for about 8 to 9 minutes in the preheated air fryer. About halfway through cooking, flip the veggies.

They’re done when they are bright green and fork tender.

A sprinkle of lemon zest (here’s how to zest a lemon) and juice just before serving take these green beans over the top.

Meal Prep and Storage

• How to prep ahead of time: Trim the green beans and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 days.
• How to store: Keep leftover crispy air fryer green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days.
• How to freeze: Carefully put green beans in a freezer bag or container. If using a bag or plastic wrap, put a layer of aluminum foil around the outside for additional protection. This step keeps air out and reduces freezer burn. For the best results, flash freeze green beans in a single layer first to keep them from bunching together.
• How to reheat: Cook in a skillet over medium heat with additional butter or oil as needed.

How long to cook green beans in air fryer?

It takes anywhere from 7-10 minutes to cook green beans in the air fryer, depending on the temperature. You don’t need to blanch or boil them first. This easy recipe is super quick and so simple to make.

Can you cook frozen green beans in an air fryer?

You can definitely cook frozen green beans in the air fryer. However, frozen beans take a little longer than fresh beans. Allow at least 13 to 15 minutes for cooking. However, frozen green beans do have more water than fresh, so be it might be best to toss with seasonings after cooking. Be sure to still flip them halfway through cooking. The best thing using frozen is that you can always have green beans ready to cook.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Prep early. Save time by trimming the green beans a day or two in advance.
• Go fresh. Garlic cloves are the best option over powder. If possible, opt for fresh green beans, not frozen or canned.
• Get creative. For different flavors, try topping with fresh herbs, like oregano or parsley. Or, go with a little garlic powder, onion powder, or even Italian seasoning. For added spice, use red pepper flakes or chili powder.
• Save time. Buy pre-trimmed vegetables from the store.
• Extra flavor. Along with fresh lemon juice, add lemon zest for extra freshness. You can also use lime juice if needed. Or, top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Other Green Bean Recipes

Green beans are super healthy and can be prepared in so many ways. Try one of these new green bean recipes with your favorite main dish.

Green Beans Almondine and Green Beans with Vinegar are full of flavor and impressive.

Boiled Green Beans, Blanched Green Beans, and Sautéed Green Beans are simple to throw together on busy weeknights.

Green Bean Casserole is a holiday classic you have to try.

More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes

Air frying is a life saver when it comes to cutting down on cooking time while focusing on healthy eating, and veggies are no exception. Give these healthy air fryer recipes a shot.

Air Fryer Carrots, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, and Air Fryer Zucchini are healthy and delicious.

Air Fryer Cauliflower and Air Fryer Broccoli are crispy and perfect for a quick dinner.

Or, serve up these Air Fryer Pickles or Air Fryer Blooming Onion at a party.