These Air Fryer Green Beans are seasoned to your liking with salt and pepper, and are the ultimate vegetable side dish. They’re crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and all-around irresistible! Vegan, low carb, keto, gluten free, Whole30 compliant and paleo-friendly.
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Ultra Crispy Air Fried Green Beans
Whipping up a healthy side dish is easier than ever before with these 20-minute Air Fryer green beans. You can keep them simple or dress them up however you’d like – their versatility makes them a fail-proof side dish for all sorts of different main courses! From big holiday feasts to light weekend lunches, these tender-crisp green beans make an amazing addition to any meal.
Not only do they have the best taste and texture, but they also supply your body with plenty of vital nutrients. They’re a wonderful source of vitamins, magnesium, dietary fiber and more! Plus, this recipe ensures that they remain vegan, gluten-free, keto/low-carb, paleo-friendly and Whole30 compliant.
Why Cook Green Beans in the Air Fryer?
Fried foods are typically associated with lots of oil, but when the Air Fryer is involved, this is no longer the case. Rather than submerging your green beans in hot oil, the Air Fryer cooks them with hot air instead, which circulates around the beans to get them nice and crispy on all sides.
In other words, you get that same fried result with very little oil involved. It’s a lightened-up, hands-off alternative to deep frying that will seriously change your life!
What You’ll Need
You only need a handful of ingredients to make flawless Air Fryer green beans. Feel free to add or sub in any seasonings you’re in the mood for.
- Fresh Green Beans: Be sure to choose brightly colored green beans with no blemishes.
- Avocado Oil: Or olive oil.
- Fine-Grain Sea Salt: Or kosher salt, added to taste.
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper: To taste.
- Chopped Fresh Parsley: Optional, to garnish the green beans.
- Lemon Wedge: Optional, for serving.
Can I Use Frozen Green Beans Instead?
Fresh green beans will give you the best flavor, but frozen ones can be used if that’s all you have on hand. Simply thaw them out in the fridge before working with them. You could also thaw them out in a bowl of cool water if preferred.
How to Trim Green Beans
After you cut the ends off of your green beans, it’s important to give them a good wash and then dry them off thoroughly. This removes any potential dirt or pesticides from the surface of the beans.
- Line Them Up: Grab a handful of green beans and line them up on a cutting board so that all of the ends on one side form a straight line.
- Cut Off the Ends: Press a sharp kitchen knife down toward the tips of the lined-up green beans and cut off the ends all at once.
- Flip & Repeat: Line up the opposite ends of the green beans and trim off the tips all at once. Repeat the process with any remaining green beans until all of the ends are removed.
- Wash & Dry: Place the trimmed green beans into a large bowl filled with cold water and let them sit for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse them off with cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
How to Air Fry Green Beans
Once your green beans are trimmed, washed and dried, they’re ready for the Air Fryer. Your work is pretty much done!
Heat Air Fryer if Necessary: If your Air Fryer requires preheating, preheat it to 375°F.
Season Green Beans: Add the green beans to a large mixing bowl and drizzle them with oil. Season them with salt & black pepper and toss to thoroughly coat each green bean.
Air Fry: Working in batches, add your green beans to the Air Fryer basket, spreading them out in a single layer. Air fry the beans for 8-10 minutes, or until they’re tender-crisp, shaking the basket halfway through. Cook them for 2 more minutes if you prefer your green beans a little more tender. Repeat the cooking process with any remaining green beans.
Garnish & Serve: Transfer the air fried green beans to a serving bowl and garnish them with fresh chopped parsley, freshly cracked black pepper and a lemon wedge, if desired.
Tips for Success
Read through the tips and tricks below before you start prepping your green beans. Each one will help ensure the perfect outcome!
- Dry the Green Beans Thoroughly: After your green beans are soaked in cold water for at least 15 minutes and rinsed off with more cold water, dry them off as best you can. If they’re still damp when you put them in the Air Fryer, they won’t come out as crispy.
- Work in Batches: Another factor that can affect the crispiness of your green beans is overcrowding. To avoid over-stuffing your Air Fryer basket, cook the green beans in batches. They should fit in a single layer with some space between each bean.
- Shake the Basket Halfway Through: Don’t forget to remove your Air Fryer basket and give it a good shake about halfway through the cook time. This flips the green beans over to ensure crispiness all around.
- Know Your Air Fryer: The need for preheating and the proper cook time will vary depending on your Air Fryer. If you don’t have much experience with the appliance, check out my informative Air Fryer Tutorial.
Variation Ideas
You can take these Air Fryer green beans in tons of different directions. Here are some easy ways to change them up:
- Add More Seasonings: We often add half a teaspoon of garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder to our green beans for extra flavor. You could even throw in some crushed red pepper for a kick of heat!
- Make Them Extra Crispy: For an even crispier result, place your cooked green beans under the broiler for a minute or two. Keep a close eye on them so you can take them out before they burn.
- Make Balsamic Green Beans: Balsamic vinegar tastes amazing on top of crispy air fried green beans. It gives them a satisfying tang that’s guaranteed to make a splash at the dinner table.
- Add Toasted Almonds: Want to incorporate some nuttiness and crunch? Toast up some chopped or slivered almonds and sprinkle them over your green beans before you serve them.
- Make Cheesy Green Beans: Adding a sprinkle of nutritional yeast is a diet-friendly way to give your green beans a cheesy flavor. You can use grated Parmesan cheese if you’re not dairy-free or vegan.
- Add Bacon: If your diet permits, introduce some protein by sprinkling cooked and crumbled bacon over your finished green beans. Yum!
- Make Them Festive: Serving these green beans on Thanksgiving or another holiday? Garnish them with pecans and dried cranberries for a festive finishing touch.
Serving Suggestions
These green beans make a great healthy snack by themselves, though we usually serve them as a side dish during lunch or dinner. We’ve listed some of our favorite entrees to pair them with below.
- Serve with Falafel: This classic Falafel can be cooked in the Air Fryer, over the stove or in the oven! No matter which route you take, it’s guaranteed to be a tangy, savory and spicy delight.
- Pair with Teriyaki Salmon: So long as you’re not vegan, this Teriyaki Salmon is an absolute must-try. Made with a sumptuous pineapple orange sauce, it tastes lovely alongside air fried green beans.
- Serve with Sesame Tofu: I don’t know about you, but our family is always in the mood for Sesame Tofu. Especially when it’s homemade!
Storing and Reheating Air Fryer Green Beans
Once your green beans have cooled completely, transfer them to an airtight container or a resealable storage bag. Place them in the fridge and enjoy them within 4 days. Reheat them in a 350°F Air Fryer for about 5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the beans are warmed through.
Do These Freeze Well?
They do! Place the cooled green beans into an airtight container and freeze them for up to 6 months. Thaw them out in the fridge overnight before reheating and enjoying them.
Are Green Beans Keto?
Yes! Not only are green beans a healthy vegetable, they are also, paleo, Whole30, gluten free and can fit into a low carb keto lifestyle. The nutritional info for one serving of sauteed greens is:
- 98 calories
- 3g Net Carbs : 7g Total carbs – 4g Fiber
- 2g Protein
- 7g Fat
More Healthy Air Fryer Recipes
Looking for more things to cook in your trusty Air Fryer? Say no more.
These Air Fryer Green Beans are seasoned to your liking with salt and pepper, and are the ultimate vegetable side dish. They're crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and all-around irresistible! Vegan, low carb, keto, gluten free, Whole30 compliant and paleo-friendly.
- 1 lb fresh green beans washed, dried and stems trimmed
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt or kosher salt, added to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to taste, plus more for garnish
- fresh chopped parsley for serving
- lemon wedge for serving
Grab a handful of green beans and line them up on a cutting board so that all of the ends on one side form a straight line.
Press a sharp kitchen knife down toward the tips of the lined-up green beans and cut off the ends all at once.
Line up the opposite ends of the green beans and trim off the tips all at once. Repeat the process with any remaining green beans until all of the ends are removed.
Place the trimmed green beans in a large bowl filled with cold water and let them sit for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse them off with cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Be sure to dry them off thoroughly.
If your Air Fryer requires preheating, preheat to 375°F.
Add the green beans to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with oil. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder and toss to thoroughly coat.
Working in batches, add the green beans to the Air Fryer basket, spreading them in a single layer.
Air fry for 8-10 minutes or until the green beans are crisp-tender, shaking the basket halfway through (time will vary depending on your Air Fryer). Cook for 2 minutes more if you prefer your green beans a little more tender. Repeat with any remaining green beans.
Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with fresh chopped parsley, freshly cracked black pepper and a lemon wedge.
Recipe Video
- To Store & Reheat: Refrigerate cooled green beans in an airtight container and enjoy within 4 days. Reheat in a 350°F Air Fryer for about 5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until warmed through.
- To Freeze: Freeze cooled green beans in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
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