Crisp yet tender, these air fryer green beans are ready in under ten minutes! Keep them simple with salt and olive oil, or jazz them up with extra seasonings.
While great for cooking proteins, I might just like the air fryer even more for cooking simple vegetable side dishes: air fryer brussels sprouts, broccoli and these green beans have been on repeat lately!
When it comes to green beans, I honestly think that simple is best, which is why I kept the ingredients very minimal with this recipe. I think you're going to love them!
You'll ♡ air fryer green beans because
- they are so simple to prepare and can be on your table in 10 minutes or less
- the air fryer cooks them to perfection: slightly crisp yet tender on the inside
- you can keep the seasonings simple or add some spices to jazz things up
Recipe video
Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped these beans. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or on Facebook.
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Ingredient notes
- green beans- I find that fresh green beans have the perfect texture to be cooked in the air fryer: they maintain a bit of their crisp texture, but are tender (and not stringy like frozen green beans). Frozen green beans are very soft and I do not personally enjoy them cooked in the air fryer as much as fresh. You can swap green beans for yellow beans in this recipe.
- olive oil- oil is necessary to help the beans roast up without losing their moisture. You can swap for another higher smoke point oil like avocado oil.
- salt- I've used regular table salt for these beans, but for added texture consider sprinkling with flaky sea salt (like Maldon) before serving- the crunch is great and it looks pretty, too!
Recipe notes
Prepping the beans
Before cooking, take a few minutes to prepare the beans. Some green beans come with a bit of the stem attached; the stem is woodier and can be chewy, so it's best to remove it. Either snap it off using your hands, or trim it off using a knife. Some people do not enjoy the pointy end of the beans, and you can also trim that off, though it is perfectly fine to eat.
After trimming the beans, be sure to wash and thoroughly dry them. Since oil and water do not mix, it's good to blot them dry using a clean kitchen towel before tossing in the oil.
Salt the green beans twice
During testing, I noticed that some of the salt applied before cooking fell off the green beans while they cooked. I recommend tossing them in salt before cooking, and giving them a second seasoning after cooking.
The salt sticks to the beans best if you season them immediately after removing from the air fryer. Taste before salting to avoid adding too much.
Adjust cook time as needed
All air fryers cook slightly differently, so use the cook time as an estimate, and add more time (or remove a few minutes) as needed. Look for a bright green color and smooth appearance on the beans; you do not want to cook them to the point of them getting wrinkled and brown.
Basket vs oven air fryers
This recipe was tested in both a basket-style Phillips air fryer (similar to this one
- basket air fryer- 6-7 minutes, shaking basket 2-3 times
- air fryer oven- 6 minutes, rotating trays half way (carefully shake tray)
Storage and reheating
After cooking, green beans are best served fresh; as they sit, they become wrinkled and their texture can become more chewy. With that being said, you can store and reheat them:
- Cool completely, then store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To reheat, set your air fryer to 350°F. Heat for 5 or so minutes, tossing beans up as needed, until they are warmed through.
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Variations
This is a very basic recipe as written, but you can certainly put your own flare on it!
- add ½ teaspoon onion or garlic powder for a little extra savory flavor
- swap the olive oil for sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve (a bit of soy sauce could also be nice)
- toss in 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar to cook, sprinkle with parmesan cheese to serve
- toss in melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt to serve; almond slices could also be nice
More easy air fryer recipes
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli
- Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
- Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs
- Seriously Crispy Air Fryer Gnocchi
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Air Fryer Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans washed, dried, stems trimmed; see note 1
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt plus extra to serve
Instructions
- Heat air fryer to 390°F/200°C.
- Toss green beans in olive oil and salt. Use your hands to massage the oil onto the beans evenly (or use tongs to mix it up).
- Add beans to the air fryer basket, then cook for 6-7 minutes, shaking 2-3 times during the cooking process. Beans are ready when they are bright green and smooth. Do not cook until they are brown and wrinkled.
- Taste and add more salt to serve, if desired.
Tips:
- add ½ teaspoon onion or garlic powder for a little extra savory flavor
- swap the olive oil for sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve (a bit of soy sauce could also be nice)
- toss in 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar to cook, sprinkle with parmesan cheese to serve
- toss in melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt to serve; almond slices could also be nice
Video
Nutrition Information
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Lori says
So easy and quick and delicious! Thank you for this recipe.