Air-Fried Green Beans: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a fantastic way to cook green beans, offering a healthy, tasty, and quick alternative to boiling or frying. Not only do they require minimal preparation, but they also cook in under 15 minutes, making them a convenient side dish for any meal.

To make green beans in an air fryer, simply wash and trim the beans, toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and cook in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes. It's as easy as that!

How to prepare green beans for the air fryer

Preparing green beans for the air fryer is simple and only takes a few minutes. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Wash and Trim the Green Beans

Start by giving your green beans a thorough rinse under cool water. Then, trim the stem ends from the beans. You can leave the tail ends on or snap them off by hand or with scissors. If your beans are on the larger side, you may also want to cut them in half to ensure even cooking.

Step 2: Dry the Green Beans

After trimming, use paper towels or a kitchen towel to pat the green beans dry. This step is important, as excess moisture can affect the cooking process and prevent your beans from getting crispy.

Step 3: Season the Green Beans

Place the trimmed and dried green beans in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil, or oil of your choice, and toss to coat evenly. You only need a small amount of oil—just enough to give them a light coating.

Now it's time to season! At a minimum, you'll want to add some salt and pepper to taste. However, you can also experiment with other seasonings like garlic powder, smoked paprika, lemon pepper, chili flakes, or red pepper flakes. Toss the beans in the bowl to ensure they are well coated with the seasonings.

Step 4: Arrange in the Air Fryer Basket

Preheat your air fryer to between 375°F and 400°F. Once it's heated, carefully place the seasoned green beans into the air fryer basket. Spread the beans out into a single layer, avoiding overcrowding. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the beans in multiple batches.

Step 5: Air Fry

Cook your green beans for 8-10 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of doneness. For a softer texture, you can cook them for a couple of minutes longer. It's a good idea to shake the basket or toss the beans halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking and browning.

And that's it! You're now ready to enjoy your delicious, crispy air-fried green beans. They make a great side dish for a variety of meals and can be served hot or at room temperature.

How to season green beans for the air fryer

Seasoning your green beans is a key step in the air-frying process. It's important to note that you should always clean and dry your green beans before adding any seasonings.

The most basic seasoning for air fryer green beans is olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can also experiment with other seasonings like garlic powder, onion, lemon pepper, chili flakes, or seasoning salt. For an Asian spin, you can add soy sauce and sesame seeds. If you're feeling adventurous, try a sweet and sour twist with olive oil, honey, salt, and dried thyme.

If you want to add a cheesy topping, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top of your cooked green beans. For a more traditional American flavour, try walnut miso parmesan.

Don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different seasonings to find your favourite flavour combinations!

How long to cook green beans in the air fryer

Air fryer green beans are a simple and quick side dish that can be made in under 15 minutes. The cooking time depends on your preference for texture. If you like your beans a little more crisp on the inside, 6-7 minutes in the air fryer should suffice. For soft green beans that are slightly crisp on the outside, cook them for 6-8 minutes. For a crispier bite, cook them for 8-10 minutes. You can also add 2 more minutes at the end if you want them softer.

Regardless of the texture you're going for, it's important to shake the air fryer basket halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking. Additionally, depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the green beans in two batches to ensure they cook evenly.

When it comes to temperature, most recipes recommend cooking green beans in the air fryer at 400°F. However, one recipe suggests a temperature of 375°F, which is still sufficient to cook the green beans in 10-12 minutes.

What temperature to cook green beans in the air fryer

To make green beans in an air fryer, you'll need to preheat your air fryer to a temperature between 375°F and 400°F.

Once your air fryer is preheated, you can add the green beans. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the beans in batches to ensure they cook evenly. If you're cooking in batches, make sure to keep the first batch warm by placing them in the oven on a low temperature of about 170ºF or on the "keep warm" setting.

For softer beans, cook them for 8-10 minutes. If you like your beans a little more crisp on the inside, you can take them out after 6-7 minutes.

How to store leftover air fryer green beans

If you have leftover air fryer green beans, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

To store leftover green beans, let them cool completely, then place them in an airtight container and put them in the fridge. Consume them within 2-4 days.

If you want to keep your green beans for longer, you can freeze them. To do this, first, trim the ends off the beans and cut them into 1 to 2-inch pieces. Then, blanch the beans by boiling them for 2-4 minutes, depending on their size, and cooling them in an ice bath for the same amount of time. Drain the beans and place them in a freezer bag, removing as much air as possible before sealing. Label the bag with the date and amount and lay it flat in your freezer. Frozen green beans will stay fresh for 8-10 months.

Frequently asked questions