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Air Fryer Green Beans are a quick and easy side dish perfect for a busy weeknight or your holiday menu! Deliciously crisp-tender, you can enjoy these snappy string beans served simply roasted with salt and pepper or topped with toasted almonds and lemon juice.
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Green Beans
Whether I’m planning weeknight meals or a holiday menu, I’m always looking to add something green to the table. For Thanksgiving or Christmas, it’s easy to fill up on decadent and delicious dishes. So these air fryer green beans are a simple way to add a light vegetarian-friendly dish. But, of course, you can make this easy side all year long! They’re readily available and always popular.
Here’s why you’ll be making them all the time:
- Quick and easy. Ready in under 20 minutes with super simple prep. And when you make them in an air fryer, you don’t have to sacrifice a stovetop burner or space in the oven! This is the best fast and flavorful way to make green beans for holiday entertaining.
- Simple or fancy. I love adding the crunch of almonds with a burst of lemon for some festive flavor. You don’t even have to dress them up. But they are just as delicious served simply seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Perfect for everyone. This dish is naturally gluten free and vegan. If you skip the almonds, they are suitable for those with nut allergies. too.
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Air Fryer
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Vegan, Egg-free, Nut-free option
- Skill Level: Easy
Air Fryer Green Beans Ingredients
Here’s a quick list of what you need to make this quick air fryer recipe. Full amounts and detailed instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Green beans. Trim the stem ends before you start cooking.
- Olive oil. You can use a different cooking oil if you prefer.
- Salt and pepper.
- Optional additions. Sliced almonds add a nice crunch to the dish, and lemon is delicious to brighten the flavors.
How to Make Green Beans in the Air Fryer
This is a straightforward recipe that comes together in less than 20 minutes. Here’s a brief rundown:
- Prepare for cooking: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Prep the green beans by washing and trimming the ends.
- Season the green beans: Toss the green beans with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Cook: Air fry the green beans for 7 minutes. Then add the almonds if you’re using them, and toss everything together. Air fry for another 3 to 5 minutes. The beans are done when they’re crisp-tender and the nuts are golden.
Garnish and serve: Transfer the dish to a serving plate and toss with lemon juice, if you like. You can also sprinkle them with some minced parsley or a bit more salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Green Beans
- Choose green beans that are of similar sizes so they cook evenly.
- Tossing the green beans halfway through ensures that they get crisp on all sides.
- You only need to remove the stem end of the green beans, not the pointy tip.
- Use raw almonds, as they’ll get toasted in the air fryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is such a simple air fryer recipe that it will work in any model you have, as long as you pay attention to the cooking time. However, I use and recommend the COSORI Air Fryer Max XL. It is large enough to fit plenty of food inside, so you won’t always have to work in batches. And I like the basket models because it is easy to shake everything around part of the way through the cooking time so that it all cooks evenly.
I find that in my air fryer, green beans reach the perfect crisp-tender texture after about 10 minutes. Of course, all air fryers differ, so it’s important to check your beans as they cook. Toss the green beans after 7 minutes. If they’re already quite crisp, you may only need another minute to finish cooking. If not, you may need another 5 to 8 minutes.
You can freeze cooked green beans. Just note that they won’t have the same snappy texture when they’ve been defrosted. To freeze this dish, let the green beans cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container. Freeze for up to three months. When you’re ready to serve, defrost the green beans in the fridge overnight. Then follow my instructions for reheating below.
Storing Leftover Air Fried Green Beans
These green beans are best enjoyed fresh out of the air fryer. But you can pack leftovers into an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat them in the air fryer, microwave or on the stove in a saucepan until heated through.
What to Serve with Green Beans
I love serving them with Honey Mustard Chicken Bites for a family meal on busy weeknights. But as I mentioned, you can easily dress them up for a holiday feast.
- Make them for Thanksgiving. They make a light and lovely addition to balance out the Bacon Cheddar Cheese Mashed Potatoes, stuffing, and Gluten-Free Dutch Apple Pie.
- Enjoy on Christmas. The simple flavors complement your Glazed Ham alongside some Scalloped Potatoes and Honey Dijon Peas and Carrots.
- Have them for Summer Holidays. Whether you are making a Mother’s Day or Easter brunch, or barbecuing for Father’s Day or July 4th, they are tasty with everything from Bacon Cheddar Quiche to Instant Pot Potato Salad
Air Fryer Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans , washed and ends snipped off
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup sliced almonds , optional
- Lemon , optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Wash and dry the green beans thoroughly and snip off the ends.
- In a large bowl, toss the green beans with olive oil, salt, and pepper, being sure to coat it thoroughly. Place the beans in the air fryer basket.
- Cook in the air fryer at 380°F for 7 minutes. Open the air fryer, sprinkle the almonds over the green beans, if using, and toss gently. Cook at 380°F for another 3-5 minutes or until the green beans are crisp-tender, or your desired doneness (and the almonds are toasted, if using them).
- Remove from the air fryer. Serve as-is or squeeze the juice from a couple of lemon wedges over the green beans and sprinkle with about a teaspoon of lemon zest, if desired.
Notes
Did you make this?
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