Air Fryer Green Beans Recipe (5 Minutes Prep)

Air Fryer Green Beans are an any-occasion kind of side dish! Simple seasonings and a flash air fry work together to highlight the naturally sweet and juicy flavor of these air fried green beans.  Simple air fryer recipes like this are a great way to up your veggie intake! This is the perfect recipe to pair with all your weeknight dinners! 

If you’re looking for a healthy snack or a great side dish to pair with a main dish, get your air fryer basket ready! 

The recipe card below gives you the simple steps on how to create the perfect side dish, and you’ll love the outcome and flavor! 

And the best part? The whole family will love the texture and taste of these crispy green beans  – it’s such an easy way to create a healthy side dish option for everyone to enjoy!

Forget about french fries, and make this easy side dish. 

You can season with sea salt, black pepper, chili flakes, fresh lemon juice, and more. I love these options because they really end up enhancing the flavor of your green beans easily. 

I think that cooking green beans in the air fryer makes a huge difference in how they taste. And since you only need a little bit of oil, they make a quick snack or a super yummy, quick side dish. 

To me, roasted vegetables always have a yummy cooked flavor that can easily create a simple side dish. Now is the time to make these easy air fryer green beans! 

Air Fryer Green Beans

Don’t think for a second that vegetables can’t be over-the-top tasty! 

With classic seasoning combinations and minimal oil, you can really appreciate the fresh, grassy taste of air fried green beans while getting your daily serving of veggies.

With how the air fryer works, you can enjoy every veggie from corn to carrots without cooking away all of their health benefits. 

Or how about air fried turkey breast? Talk about a life hack!!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• String Beans – Also known as regular green beans or snap beans. 
  
  The freshest, best beans are firm and solid in color — not at all limp or yellow-brownish in color. 
  
• Oil – Any oil will do! I like to use olive oil with this combination of seasonings, but you could also use vegetable oil or avocado oil. 
  
• Minced Garlic – You can swap fresh garlic out for garlic powder if preferred. Because the powdered stuff has a stronger flavor, just add ½ teaspoon. 
  
  Garlic salt is great, too! Just leave out the additional salt in this air fryer green beans recipe.
  
• Onion Powder, Salt & Pepper – Short, sweet, and to the point! These seasonings go well with any veggie. 
  
  If you’re feeling more adventurous, check out the sections below for some other seasoning combos to try when you air fry green beans!

How To Prep Green Beans for Air Frying

• Wash and trim. 

It might be tempting to skip this step, but there is nothing more frustrating than biting into a woody end! 

Simply give your beans a good rinse, then line them up on your cutting board. 

Tap one side until all of the ends are lined up, then chop them off with a sharp knife. Repeat on the other side as well.

• Dry the beans. 

Wet beans will end up soggy, so instead after you wash them, be sure to dry them well with a paper towel. 

This will also allow the spices and oil to stick to them easier.

Tips to Air Fry Green Beans

• Cook in a single layer. To cook every veggie evenly and quickly, arrange green beans in air fryer in a single layer — no overlapping!  
  
• Avoid overcrowding the basket. It’s important with anything you make in an air fryer to leave space around the food. Cook air fryer green beans in multiple batches if necessary.
  
• Don’t have fresh? You can air fry green beans from frozen instead! They’ll need to cook for at least 18 minutes, with a good stir halfway through.
  
• Skip canned green beans. They’re soggy, mushy, and way too moist to get the same crispy, crunchy result. 

Flavor Variations

• Try These Toppings! Crumbled bacon is always welcome in my kitchen, and is super tasty alongside fried veggies of all shapes and sizes. 
  
  A dusting of freshly grated parmesan cheese, toasted sesame seeds, or even pine nuts can add dimension to flavor and texture. 
  
• Brighten Your Plate – Is there ever a bad time for a spritz of lemon juice? Balsamic vinegar also goes a long way toward brightening up these air fryer green beans. 
  
  A splash of apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar adds some real acidity, too! 
  
• Other Seasonings – The seasonings I use here are about as basic as they come. Don’t hesitate to spice things up with paprika or crushed red pepper flakes! 
  
  A bit of lemon pepper is yummy, too. Go for an Asian palette and splash on some soy sauce and chili powder! 
  
  When you’re working with such a simple air fryer green beans recipe, the sky’s the limit.

Air Fryer Green Beans Recipe FAQ

Storing Leftover Air Fried Green Beans

Wait for the beans to cool before storing them in an airtight container. Leftover green beans can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. 

Reheat green beans in air fryer until warmed through – this shouldn’t take longer than 5 minutes or so. Use a slightly lower heat, around 350°F.

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

Don’t miss a thing! Follow us on
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram 

Originally published October 2021, updated and republished April 2025

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.