Air Fryer Green Beans

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/4/21
air fryer green beans

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney
Prep: 2 mins
Cook: 9 mins
Total: 11 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Yield: 1 pound
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
145 Calories
7g Fat
19g Carbs
5g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 145
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 10%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 532mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 7g 27%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 22mg 112%
Calcium 106mg 8%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 354mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Air fryer green beans are the easiest way to make green beans. They’re crispy on the outside, and tender, but still have a good bite to them. Plus, they are super tasty. This recipe keeps it simple with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and fresh garlic. It’s an easy, no-fuss side, and air frying your green beans does not require any blanching or pre-cooking of the beans at all. Let the air fryer do all of the work for you!

Serve these beans with your favorite main dishes like steak, pork chops, or fried chicken. They also go well with other sides such as mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, or macaroni and cheese. It’s a great holiday side dish or an easy weeknight veggie! You can also switch it up with different seasonings and get creative.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound green beans

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 clove garlic

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    air fryer green beans ingredients

  2. Wash the green beans well. Trim both ends of the green beans. Keep them long or cut them into halves. 

    green beans trimmed on a cutting board

  3. Toss the green beans in a bowl with the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until they are coated in the oil and seasonings.

    green beans in a bowl with oil

  4. Lay the green beans in an even layer in the air fryer basket and top with the sliced garlic.

    green beans in an air fryer

  5. Air fry the green beans at 370 F for 7 to 9 minutes. There’s no need to turn them, but you can toss the basket if you wish. Serve warm.

    air fryer green beans

Tips

  • At the recommended cooking temperature, you should be fine using extra virgin olive oil. The oil has a smoke point of 375 F, so it's not the best choice for air fryer recipes that use higher temperatures; use pure olive oil instead for those.
  • Substituting garlic salt for the powder may result in green beans that are too salty. If garlic salt is your only option, use it to replace both the garlic powder and salt in the recipe.

Recipe Variations

You can change up the seasonings or include some add-ins to these simple and easy green beans.

  • Crunchy panko Parmesan green beans: Toss the green beans in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In a separate bowl, combine 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Toss the green beans in the panko mixture and add them to the air fryer. Spray with cooking spray and cook for the same amount of time. 
  • Almond green beans: Prepare the green beans as above, but add a teaspoon of maple syrup along with the olive oil and seasonings. Then toss in a 1/4 cup of sliced almonds. Cook as directed above. 
  • Asian green beans: Prepare as above but add 1 teaspoon each of sriracha sauce, maple syrup, and soy sauce. 
  • Green bean casserole alternative: Prepare the green beans as above, but add in 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and 1 cup of sliced mushrooms. Then, during the last 2 minutes of air frying, add in 1/2 cup of prepared fried onions.

Can Frozen Green Beans Be Cooked in the Air Fryer?

This air fryer recipe works well with frozen green beans and there's no need to thaw them before cooking. Simply toss the frozen beans with the seasoning and oil and add them to the air fryer as if they were fresh. You will want to shake the basket before cooking for an additional 3 minutes (about 12 to 13 minutes total). Some people have found that increasing the air fryer temperature to 400 F for those last few minutes makes them crispier.