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These Air Fryer Green Beans are a no-hassle and versatile side dish that goes well with a wide range of main dishes. The seasonings are simple, but that’s all the fresh green beans need to shine– Just some garlic powder, pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes for a hint of heat.

The recipe is written to serve four people, but you can easily double it to feed a larger family or when you’re hosting friends and loved ones. The best thing about this easy recipe is that it only takes 15 minutes from start to finish. 

A plate of green beans with an air fryer in the background.

All you need to do is wash and trim the beans, add oil and seasoning, then pop them into the air fryer basket. And tada! You have beautifully tender and crispy green beans loaded with flavor. You can take this dish to the next level by garnishing it with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

And I have plenty more easy air-fried sides like my sweet and juicy Corn Ribs, tender and flavorful Sweet Potato Cubes, or this buttery Air Fryer Texas Toast Garlic Bread.

Ingredient Notes

A labeled image of ingredients needed for air fryer green beans.
  • Green beans: You’ll need around one pound of fresh green beans. Check your local farmers market for organic home-grown green beans for the most authentic and flavorful results. Regular or French green beans will work.
  • Salt and pepper: Just a dash of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Use table salt, kosher, or sea salt– whichever is your favorite.
  • Olive oil: You don’t always need oil when cooking in the air fryer, but I love how olive oil adds flavor to the beans, helps the seasoning cling to them, and makes them extra tender. Avocado oil is another good option.
  • Garlic powder: Sprinkle in some garlic powder for subtle spice. If preferred, use fresh garlic.
  • Red pepper flakes: Include red pepper flakes to enhance the naturally sweet notes of fresh green beans, and add a little heat to the recipe. If you aren’t fond of spice, you can omit this ingredient.
  • Parmesan Cheese (not pictured – optional for garnish): Sprinkle your veggie dish with tangy parmesan cheese as an optional garnish.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Frefreshing Citrus: Add another layer of flavor by squeezing some fresh lemon juice on the green beans just before tossing them in the air fryer.
  • Crank Up the Heat: If you’re craving a little spice, replace the olive oil with chili oil or include chili pepper in the seasoning mix or sprinkle on top as a garnish.
  • Sweet and Sour: For yummy sweet and sour green beans, try adding freshly squeezed lemon juice and drizzling the beans with sweet honey– YUM! Then, garnish with an extra swirl of honey and bright lemon wedges.
  • Bacon Green Beans: Bacon is a green bean’s best friend! Partially cook some salty bacon, crumble it, and finish cooking it along with the green beans and simple seasonings in the air frier to boost the flavor.

How To Make This Easy Green Beans Recipe

✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!

Step 1 | Prepare the green beans

First, unpackage, clean, and trim the ends of the green beans. Then, add them to a medium bowl.

Collage image showing cutting green beans and then placed in a glass bowl.

Step 2 | Add the olive oil

Next, drizzle the olive oil on the trimmed and washed green beans.

Green beans in a glass bowl drizzled with olive oil.

Step 3 | Combine seasonings

In a separate small bowl, mix the seasonings- salt, pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. 

The collage image shows spices in a bowl and then the spices mixed together.

Step 4 | Add the seasoning to the green beans

Now, add the tasty spice mix to the green beans and olive oil.

Step 5 | Mix the ingredients

Then, use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir the ingredients until the oil and seasonings evenly cover the green beans.

The collage image shows spices sprinkled over green beans and then the beans tossed with the seasonings.

Step 6 | Set the air fryer temperature

It’s time to fire up the air fryer! Set the temperature to 350 degrees F.

The collage image shows greens beans in the air fryer and then after being cooked.

Step 7 | Air fry the green beans

Then, set the seasoned green beans in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes. Shake the basket about halfway through to ensure the beans are cooking evenly. After 10 minutes, the beans are ready to serve!

Tips

  • Cook to Your Liking– Everyone’s preference is a little different. Feel free to cook these green beans for a little less or a little longer, depending on if you prefer crunchier or softer green beans.
  • Avoid Overcrowding– Like with all air fryer recipes, setting the green beans in the basket in a single layer is important. Overcrowding the air fryer will cause the beans to cook unevenly. You may need to cook in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
  • Serve Hot– Easy air fryer green beans are best served immediately. So, dig in y’all!
Cooked air fryer greens beans being scooped out with a wooden spoon.

Recipe FAQ’s

What vegetables can you not cook in the air fryer?

Technically, you can cook any vegetable in the air fryer, but some don’t have the best results. For instance, air fryer broccoli and leafy greens are typically better when cooked in the oven or on the stove because the hot air of the air fryer often dries them out, resulting in more of a charred vegetable than fried or steamed. So this is subjective; if you love that charred result, you may think there aren’t any veggies you cannot cook in the air fryer.

Is it better to roast vegetables in the air fryer or the oven?

In many ways, the answer to this question is subjective. Each method produces different textures and flavors, depending on your preferences. However, many agree that the air fryer vegetables are better because it cooks faster and needs less oil, making crispy air fryer veggies a little healthier than oven-roasted alternatives.

Do you have to soak green beans before cooking them?

If you’ve heard this green bean rule before, it’s time to reveal the truth! This is an old wives’ tale. You don’t have to soak green beans before cooking. Just be sure they are washed and trimmed.

Can you air fry green beans from frozen?

Sure! Use the same temperature and add 8 to 10 more minutes to the cooking time, shifting the basket once or twice during the process.

Storage

Refrigerate Green Beans: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for about three to four days. Be sure to let them cool to room temperature before storing any leftovers.

Freeze Leftovers: You can also store the green beans longer by keeping them in the freezer. They’ll last for a couple of months as long as they are properly stored in a freezer-safe bag or tightly sealed container.

Reheat Leftover green beans: When you’re ready to serve them again, you have a couple of options. You can reheat frozen green beans by allowing them to thaw in the fridge overnight, then warming them up in the air fryer, oven, or microwave. If they aren’t frozen, reheat the green beans in the air fryer or microwave, careful not to overcook them.

Air fryer green beans on a white plate garnished with fresh parmesan cheese.

What to Serve with Air-Fried Green Beans

This green bean recipe is the perfect side dish for a heavier entre. Try my garlic-crusted, melt-in-your-mouth Prime Rib for an extra special occasion, or this Garlic Herb Turkey Tenderloin cooked with fresh orange juice and various herbs.

And if you’re craving a comforting meal, serve these delicious green beans with Beef Tips and Gravy over rice or buttery mashed potatoes– YUM!

More Tasty Green Bean Recipes

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A plate of green beans with an air fryer in the background.
Recipe
4.86 from 7 votes

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Air Fryer Green Beans

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Nikki Lee
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The Air Fryer Green Beans seasonings are simple, but that’s all the fresh green beans need to shine– Just some garlic powder, pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes for a hint of heat.

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound green beans
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Parmesan cheese, Optional Garnish

Instructions

  • Clean and trim green beans. Add to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
  • Drizzle the olive oil over the top of the cleaned green beans.
  • In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Using a fork, stir to combine. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the top of the green beans. Then stir to combine allowing the oil and spices to be evenly coated over the green beans.
  • Using a wooden spoon or spatula, stir to combine, allowing the oil and spices to be evenly coated over the green beans.
  • Set the air fryer to 350℉.
  • Place the prepared green beans in the basket of your air fryer and cook at 350℉ for 10 minutes. After 6 minutes, shake the basket and cook for 4 more minutes.

Notes

  • Cook to Your Liking– Everyone’s preference is a little different. Feel free to cook these green beans for a little less or a little longer, depending on if you prefer crunchier or softer green beans.
  • Avoid Overcrowding– Like with all air fryer recipes, setting the green beans in the basket in a single layer is important. Overcrowding the air fryer will cause the beans to cook unevenly. You may need to cook in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving Calories: 68kcal (3%) Carbohydrates: 8g (3%) Protein: 2g (4%) Fat: 4g (6%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Sodium: 300mg (13%) Potassium: 248mg (7%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 4g (4%) Vitamin A: 820IU (16%) Vitamin C: 14mg (17%) Calcium: 43mg (4%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

Nutritional Disclaimer

Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

©️Soulfully Made

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Nikki Lee author of Soulfully Made in the kitchen serving cupcakes.

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Nikki Lee. Here at Soulfully Made you will find delicious, home-cooked, easy recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

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10 Comments

  3. 5 stars
    This was so good and so easy! Definitely my new favorite way to make green beans. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply

  5. 5 stars
    Can’t wait to have fresh green beans from the garden to try this recipe! I’m definitely going to try using fresh garlic too. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply