Learn how to cook fresh green beans in the air fryer! A delicious weeknight side dish, they're lightly crisp, tender, and ready in 10 minutes.
Have you ever tried cooking green beans in the air fryer? They come out lightly crisp, tender, and beautifully caramelized. And best of all, they’re ready in 10 minutes. Just like my air fryer zucchini and air fryer corn on the cob, these air fryer green beans are a perfect healthy side dish for busy weeknights.
Fresh green beans are one of my favorite vegetables to cook at this time of year, so in the last few weeks, I’ve had this air fryer green beans recipe on repeat. I’m sharing a few of my go-to serving suggestions below, but to be honest, these green beans pair well with just about any main dish. Serve them with grilled tofu, a summery pasta…you can’t go wrong!
How to Air Fry Green Beans
This recipe is super simple to make:
- Start by washing and trimming your green beans. Pat them dry to help them brown and crisp up as they cook.
- Then, season the beans. Toss them with olive oil, salt, and several grinds of pepper.
- Next, air fry them. If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat it to 400°F. Spread the green beans in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the beans are tender and browned in places.
- Squeeze with fresh lemon juice, and enjoy!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Air Fryer Green Beans Tips
- Work in batches if necessary. I always give this tip when I share an air fryer recipe! In order for the veggies to brown and crisp up as they cook, they need to be in a single layer in the air fryer basket. (If it’s too crowded, they’ll steam and soften instead.) Depending on the size of your air fryer, all the green beans may not fit in a single layer. If that’s the case, cook them in 2 to 3 batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Look for haricots verts. You can use any kind of fresh green beans in this recipe, but my personal favorites are French green beans, or haricots verts. These slender beans have a sweeter flavor and snappier texture than other varieties, and they almost taste buttery. Bonus: they often come pre-trimmed.
- Spice them up, if you like. I season these green beans simply with olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice, but they’d be great with other spices or seasonings too! Try tossing them with a little garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or dried thyme before cooking. You could garnish them with fresh herbs, red pepper flakes, and/or Parmesan cheese after roasting too.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Green Beans
These easy air fryer green beans pair well with almost any main dish!
Serve them with a simple pasta, like my lemon pasta or pasta puttanesca, or pair them with a simply cooked protein like this crispy sesame tofu. They’re great alongside a frittata too!
And maybe this goes without saying, but this recipe would also be a lovely holiday side dish.
How to Store and Reheat
This recipe is best right after cooking, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
I like to reheat them in the air fryer so that they crisp up. It only takes 5 to 10 minutes at 350°F!
Don’t have an air fryer? Make these oven roasted green beans instead! They’re not quite as quick, but they’re just as delicious.
That said, an air fryer really does come in handy for weeknight cooking. If you’re thinking about getting one, I recommend the Our Place Wonder Oven. I love that it doesn’t require preheating, and its compact size fits well on my countertop. It’s super cute too!
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
If you love this recipe, try one of these easy air fryer side dishes next:
Air Fryer Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Lemon wedges, for squeezing
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- In a large bowl, toss the green beans with the olive oil, salt, and several grinds of pepper.
- Working in batches if necessary, arrange the green beans in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 9 to 11 minutes, or until tender and browned in places. Repeat as necessary with the remaining green beans.
- Season to taste, squeeze with lemon juice, and serve.
I have a rotisserie basket and letting them rumble in that really makes sure everything comes out even.
Also, I get green beans in bulk and chamber vacuum seal portions. You can mix up the oil or butter with preferred seasoning and then vacuum seal them. The last longer in the fridge that way. And they even do well frozen.