Air Fryer Green Beans (Frozen or Fresh)
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Air fryer green beans are the easy button when it comes to making a delicious side dish for dinner. Whether you air fry fresh or frozen green beans, it will save you time, and the flavor is just as good as oven roasted!
Busy weeknights don’t have to mean take-out and unhealthy meal options. There are plenty of different recipes that are quick, easy, and require minimal effort to throw together. This is a go-to recipe that I use often. Wholesome food doesn’t have to mean hours of cooking!
Why You’ll Love Our Recipe
If you want a kid-friendly side dish that won’t take long to make, then you will love air frying green beans. This dish is super simple to make, and it pairs well with practically any protein!
We like to pair air fryer green beans with meals like air fryer turkey meatballs or Mississippi chicken for a quick weeknight dinner. They also taste fantastic with smothered pork chops, and even fish dinners like air fryer tilapia.
Learn how to cook anything in your air fryer with our free cook time chart!
If you’re concerned about how expensive fresh produce is, no worries… You can air fry frozen green beans! Using frozen veggies is more affordable and convenient than using fresh. I love that frozen vegetables have the same nutritional value that fresh veggies do.
Best of all, air frying allows you to control the texture of the green beans. This way, your kids will happily eat them!
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my most important mom tested cooking tips for making tilapia in your air fryer! We’ve made this countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- Preheat the air fryer. It’s important that the basket is hot before you drop the vegetables in. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting, just turn it on and let it warm up for a couple minutes before placing the food inside.
- Arrange the veggies in a single layer. Make sure that the seasoned green beans are in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of the basket, you may need to cook multiple batches. You want to leave enough space to allow hot air to circulate around the green beans.
- Check the green beans half way through the air frying time. Each brand of air fryer is a bit different, so the cook time may need to be adjusted accordingly. When you stop halfway through to toss the green beans, you’ll likely be able to tell about how many more minutes they need. Don’t be afraid to increase or decrease the time so that the texture is right for your family.
- Texture differences: Depending on whether you use fresh or frozen green beans, the texture of will vary. Fresh air fryer green beans are a tiny bit firmer than those cooked from frozen. Both are equally delicious though!
Ingredients
These simple ingredients are all that you need to make air fryer green beans:
- green beans: You can use cut green beans or whole French green beans, whichever you prefer.
- seasoning: I just use a bit of salt and pepper for seasoning, but depending on what main dish you’re serving, you can use other seasonings.
How to Make Air Fryer Green Beans
Follow these step-by-step instructions to make flavorful and tender air fried green beans:
Note: If you are cooking frozen green beans in the air fryer, do not thaw them first. Simply separate any that may be stuck together.
Also, be sure to preheat your air fryer. You want the basket nice and hot when you add the veggies.
- Trim and season. If you’re air frying fresh green beans, use your fingers to pinch off the ends. Then, toss the fresh or frozen green beans with olive oil and seasoning.
- Arrange the green beans in a single layer, and cook in the preheated air fryer. After 4 minutes, shake the basket or use tongs to toss the green beans.
- Toss and taste for doneness. Perfect air fryer green beans should be tender, and slightly crispy on the outside. If they are not done to your liking, cook them a bit longer.
- Transfer the vegetables to a serving dish. If you want, you can top them with lemon zest, parmesan cheese, and/or slivered almonds.
Make it kid friendly: Most kids love the flavor of ranch seasoning mix, so you may want to use that as a seasoning for the green beans!
Another way to get your kiddos to eat their vegetables is to offer a dip, like homemade Big Mac sauce or sugar free BBQ sauce.
Recipe FAQ
It is not necessary to thaw frozen green beans before air frying. Season them with olive oil and your desired spices, then place them into the basket. They will cook perfectly that way!
The majority of frozen vegetables are simply flash frozen from fresh, so the nutritional value is exactly the same.
How to Store Leftovers
If you have any leftover green beans, place them into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, place them back into a preheated air fryer for a few minutes, or reheat in the oven or on the stovetop. You can also reheat in the microwave, but they may not have the best texture.
I'd love to hear about your experience making this recipe! Please leave a comment and rating below!
Air Fryer Green Beans (Fresh or Frozen)
Ingredients
- 12 ounces green beans fresh or frozen (do not thaw)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional Toppings
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon slivered almonds
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C). (If your fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, let it warm up for 3-5 minutes before adding the vegetables.)
- Place the green beans in a bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over them, then gently combine to lightly coat all of the beans.
- Arrange the seasoned green beans in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. (Depending on the size of the basket, you may need to cook in batches.)
- Air fry the green beans at 380°F (193°C) for 7-10 minutes, shaking the basket or tossing the beans halfway through the cook time to ensure even cooking.
- After 7 minutes, check the green beans for doneness. They should be tender and slightly crispy on the outside. If they need more time, cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- When fully cooked, remove them from the air fryer and transfer to a serving platter or bowl. If desired, top with lemon zest, parmesan and/or slivered almonds.
Notes
Nutrition
2025 Update: This recipe is still a family favorite! It has been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and add helpful tips for our readers. We hope you love it as much as we do!
Didn’t think to make green beans in the airfryer but now I am excited to try it!