Air-Fryer Green Beans
These crispy air-fryer green beans are absolutely perfect for busy weeknights when you want something healthy and delicious! Anyone who loves quick, flavorful vegetables will fall in love with how tender and perfectly charred these turn out. Plus, they’re ready in just 15 minutes from start to finish!
Recipe Details
Timing & Servings: Active Time: 10 minutes, Total Time: 15 minutes, Serves: 4 people.
Nutrition Profile: Low-Carb, Diabetes-Friendly, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Low-Fat, Soy-Free, High-Fiber, Vegan, Vegetarian, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): 67 Calories, 4g Fat, 9g Carbs, 2g Protein.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Fresh green beans: You’ll need 1 pound of fresh green beans, trimmed, which gives you about 4 cups. I love using the crisp, bright green ones from the produce section – they get perfectly tender in the air fryer!
Extra-virgin olive oil: Just 1 tablespoon is all you need to get these beans beautifully golden. The olive oil helps everything get nice and crispy while adding that rich, smooth flavor.
Salt: Half a teaspoon of regular salt brings out all the natural flavors. You can use sea salt or table salt – whatever you have in your kitchen works great!
Ground pepper: Half a teaspoon adds just the right amount of warmth and spice. Freshly ground black pepper tastes amazing, but pre-ground works perfectly too.
Garlic powder: Half a teaspoon gives these beans that savory, aromatic flavor we all love. It’s so much easier than mincing fresh garlic and tastes fantastic!
Lemon zest: One teaspoon of grated lemon zest adds the most wonderful bright, fresh finish. Make sure to zest before you cut the lemon – it’s so much easier that way!
How to Make Air-Fryer Green Beans
Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes. While it’s heating up, toss the green beans, olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder together in a large bowl. Make sure all the beans get coated evenly with the oil and seasonings.
Step 2: Arrange the seasoned beans evenly in your air-fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd them – you want good air circulation for the best results. Cook for about 8 minutes, tossing them once halfway through.
Step 3: Check that the beans are lightly charred, blistered, and tender. Sprinkle with the fresh lemon zest and serve immediately while they’re still hot and crispy!
Easy and Quick Air-Fryer Green Beans Version
Want to make this even simpler? You can use pre-trimmed green beans from the store to save time! Just toss them with a pre-made seasoning blend like garlic salt instead of mixing individual spices. Skip the fresh lemon zest and squeeze a little lemon juice over the finished beans instead – still delicious and so much faster!
Serving Ideas
These crispy green beans make a fantastic side dish for grilled chicken, baked salmon, or your favorite protein. They’re also amazing alongside roasted potatoes and a simple salad for a complete, healthy meal. The bright lemon flavor pairs beautifully with Mediterranean dishes too!
Storage
Store leftover green beans in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in a covered container. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes to get them crispy again. You can also reheat them in a regular oven at 400°F for about 5 minutes.
Substitutions
No fresh green beans? Frozen ones work great too – just thaw and pat them dry first. You can swap the garlic powder for onion powder if that’s what you have. Instead of lemon zest, try lime zest for a fun twist, or even a sprinkle of parmesan cheese if you’re not keeping it dairy-free!
Pro Tips
- Don’t overcrowd: Give your beans space in the basket so they get crispy instead of steamy.
- Dry them well: Pat the beans dry after washing for the crispiest results.
- Toss halfway: That one toss during cooking makes sure everything cooks evenly.
- Serve immediately: These taste best right out of the air fryer while they’re still hot and crispy!
FAQs
Can I make these green beans ahead of time?
You can prep the seasoned beans a few hours ahead and keep them in the fridge, but they’re definitely best cooked fresh. The air fryer is so quick that it’s really worth making them right before serving!
What if my green beans aren’t getting crispy enough?
Sure! Just cook them for an extra 1-2 minutes, checking every 30 seconds. Make sure you’re not overcrowding the basket – that’s the most common reason they don’t get crispy.
Can I double this recipe?
You bet! Just cook them in two batches so they have enough room to get properly crispy. The timing stays the same for each batch.
Final Thoughts
I hope you love these air-fryer green beans as much as my family does! They’ve become our go-to side dish for busy weeknights. Let me know how yours turn out – I’d love to hear about any fun variations you try!
