These easy crispy air fryer green beans are the perfect side dish for your summer meals! They are a light and healthy easy side dish to pair with just about any protein.
I love this easy recipe for a healthy side dish since it is so flavorful. The air fryer also gives the beans a nice texture which is so much more interesting than simply steaming your veggies. The crispiness of the green beans and their shape make them a perfect alternative to French fries when having a summer dinner on the patio with the kids. These are so good I even have them for a healthy snack all on their own sometimes!
While the full ingredient list is available below, here are some tips on what you will need to make these crispy green beans.
Ingredients:
Kitchen Equipment:
While the full recipe instructions are available in the recipe card below, here are some tips to make the best green beans recipe!
To prepare your green beans, you will need to rinse them off in the sink to make sure they are clean. Then, you will dry them off completely with paper towels. This is important, because any moisture on the beans will prevent them from getting nice and crispy in the air fryer or oven.
Next, you will take a handful of beans and align the ends of them and cut off the outer ends on each side. This is much quicker than snapping off the ends one-by-one. This is an important step, because removing the ends prevents your beans from going tough while cooking. So make sure you do not skip this step!
Once your beans have been prepped, toss them in a large bowl with your olive oil, garlic powder, and salt and pepper until evenly coated.
Let's get cooking! Place your beans in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Set your cooking time to 8-10 minutes at 380 degrees F. Toss your beans about halfway through cooking and remove once they are turning golden brown and crisp on the edges. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top and serve immediately. Enjoy!
This delicious side dish is great as is, but you could also make some substitutions if you wish. If you are not into garlic powder, you could always use onion powder instead or use both for an extra pop of flavor. I also love to make these a little fancier when I have guests for dinner. I'll sometimes grate some parmesan cheese over them and sprinkle some red pepper flakes to give them a little more depth.
If you want to add even more texture and crispiness, you could dredge your beans in flour and an egg mixture and coat with breadcrumbs before tossing in the air fryer. Either way you prepare them, they will be amazing!
If you do not have an air fryer, you can mimic the texture and flavor of these air fryer vegetables by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet and baking in a preheated oven at 450F. You cook time will remain similar to the air fryer at about 10 minutes, and you will toss half way. You'll know your beans are ready when they start to crisp at the edges and begin to turn golden brown.
No, you do not need to soak your beans before cooking them. You want your beans to be as dry as possible to make sure they can get as crispy as possible in the air fryer or oven. Any excess moisture on the beans when you cook them will result in soggy beans, which no one wants!
You will cook your beans for approximately 8 to 10 minutes in the air fryer or oven. Be sure to toss them halfway through cooking to ensure they are cooked evenly. You will know your beans are ready when they start to turn golden brown and get a little crispy on the edges. Remove them from the air fryer or oven and enjoy immediately!
While I have not tried this recipe with canned green beans, I definitely think you can do it! Make sure to dry your beans off as much as possible before you coat them in your oil and spices. Since the beans will be a little bit more tender having been canned, they may take a little less time to cook, so keep an eye on them.
If you are looking to reduce your oil intake for this recipe, you can always use olive oil spray. I love using spray for its ability to evenly coat your veggies while using very little excess oil!
These green beans are best served right out of the air fryer or oven, so I do not recommend cooking them ahead of time, You can always prepare them and toss in the oil and spices before you are ready to eat and simply cook them right before your other dishes are ready!
You food may not be getting crispy in your air fryer for a couple of reasons:
If you end up with less than crispy beans, simply make sure you don't have too many in your air fryer basket, and cook for an extra few minutes until they are crisp to your liking.
While you do not have to coat your beans in oil first, I do recommend it. This helps your spices to stick to the beans to add more flavor to them. The oil also helps brown the beans to get them nice and crispy. If you want to reduce your oil use in this recipe, I recommend using an olive oil spray.
One thing I love about this simple recipe is how versatile it is. These green beans can be paired with a main dish in so many different ways it is incredible! These beans are a great side with chicken, fish, or a steak for a weeknight dinner. I also sometimes use these as an alternative to French fries when I make a chicken burger or other handheld meal. I find this is a game changer when I am trying to be extra healthy but also want to have fun with my food! These are also a perfect snack when you want something healthy with a crispy texture and don't want to put too much effort into making yourself something.
A great way to easily store leftover green beans is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep in there for up to 3 to 5 days. To reheat your beans, I recommend doing so in the oven or the air fryer again. This helps to keep them nice and dry to retain their crispiness. The microwave will result in more limp beans.
Love this easy air fryer recipe and looking for more? Check out these awesome recipes at the quick links below!
These easy crispy air fryer green beans are the perfect side dish for your summer meals! They are a light and healthy easy side dish to pair with just about any protein.
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