These easy air fryer green beans are so tender and tasty, they will make a great side dish, even on busy weeknights.
There comes a point when I’m just trying to find a simple way to get more fresh veggies into my face.
And I even love vegetables, I do; most of them, anyway, especially fresh green beans.
The best green beans can really be seasoned any way you want, and in the air fryer, the dry heat creates a french fries sort of appeal—but still a healthy side dish that the whole family will like.
A conventional oven can do it, too, but it heats up the house and takes a lot of energy, so I try to do the same thing in my air fryer to save a little time, heat, and electricity.
And since there’s just two or three of us here at any given point, our air fryer basket full of crispy green beans offers an opportunity to get JUST ENOUGH string beans for in a single meal.
I will say, these don’t make good leftover green beans, and they lose their appeal once they get cold, so plan the cook time accordingly, so it’s the last part of the meal you make and you’ll have tender green beans at the ready.
This tasty side dish calls for lemon juice, which are best squozen from lemon wedges, but let’s be real: a bit from a squeeze bottle won’t hurt anything. It’s green beans, not halibut.
- Here’s our FAQ for how to trim green beans.
- Air fryer vegetable recipes love and need air to cook properly, so don’t stack the foods on top of each other in the air fryer basket. This is why if you have a big family, it’s best to have a big air fryer. A green bean recipe like this one demands that you eat these warm, and if you cook them in rounds, the first set can go cold.
- We added too much lemon juice at first and they came out super lemony. I happen to love lemon but it was a bit much even for me. What’s here now is corrected, but add another 1 T more if you like a vibrant, lemon snap to your vegetables.
What to serve with air fryer green bean fries
So you’ve picked low carb healthy recipes with tons of flavor that make a perfect addition to most meals, but what can you eat with air fryer recipes like this one?
If you’re pressed for time, I’ve got an easy recipe for you, especially if you don’t like a lot of spicy-heat: Mild Blackened Chicken Breast comes out juicy with just some black pepper and garlic powder.
Add this smoky, charred Skillet Fried Corn is an easy side dish. Lots of home cooks are saying not to use a can of corn, but I won’t hear of it.
A can of corn was just fine in this recipe.
This home-cooked Meatloaf made with stuffing mix is so easy, you may as well make it even easier with an air-fryer basket of french green beans!
Plus a nicely coated Ritz-Cracker Chicken main dish is going to go great in your everyday cooking rotation, too.
And these comfort-food classics Ground Beef Casserole with Potatoes or Tater Tot Casserole are the best part of eating together because they are such people pleasers!
Tools you will need for this recipe
- Strainer
- Kitchen towel
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring spoons
- Large mixing bowl
- Tongs
- Air fryer liners
- Air fryer
- Plate
The bottom line
There are a lot of different ways to make the perfect side dish, you know?
You can throw parmesan cheese on anything (and I often do) and it will taste pretty good.
But once you learn the basics of learning an easy air fryer recipe or two, you’re going to make yourself some simple, crispy air fryer vegetables like a boss.
Take this simple recipe and start adding your own favorite seasonings, like chili powder or sesame oil, garlic salt, whatever.
I like Aldi Steak Seasoning just fine and I use it a LOT. It’s a catch-all of flavor for cheap.
Air Fryer Green Beans
These easy air fryer green beans are so tender and tasty, they will make a great side dish, even on busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 T minced garlic
- 1 t lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Wash the green beans and thoroughly pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
- Trim off and discard the ends.
- Add all the ingredients into a large bowl and toss to coat the green beans.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 F.
- Take out the basket and place the air fryer liner inside the basket (air fryer liners are great to use for easy cleanups).
- With your tongs, place the green beans in a single layer in the air fryer. You will need to work in rounds because you don’t want to stack them.
- Cook for 6 minutes.
- Take out the basket and shake the beans or use your tongs to flip them over.
- Cook for 6 more minutes or until the green beans are crisp and tender.
- Take out the basket. Let the green beans rest for 2 minutes.
- Taste and add a little salt as needed.
- Then plate and enjoy!
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