Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans
Unlike any other green bean recipe, these crispy, crunchy air fryer frozen green beans are the ultimate side dish or healthy snack. Ready in under 15 minutes, these are the green beans everyone in your family is going to be asking for going forward, especially if you serve them with a creamy sauce for dipping.
The air fryer is one of my go to kitchen gadgets, helping me get a really tasty dinner on the table in 20 minutes or less. If you love the air fryer as much as I do, you have to try air fryer roasted zucchini, roasted air fryer tomatoes or air fried frozen asparagus in your next meal!
I love this recipe equally for two reasons:
- Its incredibly easy to make – like dump frozen veggies in basket, season and cook. So easy. And an added bonus, this recipe uses freezer and pantry staples.
- These crispy green beans are vegetables you actually want to eat! The air fryer works its magic on these green beans. The slightly crispy, crunch green beans are a whole different experience vs the steamed green beans I normally have. Given the choice, I would choose these air fried green beans every time.
Ingredients needed
- Frozen green beans – I prefer to use thinner green beans because they get super crunchy. The frozen green beans from Trader Joe’s are my favorite. Haricot vert are typically pretty thin too. Don’t worry if you can’t find thin frozen green beans though, they all work.
- Avocado oil or olive oil spray – this helps coat the beans so that the salt and garlic powder will stick.
- Spices: Salt and garlic powder – I like to keep it really simple here, trust me, these are going to be incredible!
How to make crispy frozen green beans in the air fryer
Coat in seasoning: Add the green beans to the air fryer basket. Spray with oil and sprinkle the salt and garlic powder on top.
Cook the beans: Cook at 400F for 14 minutes. After 7 minutes, pause the air fryer and shake the basket well. Pause it again with 3 minutes left and shake again.
Serve hot! These are best right out of the air fryer!
Top tips
- As much as I would like to tell you this is an inactive recipe, it’s important that you pause cooking and shake the air fryer basket 2-3 times during cooking for the best texture.
- These beans come out a little crunchy, if you prefer green beans closer to the texture of steamed green beans, stop the cooking at 12 minutes.
- Be sure to use an avocado oil or olive oil spray without propellants (the only ingredient should be oil). The propellants are known to damage the coating on your air fryer basket.
- If you have to preheat your air fryer before using it, reduce the cooking time to 8-10 minutes
Other flavor variations
- Everything bagel seasoning in place of the salt and garlic powder
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Lemon juice – add this during the last 1-2 minutes of cooking or right at the end
- Parmesan or feta cheese – add this at the end of cooking
- Balsamic vinegar – pause the air fryer with 3 minutes remaining. Transfer the beans to a bowl and toss in 1-2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar. Return back to the air fryer and continue cooking.
- Sriracha – pour over top during the last 1-2 minutes of cooking or at the end.
What to serve with air fryer green beans
- My favorite way to enjoy these is actually as a snack with a creamy dipping sauce. My two favorite sauces to pair with this recipe are my lemon tahini sauce, and chipotle mayo.
- If you are looking for a main dish to serve these with, I highly recommend my ranch turkey meatloaf and mashed potatoes or along side buffalo chicken and rice.
- Green beans are not just for dinner, try them along side eggs in the morning or with dill tuna salad for lunch.
Common questions
Do you defrost the green beans before cooking?
No, that is the beauty of this recipe, it uses frozen green beans, no thawing required.
Can you use canned green beans?
You can air fry canned green beans, although the texture will not be exactly the same as cooking them from frozen. If you are choose to air fryer canned green beans, drain off as much of the liquid as possible before adding them to the air fryer basket.
Note: Use less salt if the beans were canned in a salty solution.
What to do with leftover green beans
If you find that you have leftovers and are looking for fun new ways to enjoy them, try:
- Adding them to a frittata or egg bake
- Using them in soups or stew
- Adding them to pasta (this would be great with some homemade pesto too)
Storing leftovers
Fridge: Store leftover beans in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The beans lose their crunchy texture quickly though, so leftovers won’t be quite the same.
Reheating: Reheat in the air fryer at 375F for 3-5 minutes until heated through. You can spray them with a bit of oil to try to re-crisp them.
Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen green beans
- avocado oil spray or olive oil spray
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 3/4 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Add frozen green beans to air fryer, spray with oil and sprinkle sat and garlic powder on top.
- Cook in the air fryer at 400F for 14 minutes. After 7 minutes, pause the air fryer and shake the basket. Pause and shake again with 3 minutes left.
- Serve hot for the best texture and crunch.
Equipment
Notes
- Be sure to pause cooking and shake the air fryer basket 2-3 times during cooking for the best texture.
- These beans come out a little crunchy, if you prefer green beans closer to the texture of steamed green beans, stop the cooking at 12 minutes.
- Be sure to use an avocado oil or olive oil spray without propellants (the only ingredient should be oil). The propellants are known to damage the coating on your air fryer basket.
- If you have to preheat your air fryer before using it, reduce the cooking time to 8-10 minutes
