Air Fryer Green Beans
These air fryer green beans are a simple vegan side dish that goes with just about any meal! Seasoned with garlic powder, plant-based Parmesan, and lemon juice, they’re full of flavour and oh-so-easy to make.
Whenever there’s a new kitchen appliance on the scene, it’s hard to know if it will end up being a passing fad or the next slow cooker—something we rely on for easy weeknight meals. I think it’s safe to say that the air fryer has definitely earned its place in the kitchen at this point. I mean, air fryer asparagus, air fryer orange tofu, air fryer chocolate chip cookies, and now these air fryer green beans—what’s not to love?!
Cooking green beans in the air fryer is nutritious and delicious. They’re cooked quickly and evenly with just a little bit of oil, making them a healthy snack or side dish. The air fryer maintains that signature crunchy-crisp texture of fresh green beans and cooks them to absolute perfection.
Air frying uses hot air to cook food quickly. The green beans are placed in the fryer basket and a fan circulates hot air around the entire appliance, speeding up the cooking process. This method locks in moisture and flavor, while also creating a crispy outer layer—without adding a lot of extra fat.
Best of all, air fryer green beans are incredibly easy to make! Simply toss the green beans with oil, add some seasonings, pop them in your air fryer, and voila! Perfectly cooked green beans in minutes. Friends, you’ll never want to cook green beans any other way after you try this recipe!
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Green beans – Yellow beans or other heirloom varieties can be used as well; just note that if they’re thinner or thicker than the average green bean, the cooking time will need to be adjusted accordingly.
- Oil – Olive oil or any other cooking oil you like or have on hand; cooking spray can be used, too.
- Garlic powder
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper – Freshly ground has the most flavour!
- Vegan Parmesan cheese – Use store-bought or homemade vegan Parmesan.
- Lemon juice
What Part of the Green Bean Do You Trim?
You really only have to trim the top stem from green beans—in other words, the part that attaches to the plant. The bottom of the bean can be left on, or you can trim that too for a more uniform appearance. It’s up to you!
How to Make Air Fryer Green Beans
Making green beans in the air fryer is easy as can be! Here’s what you’ll need to do.
Season the beans. Place the trimmed green beans in a large bowl. Add the oil, garlic powder, sea salt, and ground black pepper, then toss to coat.
Add the beans to the air fryer basket. Transfer the seasoned green beans to your air fryer basket and arrange them in a single layer.
Cook. Turn the air fryer to 400°F and cook for 4 minutes. Shake the basket, top the beans with the vegan Parmesan cheese and toss to coat. Air fry again for 5 to 6 minutes.
Finish. Squeeze lemon juice over the green beans, toss, then serve.
Tips for Success
Here are some simple tips for perfect air fryer green beans:
- Don’t crowd the beans. It’s better to make the beans in two batches than to crowd them in the air fryer. Giving them space is key to cooking them evenly!
- Shake the air fryer basket. Don’t skip this part! You really want to shake the basket enough that the green beans turn. This also helps them cook evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer if needed. Some air fryer models need to be preheated, while others do not. If yours does, preheat it before adding the green beans.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve these air fryer green beans as a snack with marinara for dipping, or go the traditional route and serve them as a side dish. I love them with vegan meatloaf and mashed potatoes, or serve them as a side with vegan stuffed shells or creamy garlic mushroom pasta.
Variations
This is one of those wonderful recipes where you just can’t go wrong—add your favourite seasonings and make these air fryer green beans your own!
Give them an Asian-inspired spin by cooking them with sesame oil and garlic powder, then garnishing them with sesame seeds when they’re done cooking. You can also skip the Parmesan and lemon and instead finish them with a drizzle of tahini dressing, chili crisp, or peanut sauce.
How to Store Leftovers
Leftover air fryer green beans can be stored in the refrigerator in an air tight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, return them to a 400ºF air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes. You can also eat them chilled or heat them up in the microwave, although they’ll be softer this way.
Can I Freeze This Recipe?
Unfortunately, air fryer green beans do not freeze well. The texture will become mushy and the flavour won’t be as bright and fresh.
Enjoy friends! If you make this air fryer green bean recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
Air Fryer Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans, throughly washed, with ends trimmed and cut in half
- 2 teaspoons oil, or use an oil spray
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon vegan parmesan cheese, grated
- Squeeze of lemon juice
Instructions
- Once cleaned and ends trimmed and cut in half, place the green beans in a bowl. Add in the oil, garlic powder, sea salt and ground black pepper. Toss to coat and combine.
- Add the green beans in a single layer in your air fryer.
- Air fry for 400°F for 4 minutes. Shake, top with the vegan Parmesan cheese and toss to coat, air fry again for 5-6 minutes.
- Squeeze lemon all over, toss to combine, then transfer to a plate to enjoy!
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
So zesty! This will be my favorite recipe to go to for an easy side dish. I skipped the cheese, and they were perfect.
Love love love all your recipes!!! My all time fave being your chickpea curry! I was wondering if I can use frozen green beans for this recipe? TIA, Liza
Hi Lisa,
Aww thank you!! I haven’t tried them with frozen but you can definitely try! They might not be as crispy but would still be delicious!