Turn this simple veggie into a restaurant-worthy side dish, sure to appeal to even the pickiest of eaters, with this recipe for Air Fryer Green Beans!
Don’t even get me started on canned green beans. I could rant about it for days. When I was a kid, I despised green beans. I thought they were the foulest, grossest vegetables imaginable. Who would eat this stuff? And the reason for my disdain was simple: I had only ever experienced the canned stuff. Yes, some vegetables, meats, and other foods are delicious in canned form, but in my humble opinion, green beans are simply not one of them.
Imagine my surprise, years later, when I was visiting a friend who made dinner and served up a strange vegetable on the side. They looked oddly familiar, like a distant cousin of the canned green beans I had grown up begrudgingly eating. And yet, these were not droopy and wet. No, they were fresh and crispy, with a nice brown char, and when I bit into them, I found a delicious flavor profile of fresh fields, summer breezes, and a light touch of flame, as if someone had plucked them right from the garden and cooked them briefly over some seething coals.
“What is this?” I asked my host, and when they replied that they were, in fact, simple old green beans, I couldn’t believe it.
Turns out, fresh vegetables are infinitely better than months-old canned vegetables. Who knew? And green beans, in particular, are delicious when prepared fresh rather than from a can. I know there are probably some of you out there who grew up eating green bean casserole made from canned green beans, likely topped with some frizzled onion straws, and while I don’t want to yuck your yum, I have to say that I am simply not a fan of that dish at all. Combining canned green beans with cream of mushroom soup might work in a pinch, but if you really want to experience all the deliciousness that green beans have to offer, I think a simple preparation method is better.
That’s why I love this recipe for Air Fryer Green Beans. It’s the pinnacle of simplicity. All you need is some fresh green beans, olive oil, salt, and pepper, plus a little garlic powder for added flavor. And that’s it. You can’t mess this up if you try, and the results will be restaurant-worthy every time.
Can I use frozen green beans?
Well… technically, yes, of course you can. But if you want me to be honest, I really do recommend using fresh green beans. You can find them in just about any grocery store, and for a dish that’s as basic as this, you want the best ingredients possible. There’s nothing wrong with frozen veggies—especially considering that in some areas, frozen vegetables are all that’s available. But if you can manage to find fresh green beans, it’ll make a world of difference.
That goes double if you can find locally grown green beans. Next time you’re at your local farmers market, or if you know of any food suppliers that source locally, I recommend trying to find some green beans from a nearby farm. The flavor, texture, and overall freshness will be noticeable. And when serving something like green beans, the high-quality ingredients will go a long way to make the dish stand out.
How to Make Ahead and Store?
Green beans tend not to reheat well, so if you’re going to store them for later, I recommend chopping them up and adding them to another dish: a salad, for instance, or perhaps a veggie bowl. You can keep the beans in your fridge for up to 3 days before they turn a bit too mushy.
Serving Suggestions
These green beans are a perfect side dish for just about any meal. Cooking some chicken? Steak? Fish? Brisket? No problem! Just make these green beans and serve them on the side, and your guests will be impressed. They’re also great as a snack on their own with a nice spicy mayo sauce.
And if you’re the type to stock up on a ton of green beans from your local farmers market, then there’s something fun about whipping up a bunch of different green bean dishes. This recipe for Green Beans Almondine is a great Thanksgiving-style or BBQ potluck side dish. Or, if you’re looking to do a cookout, give this recipe for Grilled Green Beans a shot!
Air Fryer Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans ends trimmed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F.
- In a large bowl, toss the trimmed green beans with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until evenly coated.
- Place the seasoned green beans in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded for even cooking.
- Cook for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time to promote even browning.
- Once the green beans are tender and slightly crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately.
What is the dipping sauce, shown in pics?
It’s a sriracha mayo. They make a great combo!