10-Minute Air Fried Green Beans (Keto, Low-Carb, Vegan)

Name: 10-Minute Air Fried Green Beans (Keto, Low-Carb, Vegan)
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 6.6 oz green beans (regular green beans (string beans), French green beans (haricots verts), purple string beans, etc. ); 1 Tbsp olive oil (or avocado oil/coconut oil/cooking spray); 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1/4 tsp salt

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Air fried green beans are crisp outside with a tender middle, ready in 10 minutes (no blanching required!), and are wonderfully diet-friendly: low-carb, keto, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, whole30, etc.!

A serving of air fried green beans with lemon wedges

For those who struggle to come up with quick and simple healthy side dishes, these 10-minute air-fried green beans should definitely make your rotation list! They require super minimal hands-on prep, are cooked in 5-7 minutes (based on your desired texture and crispiness), and are super versatile and adaptable, not only in terms of seasonings and toppings but also when serving!

Not only do they taste great, but green beans are rich in dietary fiber and an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, K, and C, as well as iron, calcium, folate, and magnesium (at only around 30kcal per cup!). There’s also no need to blanch the beans either; just top and tail them, season, and air fry to crispy-tender perfection!

Cooking green beans in the air fryer means minimal clean-up, saves oven space (great for the holidays), and creates stunning results in a fraction of the time! Plus, you get to avoid sad and mushy, overcooked boiled green beans!

I made mine as keto green beans with a super simple salt and pepper seasoning, topped off with fresh lemon juice and a pinch of red pepper flakes (my “basic go-to” green beans recipe). But keep reading for tons of other seasoning options, including garlicky, cheesy, buttery, as well as breaded air fryer green bean fries!

Looking for more simple air fryer veggie sides? You might also enjoy these air fryer honey-glazed carrots, eggplant, cauliflower, and breaded mushrooms!

The Air Fryer Green Beans Ingredients

The basic keto green beans recipe requires just a few simple ingredients, including:

Green beans: I used regular green beans (also called string beans/snap beans). However, French green beans (haricots verts) and purple string beans will also work for this air fryer green beans method. Look for beans with firm pods and bright green color. You can use frozen or fresh green beans in an air fryer.
Olive Oil: or another neutral cooking oil like avocado oil, coconut oil, etc. You could also use low-calorie cooking spray if preferred.
Salt & Pepper: season to taste.
To garnish: lemon slices (for lemon juice) and red pepper flakes (or thinly sliced fresh red chili pepper).

Other Seasonings & Recipe Variations

There are tons of ways you can season the green beans in the air fryer, including:

Flaky sea salt: for crunch and flavor.
Seasonings: experiment with different spices and seasoning like smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, dry Ranch seasoning, curry powder, cumin, garlic and onion powder, taco seasoning, etc.
Butter: toss the air fryer green beans with little lightly salted butter before serving.
Garlic: thinly slice (rather than mince) the garlic to avoid burn, or season with garlic powder.
Garlic butter: homemade roasted garlic butter is the perfect accompaniment to any veggie side dish. Toss 1-2 tablespoon with the freshly air-fried green beans, and enjoy!
Parmesan: sprinkle the air-fried green beans with parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for vegan cheesy option) before or after cooking.
Feta: especially with a squeeze of lemon juice. Use vegan feta if preferred.
Lemon: along with lemon juice, you can increase the zesty flavor of this recipe by adding some fine lemon zest to the seasoning (around 1/4-1/2 teaspoon only).
Crispy onions: crispy onions/shallots sprinkled over the crispy green beans are a classic pairing. Add toasted/sautéed slithered almonds for green bean amandine.
Balsamic: 1-2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar added with the olive oil.
Nuts/seeds: slithered almonds (to make green bean almondine), sesame seeds, or pine nuts could be lightly toasted until fragrant then garnish the crispy air fried green beans.
Dried cranberries: add pecans & cranberries (a few tablespoons) for a quick holiday side.
Sesame green beans: use sesame oil instead of olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. These also pair well with garlic, a little ginger, and/or a spoonful of soy sauce with red pepper flakes if you want some spice.
Air fryer green bean fries: dip the green beans in egg and panko breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned) before air frying for crispy air fryer green bean fries.

I love to make delicious vegan/paleo/keto green bean side dishes (depending on the ingredients used) with a combination of the add-ins above. My current favorite is green beans with garlic (fresh or garlic powder), lemon zest, and a little parmesan.

How to Make Air Fryer Green Beans?

First, prepare the green beans by washing them well and drying them with a kitchen towel. Then trim the ends (also called “topping and tailing” beans), and remove any tough strings.

The quickest way to trim the beans is to grab a handful of beans and line up all the ends. Then use a long, sharp knife to trim off all the tips in one go. Repeat with all the remaining green beans.

If your air fryer requires pre-heating, do so now to 350ºF/180ºC.

In a large bowl (or Ziplock bag), toss the beans with the oil and seasoning.

Then spread them across the bottom of your air fryer basket in a single layer, trying to avoid them overlapping too much (a little is fine).

I have tried one batch with adding more to the air fryer, and they worked out okay in the end, but took between 12-14 minutes and required shaking/flipping 2-3 times, for even results.

Air fry the green beans for 7-8 minutes, until slightly crisp outside with a tender middle. For slightly less tender air-fried green beans, cook the beans for just 5-6 minutes. For crispier results, increase the time by 1-2 minutes.

The time will also vary based on the thickness/size of your beans (larger beans require 2-3 extra minutes). I’ve tried this method with and without shaking the basking halfway and found I don’t mind either, so I usually skip this step. However, if you want more even browning, feel free to do so.

For air fryer frozen green beans: you can use the same temperature and method, but increase the cooking time to somewhere between 13-16 minutes (or slightly less/more depending on your desired texture).

How to Store?

Store: these air-fried green beans are best enjoyed straight after cooking. However, if you have any leftovers, allow them to cool, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freeze: allow to cool, then place in an airtight container or reusable bag and store for between 4-6 months. Allow to thaw in the fridge before reheating or reheat from frozen.

Reheat: place back in the air fryer for several minutes until heated through and lightly crisp. Reheating them under a broiler OR on the stovetop with a little oil/butter may also work well, though I haven’t tried.

How to Serve Air Fried Green Beans?

These air fryer green beans are a super versatile side dish that pairs well with most proteins and mains:

Serve with salmon and other fish.
Pairs well with chicken – like this chicken kebab and roast chicken.
Serve alongside stir-fried chicken, tofu, or tempeh.
Alongside meaty or vegan meatloaf and meatballs (like these mushroom meatballs).
Stir into or serve alongside warm pasta dishes like vegan mac and cheese, lasagna, tomato and eggplant pasta, baked feta spinach and mushroom pasta, etc.
As a side on the Thanksgiving table with other sides like creamy mashed potato and vegan gravy.
As a healthy side to burgers – like this sweet potato black bean, pumpkin bean, or baked falafel burger.
With your favorite grain – brown rice, jasmine rice, vegetable pilaf, quinoa, couscous, etc.

You can also save the leftovers to add to salad bowls, potato salad, pasta salads, etc.

FAQs

Why are my green beans rubbery?

Undercooked green beans will be rubbery/squeaky. Meanwhile, overcooked green beans become mushy. However, some beans may simply be tough and fibrous due to being picked overripe/past their best.

Should you cut the ends off the green beans?

Yes, trim the green beans and remove any fibrous strings from the beans before cooking.

Should you blanch green beans before cooking?

There’s no need to do so when cooking fresh green beans in an air fryer.

Can I bake the green beans?

Yes, if you’d prefer to bake them, then pre-heat your oven to 425ºF/220ºC and bake for 14-16 minutes.

Can you use canned green beans?

Yes, but don’t expect the same results. Canned beans are already super tender and won’t become crisp. However, you can cook them for 4-6 minutes until heated through.

Can I make oil-free green beans?

Absolutely, they may not become quite as crisp, and I recommend using something (cooking spray perhaps) if you’re using dry seasonings to help them adhere.

Should I soak green beans before cooking?

No need – unlike dried beans, these require no pre-soak.

Recipe Tips and Notes

Don’t forget to trim the beans: otherwise, you can end up chewing on tough fibrous stem/strings.
Adjust the air frying time accordingly: based on the size of your green beans and how crispy you want them to be. Also, all air fryers are slightly different, so the time can vary slightly.
To save time: you can use pre-prepared green beans to save on prep time.
Cook in batches: if you plan to double the recipe, it’s best to cook in two batches. You can place the first batch back in the air fryer for a minute or two at the end to reheat them. Crowding the basket can lead to soggy results.

More Simple Air Fryer Recipes

If you try this air-fried green beans recipe, I’d love to hear your thoughts/questions below. Also, I’d appreciate a recipe card rating below, and tag me in your recipe recreations on Instagram @Alphafoodie!