Ready in 10 minutes, this low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan recipe for green beans in the air fryer is going to be a new favorite snack. It also makes a great side dish for your Thanksgiving Turkey., that your whole family will love.
The best thing about this recipe is that it frees up my stove and oven for all my other cooking. This way, everything is ready at the same time and can be served fresh and hot.
I love to cook my chicken steam roast on the stovetop, my spicy masala smashed potatoes, or chili lime potato stacks in the oven, and these thin green beans in the air fryer basket for a Sunday dinner.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Perfectly done greens every time - An air fryer cooks by circulating hot air, and this results in crispy green beans.
- Quick and easy recipe - The quick cooking time and easy cleanup of making the snap beans, as they're also called, in the air fryer make this a perfect recipe.
- Fried food without calories - You can enjoy air fryer green bean fries for a fraction of the calories of actual fried green beans.
- Versatile recipe - This recipe makes a healthy snack or perfect side dish and fits almost all dietary restrictions.
Ingredient notes
- Green beans - I try to source French beans versus string (green) beans if I can. I find these have more flavor and get crisper in a shorter amount of time in the air fryer.
- Sesame oil - Sesame oil has a very intense, nutty flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients in this recipe.
- Rice Vinegar - Less acidic and milder in taste, this is perfect for snap beans.
- Soy sauce - I prefer low-sodium soy sauce for health reasons, but regular is just as good.
- Everything but the bagel seasoning - Buy this seasoning from Trader Joe's, or make the blend on your own per the instructions in the recipe card below.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.
Substitutions & variations
- Balsamic drizzle finish - Toss the French beans in olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Once plated, add a balsamic vinegar or glaze, drizzle on top, and serve.
- Italian-inspired green beans - For a different flavor profile, toss the string beans in olive oil, garlic powder, and fresh lemon juice. Finish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and some fresh lemon zest, and serve.
- Panko-coated green beans - Another way of making these beans in the air fryer is to coat them in flour, dip them in some well-beaten eggs, and then add a final coating of panko breadcrumbs. Spray with nonstick spray and air fry as per instructions in the recipe card.
- Air-fry a different vegetable - Some of my favorite air fryer recipes are broccoli, zucchini, french fries, sweet potatoes, or asparagus. All these make a great side dish for any of your favorite main dishes like tandoori pot roast.
- Sesame seeds only - Sprinkle a combination of black and white sesame seeds as a topping to make things simpler.
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Step-by-step instructions
Step 1 - Once the greens are washed and prepped, pour the sesame oil over them.
Step 2 - Follow with some soy sauce and rice vinegar and marinate for 30 minutes.
Step 3 - Place them in a pre-heated air fryer and cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the type of air fryer.
Expert Tips
- Use French beans if you can - French beans have a milder, sweeter taste. More tender than string beans, opt for these when possible.
- Opt for fresh green beans if possible - Fresh green beans work best for this recipe. These should always be your first choice with a crisp texture and delicate flavor.
- Cook packaged beans on the same day - If you are using pre-packaged beans, it's best to cook them on the same day.
- How to cook crispy beans - To make sure the green beans are crisp, cook them in a single layer and flip them halfway through.
Recipe FAQS
The Haricot Vert, also known as the French bean, is thinner, with a milder taste than a green bean.
It's best to cook the string beans in small quantities and eat them immediately. They don't stay crispy for long after being cooked. Once refrigerated and reheated, the result is soggy green beans.
It's best not to use frozen beans. They don't crisp up in the air fryer due to the moisture on them.
Other recipes you may like
For more Pakistani recipes like this, check out 20 popular Pakistani recipes. If you decide to try this recipe, Please don't forget to leave a rating and comment below! If you take a picture then tag me on Instagram! Thank You!
Green Beans In The Air Fryer
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Ingredients
Green beans
- 1 lb french beans (see notes)
- 2 tbsp sesame oil (see notes)
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar (see notes)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (see notes)
- 1 tbsp everything but the bagel seasoning (see notes)
Everything but the bagel seasoning blend
- 2 tsp poppy seeds
- 2 tsp white sesame seeds
- 2 tsp black sesame seeds
- 1 tsp dried garlic
- 1 tsp dried onion
- ยฝ tsp flaked sea salt
Sweet and spicy chili sauce
- ยผ cup honey
- 2 tbsp sambal oelek (see notes)
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp chili crisp oil (see notes)
Instructions
Green beans
- Mix the sesame oil, rice vinegar, and soy sauce and toss the green beans in it.
- Marinate the beans for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook the beans in the air fryer for 10 minutes.
- Plate the beans, sprinkle them with everything but the bagel seasoning and serve with lemon wedges and the sweet and spicy chili sauce.
Everything but the bagel seasoning
- Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and use as needed for the topping.
Sweet and spicy chili sauce
- Add all of the ingredients to a small saucepan and cook.
- Turn the stove off when the sauce reaches a boil and set aside to cool.
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