This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Table of Contents
- Why we love to air fry
- Do green beans and other vegetables lose nutrients in the air fryer?
- Why we love this recipe!
- How nutritious are green beans?
- How to make air fryer green beans
- How to reheat air fryer green beans?
- Try these other vegan air fryer dishes too!
- Perfect Air Fryer Green Beans Recipe
- Pecan Muhammara Recipe
Green beans have never been better! These air fryer green beans are wonderfully crispy on the outside, and sublimely juicy and tender on the inside. Savory and yet subtly sweet. This perfect side dish is healthy and incredibly easy to make––just 10 minutes in the air fryer. The best part is, air fryer green beans taste and feel like total comfort food, but are actually super nutritious. If you’ve never tasted air fryer green beans, get ready for a treat.
Once I start eating them I cannot stop! There’s nothing better than crispy fried green beans fresh out of the air fryer. They actually remind me of eating french fries; offering all of the satisfaction of deep fried veggies, but without excess oil. Seasoned with smoked paprika and garlic powder, these green beans are full of flavor. And once the skin starts blistering in the air fryer, another level of the green bean’s natural flavor is unlocked. I really think that the air fryer was made for green beans.
Why we love to air fry
This may be my favorite air fryer recipe, and the air fryer is one of my favorite small kitchen appliances. It is a must-have for any busy health conscious home cook. In minutes the air fryer will transform humble ingredients into a delicious meal. I also love that air fryer cooking requires a fraction of the oil necessary in frying, and even baking. This machine gets bonus points for heating up so quickly, without heating up my whole house like the oven would. There are so many recipes I have begun cooking in the air fryer that I used to rely on the oven or pan-frying for; like vegan crab cakes, sweet potato burgers, and spiced crispy chickpeas.
Of course, if you don’t have an air fryer you can make these crispy green beans in the oven (instructions below). But if you are in the market for a great air fryer I recommend the following which are different price points: Philips XXL ($$), Ninja 2 Basket Air fryer ($$), Chefman Turbo Fry ($).
Do green beans and other vegetables lose nutrients in the air fryer?
Unlike deep frying and boiling, air frying will not strip your vegetables of nutrients. Phew! Because the air fryer cooks food quickly and requires less oil, the flavor of your green beans is enhanced while the nutrition stays intact.
Why we love this recipe!
For so many reasons, this is by far my favorite air fryer green beans recipe because it is:
- Easy to make
- Spiced right
- Perfect for the holidays
- Healthy but tastes like comfort food
- Vegan
How nutritious are green beans?
Super healthy! To be honest, I had no idea how nutritious green beans were. For the longest time I associated green beans with overcooked Thanksgiving sides and cheesy casseroles. It turns out that green beans are an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and magnesium. Green beans are also a good source of iron, folate, and potassium. Like most vegetables they boast anti-inflammatory benefits and are rich in fiber. Green beans contain complex carbohydrates. In addition to all of the goodness I’ve already highlighted, green beans are also a great source of plant-based protein. To make this recipe you’ll need fresh green beans, but frozen and canned green beans are nutritious too––just not suitable for this recipe.
How to make air fryer green beans
Step one:
Start with the best ingredients. Fresh, firm, bright green beans are preferred to make the tastiest dish. Clean the green beans in water, but dry them with a kitchen towel before adding the seasonings.
Cut the tips off of the green beans. I line a handful of green beans evenly in a row on the cutting board and chop off the tips. My Nana always cuts the tips off one by one with a paring knife, which is very effective but more time consuming.
Step two:
Preheat the air fryer to 375°. It should preheat for at least 2 minutes before using…though I often skip this step myself.
In a large mixing bowl toss the green beans with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Once the green beans are coated in the spices, spread them evenly in the air fryer basket in a thin layer (see image above for an example). Depending on the size of your air fryer you may have to do this in batches. Air fry at 375° for 10-12 minutes, or until the green beans are blistered and fragrant. They’ll be hot and delightfully tender on the inside.
Step three:
Transfer the cooked green beans to a serving platter and garnish with freshly cracked black pepper. I LOVE serving the green beans over a sauce like the pecan muhammara from my cookbook, Sweet Potato Soul. I’ve shared that recipe below too. Give a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and top with a little lemon zest. If you decide to pair the green beans with pecan muhammara sauce, a drizzle of pomegranate molasses and pomegranate seeds will really set it off. Serve hot hot hot!
Prefer a more traditional American cheesy topping? Sprinkle a generous helping of homemade walnut miso parmesan cheese over the top.
How to reheat air fryer green beans?
You may not have leftovers, but if you do a quick zap in the air fryer is a great way to reheat: 350° for 2-3 minutes. I’m not anti-microwave, but reheating in the air fryer will preserve the texture of your crispy green beans. As usual, an airtight container in the fridge makes the best storage.
Try these other vegan air fryer dishes too!
Indian-inspired Cauliflower Tacos
Save now, cook later.
We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Perfect Air Fryer Green Beans
Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans, tips removed
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2-1 tsp sea salt
- Lemon for garnish
- Black pepper for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°.
- Toss the green beans in olive oil and spices, then transfer to the air fryer basket. Spread them as evenly as possible into the basket (you may need to do batches if you have a small air fryer). Air fry for 10 minutes, adding 2 more minutes at the end if you want them softer.
- Garnish with a squeeze of lemon juice, lemon zest, and a sprinkle of freshly black pepper.
To make the green beans in the oven:
- Preheat an oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss the green beans with the olive oil and spices, then spread evenly onto the baking sheet.
- Roast for 30 minutes, or until the are tender and fragrant.
- Serve garnished with lemon juice and zest, and a sprinkle of black pepper.
- If you liked this recipe, please take a moment to rate it. Thank you!
Notes
Save now, cook later.
We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Pecan Muhammara
Video
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw pecans or walnuts, whole or chopped
- 3 small roasted red peppers, jarred or homemade
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 1 tbsp Aleppo pepper, or 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F and spread pecans evenly on a baking sheet. Toast for 12 minutes, or until the nuts are fragrant and gently browned. Be careful not to burn them. Alternatively you can toast them on the stove in a skillet over medium heat for 10 minutes. Stir often, until they are browned and fragrant.
- If using whole nuts, transfer them to the food processor and pulse a few times to chop.
- Place all of the remaining ingredients in the food processor.
- Blend the ingredients until the muhammara is your desired texture.
- Garnish and serve.
Notes
- Refrigerating: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: The roasted red pepper spread can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost it overnight in the fridge before enjoying.
- Blend to preference. For a chunkier dip, blend it until the ingredients are just combined. For a smoother dip, blend it until smooth and creamy, almost the texture of hummus.
- Blending alternatives. If you don’t have a food processor, use a blender or immersion blender to make the muhammara recipe. If blending, add the liquid ingredients (excluding the olive oil) first, followed by the spices and red peppers. Then, drizzle in the oil while blending. If using an immersion blender, add the ingredients to a large, wide cup, and tilt it slightly while you blend.
So good this is def my go to and have tried to share this with everyone I know!
Thanks so much for sharing, Sarah!!
A great simple quick air flyer recipe for fresh green beans!
Thanks Greg!
crispy, great flavor, and easy
I used avocado oil. It was great!
Hi Gina! I’m so happy you enjoyed them. Thank you for rating and leaving a comment.
love the mingling of textures in this recipe
Glad you enjoyed! I love that the air fryer does that; allowing for crispy edges and a tender interior 🙂
Really enjoyed the green beans recipe. thank you for sharing with us.
They taste phenomenal!!
Glad you enjoyed!! Thanks for sharing and leaving a rating
In the teal recipe section for the green beans you have the wrong setting for time. It states 5 days and 12 days for prep and cook time. Just thought you might want to correct those.
Haha, thank you very much!
Why does the Muhammara say prep 5 days? Say it stores for 5 days in airtight container. Can I make and eat? Thanks
This was a mistake! 5 minutes was the correct time.