Green beans are one of the most reliable and dependable vegetable side dishes there is, but how could you make them faster? This recipe for air fryer green beans is not only quick and easy but tastes great too!
Why not serve your green beans with something healthy using this Air Fryer Salmon recipe? Or for a meaty option try making Air Fryer Chicken Thighs!
Air Fryer Green Beans
Green beans are one of those vegetables that can complete basically any meal. Alongside providing some valuable nutrients that can round out a regular meat dish, they also have a really distinctive flavor all of their own, complete with a ton of crunchy texture that goes well with all kinds of meat and fish.
However, one of the things that put most people off of green beans is the amount of prep they require, plus how difficult it can be to cook perfectly.
Thanks to a handy air fryer, however, you can make some insanely tasty, tender, and crispy green beans with no effort at all.
Do You Need To Trim Both Ends Of The Beans?
One of the most common steps in most recipes with green beans involves trimming off both ends of each green bean.
This is such a huge ordeal when you really think about it – snipping off each individual green bean’s ends is such a huge bother and a big reason why a lot of people just don’t even both with the stringy vegetables.
However, it actually doesn’t have to be as difficult as many recipes make it out to be.
Just take as many green beans as you can safely fit in your hand, lay them down on a chopping board, and then saw through the edges of each end in one smooth motion.
While you will probably end up with a fair amount of wasted green beans, this is the easiest way to get it all processed.
While you could skip this step, the stringy ends of green beans can become really brittle and a bit chewy, so it is best to remove them.
Can You Use Other Fats?
This recipe calls for the use of the classic olive oil for the fat of choice to help brown and crisp up the green beans.
Olive oil is a classic for a reason, but there is nothing to stop you from using any other fat that you have on hand.
Anything with a good smoke point, like lard or just regular vegetable oil, will work, but things like lard or tallow will add a ton of meaty flavor as well.
If you have just used your air fryer to make some meat for the main course of your meal, then feel free to use any fat that might have been rendered out of the meat to help cook your green beans for the best flavor.
Quick Ways To Add Extra Flavor
Green beans have a bit of a reputation for being pretty under-flavored and textured. While most people think that this is because of green beans’ base flavor, this is usually simply because of the fact that people tend to overcook their green beans.
To first add a good amount of extra flavor, simply make sure to stop cooking your green beans before they turn to mush.
For an even more interesting flavor, add a few dashes of garlic powder, or any other kind of seasoning you want. The seasonings will really stick to the green beans and form a really good flavor base in your beans.
Just like with most vegetables, using the right amount of fat and seasoning can turn anything delicious.
Looking for more delicious Air Fryer recipes? Try these out:
• Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Happy Cooking
Love,
Karlynn
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Air Fryer Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound green beans
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ lemon (sliced into wedges)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375° if necessary.
- Wash and trim the ends off your green beans. Thoroughly dry the green beans with paper towel.
- In a medium bowl add your green beans and drizzle the oil over top. Sprinkle the salt and pepper over and mix well until the green beans are coated completely.
- Add 1/2 the green beans to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 5 minutes, then shake the basket and stir, then keep cooking for another 3-5 minutes until they are tender.
- Serve with a slice of lemon to squeeze over top and enjoy!
Mikki says
If you only put half of the green beans in the air fryer, why not just prepare a half pound? If making two batches, how do you keep the first batch warm without them becoming too soft?