Air Fried Green Beans

Fried green beans seem like they are all the rage right now, and for good reason! They can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or snack. Fried green beans are a great low-carb alternative to regular fries and they are even healthier when made in the air fryer. No deep frying needed to get these crispy, golden green bean fries!

Ingredients

• Green Beans – Use FRESH green beans for this recipe. Be sure to get beans that are nice and green and have a good “snap” to them. Frozen green beans or pre cooked green beans will not work. 
• Flour – Flour will lightly coat the green beans and give the egg something to stick to
• Eggs – Beat the eggs well so they can coat the green beans and make it easier for the breadcrumbs to adhere to the beans. You could also use an egg substitute if you want these to be vegan.
• Panko breadcrumbs – Panko breadcrumbs are lighter than regular bread crumbs, making a better texture for the coating
• Seasonings – Salt, pepper, and paprika are really all you need to season the breadcrumbs. If you are looking for even more flavor you can add parmesan cheese, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, black pepper, red pepper flakes, or any other herbs or spices you prefer.
• Cooking Spray – This helps get that perfect, golden, crispy coating and also helps the breadcrumbs stick to the beans. I haven’t tried it but some people also spray them with avocado oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil.

How to Make Air Fried Green Beans

1. Rinse green beans and snap off the stems. Lightly shake off excess water (they don’t need to be totally dry)
2. Dredge each individual bean with flour and shake off excess. Next, dip the bean in the beaten egg, then roll in the breadcrumb mixture until well coated.
3. Place the coated green beans in the bottom of the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray generously with cooking oil spray or olive oil cooking spray.
4. Air fry for 8 minutes at 375 degrees. If you want a darker coating, cook an additional minute or two at 400 degrees. 
5. Serve immediately. They are by far the best when they are golden brown and served hot.

Shake and Bake Method

The air fryer recipe above is definitely the way to go if you want a nice, even coating. Each bean will turn out just right and will be perfect for presentation. However, if you are preparing a large amount, there is an easier and faster way. I call it the “shake and bake” method. Here’s what you do:

1. Rinse the green beans, snap off the stems, and pat dry. 
2. Place beans in a Ziplock bag and add flour. Seal the bag making sure there is still lots of air inside. You want the bag to be puffy. Shake until beans are well coated in flour. Discard all excess flour from the bag.
3. Beat eggs and add them to the bag. Gently move the beans around until coated. Try not to handle too much so you don’t rub off the flour coating. 
4. Combine breadcrumb mixture and place in a large bowl or deep baking dish. Place beans in a single layer over the breadcrumbs in and then gently toss the beans around in the bowl until well coated. Try to not let the beans clump together. Keep them as spread out as you can. 
5. Continue with steps 3-5 in the method above to air fry the green beans in batches.

Tips for Air Frying Green Beans

Use fresh green beans – the fresher the better. I love making these in the summer when I can use fresh green beans straight from my garden, or pick some up from a farmer’s market.

Use cooking spray to evenly coat the green beans in oil. This will ensure a light, even coating. 

Know that all air fryers are different. The times suggested work well for the basket air fryer that I tested them in but they can vary depending on size and brand. The first time you make this recipe, keep an eye on your green beans.

To make these gluten-free simply use a gluten free flour and gluten free breadcrumbs.

Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container. To reheat, air fry at 370 for 5-6 minutes, tossing half way through reheating. Do not microwave to reheat.

Oven Methods: Convection Cooking or Baking

Even though an air fryer is just a small convection oven, when using an actual convection oven, the cooking time will vary. I tried this recipe in my large convection oven and found that I needed to raise both the time and temperature. I baked them for 10 minutes at 400 degrees in my convection oven and 10 minutes at 425 degrees in my regular oven. We did a taste test and concluded that air fried in a basket tasted the best, followed by convection oven, followed by the conventional oven. No matter how you cook them, it will be the perfect side dish.

Best Dips for Fried Green Beans

Green beans are fine on their own but they taste the best with a good dip! We love this easy air fryer green beans recipe with our Homemade Ranch Dressing or some simple mayonnaise mixed with fresh lemon juice. Here are some of our other favorite dips for fried green beans:

Kid Friendly

Red Robin Campfire Sauce Recipe

Dressings

Homemade Ranch Dressing

COPYCAT

Homemade Chick-Fil-A Sauce

Dressings

Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

I love my air fryer! It has become one of my favorite kitchen appliances and for good reason. In addition to this recipe, we think you’ll love the following tried and true air fryer recipes:

Steak Bites
Bacon
Hamburgers
Onion Rings
Asparagus
Donuts