Air Fryer Garlic Green Beans Recipe

Is there anything better than veggies in the air fryer? We don't think so. Recipe developer Miriam Hahn came up with this fantastic recipe for air fryer garlic green beans, and they taste amazing. "These are great in the air fryer because it helps them cook while staying crunchy," Hahn says. "I also hate tying up my oven and heating it up with something that can easily go in the air fryer."

This recipe is perfect to serve as a side or to simply eat as a healthy snack — during the holidays or at any time of the year. "My favorite thing about this recipe is how delicious these come out in the air fryer with so little effort. Around the holidays, you typically see green beans used in green bean casseroles, which are typically fat-laden and heavy," Hahn explains. "The green beans in this recipe are enhanced by the garlic, salt, and olive oil and not covered up by other heavy ingredients, and I prefer them so much for the holidays. You really taste the beans. Plus, cooking them this way keeps them crunchy and fresh vs. soft and limp."

Are you ready to make this healthy yet flavorful dish? Keep reading to find out how.

You will need to make a trip to the grocery store before you get started on this dish. Add some green beans to your list, which can be found in the produce section. This is the main ingredient for this recipe. You will also need a few cloves of minced garlic, and if you cook a lot, you may already have some at home.

In addition, get some oil and garlic granules. In this case, we say the more garlic, the better. Last but not least, you will need some coarse salt. This will be used for the green beans and for serving.

Like most other veggies, green beans have plenty of upsides. Not only is the taste of green beans incredible, but they also have a ton of health benefits as well. Hahn explains it best in her own words: "I love eating a wide variety of vegetables because they all offer different benefits," she says. "Green beans are high in folate, a B vitamin that can be hard to get, and also plenty of vitamins A, C, and K as well as fiber."

If you are looking for something healthy to add to your veggie rotation, then green beans seem like a no-brainer. 

Are you ready to begin? We sure are! The first step involves trimming the green beans. Grab your green beans and give them a good wash in the sink. Sometimes, they will come packaged and rinsed already, but just be sure before you check prior to starting. 

Now, take out a cutting board and trim the ends off of the green beans. Hahn says she lines up about three or four at a time, cutting and then rotating them to the other side. Repeat these steps with all of the green beans, and then move onto the next step.

Now, take out a bowl that is big enough to fit all of your green beans. Then, load in the green beans and get ready to toss in all of the necessary seasonings.

First, throw in the minced garlic, and then drizzle the oil over the top. The oil is super important because it will help the spices stick to the green beans, and it will also help them cook better in the air fryer. At this time, you will also want to add garlic granules and salt. Give the mixture a few good shakes or stirs with a spoon to make sure that everything is well coated.

Now that your green beans are all dressed up, it's time to get cooking. Actually, in this case, we will be air-frying. Pour the green beans into the tray of your air fryer, and set the temperature to 380 F. Since the green beans already have oil on them, you don't need to use any nonstick spray. Then, set the timer to 8 minutes and begin air-frying. Be sure to shake the basket halfway through at about four minutes. 

"Typically, in the air fryer, you need to place things in a single layer," Hahn notes. "With these, you can just dump in your whole batch at once, and they cook beautifully."

There are plenty of ways to eat these green beans, and they are certainly just good by themselves. However, they do pair well with plenty of other items as well. "These are a great side dish for just about anything," Hahn says. "Perfect for entertaining and the holidays. Works with any main dish, meats, pastas, sandwiches, etc."

Another great part is that you can keep any extras. "Leftovers can be heated up or chopped and added to a cold salad," Hahn shares. Be sure to bookmark this recipe so you can make it over and over again.