Name: Air Fryer Green Beans
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 4 cups green beans (400g); 1 tsp olive oil spray (5g); 1 tsp kosher salt; 1/8 tsp black pepper

Air fryer green beans are the simplest, easiest veggie that my WHOLE family will eat… and in this house, that’s a big deal. Fresh green beans, a mist of olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper go in the basket at 375, and 6 to 9 minutes later they’re blistered and done. Ten minutes total. That’s it!

Each serving is only 84 calories with 5.4 grams of fiber, so they fit on just about any plate. And since the air fryer does all the work, your oven stays free for everything else. That’s exactly why they’re one of my favorite macro-friendly Thanksgiving sides, when oven space is the real fight of the day.

If you already love my air fryer snap peas or air fryer asparagus, this is the same lazy-genius method with green beans.

Bowl of seasoned air fryer green beans on a white marble countertop, shot from above

A Quick Look At The Recipe

Recipe Name: Air Fryer Green Beans
Ready In: 10 minutes
Serves: 2 servings
Calories: 84 cal
Protein: 3.7g
Fat: 2.9g
Carbs: 13.9g
Why You'll Love It: Air fryer green beans with just olive oil spray, kosher salt, and black pepper, ready in 10 minutes. The simplest, easiest veggie side, at 84 calories per serving!

Why Green Beans Belong in the Air Fryer

Hot air circulates all the way around the beans, so they blister and brown in spots without turning limp. You only need 1 tsp of olive oil spray for 4 cups of beans, which keeps them at 2.9 grams of fat per serving.

It’s also completely hands-off. No pot of water to boil, no stirring a skillet, and nothing to wash except the basket.

Before You Start Cooking

Trim and dry the beans. Snap or cut off the stem ends, then pat them really dry after washing. Extra water makes them steam instead of blister.
Give them room. If your basket is on the small side, cook them in two batches so they’re not piled too deep. A single-ish layer browns best.
Start them last. With only 10 minutes from start to finish, these can go in while your main dish rests and still hit the table hot.
Tracking tip. The 4 cups weighed 400g raw, and the recipe serves 2 at 110g per serving. If you double or tweak it, create the recipe in MyFitnessPal so the numbers match your batch.

Important Ingredients and Substitutions

Fresh green beans: This recipe is written for fresh beans, 4 cups or 400g.
Olive oil spray: Just 1 tsp (5g). A spray or oil mister gives a thin, even coat on every bean with way less oil than a drizzle.
Easy add-ons: Salt and pepper keep it classic, but a pinch of garlic powder or a squeeze of lemon at the end are easy ways to change it up.

Overhead view of air fryer green beans in a speckled white bowl with a gold fork on a marble counter

How to Make Air Fryer Green Beans

Load the basket. Add the fresh green beans to the air fryer.
Season. Spray with a mist of olive oil and season with the salt and pepper.
Air fry. Cook at 375 for 6 to 9 minutes, depending on how done you like them. Shaking the basket halfway helps them cook evenly.
Serve. Taste, add a pinch more salt if you want, and serve them hot.

How Long Do Green Beans Take in the Air Fryer?

At 375, fresh green beans take 6 to 9 minutes. Around 6 minutes they’re bright green with a little snap left. Closer to 9 they get softer with more charred, blistered spots. We like them cooked on the longer side!

Thicker beans may need the full 9 minutes, and skinny ones can be done sooner, so peek in once or twice.

No Air Fryer? Oven and Skillet Options

Oven: Spread the green beans on a baking sheet and roast at 425 for about 10 minutes.
Skillet: Saute them in a hot skillet for 5 to 8 minutes.

Same seasoning, same oil, same macros. The air fryer is just the most hands-off.

Side angle of air fryer green beans in a stoneware bowl, lightly charred and seasoned with salt and pepper

What to Serve with Air Fryer Green Beans

Thanksgiving: with the turkey and my healthier sweet potato casserole, or pull together the whole Thanksgiving menu.
Comfort dinners: next to garlic cauliflower mash, healthy scalloped potatoes, or roasted baby potatoes.
Weeknight proteins: rosemary garlic pork tenderloin, marinated grilled chicken, or hot honey salmon bites (they can share the air fryer, one batch after the other).
Meal prep plates: with cottage cheese meatballs and your favorite carb.

Need ideas for the rest of the week? My weekly meal plans give you a new high-protein menu every Thursday, adjusted to your household size, with the recipes already loaded into MyFitnessPal, Macros First, and Lose It.

How to Store and Reheat Green Beans

Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
Reheat: A couple of minutes back in the air fryer brings back some of the crisp edges. The microwave works too, they’ll just be softer.
Best fresh: Since they only take 10 minutes, I’d rather make a fresh batch than reheat a big one.

Blistered air fryer green beans piled in a shallow speckled bowl with a fork tucked underneath

Air Fryer Green Beans FAQs

Can you put raw green beans in the air fryer?

Yes! This recipe starts with raw, fresh green beans. No blanching or boiling first.

What temperature do you air fry green beans?

I use 375. It’s hot enough to blister the outsides in 6 to 9 minutes without burning the skinny ends.

Are air fryer green beans healthy?

Each 110g serving has 84 calories, 2.9 grams of fat, 13.9 grams of carbs, 3.7 grams of protein, and 5.4 grams of fiber.

How many servings does this make?

It serves 2. Double it for a crowd and cook in batches if your air fryer is small.

Made these? Leave a star rating on the recipe card below so other readers know how they turned out. And come say hi on Instagram, I share what we’re eating all week.