Air fryer green beans is a seriously easy side dish. This recipe is ideal for the times you need a vegetarian side but don’t want to put in a ton of extra effort. The air fryer method is perfect for Thanksgiving and other big holidays like Christmas or Easter; it doesn’t take up extra stove or oven space! But it's also equally as delicious as a "I need a vegetable with this meal" option.
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Tips and Tricks
How do you store cooked green beans? Allow the green beans to cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
What do you serve with green beans? Green beans go great with a lot of different types of proteins. Some of my favorites are Cajun pork tenderloin, air fryer tilapia and easy slow cooker ribs. Really, they go great with any of your favorite main courses as a vegetarian side dish.
How do you reheat green beans? I like to reheat in the air fryer at 300 F for three minutes. However, line the basket with foil so the honey doesn’t caramelize and stick, making it hard to clean. Another option is to microwave them until warmed through.
Ingredients
- Whole grain mustard - used for flavor and texture
- Olive oil
- Honey - local is best but use what you have
- Kosher salt - for seasoning
- Green beans - fresh, washed and trimmed
See recipe card for quantities.
How do you buy fresh green beans? When shopping for fresh green beans, look for bright green ones that are firm. Avoid wrinkly, floppy and soggy green beans. I personally grab the already prepped and washed ones for best results. Green beans are in season during the summer and early fall. However, this is an all year round dish for me, they aren’t like corn or tomatoes where they are only good in the summer.
Can I use frozen or canned green beans for this recipe? I would not recommend using anything but fresh green beans for this recipe. Both frozen and canned green beans would become soggy and mushy if cooked by this method.
Method
How do you make green beans in the air fryer? Start by preheating the air fryer to 375 F for about three minutes. While it’s preheating, add green beans, olive oil and salt to a large mixing bowl. Toss together so all green beans are well coated and seasoned.
Next, pour the green beans into the air fryer and cook for four minutes. It is okay if they aren’t all in one single layer. Shake the basket and cook for another four minutes. Take hot green beans out of the air fryer and place in the large mixing bowl with mustard and honey. Use tongs to coat well and mix. Serve hot with your favorite protein.
Hint: Make sure you shake the basket half way through cooking to ensure even cooking!
How do you prepare green beans? Frankly, green beans annoy me to prepare so I buy them already trimmed. However, they aren’t hard to trim, just tedious. Wash your green beans and dry them well. Next, use a chef’s knife to trim just the stem end for a better texture. You can also cut off the tender end of the green bean, which I prefer to do as well.
Substitutions
Can I use maple syrup instead of honey? If you’re vegan or you only have maple syrup on hand, you can absolutely substitute maple syrup for honey. It will be a little different flavor but will still work.
Can I use dijon mustard instead of whole grain mustard? Whole grain mustard is used in this recipe for texture as well as flavor. However, if you prefer or that’s all you have, dijon mustard will work as well. I’d stay away from honey mustard as it may be too sweet. I would not recommend a yellow mustard for this application.
Variations
You can toss the hot cooked green beans with a variety of flavors instead of honey and whole grain mustard. Try these ideas below to change it up:
- Garlic and parmesan green beans - Toss with garlic paste and fresh parmesan
- Honey and sriracha or hot sauce - Instead of mustard try your favorite hot sauce
- Lemon juice and pesto
Equipment
Why should I use an air fryer for this? I love to use the air fryer for this because it’s so simple, fast and basically fool proof. This recipe would be perfect for Thanksgiving because it doesn’t take very long and it won’t take up valuable oven or stove top space. Cleaning up is also a breeze, making it ideal when you don’t have a ton of energy to cook but need vegetables.
Top Tip
I like to buy already prepared green beans from the produce section to make these an extra low effort side dish. These green beans are already washed, trimmed and ready to go. I don’t even cut them up, I toss them in olive oil, salt and pepper and cook.
Air Fryer Green Beans
Ingredients
- 8 ounces ½ pound, 225 g prepped fresh green beans
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- Kosher salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 F.
- Add green beans, olive oil and salt to a large mixing bowl. Toss together well so all green beans are well coated.
- Place green beans in the air fryer and cook for 4 minutes. Shake the basket and cook for another 4 minutes.
- Take hot green beans out of the air fryer and place in the large mixing bowl with mustard and honey. Use tongs to coat well.
- Serve hot with your favorite protein.
Notes and Accommodations
- Cooked green beans can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
- Do not use frozen or canned green beans for this recipe.
Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
