Air Fryer Crispy Green Beans
Blistered beans with garlic, chilli and toasted almonds.
Kit that makes this foolproof
A few inexpensive bits that get you crispier results with less mess.
A roomy air fryer
A larger basket means fewer batches and crispier results.
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Perforated liners
Less sticking and mess, without blocking the airflow.
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Silicone tongs
Turn and lift without scratching the non-stick basket.
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Before You Start
Green beans in an air fryer land somewhere between roasted and wok-fried: blistered skins, squeaky-tender insides, ready in eight minutes. The garlic goes in halfway so it toasts instead of burns, and a handful of flaked almonds picks up the last two minutes of heat. A restaurant side from a bag of beans.
Instructions
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1
Dry the beans thoroughly after washing. Wet beans steam, dry beans blister.
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2
Toss with the oil and salt.
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3
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C / 400°F for 3 minutes. Spread the beans out and cook for 5 minutes.
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4
Add the sliced garlic, almonds and chilli flakes, shake well, and cook another 3 to 4 minutes until the beans are blistered and the almonds golden.
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5
Squeeze the lemon over in the basket, where it sizzles into a light dressing.
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6
Tip into a bowl, taste for salt, and serve hot or warm.
♨️ Air fryer notes
- Cook at 200°C / 400°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
- Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
- Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.
💡 Cook's tips
- Garlic added at the start burns bitter by the end. Halfway in, it lands toasted and sweet. This timing works for garlic in almost every air fryer vegetable.
- Leave the beans room to breathe. A double-decked pile steams the bottom layer into school-dinner beans.
🔀 Make it your own
- Finish with grated parmesan or a spoon of tahini sauce instead of lemon.
- Swap beans for tenderstem broccoli, adding 1 minute.
📦 Storing & reheating
Fridge for 2 days. Reheat at 190°C for 2 to 3 minutes, or eat cold in salads. The almonds stay crunchy either way.
❓ Frequently asked
How long do green beans take in an air fryer?
8 to 9 minutes at 200°C / 400°F for standard beans, shaken once. They should blister and wrinkle in spots while keeping a slight bite.
Do you need to blanch green beans before air frying?
No. The dry heat cooks them from raw in under 10 minutes. Just wash, dry very well and oil them. Blanching first makes them softer but adds nothing else.
Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.
