Air Fryer Garlic Butter Green Beans
With a rich buttery taste, these Air Fryer Garlic Butter Green Beans cook up tender but crisp in just minutes. Easy to prep and packed with flavor, they make the perfect side dish for busy weeknight dinners, holiday meals, or simple family dinners.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 19 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 3
- 🍽 Calories: 107 kcals
- 📋Main Ingredients: Green beans, butter, oil, and seasonings.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Nut-free and gluten-free.
- ⭐ Why You’ll Love It: They’re quick, flavorful, and perfectly crisp-tender with minimal effort.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Air fryer garlic butter green beans are one of those easy vegetable side dishes that somehow make dinner feel more complete without adding extra work. Cooking them in the air fryer helps the beans stay tender but not soggy, while the garlic butter adds enough flavor that even picky eaters usually go back for seconds. We make them all the time alongside easy family dinners like this creamy tomato basil chicken skillet because they balance richer meals really well.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Items and Substitutions
- Flavors To Try
- How To Make Air Fryer Garlic Butter Green Beans
- Helpful Hints
- Ways To Enjoy Them
- Air Fryer Garlic Butter Green Beans FAQs
- More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Keto Pizza In The Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs [2 Ingredients]
- Air Fryer Turkey Spring Rolls [Low Carb]
- Air Fryer Garlic Butter Green Beans
Items and Substitutions
- Green beans: Green or yellow beans work, just make sure to trim the ends off first. And though frozen can work, they won’t crisp up as nicely.
- Unsalted butter: Unsalted is best so that you can adjust the seasoning yourself.
- Oil: Any neutral oil is fine. We use avocado oil the most, though, as it has a higher heat point. I use it for air fryer pineapple chicken skewers, too.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Tools you’ll need
Before starting the recipe, you’ll want to have all your kitchen essentials ready. I recommend having the following items:
Flavors To Try
Crispy garlic butter green beans are pretty simple, but there are a few ways you can vary them to suit your preferences that night.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle Parmesan or feta on top before serving for a cheesy twist.
- Make them zesty: Squeeze fresh lemon juice or add lemon zest for a bright, tangy flavor. I do this for marinated chicken breasts in the air fryer sometimes, and it’s so good!
- Add crunch: Top the air fryer beans with toasted almonds, pecans, or breadcrumbs for extra texture.
- Make them spicy: Use chili flakes, hot sauce, or a dash of sriracha instead of cayenne.
How To Make Air Fryer Garlic Butter Green Beans
Step 1: Add green beans to boiling water for 1 minute, and immediately submerge boiled green beans in ice-cold water to cool down, then pat them dry.
Step 2: Drizzle the beans with oil before sprinkling the seasonings on.
Step 3: Add softened butter and lather them with tongs.
Step 4: Air fry green beans for 8 minutes or until crisp-tender, turning once halfway through. Add 1 to 2 minutes if softer green beans are preferred.
Note
Make sure the green beans are completely dry after blanching before adding oil and seasonings, since excess moisture can keep them from getting crisp in the air fryer.
Helpful Hints
Pro tip: Avoid Crowded Baskets!
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this prevents the beans from crisping evenly. Cook in batches if needed.
- Single layer: Know that keeping the beans in a single layer helps them roast instead of steam, giving them that slightly blistered texture that tastes more like restaurant-style green beans.
- Shake halfway: Turn or shake the beans halfway through cooking for even crisping.
- Season after cooking: For a stronger flavor boost, sprinkle extra seasoning right after air frying while the beans are still hot.
- Serve right away: Green beans taste best when enjoyed immediately, as they can soften if they sit too long.
- Storing: Store leftover air fryer green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Place them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes until warmed through and slightly crisp again. You can also reheat them in the microwave, but the texture will be softer compared to using the air fryer.
Ways To Enjoy Them
This quick garlic green bean recipe pairs well with everything from cozy comfort-food dinners to lighter seafood meals.
- Serve them alongside chicken, steak, or pasta dishes for an easy vegetable side that works with almost any dinner.
- Pair them with air fryer teriyaki salmon bites for an easy weeknight meal.
- Pairing them with something like low-carb Tuscan salmon is tasty too.
Air Fryer Garlic Butter Green Beans FAQs
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
If you tried this Easy Air Fryer Garlic Butter Green Beans or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Air Fryer Garlic Butter Green Beans
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS:
- 300 grams green beans
- 1 tablespoon softened unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder optional
- chopped fresh parsley for garnishing
BLANCH:
- water for boiling
- ice water
Instructions
- Pre-heat Air Fryer at 375°F (191°C).
- Thoroughly wash fresh green beans with cold running water.
- Add green beans to boiling water for 1 minute and immediately submerge boiled green beans in ice-cold water to cool down.
- Once the blanched green beans have cooled down, pat dry with paper towels and transfer to a plate.
- Drizzle with olive oil and coat the blanched green beans.
- Season blanched green beans with garlic, cayenne powder (if using), salt, and ground black pepper.
- Add softened butter and lather each seasoned green bean using kitchen tongs.
- Gently transfer seasoned green beans onto the Air Fryer tray and slowly insert the tray into the middle cooking chamber, near the rotisserie catch , if using an Air Fryer Oven.
- If using an Air Fryer basket, simply place the seasoned green beans in the inner basket.
- Air fry green beans for 8 minutes or until crisp tender, turning once halfway through. Add 1 to 2 minutes if softer green beans are preferred.
Notes
- Cutting off the tough ends of the beans makes them more tender and pleasant to eat.
- Remove spoiled green beans and discard those with dark spots.
- The recipe uses minimal salt. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt if saltier green beans are preferred.
- Using air fryer-safe parchment paper makes cleanup easier without affecting crispness
Nutrition
Equipment
- Measuring spoons
- Kitchen tongs
- Pot for boiling
There is no cooking temperature shown for this recipe.
Thanks for catching that! I just updated the recipe card to include the temperature, which is 375°F.
It doesn’t get simpler than a side dish whipped up in the air fryer! Great for busy nights.