Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans

These perfectly cooked Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans are tossed in a garlic and sesame sauce, it’s so simple yet delicious!  If you were ever looking for a tasty way to cook frozen green beans, along with tips and tricks on how to prep and store, you have come to the right place. 

Air Fryer Green Beans on a white plate and a bowl of white rice in the background.

Frozen green beans in air fryer

Spruce up your ordinary green bean side dish with the addition of a few extra ingredients like garlic, sesame seeds, brown sugar and soy sauce.

In this recipe we toss everything together then air fry them to perfection. This side dish recipe is quick and easy, perfect for weeknight dinners.

What can I add to green beans for flavor?

Besides garlic being healthy and great for health, they add so much flavor too! Salty, sweet, and plain refreshing, this green bean side dish is sure to become a quick favorite in your house.

What you’ll love about this recipe:

  • Air fryer green beans leaves you with crispy beans every time.
  • It goes with so many different meals!
  • Minimal prep work so you can focus on the main dish.

Ingredients

  • Frozen green beans – For this recipe we’re using frozen but you’re more than welcome to follow the same steps with fresh green beans.
  • Sesame oil – This gives a delicious nutty flavor plus we don’t need much of it.
  • Kosher or sea salt – If using table salt, just add half of it.
  • Soy sauce – I prefer reduced sodium soy sauce or tamari but use what you have at hand.
  • Toasted sesame seeds.
  • Light brown sugar.
  • Crushed garlic – you can mince it yourself or use the store bought kind that comes in jars.
The ingredients for this recipe on a white background.

How To Make Air Fryer Green Beans

This is a visual overview of the steps to make this recipe. Get a detailed list of ingredients & instructions in the recipe card below.

  1. Line your air fryer basket with foil (just make sure it comes up a little on the sides so it doesn’t block the air flow). Set aside.
  2. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. 
Frozen green beans in a bowl with minced garlic and brown sugar on top.

Place the green beans in a large bowl. Add the sesame oil, salt, and soy sauce to the bowl. 
Next, add the toasted sesame seeds, light brown sugar, and crushed garlic to the bowl

Frozen green beans in a bowl with minced garlic and brown sugar all mixed up.

Toss the green beans around until they’re fully coated.

The ingredients for this recipe on a whiteboard.

Transfer the green beans to the foil lined basket. Place the basket in the air fryer and cook for about ten minutes. Move them around a little with a spoon or spatula half way through.

Green beans are done when they’re hot throughout. They should still be firm. If you like them even more done you can leave them in for an extra minute or two and they’ll brown a little more. 

Remove from heat and place in serving bowl.



Tips & Notes

Using canned or fresh beans:

  • I used frozen green beans because it was what we had on hand, and they do great in the air fryer because you’re putting them in still frozen (don’t let them thaw!) this helps them stay juicy when they go through the quick temperature change, they won’t dry out. 
  • If you use canned beans you’ll want to drain them first before seasoning, and adjust the temp and time to 345 degrees for about 6 minutes. 
  • If you use fresh green beans, adjust the temperature to 375 degrees still cooking for 8-10 minutes. 

Lining the basket:

If you don’t want to line your basket with foil you don’t have to, however, it makes the clean up so much easier though and keeps them from getting burnt.

You can certainly place them directly into the basket, they will get a little more well done even quicker that way so be sure to check them at about 8 minutes.

You could also use a baking dish/pan that fits right into your air fryer if you have one as well.

Prepare Ahead!

f making everything from scratch, you can prep the garlic and toasted sesame seeds the day before. You can also mix all ingredients in a small container (except the green beans) then just toss everything together when you’re ready to cook. Easy peasy!

Storing

  • Fridge: Let the green beans cool then store in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
  • Freezer: Let cool then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
  • Reheating: If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave until heated to your preference. Or on a skillet on medium high for about 5 minutes or until heated through.
A white plate with air fryer green beans and a bowl of white rice on the side.
How long do you reheat green beans in air fryer?

I would only reheat green beans in the air fryer for 3 minutes at 350ºF.

Should I thaw frozen beans before cooking?

I used frozen green beans because it was what we had on hand, and they do great in the air fryer because you’re putting them in still frozen (don’t let them thaw!) this helps them stay juicy when they go through the quick temperature change, they won’t dry out. 

Air Fryer Green Beans on a black bowl and a bowl of white rice in the background.

Print recipe:

Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans

These perfectly cooked Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans are tossed in a garlic and sesame sauce, it’s so simple yet delicious!  If you were ever looking for a tasty way to cook frozen green beans, along with tips and tricks on how to prep and store, you have come to the right place. 
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4 servings
Author: Ana Frias

Ingredients 

  • 12-14 oz Bag frozen green beans
  • 1 Tablespoon Sesame oil
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoons Toasted sesame seeds
  • 2 Tablespoons Light brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Crushed garlic

Instructions

  • Line your air fryer basket with foil (just make sure it comes up a little on the sides so it doesn’t block the air flow). Set aside.
  • Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. 
  • Place the green beans in a large bowl. Add the sesame oil, salt, and soy sauce to the bowl. 
  • Next, add the toasted sesame seeds, light brown sugar, and crushed garlic to the bowl. Toss the green beans around until they’re fully coated. 
  • Transfer the green beans to the foil lined basket. Place the basket in the air fryer and cook for about ten minutes. Move them around a little with a spoon or spatula half way through.
  • Green beans are done when they’re hot throughout. They should still be firm. If you like them even more done you can leave them in for an extra minute or two and they’ll brown a little more. 
  • Remove from heat and place in serving bowl. 

Notes

Do not thaw the frozen beans before cooking. This helps them stay juicy when they go through the quick temperature change, they won’t dry out. 
For canned beans, drain first before seasoning, and adjust the temp and time to 345 degrees for about 6 minutes. 
For fresh green beans, adjust the temperature to 375 degrees still cooking for 8-10 minutes. 

Private Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 3oz | Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 186mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g

Green Beans Nutrition Benefits

Green beans are a nutrient dense vegetable packed with lots of vitamins & minerals, lots of fiber plus fat-free

Some of the micronutrients are:

  • vitamin C
  • vitamin A
  • vitamin K
  • Protein: 1 cup serving = almost 2 grams of protein.

They are also great to keep your digestive system healthy due to fiber plus green beans are a low FODMAP food according to Webmd.

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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