Air Fryer Green Beans with Garlic Butter Sauce is, quite simply, the perfect side dish. I love these buttery delicious green beans, dotted with fresh garlic, chili flakes and sesame seeds. It’s a simple, 15-minute vegetable side dish that could easily become the star of the meal!
Honestly, in the world of quick air fryer recipes, this is one of my favorites. Air Fryer Green Beans with homemade Garlic Butter Sauce is simple enough to enjoy any night of the week.
But, definitely break these out for Sunday dinner and for the holidays. This is company-worthy, celebration food, too! I mean, seriously. It’s fresh beans in the air fryer, wrapped in a heavenly garlic butter sauce with ginger and chili flakes! What’s not to love?
These delicious air fryer green beans will be a Thanksgiving and Christmas side dish that everyone will rave over. Doubling this easy recipe is a great idea. And, be ready to share it, too.
Air frying green beans is so easy and quick. It’s my new go-to for getting fresh green beans on the table. Prep and cooking total is under 15 minutes. And, the fact that they’re delicious is also a strong motivator. lol
But, no worries if you don’t have an air fryer. These delicious green beans in butter garlic sauce can be made in a skillet on your stove top, too. I’ll give you all the details on how to saute them, instead, in the Notes section of the recipe card.
The Ingredients
These simple ingredients will transform a common, and sometimes boring, green bean side dish into a spectacular powerhouse of flavor. Eating your vegetables is going to be a true delight!
For Air Fryer Green Beans
- fresh green beans (See, below to get info on air frying frozen green beans.)
- avocado oil (Sub in olive oil, if you prefer.)
- salt
For Homemade Garlic Butter Sauce
- butter
- minced garlic
- dried parsley
- dried ginger
- red pepper flakes
- optional garnish, sesame seeds
FAQs about Air Fryer Green Beans
Absolutely! Roasting frozen green beans in the air fryer is simple, too. Place your frozen green beans in a colander and rinse them under cool water until they’re thawed. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Air fry the green beans as directed in the recipe.
You sure can! Toss the green beans in oil and salt, as instructed in this easy recipe. Then, saute the green beans in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the green beans for 3-5 minutes. You want to get some of the same caramelization and brown blisters on the outside as when using an air fryer. Stir the green beans occasionally to keep them from getting too dark on any one side. After 3-5 minutes, add 1/4 cup water to the skillet and cover it with a lid. Cook for 2 minutes more or until the beans are tender. Drain any excess liquid. Toss the green beans with the garlic butter sauce and serve.
How to Make Air Fryer Green Beans
- To make this recipe, preheat your air fryer to 375°.
- Wash the fresh green beans and remove any stems. Pat the green beans dry.
- Place the fresh green beans in a mixing bowl.
- Add the avocado oil and salt to the mixing bowl. Toss the green beans in the avocado oil (Olive oil will also work.) and salt until all are evenly coated. (I find it’s easiest to just use my hands for this job.)
- Arrange the green beans in a single layer in the air fryer basket. My Breville Joule Oven [affiliate link] has an air fryer basket that will hold the entire pound. If yours is smaller you may need to do a couple batches. Cook the beans in the air fryer for 8 to 10 minutes. SEE NOTE 1 in the recipe card. (No air fryer? SEE NOTE 2.)
- When green beans are cooked to your desired tenderness (8-10 minutes), remove from the air fryer and place back into the mixing bowl you used to coat them with oil and salt.
How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce
- While green beans are cooking, add the garlic butter sauce ingredients (butter, minced garlic, dried parsley, dried ginger and red pepper flakes) to a microwave safe dish. Melt the butter and seasonings in the microwave on high power for 30 seconds.
- Stir sauce and return to microwave for 1 minute. Stir again. Set sauce aside until beans are done.
Assembling the Dish
- Pour the garlic butter sauce over the air fried green beans and toss to coat every bean.
- Transfer the air fryer green beans with garlic butter sauce to a serving dish and serve immediately.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Green Beans
Air Fryer Green Beans in Garlic Butter Sauce are simple and quick to prepare making them a natural side dish for busy weeknights. However, these delicious green beans are wildly flavorful and really special. Every guest at your Sunday dinner table or holiday meal will swoon for these scrumptious buttery green beans.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge up to 4 days. Just rewarm in the microwave in 30 second bursts. (I highly doubt you’ll have leftovers, though.)
Add Air Fryer Green Beans in Garlic Butter Sauce to any meal plan. They are a tasty side dish next to any of these delicious main dishes.
The Recipe
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Air Fryer Green Beans with Garlic Butter Sauce
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
To Make the Green Beans:
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
To Make the Garlic Butter Sauce:
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 2 – 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon dried ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- optional garnish: sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°.
- Wash the green beans and remove any stems.
- Pat the beans dry.
- Place the fresh green beans in a mixing bowl.
- Add the avocado oil and salt to the mixing bowl.
- Toss the green beans in avocado or olive oil and salt until all are evenly coated. (I find it’s easiest to just use my hands for this job.)
- Arrange the green beans in a single layer in the air fryer basket. My Breville Joule Oven has an air fryer basket that will hold the entire pound. If yours is smaller you may need to do a couple batches.
- Air fry the green beans for 8 to 10 minutes. SEE NOTE 1. (No air fryer? SEE NOTE 2.)
- While green beans are cooking, add the sauce ingredients to a microwave safe dish. Melt the butter and seasonings on high power for 30 seconds. Stir sauce and return to microwave for 1 minute. Set sauce aside until beans are done.
- When green beans are cooked to your desired tenderness, remove from the air fryer and place back into mixing bowl.
- Pour the garlic butter sauce over the beans and toss to coat.
- Transfer beans to serving dish and serve immediately. (Leftovers can be stored in the fridge up to 4 days. Rewarm in microwave in 30 second bursts.)
Notes
NOTE 1: Keep in mind that different brands of air fryers cook differently. Check your beans at 7 minutes and check every minute or so after that. If I’m serving the beans to just my husband and myself, I will go with 7 or 8 minutes because we like the tender-crisp texture (crispy green bean). When cooking for my kids and grandkids who prefer green beans to be softer, I use the full ten minutes. I also like the 10 minutes for this specific recipe, because you get that slight bit of caramelizing and blistering on some of the beans. It’s gorgeous!
NOTE 2: (To cook beans without an air fryer) Toss the green beans in oil and salt, as instructed in the recipe. Then, saute the green beans in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the green beans for 3-5 minutes. You want to get some of the same caramelization and brown blisters on the outside as when using an air fryer. Stir the green beans occasionally to keep them from getting too dark on any one side. After 3-5 minutes, add 1/4 cup water to the skillet and cover it with a lid. Cook for 2 minutes more or until the beans are tender. Drain any excess liquid. Toss the green beans with the garlic butter sauce and serve.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Side Dish, Vegetable
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Green Beans and Potatoes Recipe, an Updated Classic
- Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu, Quick and Easy
- Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp
- Air Fryer Roasted Garlic (with Oven Option)
- Buffalo Ranch Chicken Melts on Ciabatta Rolls
More Easy Vegetable Recipes
- Try this DELISH Blackstone Asparagus from Wendy over on the Wendy Polisi blog!
- You’re gonna LOVE Air Fryer Tomatoes complements of Gen over at Two Cloves Kitchen!
- Look at these gorgeous Rainbow Carrots En Papillote from Rosanna at Rosanna, Etc.
- Sautéed Butternut Squash is gorgeous and delicious!
About Glenda
I believe cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated and that YOU can do it. My simple recipes, tutorials, and cooking tips will help you get weeknight dinners on the table with less stress. Forget takeout or the drive-thru. Let me show you how to make homemade easy. Read more...
