Transform humble frozen green beans in an air fryer using only 4 ingredients into a delectable side dish in just 13 minutes. Infused with your choice of spices, these beans can range from lightly crisp to tenderly soft. It’s a quick and flavorsome side dish that’s sure to impress.
If you’re looking for a delicious recipe for how to cook a bag of frozen green beans into the air fryer, this is the perfect recipe. And even better, you will need only 4 simple ingredients for it. By adding the chili flakes and black pepper, we will get a slightly spicy taste that will make our side dish different from the basic recipe.
While fresh green beans are a treat when in season, as summer fades, it’s practical to consider dishes made from frozen staples. Stock up during sales, often priced just under a dollar, and stash a few bags in your freezer.
They’re a game-changer for those moments when you’re scrambling to complement that perfectly roasted chicken with a fuss-free side. If you’re in the mood for variety, consider whipping up some spicy air-fried broccoli.
To bring this dish to life, simply coat your frozen green beans in a touch of oil or melted butter, sprinkle your preferred spices, and pop them in the air fryer for just over 10 minutes. Easy and efficient!
🍳 Can You Cook Frozen Green Beans?
Yes, you can and you will get a similar result as the fresh ones. Keep always a bag in the freezer, and you can cook them spontaneously when you’re limited in time.
Love cooking from frozen? Consider also Delicious Asparagus in Air Fryer (From Frozen).
🥰 Why You Will Love This Recipe?
- It is budget-friendly. You can find a bag of frozen green beans for nearly one dollar. Also, you will need only 4 ingredients to make it.
- It cooks very easily and quickly. Toss a bag of frozen green beans with spices and olive oil and in about 10 minutes you will have a delicious side dish on the table.
- You can keep the frozen beans in the freezer and cook them spontaneously.
- You can vary the spices to get different tastes.
- It’s a versatile side dish and easy to combine with other main dishes.
- These air fryer green beans are gluten-free, low carb, and low calories.
🏆 Tips for Success? How to Make It Better?
- Flavor Enhancements: Experimentation is key. Depending on your personal preference, you might find that a touch more butter or oil can provide a richer, more indulgent taste. Consider a variety of spices: smoked paprika, cayenne, or even a touch of turmeric could give a unique spin to the dish.
- Cheesy Twist: Using freshly grated parmesan can give a better melt and richer flavor than pre-packaged options. If parmesan isn’t your choice, other cheeses like Pecorino Romano or Asiago can also complement the green beans.
- For Garlic Lovers: Fresh garlic cloves are recommended for a more potent flavor, but garlic powder can also be sprinkled for a more even distribution. The beans’ residual heat not only releases the garlic’s aroma but also slightly cooks it, toning down its raw sharpness while maintaining its distinctive taste. If you’re a true garlic aficionado, consider making a garlic-infused oil and drizzling it over the beans for an even deeper flavor profile.
🥘 Ingredients Needed for This Recipe?
- Frozen Green Beans. You can use fresh green beans, just shorten the cooking time to 5-7 minutes. Before seasoning, trim the ends of the beans.
- Dried Onions. Dried onions impart a concentrated onion flavor without the moisture of fresh onions. They save time and reduce the pungency often associated with fresh onions. You can substitute it with fresh chopped onions, onion powder, or shallots.
- Dried Garlic. Dried garlic gives the dish a robust garlic flavor without the need for peeling and chopping fresh garlic. It’s a convenient way to add the taste of garlic without its potent raw bite. You can use fresh minced garlic or garlic paste instead.
- Chili Flakes. If you don’t have them at hand, substitute them with fresh chopped chili, cayenne pepper, hot paprika, or a dash of hot sauce.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
This side dish is very versatile and it will go well with all of your favorite chicken, meat, fish, or seafood dishes. Here are some combinations that you can’t go wrong with:
- Air Fryer Chicken Quarters or Drumsticks
- White Fish Fillet
- Dorade Fish
- Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
- Roasted Whole Chicken
- Orange Chicken in Air Fryer
🥗 Variations
- As I said, you may consider sprinkling the beans in the end with parmesan.
- You can go with a simpler variant with fewer spices.
- Consider adding corn to the air fryer basket to obtain a sweetener taste.
- You may consider also adding small pieces of bacon and garlic above the beans.
👩🍳 Step-by-step Directions
Put the frozen beans in a bowl and pour over them the spices and oil. Mix all the ingredients well and put them in the air fryer.
Quick Note: You don’t need to thaw the frozen green beans before cooking.
Cook the frozen green bean for about a total time of 12 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Timing depends on how roasted you want them.
When the timer passes in half (on minute 6 in our case), remove the air fryer basket, shake it to rotate, and change the position of the green beans. This will help us to cook the beans evenly on all sides.
Quick Note: Keep in mind that the cooking time may differ from one air fryer manufacturer to another one, by the size of the air fryer and by the quantity of green beans that you will put in. In this recipe, I used Cosori Air Fryer 5.8QT and I used 1lb of frozen green beans. If you have a smaller air fryer, consider cooking the frozen green beans in a few batches.
If you want, you can cook them even more for a few additional minutes to make them even crispier and serve them as a snack. Just keep an eye on them and check the air fryer basket every minute in the end.
What I like about the air fryer most is that it allows you to check the food very quickly and easily and to adjust the timing and the temperature if needed.
♻️ Make Ahead, Storage and Heating:
Can You Make Them Ahead of Time?
They are so quick and easy to make that I will not recommend doing them ahead. I will suggest cooking them freshly and enjoying them as they are ready.
How Long Does the Beans Last in the Fridge?
You can keep the green beans for up to 3 days in a well-closed container in the fridge.
How to reheat the Green Beans?
You can heat the green beans in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in a preheated air fryer for 2-3 minutes.
🤔 Answering Your Questions:
Do I Need to Thaw the Frozen Green Beans Before Cooking Them in the Air Fryer?
No, you can cook frozen green beans directly in the air fryer without thawing them first.
How Long Do I Need to Cook Frozen Green Beans in the Air Fryer?
You will need to cook the frozen green beans in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes at 375°F (190°C) until they are crispy and tender.
Can I Add Other Vegetables to the Frozen Green Beans in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can add other vegetables such as carrots, onions, or bell peppers to the frozen green beans for a tasty vegetable medley. Just ensure that they have a similar cooking time. Otherwise, they will cook differently.
📋 Recipe Card:
Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb Frozen Green Beans
- ¼ teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper or to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon Chili Pepper Flakes
- ½ teaspoon Dried Onions
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 fl. oz. Olive Oil
Instructions
- Put the frozen beans in a large bowl to make it easier for you to mix the beans.1 lb Frozen Green Beans
- Pour over the beans the black pepper, chili flakes, dried onions, garlic and olive oil. Mix well all the ingredients.¼ teaspoon Black Pepper, ⅛ teaspoon Chili Pepper Flakes, ½ teaspoon Dried Onions, ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 fl. oz. Olive Oil, ¼ teaspoon Salt
- Put everything in the air fryer in a layer not too thick for about 12 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- The green beans cooked in the air fryer are ready to be served.
Quick Note
I highly recommend reading the entire recipe to find more tips and notes about this recipe. Read Full Recipe ⇑
Notes
- You don’t need to thaw the frozen green beans before cooking.
- Remove and shake the basket when the timer on the air fryer passes on half.
- In the last minutes, check the beans regularly to get them exactly as you prefer them to eat.
- Please take into account that the cooking time may differ from the quantity of the frozen green beans that you will put in the air fryer basket, from the size of the basket (the smaller size will cook faster) and the heating method also may differ from one air fryer manufacturer to another.
Christie
It looks delicious! I’m going to try this. We have tried many of your recipes, and they have all been great!