Let’s be real, green beans are not really the most exciting food to eat. And your kids pushing the green beans on the side of their plate each time they eat their meals is just one example of that.
But do you know what I do how to make these boring green beans rich in flavor that even kids will love? I make them into fries! And no, I do not mean deep frying them in tons of oils like how you do traditional french fries.
This air fryer green bean fries recipe is way healthier since you do not need to use a lot of oil and it takes way less time than other cooking methods! Trust me, your kids will thank you 😉
Looking for more alternatives to french fries? Here is an air fryer sweet potato fries recipe or air fryer zucchini fries you can try!
You can also check out this air fryer green beans recipe with less than 5 ingredients included.
How to make this air fryer green bean fries recipe
This crispy green bean fries recipe uses an air fryer instead of deep frying and makes a great appetizer, snack, or side dish. With this, you will be able to retain the health benefits of the green beans while keeping them low carb.
And the best part? You can prepare and cook these green beans in the air fryer in just 10 minutes with only a handful of ingredients!
Here is how you can make this recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of fresh green beans
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs or your preferred bread crumbs
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup of parmesan cheese
- 2 Tablespoons Olive oil spray or any cooking spray
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
Instructions:
Before preparing everything, preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F.
Get your fresh green beans and snap the ends of the beans. Place them into a colander to rinse. After rinsing, place green beans on a paper towel and pat them dry.
Coat the green beans in all-purpose flour. In a small shallow bowl, add the eggs and whisk them together.
In a separate bowl, mix together the parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, and garlic powder.
Dip the green beans into the egg mixture, then dip the green beans into the breadcrumb and cheese mixture. This will be your crispy coating.
Make sure that the green beans are coated well. Spray the coated green beans with cooking spray or a light coating of olive oil.
Place the breaded green beans in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for 5 minutes cook time or until golden brown and crunchy.
Do not overcrowd the green beans in the basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
Remove from the basket and sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese or fresh lemon juice for extra flavor.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
More tips and notes on how to make green beans fries in the air fryer
These green beans are a great alternative to your fast-food french fries. It is pretty straightforward to make but I have here some more tips on how to make the perfect crispy air fryer green bean fries.
- These green bean fries are best served hot so that they have that crunchy and crispy texture. Serve immediately once removed from the air fryer.
- I do not recommend using frozen green beans in this recipe. Use fresh green beans if you can.
- I do not recommend soaking the green beans beforehand because they will not turn crispy as they will just retain a bunch of water. Just rinsing them in the colander is fine.
- Make sure you coat the beans well. The more breading you have, the crispier your green beans will be.
- You can experiment and use whatever cheese you like. You can also try different seasonings. Add bbq powder, or paprika if you want some spice.
- Leave space in the air fryer and do not overlap the green beans with each other. The areas that touch may become soggy and not fully cooked.
What to serve with air fried green beans fries
These green bean fries are the perfect healthy snack and can be eaten by themselves alone since it is already super rich in flavor. But if you want to enhance your eating experience or you want it as a side dish, then here are some ideas on what to serve with green bean fries:
- Your favorite dipping sauce like sriracha mayo, ranch, ketchup, BBQ sauce, and more!
- Vegan burger
- A snack platter including air fryer kale chips and air fryer apple chips
- A side dish for this air fryer cauliflower buffalo bites
- Pair with chicken or any kind of meat
- and more!
How to store leftover air fryer green bean fries
If you have any leftovers, you can easily store your green bean fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, just put them back in the air fryer. Set the air fryer to 390 degrees F for a few minutes.
Why cook green beans in the air fryer?
Generally, green beans or string beans are a great source of healthy nutrients and vitamins including Vitamins, A, C, and K. It is also rich in fiber and helps decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other sicknesses.
What makes green bean fries not healthy is if you choose to deep fry them in a lot of oil. But good thing the air fryer exists! If you cook green beans in an air fryer, you will only use a little bit of oil and just let the air fryer do everything else!
Through this, you will retain the health benefits of green beans without adding unnecessary carbs or health risks.
Another thing why I love air-frying green beans as opposed to other cooking methods is that the taste of air-fried green beans is way different compared to steamed or boiled ones! This makes it a perfect healthy snack for your kids to enjoy!
And the best part of it all? The air fryer makes the cooking time of most food shorter and quicker than in the oven or when you fry in a pan. Plus, the cleanup process is a breeze since you will not be needing a lot of cooking equipment!
Crispy Air Fryer Green Bean Fries
These air fryer green bean fries are the perfect healthy snack or side dish that even your kids will love! It is a way healthier alternative to your usual fast-food fries that are deep-fried and oily. Try this out and enjoy a guilt-free snacking!
Ingredients
- 1 pound of fresh green beans
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs or your preferred bread crumbs
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup of parmesan cheese
- 2 Tablespoons Olive oil spray or any cooking spray
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Before preparing everything, preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F.
- Get your fresh green beans and snap the ends of the beans. Place them into a colander to rinse. After rinsing, place green beans on a paper towel and pat them dry.
- Coat the green beans in all-purpose flour. In a small shallow bowl, add the eggs and whisk them together.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, and garlic powder.
- Dip the green beans into the egg mixture, then dip the green beans into the breadcrumb and cheese mixture. This will be your crispy coating.
- Make sure that the green beans are coated well. Spray the coated green beans with cooking spray or a light coating of olive oil.
- Place the coated green beans in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for 5 minutes cook time or until golden brown and crunchy.
- Do not overcrowd the green beans in the basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Remove from the basket and sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese or fresh lemon juice for extra flavor.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
I’m Anastasia and I’m a full-time blogger, online entrepreneur, and Pinterest marketing strategist. I help digital entrepreneurs and bloggers drive targeted traffic from Pinterest either through my online courses or through Pinterest consultancy.