Looking for a quick, easy, and healthy side dish that fits your keto lifestyle? These keto air fryer green beans are the answer! They're crispy, flavorful, and ready in under 15 minutes. Whether you're looking for a simple weeknight dinner accompaniment, a healthy snack, or a crowd-pleasing appetizer, this recipe is sure to become a favorite.
Why Air Fryer Green Beans?
Air frying is a fantastic way to cook vegetables, offering a healthier alternative to deep-frying while still achieving that desirable crispy texture. Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food, creating a crispy outer layer without the need for excessive oil. This method is quick, convenient, and makes cleanup a breeze.
Ingredients You'll Need
This recipe requires only a few simple ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry:
- Fresh Green Beans: The star of the show! Fresh green beans are essential for achieving the desired crispy texture. Avoid using frozen green beans, as they contain too much moisture and won't crisp up properly.
- Cooking Fat: Butter is a great option.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, savory flavor and helps create a crispy coating. The grated version in the green can from the grocery store works perfectly as it is very fine and sticks well!
- Garlic & Herb Seasoning: For flavor.
- Sea Salt: Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Air Fryer Perfection
Making these keto air fryer green beans is incredibly easy. Here's how:
- Prep the Green Beans: Rinse the green beans and trim about 1/4 inch from the ends. Place them in a large mixing bowl. Young and fresh green beans usually are not stringy.
- Coat with Oil: Add oil to the green beans and stir until they're evenly coated. Adding the oil first helps the cheese and seasonings adhere to the beans.
- Add Seasonings: Add the grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Stir until the green beans are well coated with the cheese and seasonings. If you like extra garlic flavor, add a little more garlic. The same goes with salt and pepper.
- Air Fry: Preheat your air fryer to 370°F (188°C). Add the coated green beans to the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they aren't overcrowded. You may need to cook them in batches if you don't have an air fryer with racks.
- Cook: Air fry for about 10-12 minutes, or until the green beans are tender-crisp and the parmesan cheese is golden brown and crispy. It may take a couple of minutes longer to cook larger or longer green beans.
- Serve: Remove the green beans from the air fryer and serve immediately.
Tips for the Crispiest Green Beans
- Don't Overcrowd the Air Fryer: For optimal crispiness, ensure the green beans are in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Overcrowding will steam the beans instead of frying them.
- Adjust Cooking Time: Depending on the size and thickness of your green beans, you may need to adjust the cooking time. Keep a close eye on them and cook until they reach your desired level of crispness.
- Use Fresh Green Beans: Frozen green beans contain too much moisture and won't get as crispy in the air fryer.
- Spray with Oil: For an extra crispy coating, spray the green beans with cooking oil before air frying.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheating the air fryer helps ensure even cooking and crispier results.
Variations and Additions
This recipe is a blank canvas for your culinary creativity. Here are a few ideas to customize your keto air fryer green beans:
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.
- Add Garlic: Use Cajun Garlic Butter Sauce or Garlic Parmesan Herb Butter for Steaks.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning: Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning on the green beans before air frying for a savory and flavorful twist.
- Lemon Zest: Add lemon zest to the green beans for a bright and citrusy flavor.
- Other Cheeses: Experiment with different types of cheese, such as Pecorino Romano or Asiago, for a unique flavor profile.
Serving Suggestions
These keto air fryer green beans are a versatile side dish that pairs well with a variety of main courses. Here are a few serving suggestions:
- With Air Fryer Pork Chops: A classic pairing that's quick, easy, and delicious.
- With Grilled Chicken or Fish: A healthy and flavorful meal option.
- As a Snack: Enjoy them as a guilt-free snack on their own or with a low-carb dipping sauce like ranch dressing.
- As an Appetizer: Serve them as a party appetizer with a variety of dipping sauces.
Making Ahead and Storing Leftovers
- Make Ahead: If you need to prep them ahead of time, go ahead and coat them in the parmesan flour mixture, then store in the fridge on a plate or large pan. Just add the cheese right before cooking.
- Storing Leftovers: If you don’t eat all of your green beans, no problem, just store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Cooled leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3-4 days. To get them crisp again, reheat in the air fryer basket at 375 degrees F for 3-5 minutes.
Are Green Beans Keto-Friendly?
Yes! Green beans are a keto-friendly vegetable, making them a great choice for those following a low-carb diet. They are low in carbohydrates and high in nutrients and benefits.
Nutritional Information
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. The net carb count for these crispy green bean fries is about 5.6 per serving according to my nutrition calculator. However, that is assuming that all of the almond flour breading is used, which it usually isn’t. There is normally a bit of the breading mix left over, so in reality these are probably a bit lower, but I am going to quote the high end of the spectrum.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto