Air Fryer Green Beans With Garlic Chinese Style

Having air-fried roasted vegetables has now become a routine at our place. Be it asparagus, beets, sweet potatoes, zucchini, or broccoli, I have roasted almost all kinds of veggies in the air-fryer. This air fryer green bean recipe is just like at Din Tai Fung…loaded with garlic and a simple yet amazing side dish. They are Whole30, low-carb, vegan, and gluten-free (use gluten-free Tamari instead of soy sauce), making them a perfect addition to almost any diet. If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy beans, don’t miss my 8 Amazing Indian Bean Recipes collection. It’s packed with delicious ideas that complement any meal.

Watch How to Make Air Fryer Green Beans with Garlic (Chinese-style)

Chinese-style Roasted Green Beans

Have you tried green beans at your favorite Chinese restaurant? We love to order them at P.F. Changs and Din Tai Fung. Seasoned with sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic, then roasted in the air fryer, these green beans are perfectly cooked in just 8 minutes. We love to top them with red chili flakes for a slightly spicy taste. They are a perfect side dish to add to any meal! This is definitely one of my favorite ways to make green beans. I love that we don’t need to dice them; they cook up quickly. If you love green beans, try these Instant Pot Garlic Green Beans, Beans Poriyal, or this Indian Green Beans Stir Fry.

How to make Green Beans in the Air Fryer?

Prep the green beans

Wash the green beans under running water and let them drain in a colander. Once they are completely drained, use a kitchen towel to dry them. Don’t over-press the beans, as you might end up breaking them. Gently pat them dry. Then, trim the rough ends of the beans on both sides. Note: You don’t have to soak green beans; that is an old wives tale. Just wash them well.

Seasoning

As this recipe is for Chinese-style green beans, soy sauce, and rice vinegar are a must. It brings about that signature oriental flavor to the beans.

Take a large bowl and add sesame oil along with a seasoning of freshly minced garlic, ginger, black pepper, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Then, add the green beans to the bowl and toss them well. Make sure that all the green beans are coated well with the seasoning.

Air fry

Now that you have finished prepping and seasoning green beans, the next step is to air-fry them. Transfer the seasoned beans to the air-fryer basket. Shake the basket to spread the beans evenly.

Set the air fryer to 380°F. There is no need to preheat the air fryer as the cooking time includes pre-heating. Cook for about 6-8 minutes and shake the basket halfway through.

When the cooking time is done, carefully remove the beans from the basket and serve immediately. You can also sprinkle some sesame seeds and red chili flakes on top before serving them.

How to Cook Green Beans in the Oven?

Follow the same steps as above to prepare and season the green beans. Preheat the oven to 425°F and spread the seasoned beans uniformly in a large sheet pan. Cook for about 10-12 mins.

Frozen Green Beans

I prefer fresh green beans for this recipe. However, you can use frozen, but they may need a couple of extra minutes of cooking time.

More Seasoning Options

Toss the green beans in balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Try other options like onion powder, cumin powder, paprika, or red chili flakes if you like a spicier taste. Give an Indian twist by adding cumin powder, turmeric powder, and some garam masala.

Serving Options

These green beans can be served as a side dish with kung pao tofu or chicken. They can also be served alongside lo mein or, my favorite, Chili Chicken and Jasmine Rice.

Don’t overcrowd the beans in the basket. Make sure to put them in a single layer. Cook in batches if needed. Serve right away after cooking for the best texture! Add extra garlic for restaurant-style green beans.

How to Store Air-Fried Green Beans?

Let the leftovers cool down completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, I highly recommend air frying them for a couple of minutes to regain the original crunch without making them mushy. I hope you enjoy this easy Asian green beans made in the air fryer. We love that they are just like at the restaurant, whether it be Din Tai Fung or PF Changs.