Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans

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These Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans are so much like the takeout version, but a lot more healthy! Greens beans are crisped in the air fryer and tossed in a delicious, sticky garlic sauce!

Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans on a plate with sesame seeds and chop sticks.

Getting Chinese take-out quality food is tough at home for two reasons. First, it requires A LOT of oil! Probably more than a lot of us realize or are willing to use! Next, it requires a butane burner or SUPER high heat for stir frying–also something most of us don’t have access too!

While we may not want use so much oil or butane 🙂 it IS possible to get the awesome FLAVORS of Chinese takeout…even on a busy weeknight! Enter the air fryer!

The air fryer crisps up the green beans without all the oil and the the sticky, garlicky sauce makes them droll worthy! You just need a few ingredients!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

You’ll need the following ingredients to make these delicious air fryer green beans:

Ingredients needed to make Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans

INGREDIENT NOTES

Green Beans: The fresher, the better! For busy weeknights, I love the pre-cleaned and trimmed bags sold in the produce aisle.

Soy Sauce: Low sodium works great.

Brown Sugar: I like a touch of sweetness in my green beans. Honey is also a great substitute.

Rice Wine Vinegar: A little acid makes these beans taste authentic! You can substitute regular white vinegar or sherry vinegar.

Garlic: You gotta use lots of fresh garlic!!! I love using this chopper thingy to get my garlic chopped quickly.

HOW TO MAKE CHINESE STYLE AIR FRYER GREEN BEANS: STEP BY STEP

Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Toss green beans in olive oil then spread onto air fryer tray or basket. Air fry at 375 degrees for 12-13 minutes until crisp-tender (or desired texture). Note that air fryers vary in temperature and cooking time. Check your green beans for doneness by looking for a bright green color and have just a FEW little “char” marks. Beans should be tender but still crisp.

Uncooked green beans on air fryer tray.

Step 2: Make the sauce. While the green beans are in the air fryer, in a small pot, whisk together soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, garlic and corn starch. Simmer ingredients on low heat for 6-7 minutes until slightly thickened.

Making the sauce for Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans

Step 3: Remove green beans from air fryer and toss with sauce.

Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans in a bowl tossed with the sauce.

Step 4: Plate up your green beans, sprinkle on some sesame seeds (optional) and enjoy!

Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans on a plate with sesame seeds.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How to you get green beans crisp in the air fryer?

The key is tossing them with olive oil (or canola/veggie oil) first, then not overcooking them. If you want them on the crisp side, take them out between 10-11 minutes when they still have a bright, vibrant green color and they aren’t too shriveled looking. If you overcook them, they will get soggy quickly when you toss them with the sauce.

Can you use frozen green beans?

Yes! Just make sure you put them in the air fryer frozen– DO NOT thaw them first! The air fryer circulates hot air and will essentially “dry” them out. If you want them a bit more crisp, toss them with a bit of olive oil halfway through cooking.

Can you reheat these green beans in the air fryer?

Yes! Set your air fryer to 350 and cook them 3-4 minutes until they are just warmed through (not soggy!).

What should I serve with Chinese-style green beans?

These greens beans are the perfect side for any Asian-style dish or stir fry. They’re even great with non-Asian grilled meats or serve them over rice for a veggie meal!

You can also spoon a little Trader Joe’s Crunchy Chili Onion over the top for a little heat!

Can you make this recipe in a skillet if you don’t own an air fryer?

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can also just cook the green beans in a hot skillet with about a tablespoon or vegetable oil until they are crisp-tender. Then toss them in the sauce.

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Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans on a plate with sesame seeds and chop sticks.

OTHER AIR FRYER RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

I hope you love these Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!

Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans

Casey Rooney
These Chinese Style Air Fryer Green Beans are so much like the takeout version, but a lot more healthy! Greens beans are crisped in the air fryer and tossed in a delicious, sticky garlic sauce!
4.67 from 21 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dish, vegetable
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4
Calories 92 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the green beans

  • 16 oz fresh green beans (or 1 lb.), trimmed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • sesame seeds, for sprinkling (optional)

For the sauce

  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp cornstarch

Instructions
 

  • Preheat air fryer to 375. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, just turn it to 400 and give it about 3-5 minutes to come to temperature.
  • In a large bowl, toss green beans with olive oil. Then, spread onto air fryer tray or basket. Air fry for 10-12 minutes. Give them a shake about halfway through.
  • While the green beans are in the air fryer, make the sauce. Combine all sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Boil, whisking occasionally for 7-8 minutes until sauce is thickened.
  • Remove green beans from air fryer and put them into a large bowl. Pour sauce over beans and toss. Top with sesame seeds, if desired and serve immediately.
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Nutrition

Serving: 4ozCalories: 92kcalCarbohydrates: 13.9gProtein: 2.5gFat: 3.7gSaturated Fat: 0.5gSodium: 234mgPotassium: 261mgSugar: 6.1gCalcium: 51mgIron: 1mg
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