Green bean casserole takes about 14 minutes in the air fryer: 10 minutes covered at 350°F (175°C), then 3–4 minutes uncovered with the fried onions on top. It needs a 7-inch dish that fits your basket, and it frees a whole oven rack on Thanksgiving.
Green bean casserole is the side that shows up at every Thanksgiving, and it’s also the one fighting for oven space with everything else. Good news: it fits perfectly in the air fryer. About 12 minutes and it’s bubbling, with fried onions that come out extra crunchy.
Why make it in the air fryer?
- Frees up the oven for turkey, stuffing and pie.
- Faster: no 20-minute oven preheat, and the small dish heats through quickly.
- Crunchier onions: the strong top heat crisps the onions in minutes.
What you need
Just the classic ingredients — canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, a splash of soy sauce (the secret for extra savory flavor) and French fried onions.
The only special thing is a baking dish that fits your basket. A 7-inch (18 cm) round dish fits most 5.8-quart air fryers. Measure the inside of your basket and leave at least half an inch (1 cm) of space around the dish so air can move.
Read next: 9 Air Fryer Thanksgiving Sides That Free Up Your Oven
The two-step trick
The big mistake with air fryer casseroles is putting all the topping on at the start. The fan is strong and close to the top, so the onions burn before the middle is hot.
- Covered first: foil on, 10 minutes, to heat the beans and sauce all the way through.
- Topping last: foil off, onions on, 3–4 minutes to make them golden.
Fresh, frozen or canned beans?
| Beans | How to prep | Change to recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Canned | Drain very well | None |
| Frozen | Thaw, pat dry | None |
| Fresh | Trim, cut, boil 5 min, drain | None |
Wet beans make a watery casserole, so whichever you use, get them as dry as possible.
Make it ahead for the holidays
Mix everything except the onion topping the day before, cover and refrigerate. On the day, let the dish sit out while you prep other things, then air fry covered for 13–14 minutes before adding the topping.
More sides for the table
Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole
Classic green bean casserole made in the air fryer in about 12 minutes. Creamy, bubbling, with fried onions that stay crunchy — and your oven stays free.
You'll need: Air fryer (5.8 qt or larger) · 7-inch (18 cm) round baking dish
Ingredients
US cups and spoons with metric in brackets (1 US cup = 240 ml). A bigger batch may need two rounds in the basket: keep it to one layer.
Instructions
- Mix. In a bowl stir together the soup, milk, soy sauce and pepper. Fold in the green beans and 2/3 cup (about 35 g) of the fried onions.
- Fill the dish. Spread into a greased 7-inch (18 cm) round baking dish that fits in your basket. Cover tightly with foil.
- Air fry covered. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes, until hot and bubbling at the edges.
- Add the topping. Remove the foil, scatter the remaining onions on top and press them down gently so the fan doesn't blow them around.
- Finish. Air fry uncovered for 3–4 minutes, until the onions are deep golden. Watch closely in the last minute — they go from golden to dark fast.
- Rest 5 minutes before serving so the sauce thickens.
Notes
- Fresh green beans: use 1 lb (450 g), trimmed and cut. Boil 5 minutes, drain well, then follow the recipe.
- Frozen green beans: use a 16-oz (450 g) bag, thawed and patted dry.
- Vegetarian: this recipe is vegetarian as written if your soup is. For dairy-free, use a dairy-free mushroom soup and unsweetened oat milk.
- Make ahead: mix (without the topping) up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate. Add 3–4 minutes to the covered time.
- Bigger crowd: double it and use an 8-inch dish in a larger air fryer, adding about 5 minutes covered.
Air fryers vary by brand and size: start checking 2–3 minutes early. Recipe from shakethebasket.com/air-fryer-green-bean-casserole/
FAQ
Can you put a glass dish in the air fryer?
Yes, an oven-safe glass or ceramic dish is fine. Avoid moving it straight from the fridge to a hot air fryer — let it sit out 15 minutes first so it doesn't crack.
How do I keep the fried onions from burning?
Add most of them only for the last 3–4 minutes and press them down lightly. Air fryer fans blow light toppings around and the top heats fast.
Can I make it without cream of mushroom soup?
Yes. Make a quick sauce: cook 4 oz (115 g) chopped mushrooms in 2 tbsp butter, stir in 2 tbsp flour, then 1 cup (240 ml) milk, and simmer until thick. Season with salt, pepper and soy sauce.
