Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole

This classic green bean casserole recipe is made in the air fryer. It’s an easy recipe with simple ingredients. A delicious side dish made right in the air fryer oven.

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Easy Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is the perfect side dish not only during the holiday season but all year round.

We love making this recipe to go with beer can chicken in the summer just as much as we love it alongside a holiday meal like turkey and mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

There’s just something about this easy, comforting side dish that I just can’t get enough of — why wait all year to have it again, you know?!

If you make it in the air fryer rather than the oven, it takes less time to cook — meaning you’ll have a casserole dish of this gooey green bean goodness even sooner. 

Need your air fryer for something else? You can make Green Bean Casserole in the Instant Pot, too!

Why you’ll love this simple recipe

This easy-to-make green bean casserole is so easy in the air fryer. You have a creamy casserole topped with crispy fried onions.

• It’s made entirely in the air fryer — no switching from the fryer to the oven or vice versa. And it’s perfectly crispy on top too. 
• When you cook it in the air fryer, it frees up very important oven space for ham, turkey, other casseroles, and, of course, pie! 
• It comes together in less time than in the oven. 

The air fryer is the perfect addition to holiday meals like Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving dinner, or Easter dinner when you wish you had more oven space. 

Even though it is the quintessential classic holiday side dish, you can also enjoy it for weeknight meals too as an alternative to roasted green beans. 

Ingredients for a delicious green bean casserole

A printable recipe card is at the bottom of this post with full measurements and detailed instructions.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy air fryer casserole: 

• cream of mushroom soup – one can is all you need! Creamy mushroom soup is key.
• milk – whole milk is going to give the best results, but you can also use half and half or heavy cream
• cut green beans (cooked) – you can use canned or frozen. You can also use the french style.
• seasoned salt – seasoned salt gives it additional flavor, but you can also use coarse kosher or sea salt instead
• freshly ground black pepper – fresh ground black pepper gives excellent flavor
• garlic powder – make sure your garlic powder is fresh and not expired for the best taste
• sharp cheddar cheese – you can grate your own or buy it pre-shredded. Any strongly flavored cheese like gruyere or swiss cheese will work, but mild cheddar is too mild and will get lost in this flavorful recipe.
• French fried onions – store-bought are delicious, but you can make homemade fried onions in the air fryer as well

If you’d like, you can use a homemade version of cream of mushroom soup. This vegan soup would be great if you need a vegan side dish. 

I know some people who put cornflakes instead of crispy onions for green bean casserole, so feel free to use your favorite topping instead here. 

You can also mix in some crumbled cooked bacon, sliced mushrooms, or sauteed onions into the casserole mixture. 

Air fryer baking dish

You can use any oven-safe dish safely in the air fryer. Make sure it fits before you start assembling the casserole! 

However, there are some out there that are made specifically for the air fryer. If you plan to make casseroles in your air fryer a lot, you might want to invest in one of these: 

• Air Fryer Pizza Pan and Baking Barrel
• 17 Piece Air Fryer Accessories
• Silicone Liners

Cooking green bean casserole

Now, let’s make a green bean casserole in the air fryer! Here’s what to do. 

Note: Preheat the air fryer to 325°F for about 3-5 minutes before putting the casserole in for best results.

1. Start by making sure you have an air fryer-safe casserole dish that fits in the air fryer basket and is oven-safe.
2. To a large bowl, add the cream of mushroom soup, milk, green beans, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cheese, and ½ cup of the fried onions.
3. Mix to combine.
4. Pour the mixture into the casserole dish.
5. Place the casserole dish in the basket of the air fryer. Cook at 325°F for 15 minutes. (Preheating is not necessary, but I do recommend it). Note: Different air fryers and casserole dishes may cause the cooking time to vary!
6. Remove the basket (leave the dish in the basket) and stir the green bean mixture.
7. Sprinkle the remaining fried onions on top and place the basket back in the air fryer.
8. Cook at 325°F for 2-3 minutes, just until the onions are golden brown. 
9. Remove the basket from the air fryer and carefully remove the casserole dish from the basket. 

Cook time for green bean casserole

The cooking time will vary for green bean casserole depending on the method and whether you’re using fresh green beans or canned/frozen.

Typically, a green bean casserole takes 30-40 minutes in the oven. 

In the air fryer, you can make a creamy green bean casserole in about 20 minutes. 

You’ll want to cook it without the topping for about 15 minutes at 325°F, then sprinkle on the onions or cornflakes and cook for another few minutes until they are golden brown. 

Do you cover green bean casserole?

There is no need to cover the green bean casserole if you add the crispy onions toward the end of cooking. 

If you put the french fried onions on top before baking, you should cover the casserole and cook for 5-10 minutes longer. 

Tips & Tricks for the best green bean casserole

Don’t make the mistake of making your casserole in a too-big dish! Always check to make sure your casserole dish fits both width and height in your air fryer before assembling.

You can preheat your air fryer while you’re assembling the casserole. Just set it to 325°F and let it run for about 3-5 minutes empty.

It’s important to use a casserole dish that is air fryer safe. Always check the dish you’re using. See above for some of my recommendations for air-fryer safe dishes. 

Important note: You can assemble this dish ahead of time (without the onions on top) and refrigerate it, but be sure to bring it to room temperature before putting it in the air fryer or you risk your casserole dish shattering. Alternatively, you can refrigerate the mixture in another dish, then transfer it to the air-fryer-safe casserole dish.

If you want a little extra flavor, you can add in a splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce.

Parmesan cheese is delicious mixed in with the french-fried onions on top for an even deeper savory flavor.

To amp up the onion flavor even further, you can add in some onion powder to the mix.

Most commonly asked questions about green bean casserole

Why is my green bean casserole so soupy?

A green bean casserole should not be soupy if a) there is a good balance between green beans, other ingredients, and the soup, and b) it is fully baked. 

Can you put a casserole dish in an air fryer?

Oven-safe dishes are air-fryer-safe. If the casserole dish is not safe to use, you can invest in a casserole dish designed for the air fryer. 

Can I put a Pyrex container in the air fryer?

If the Pyrex dish is oven safe, it is safe for the air fryer. However, be careful of taking a glass from cold to hot too quickly or the glass can shatter. 

Can you premake green bean casserole?

Yes, green bean casserole can be made ahead. Assemble the casserole mixture without the fried onions on top and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before cooking. It is best to do this in another dish than the one you will put in the oven or air fryer to avoid taking a casserole dish from hot to cold. When you’re ready to cook it, transfer it to the air-fryer safe casserole dish and resume the recipe instructions. 

How to store leftover green bean casserole

You can easily store leftovers in an airtight container. Allow the green bean casserole to cool completely and then place it in an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes
• Homemade Croutons in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

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