These air fryer bacon wrapped green beans are an easy holiday side made with tender green beans wrapped in crispy bacon. I've found that there's no need to blanch the beans or secure the bundles with toothpicks, which keeps the recipe simple in about 20 minutes.
We've been prioritizing more protein and more fiber, you can still focus on that during the holidays by combining protein and veggies together in one tasty side dish like our bacon wrapped green bean bundles.
You can make this same recipe swapping green beans for asparagus in your air fryer if you're looking for variety.
We love using our air fryer during the holidays, especially when making side dish recipes. Some of our favorite holiday air fryer sides include air fryer spaghetti squash, air fryer sweet potato cubes, and air fryer broccolini.
Things to Know About Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
- We used thin haricots verts for this recipe, so there was no need to blanch them before air frying. If you're using thicker regular green beans, blanch them in boiling water for about 1 minute before wrapping them in bacon and air frying.
- You can keep these savory or add the optional sweet glaze when you want something a little more festive.
- These make a great low carb or keto side dish if you use sugar free sweetener instead of brown sugar.
Ingredients You'll Need
Please read the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the exact quantities.
- Green beans - We used thin French green beans, also called haricots verts. Regular green beans work too, but thicker beans may need a little extra cooking time. Buying them trimmed saves prep time.
- Bacon - Applewood-smoked bacon was used for testing, but any favorite bacon works. Thick-cut bacon may take longer to crisp.
- Brown sugar or sweetener - Totally optional. I use golden monkfruit to keep these sweet but without the sugar or carbs. Brown sugar or honey also works great, or you can skip the sweeteners and just make these a savory side dish.
- Salt and black pepper - Season lightly since bacon already adds salt.
- Garlic chili oil or chili powder - Optional for a sweet-spicy version. We like Trader Joe's garlic chili oil here.
Equipment
- Air fryer- our favorite model is a Cosori
How to Make Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
Step 1: Prep the green beans
Preheat the air fryer to 370°F for 5 minutes.
Wash and trim the green beans if needed. Divide them into bundles of about 6 beans each.
Step 2: Wrap with bacon
Wrap one slice of bacon around each bundle, overlapping slightly as you go.
Place each bundle seam side down in the air fryer basket. I don't use toothpicks because placing the seam underneath keeps the bacon in place while it cooks.
Step 3: Air fry
Lightly brush or spray the bundles with olive oil if desired and season with salt and pepper.
Air fry at 370°F for 10-12 minutes, until the bacon is crisp and the green beans are tender.
There's no need to flip the bundles.
Step 4: Add sweetener or spice
If using brown sugar or a sugar-free sweetener, sprinkle it over the bundles during the last 3 minutes of cooking.
Add garlic chili oil or chili powder at the end if you want a little heat.
Recipe Tips
- Use thin green beans when possible - Haricots verts cook quickly enough to finish at the same time as the bacon.
- Skip the blanching - I tried the extra blanching step and didn't find it necessary.
- Place the seam side down - This keeps the bacon wrapped around the beans without needing toothpicks.
- Leave space between the bundles - Good airflow helps the bacon crisp instead of steam.
- Don't use thick cut bacon for this recipe.
- Add sugar near the end - Brown sugar and sweeteners can burn quickly in the air fryer.
Meal Prep and Storage
- Store leftover bacon wrapped green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- The bacon will soften as it sits, so I prefer reheating the bundles in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes until hot and crisp again.
- You can trim the green beans and assemble the bacon bundles several hours ahead. Refrigerate them covered, then air fry just before serving.
- I would not recommend freezing the finished bundles because the green beans will be noticeably softer after thawing.
FAQs
Do you need to blanch green beans before air frying them?
No. I tested these bacon wrapped green beans without blanching and found the extra step unnecessary. Thin green beans cook through in the air fryer while the bacon crisps.
How do you keep bacon wrapped green beans from falling apart?
Place the bacon seam side down in the air fryer basket. The weight of the bundle helps hold the bacon in place, so toothpicks are not necessary.
Can you make bacon wrapped green beans keto?
Yes. Skip the brown sugar or replace it with a keto-friendly brown sugar substitute. The green beans and bacon themselves fit easily into a low carb meal.
How long do bacon wrapped green beans take in the air fryer?
Air fryer bacon wrapped green beans take about 10-12 minutes at 370°F after preheating. Thick bacon or larger green beans may need a little longer.
Can I use regular green beans instead of haricots verts?
Yes. Regular green beans work, but thicker beans may need a few extra minutes to become tender.
More Air Fryer Vegetables
- Air fryer green beans with mushrooms
- Air fryer roasted broccoli
- Air fryer Brussels sprouts
- Air fryer bell peppers and onions
More Green Bean Recipes
- Air fryer frozen green beans
- Cheesy baked green beans
- Hamburger green bean casserole
- Air fryer green bean and mushrooms recipe
- Green beans with potatoes and sausage
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Recipe
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 48 green beans
- 8 slices of bacon
- Brown sugar
- salt and pepper
- garlic chili oil or chili powder for heat optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 F for 5 minutes.
- Wash and prep the green beans, removing the stem. Bundle the beans together in groups of six. Wrap a slice of bacon around the green bundle overlapping slightly as you wrap.
- Place the seam side down in the air fryer. Brush or spray with a little olive oil and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Air fry at 370 F for 10-12 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and the green beans are cooked through. There's no need to flip the bundles over during cooking.
- To add brown sugar, sprinkle it on the green bean bundles in the last 3 minutes of cooking, sugars burn quickly in the air fryer so we just add it at the end. Garlic chili oil adds a nice kick with the sweet and slightly spicy contrast.
Notes
- You can blanche green beans prior to cooking to set the bright green color, but to be honest, that's extra work and we didn't find it necessary.
- No toothpicks are need to secure the bundles, just make sure the seam side is down and it'll secure itself during cooking.
- Make sure to leave space between the bacon wrapped green beans in order for the bacon to get nice and crisp.
Nutrition
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