These bacon-wrapped green beans are an easy way to turn a simple vegetable into something with a little more flavor and crunch.
With just fresh green beans, bacon, and a few seasonings (and don’t forget the maple syrup), you can make these green beans as an appetizer or side dish that works with lots of different meals.
We really, really like them because they’re sweet, smoky, salty, with beans inside that are perfectly crisp yet tender. They don’t last long once they’re out of the air fryer.
Ingredients
- Green beans – Use firm green beans with a vibrant green color for the best taste.
- Bacon strips – We recommend regular-cut and not thick-cut since it would take too long to cook.
- Oil – We use avocado oil, but canola oil, sunflower oil, or similar also works well.
- Maple syrup – For a hint of sweetness; you can skip it if you prefer. Use real maple syrup for the best taste.
- Garlic powder – For some extra flavor.
- Salt – Adjust the amount to taste.
- Black pepper – For a hint of spice; adjust to taste.
Recipe Tips
- Wrap the bacon around the bunch in a ring (as opposed to a spiral) since you’re only using a half strip. If you try to wrap it like a spiral, it will likely unravel as it shrinks during cooking.
- We recommend using a toothpick to hold the bacon in place. The bacon (with overlap) might seal on its own, but you don’t want to take a chance.
- Just use half a strip of bacon per bundle if you want the bacon to get crispy. You can use a whole strip, but then the bacon likely won’t crisp all the way before the beans are done.
- Watch the ends of the green beans because they can get dark quickly while you wait for the bacon to crisp. The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer, the thickness of the bacon, and the size of the green beans.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer so the bacon can cook and crisp evenly. If you want to make more, cook another batch.
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Step-by-Step Instructions
First, rinse and dry the green beans.
Then trim the ends and add the green beans to a bowl.
Also add the oil, maple syrup, garlic powder, salt and black pepper to the bowl and toss to coat.
Grab about 6-9 green beans and lay them in the middle of half a bacon strip, then stretch and wrap the bacon around them. Close the overlap with a toothpick.
Do this for all the beans and bacon.
Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (about 175 degrees Celsius), then place the bean bundles in the air fryer with space between them.
Air fry for 9-12 minutes total or until the green beans are tender and the bacon is cooked. Flip the bundles halfway through the cooking time.
When they’re done, remove the green bean bundles from the air fryer and serve them as an appetizer or side dish. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
These green beans are best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the air fryer. If you have any left over, place them in a sealed container or wrapped in foil in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
To reheat them, place them back in the air fryer at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes until heated through again. Just watch that you don’t burn the ends of the beans.
Related Recipes
Here are some more homemade appetizers or sides you can make in the air fryer – they all include bacon in some way, shape, or form:
- Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus in the Air Fryer
- Homemade Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
- Air Fryer Potato Skins
- Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp (Homemade)
- Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Dates
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Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb fresh green beans
- 3 pieces regular-cut bacon, cut in half
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- 1 pinch black pepper, more to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and dry the green beans, then trim the ends and add the green beans to a bowl.1/2 lb fresh green beans
- Add the oil, maple syrup, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Toss to coat.1 teaspoon oil, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1 pinch black pepper
- Lay out the cut bacon strips. Grab about 6-9 green beans and lay them in the middle of a bacon strip, then stretch and wrap the bacon around them. Close the overlap with a toothpick. Do this for all the beans and bacon.3 pieces regular-cut bacon
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (about 175 degrees Celsius).
- Place the bacon-bean bundles in the air fryer basket with space between them.
- Air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (about 175 degrees Celsius) for 9-12 minutes total, flipping halfway through, or until the green beans are tender and the bacon is cooked.
- When done, remove the bundles and serve them as an appetizer or side dish with mains of your choice like meats, potatoes, and more.
Notes
- If you want more green bean bundles, you can easily cook another batch.
- Use a toothpick to hold the bacon in place.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer so the bacon can cook and crisp evenly. If you want to make more, cook another batch.
- Watch the ends of the green beans because they can get dark quickly while you wait for the bacon to crisp.
- The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer, the thickness of the bacon, and the size of the green beans.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
