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My air fryer asparagus recipe needs only 4 ingredients and cooks in under 5 minutes. Each bite is crispy, tender, and well-seasoned.
4-minute air fryer asparagus.
Air frying asparagus gives it a new lease on life- just ask my family who claimed to hate this veggie. Each spear gets the perfect amount of heat, helping to make it crispy and crunchy on the outside yet soft and tender in the center.
My recipe needs just 4 ingredients and also cooks up in 4 minutes. Like my air fryer cauliflower and air fryer carrots, this air fryer recipe pairs with anything.
If you want even more air fryer side dish recipes, try my air fryer zucchini, air fryer red potatoes, or air fryer butternut squash next!
Key ingredients
- Asparagus. Washed and trimmed. Look for fresh asparagus spears with a vibrant green color and straight, thick, firm stalks with a small amount of white on the bottom.
- Extra-virgin olive oil. Just a dash to help get a crispy bite. You could also substitute this for nonstick cooking spray.
- Salt and black pepper. To taste.
How to air fry asparagus
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prepare. Grease the air fryer basket and preheat the air fryer.
Step 2- Season. Toss the asparagus spears with the oil and spices in a large bowl.
Step 3- Air fry. Lay the spears in a single layer and air fry until crispy. Serve warm and enjoy!
Arman’s recipe tips
- Adjust the cook time. The exact time will depend on if you have thin or thick asparagus. If you have thin asparagus, reduce the cooking time to 2-3 minutes and check them often.
- Use the snap method. Avoid woody ends by snapping the asparagus at the base, then discarding the bottom.
- Don’t crowd the basket. So each piece gets equal heat access and turns out extra crispy.
Frequently asked questions
Soaking asparagus in cold water for several minutes can help remove hidden dirt and rehydrate the spears, helping them cook quickly. That said, it’s not necessary so long as you rinse them before cooking.
Your asparagus may not be crispy if it is overcooked. Unfortunately, asparagus can easily become overdone, so it’s important to keep an eye on it and check midway through the cooking process.
Dishes to serve with air fried asparagus
- Chicken piccata
- Air fryer salmon
- Ranch steak
- BBQ tofu
- Or any of these healthy dinner ideas
4-Minute Air Fryer Asparagus
Video
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 190C/375F. Lightly grease an air fryer basket.
- Toss the asparagus in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Place the asparagus in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for 4 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve immediately.
Notes
- Garnish with fresh herbs, like parsley, basil, or cilantro, depending on what you’re serving as the main course.
- Fresh lemon and parmesan. Top the asparagus with fresh lemon juice and grated parmesan cheese.
- Balsamic vinegar. If you enjoy my balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts, get a similar flavor by drizzling balsamic glaze over the cooked asparagus.
- Add spices. Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or a dash of red pepper flakes for some heat.
If I air fry them asparagus shorter will they be harder? As I really like this way.
Asparagus is season in my country in March am I right? Or to buy frozen?
I know asparagus are very healthy but they are so expensive…
Thank you, just bought an instant pot air fryer dup. Looking forwrd to trying it out.