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This air fryer asparagus recipe combines 4 easy ingredients and cooks in 4 minutes. It’s tender with the perfect bite, making a nutritious, delicious side dish even veggie haters will love!
Looking for more veggie air fryer recipes? Try air fryer carrots, air fryer Brussels sprouts, air fryer broccoli, and air fryer cauliflower.
Gone are the days of limp, mushy, bland asparagus. This air fryer asparagus recipe takes it to another level, giving the asparagus the perfect texture, tender on the inside with a subtle crunch. The careful use of seasonings elevates the dish, allowing the natural flavor of the asparagus to shine.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- 4 ingredients. Just asparagus, a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cooking asparagus doesn’t get simpler than this.
- Ready in 5 minutes. I honestly don’t know how we survived without an air fryer. It cooks up veggies in minutes so I can focus on other tasks in the kitchen.
- Healthy. There’s only one teaspoon of oil in this whole recipe, so it’s super low in fat and calories while still being full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals (source).
- Versatile. I kept the seasonings simple by design, so you can serve air-fried asparagus with all sorts of dishes.
Ingredients needed
The beauty of using an air fryer is that you don’t need a lot of extra ingredients to get a delicious side dish. Here’s exactly what you’ll need:
- 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.
- Olive oil. Just a dash to help get a crispy bite.
- 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- Prep. Preheat the air fryer to 375F/190C and lightly grease the air fryer basket.
Step 2- Season. Add the asparagus spears to a large bowl with the oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Toss to coat each spear evenly.
Step 3- Air fry. Place the asparagus in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fryer for 4-5 minutes, stopping halfway through to flip.
Step 4- Serve. Remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve immediately.
Serving suggestions
This asparagus recipe goes with just about anything. If you’re looking to pair it with a hearty protein, try stuffed chicken breast, smoked pork loin, or air fryer salmon. It also works well on top of salads or pasta, baked into an asparagus quiche, or blended into a cream of asparagus soup.
Recipe tips and variations
- Don’t crowd the basket. My #1 tip for using an air fryer is to avoid crowding the basket. If you do this, the individual pieces of asparagus won’t get equal heat, and you’ll miss out on that crispy texture. If necessary, air fry in batches.
- Use the snap method. If you’re unsure where to trim the asparagus, I find the snap method works wonders. Simply bend the asparagus until it breaks, discard the woody ends, and voila! Perfectly trimmed asparagus.
- Vary the cooking time. Depending on the season, your asparagus may be thick or thin. If you have thin stalks, reduce the cooking time to 3-4 minutes. If you have thicker stalks, air fry them for 6-7 minutes.
- Add bacon. Bacon solves everything, including making this a heartier side dish (hello, bacon-wrapped asparagus).
- Drizzle on a sauce. When the asparagus is fresh from the air fryer, spice it up with balsamic glaze, Sriracha, sesame oil, or my favorite hot honey sauce for a sweet and spicy kick.
- Amp up the seasonings. Try using garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or tossing the asparagus in balsamic vinegar right before frying.
- Garnish. I’m a purist, and I like my asparagus plain, but you can elevate it with some fresh lemon juice, parmesan cheese, or a few pats of butter.
How to store leftovers
To store: Leftover air-fried asparagus can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To freeze: To keep them fresher for longer, store leftovers in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge, or add more reheating time.
To reheat: Reheat leftover asparagus in the oven set to 350F for 7-8 minutes or in the air fryer at 375F for 2-3 minutes or until warm.
Frequently asked questions
Soaking asparagus in cold water for several minutes can help remove hidden dirt and rehydrate the spears, helping them cook more 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 is temperamental and can easily become overdone, so it’s important to keep an eye on it and check midway through the cooking process.
More air fryer recipes you’ll love
- Air fryer buffalo cauliflower– Battered cauliflower florets air fried until crispy and coated in a spicy buffalo sauce. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
- Air fryer eggplant– One of my family’s favorite side dishes at the moment.
- Air fryer baked potatoes– The fastest way to get perfectly cooked potatoes.
- Air fryer sweet potato fries– Crispy on the outside, sweet and fluffy in the middle, and done in 10 minutes.
- Air fryer kale chips– Our favorite healthy snack around the house.
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 oil and spices.
- Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve immediately.
Thank you, just bought an instant pot air fryer dup. Looking forwrd to trying it out.