Air Fryer Asparagus

Name: Air Fryer Asparagus
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 12 min
Ingredients: 1 pound of asparagus; ¼ tablespoon of avocado oil; ¼ teaspoon of garlic salt; ⅛ teaspoon of black pepper

Tender, lightly crisp, and subtly caramelized air fryer asparagus cooks in just 7 minutes with minimum oil and just 4 ingredients!

Completed air fryer asparagus on a white speckled plate.

Jump to:

Crispy Air Fryer Asparagus In Under 15 Minutes
The Ingredients
How to Cook Asparagus In an Air Fryer?
FAQs
Top Recipe Tips and Notes
How To Use Air Fryer Asparagus
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
Air Fryer Asparagus

Crispy Air Fryer Asparagus In Under 15 Minutes

Does anyone else sometimes get halfway through preparing dinner and suddenly realize your meal could really do with some additional veggies (or some veggies full stop)? Even if you don’t, this air fryer asparagus is still a must-try. Cooking in just 7 minutes, this air fryer asparagus recipe is perfect for a last-minute, nutritious, and delicious easy side dish.

As much as I love air fryer butternut squash, which is my other current favorite, it still takes a good 25-30 minutes from start to finish. In comparison, air-fried asparagus is ready from start to finish in under 15 minutes! Plus, the results are naturally gluten-free, WFPB, paleo, whole30, and vegan.

If you like steamed and boiled asparagus (and even if you don’t), get ready to be blown away by this air fryer version. The air fryer process helps make the asparagus taste like it’s been roasted, with a light caramelization and robust flavor I adore with just 4 ingredients.

The Ingredients

Ingredients for Air Fryer Asparagus measured out on a white surface.

Recipe Variations and Add-ins

The seasoning options for air fryer asparagus are incredibly versatile, including:

Lemon: My favorite way to brighten up the dish is with fresh lemon juice. You could also add lemon zest for a more robust flavor.
Nutritional yeast: Sprinkle the asparagus with nutritional yeast and/or a vegan parmesan cheese alternative for a delicious 'cheesy' flavor.
Other spices: There are plenty of ways to season air fryer asparagus based on the dish you’re pairing it with. These include:
- Smoked paprika
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Cajun seasoning
- Cayenne pepper powder
- Garlic and herb seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
Herbs: Garnish the air-fried asparagus with fresh herbs such as parsley, chives, or dill. You could also cook it with herbs like rosemary, oregano, thyme, marjoram, etc.
Balsamic: You could toss the spears with a little balsamic vinegar or drizzle the air-fried asparagus with balsamic glaze.
Teriyaki sauce: To drizzle over the air-fried asparagus.

How to Cook Asparagus In an Air Fryer?

completed air fryer asparagus on a wire rack

Step 1: First, preheat your air fryer to 400F/205C if your model requires that step. Then, rinse and trim the bottom 1-inch from the asparagus spears, or where the green meets the white/brown color in the spears. Add the asparagus tips to a large bowl with the oil and seasonings and toss to coat.

Step 2: Then, transfer the asparagus to your air fryer basket/tray in a single layer, and cook for 7 minutes, or until tender in the middle.

You can also snap the ends off by hand. The woody end tends to come off at the right place each time.

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FAQs

Can I use the leftover trimmed asparagus stalks?

There are a few culinary uses for the stalks, including asparagus stalk soup, asparagus stalk pesto, or using them in homemade vegetable broth.

If you don’t want to use them immediately, place them in a bag in the freezer until needed.

How do I roast asparagus?

Prepare and season the asparagus spears, then spread them across a baking tray. Roast in the oven at 425F/218C for between 12-15 minutes.

Can I cook frozen asparagus in an air fryer?

To air fry frozen asparagus, make sure not to overcrowd the basket. Then air fry the asparagus from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

However, note that frozen asparagus in the air fryer will be wetter and won’t become as crisp. I prefer to use fresh when possible.

Why is the asparagus chewy or stringy?

If you don’t remove the tough woody ends or if it’s overcooked, then it can become chewy. Older asparagus is more woody and stringy, so make sure it’s fresh.

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

Remove the woody stalks: This part is tough, chewy, and unpleasant to eat.
Avoid non-stick cooking spray: Cooking spray like PAM wears away the non-stick lining in air fryers over time.
Cooking time can vary: According to the asparagus spear size and your air fryer model.
Don’t overcrowd the basket: Otherwise, you’ll have limp asparagus. Instead, cook in a single layer, with some space in between, and cook in batches if necessary.
Use similar sized pieces: To ensure they air fry at the same rate.

How To Use Air Fryer Asparagus

Air fryer asparagus is my go-to side dish while it’s in season. For example, you might enjoy it.

To top risotto and serve alongside grains
Serve with (or in) pasta dishes like a one-pot veggie pasta or pasta salad
Add to leafy green salads
Enjoy them over a vegan blueberry zucchini muffin with scrambled tofu
Serve as a green side with the protein and starch of your choice like these instant pot garlic mashed potatoes
Add to potato salad
Enjoy with a vegan quiche, frittata, or omelette
Use as an avocado toast topping

What did you serve this air fryer asparagus with? Let me know in the comments.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make ahead: You may rinse, dry, and trim the asparagus a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

Store: Allow the air-fried asparagus to cool and then store in an airtight container in the fridge for between 3-4 days. I recommend enjoying them within 1-2, though, for the best texture.

Freeze: You can freeze cooked asparagus for up to 6 months (flash freeze the pieces on a tray, not touching, then transfer to a Ziplock/Stasher bag). It’s best to reheat it from frozen, as they become very soft upon thawing.

Reheat: Pop it back in the air fryer for a few minutes until warm or pan fry.

If you try this air fryer asparagus recipe, I’d love to know what you think in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating!