Easy Air Fryer Asparagus ready in 10 minutes or less! Pair this healthy side dish with any main dish for a nutritious dinner.
This easy air fryer asparagus recipe is ideal for those who enjoy adding fresh vegetables to their meals.
It requires hardly any effort or prep time and is ready in under 10 minutes. Plus, crispy asparagus pairs marvelously with any main dish!
Preparing asparagus in the air fryer is the best way of cooking asparagus when you’re under a time crunch and you want to get dinner on the table in a fraction of the time without having to fuss over roast asparagus.
It is the perfect side dish for those who enjoy adding greens to every meal.
The air fry method requires less time and you end up with tender stalks with the crispy tips.
Serve asparagus with chicken, beef, pork, and fish. I enjoyed it alongside my Teriyaki Steak Bites, which I shared recently.
No worries if you don’t own an air fryer. You can make my Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan and Lemon just as easily.
Let’s discuss the simple ingredients for air fryer asparagus.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Asparagus:
Fresh Asparagus: Snag a bunch of asparagus from the grocery store and whip up the best air fryer asparagus! The best part about this recipe is you can scale it up or down depending on how many people you’re serving and whether or not you want leftovers.
Avocado Oil: Used for coating the asparagus, we use avocado oil because it is a great high temperature cooking oil.
You can also use olive oil but I prefer using avocado oil when cooking at high temperatures because olive oil has a lower smoke point.
Avocado oil helps the asparagus cook evenly, ensures it stays nice and moist and also contributes to the delicious crisp on the outside.
Garlic Powder and Sea Salt: The only seasonings we need here, I like sprinkling asparagus with garlic powder, salt, and sometimes fresh black pepper.
The garlic powder is optional but I love that it adds garlicky flavor without the need for chopping garlic.
Optional Additions:
- Zest of 1 lemon. Sprinkling the finished asparagus with fresh lemon zest brings lovely citrus flavor without too big of a lemon juice bite. Do feel free to drizzle fresh lemon juice over the asparagus too if you love it.
- 2 Tbsp fresh grated parmesan cheese. If you enjoy parmesan cheese and have some on hand, grate your desired amount over the asparagus. This adds rich, creamy, tangy flavor that will make even vegetable naysayers swoon.
- Cracked black pepper. If you enjoy black pepper, feel free to sprinkle some on.
Adding lemon zest, parmesan, and black pepper levels up the flavor and is perfect for those who love cheese and zesty citrus flavor. You can also add a drizzle of fresh lemon juice if you’d like.
If you have fresh herbs on hand, feel free to chop some up and mix them in with the cooked asparagus. Similarly, if you have everything bagel seasoning on hand, feel free to use it as the seasoning.
Now that we’ve covered the basic ingredients for this easy recipe, let’s make asparagus in the air fryer.
How to Make Air Fryer Asparagus:
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 4 minutes.
Rinse the asparagus spears under lukewarm water then pat them dry with a paper towel.
Trim the woody ends off of the raw asparagus (roughly 1.5 to 2 inches off the bottom) using a sharp knife on a cutting board. Discard the barky ends of the asparagus.
Transfer the trimmed asparagus spears to a large plate, large bowl, or sheet pan and drizzle with avocado oil. Sprinkle it with sea salt and garlic powder. Use your hands to toss everything together such that the asparagus stalks are coated in oil and seasonings.
Transfer the asparagus to the basket of the air fryer and arrange the spears in a single layer.
Air fry at 400 degrees F for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway through, or until the asparagus is golden brown. For very thin asparagus spears, air fry for 4 to 6 minutes.
Thicker spears may take more time (8-10 minutes) depending on your desired level of doneness.
Remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve with fresh lemon zest and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes (of desired).
You can also grate fresh parmesan cheese over the asparagus for a delicious side dish. Whip up hollandaise sauce or melted butter for an easy dipping sauce if you’d like.
Store leftover air fryer asparagus in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
I like chopping up leftover asparagus and adding it to a vegetable breakfast scramble the next day. It can easily be incorporated into a green salad, stir fry, or serve as a healthy snack.
How Long To Cook Asparagus in The Air Fryer:
At 400 degrees Fahrenheit, asparagus takes between 6 and 10 minutes, depending on the size of the spears and the way you like your asparagus cooked.
For snappy asparagus with less golden brown char, cook asparagus for 6 minutes, shaking the air fryer basket halfway through.
For crispy asparagus with a golden brown outside, cook asparagus for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on how thick the spears are.
Thick asparagus will need about 10 minutes whereas very thin asparagus will only need about 7-8 minutes for a crispy finish.
Depending on what texture you’re going for, start with a little less time because you can always put the asparagus back in for some extra time if need be.
The exact cooking time depends on the temperature of the asparagus going into the air fryer (whether it is at room temperature or chilled from the refrigerator), the thickness of the stalks, and your preferred level of doneness.
Why Isn’t My Asparagus Crispy?:
For the absolute best results, you’ll need to use the right amount of oil on the asparagus. Too much oil will make the asparagus floppy and soggy and too little oil will result in dry, barky asparagus.
Using just the right amount of oil (about 2 teaspoons for one pound of asparagus) results in perfectly crispy asparagus with an al dente inside.
And that’s it! A healthy vegetable side dish that takes no time at all in the air fryer.
This easy side dish is amazing with any main course and is perfect for serving guests or enjoying as part of any busy weeknight meal.
In just minutes, you’ll have a great side dish and a new favorite way to prepare asparagus.
What To Serve With Asparagus:
Crispy asparagus pairs marvelously with any main dish! Here are some main courses that pair magically with asparagus.
- Mediterranean Salmon in Parchment Paper
- Crispy Bang Bang Salmon Bites Bowls
- Ground Beef and Cauliflower Recipe
- Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs
- BBQ Tri Tip
- Chili Lime Baked Cod
- Air Fryer Salmon
If you’re looking for more healthy air fryer side dishes, also try my Air Fryer Green Beans or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.
Enjoy this air-fried asparagus recipe as a new favorite delicious vegetable side dish!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
- 2 tsp avocado oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Optional Additions
- 1/2 tsp fresh lemon zest
- 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 4 minutes.
- Rinse the asparagus spears under lukewarm water then pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Trim the woody ends off of the raw asparagus (roughly 1.5 to 2 inches off the bottom) using a sharp knife on a cutting board. Discard the barky ends of the asparagus.
- Transfer the trimmed asparagus spears to a large plate, large bowl, or sheet pan and drizzle with avocado oil. Sprinkle it with sea salt and garlic powder. Use your hands to toss everything together such that the asparagus stalks are coated in oil and seasonings.
- Transfer the asparagus to the basket of the air fryer and arrange the spears in a single layer.
- Air fry at 400 degrees F for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway through, or until the asparagus is golden brown. For very thin asparagus spears, air fry for 4 to 6 minutes. Thicker spears may take more time (8-10 minutes) depending on your desired level of doneness.
- Remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve with fresh lemon zest and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes (of desired). You can also grate fresh parmesan cheese over the asparagus for a delicious side dish. You can whip up hollandaise sauce or melted butter for an easy dipping sauce if you’d like.
Notes
Nutrition
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