This Air Fryer Asparagus recipe is the perfect way to cook asparagus that makes it crisp, yet tender. Cook asparagus in the air fryer for a quick and healthy roasted side dish that's ready in 10 minutes or less!
Enjoy the flavor of spring with Air Fryer Asparagus! It's a great way to roast up the spears to turn into a tasty vegetable side that works with many meals.
If you’re looking for a side dish that’s quick, easy, AND healthy, then you must learn how to make asparagus in your air fryer.
The air fryer is a small convection oven that circulates dry heat which cooks all surfaces at once making your food cook quickly and with a perfect texture.
This makes air frying perfect for roasting vegetables without having to heat up an oven.
To cook asparagus in the air fryer, all you’ll need is a bunch of trimmed and cleaned asparagus along with a bit of cooking oil.
Simply coat the asparagus in a little bit of oil, then place it in the air fryer basket where it will cook up perfectly in just 10 minutes or less.
Serve asparagus with any main course or in addition to your favorite side dish.
Or top it with a poached egg and a little sea salt and black pepper for a healthy breakfast or brunch.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Equipment
- How to cook asparagus in air fryer
- Tips
- Serving Suggestions
- Asparagus Flavor Variations
- What is an Air Fryer?
- Why Should I Use an Air Fryer?
- What type of Air Fryer should I get?
- Storage
- FAQs
- Asparagus Recipes
- More Air Fryer Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- Serving Suggestions
- 💬 Comments
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This side dish is cooked in record time making it a quick option for busy nights.
You can customize the flavors of the asparagus by adding your favorite seasonings.
Unlike steamed or canned asparagus, your air fryer will make it tender and crispy.
Cleaning up an air fryer is much easier than cleaning up a roasting pan or a sauce pot if you were to boil or roast it in the oven.
Asparagus is a budget-friendly vegetable, especially when it is in season.
Ingredients & Equipment
- Fresh Asparagus - You’ll need a bunch of fresh asparagus to air fry. Trim the woody stems and rinse for best results.
- Cooking Oil - To get a good crisp on the outside while keeping it tender on the inside, you’ll need to coat the asparagus in your favorite cooking oil.
Air Fryer - You can use any air fryer you have for this recipe. Keep in mind that if your air fryer basket is smaller, you may need to air fry asparagus in batches.
How to cook asparagus in air fryer
Wondering how to cook asparagus in air fryer? Follow this step-by-step photo tutorial, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.
Trim and clean the asparagus. Remove the woody stems with a sharp knife at the bottom of each asparagus spear. Rinse with cold water to remove any dirt, but be gentle.
PREP. Preheat your air fryer to 400F and gently coat the trimmed asparagus spears in oil.
COOK. Place coated asparagus at the bottom of your air fryer basket and set the timer for 10 minutes.
SHAKE. At the 5 minute mark, shake the asparagus or toss with tongs to evenly cook. Check again at 7-8 minutes to see if it needs a few more minutes of cooking time.
When the asparagus is roasted, remove with tongs and serve hot.
Tips
Since the air fryer will cook asparagus quickly, you’ll need to make sure that you preheat it so it gets nice and crisp, like roasted asparagus.
Every air fryer is different! This means the cooking time will vary based on the size and thickness of your asparagus as well as how hot your air fryer gets. Always check the asparagus 7-8 minutes in to see how cooked it is to adjust the cooking time.
While it’s ok to overlap the asparagus a bit because it will move when flipped, make sure it is in a single layer as much as possible so the asparagus gets crispy and does not steam.
Serving Suggestions
Top it with a poached egg, and serve for a healthy breakfast.
Enjoy your air fried asparagus as a healthy vegetable side dish.
Add to an Easter dinner of Mushroom Wellington, with Parmentier Potatoes, Roasted Celeriac, Green Beans Almondine and Glazed Carrots.
Pairs well with a side of Greek Spinach Rice.
A great addition to a savory breakfast with a Thai Omelet.
Serve it next to a hearty Portobello Mushroom Steak.
Asparagus Flavor Variations
Feel free to season your asparagus in many different ways to your personal tastes or to compliment the meal you’re serving it with. Try these variations below!
- Shredded Parmesan
- Balsamic Glaze
- Lemon or Lime Juice
- Lemon Garlic Seasoning
- Sriracha Aioli
- Tartar Sauce
- Italian Seasoning
- Baharat Middle Eastern spice blend
- Greek Seasoning
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Cajun or Creole Seasoning
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Alabama White Sauce
What is an Air Fryer?
An Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying food.
Instead of deep-frying or shallow frying, both of which use lots of oil, an air fryer uses circulated hot air to cook the food, allowing you to use little or no oil.
An air fryer is essentially a small electric convection oven that sits on your countertop.
When it circulates hot air inside the machine, food gets crispy, similarly to fried food, but without submerging the food in all the greasy oil!
Why Should I Use an Air Fryer?
I am a huge fan of the Air Fryer for so many reasons!
- It's healthier since it uses a LOT less oil than pan-frying or deep frying.
- Air Frying cooks food FAST.
- You don't need to heat the oven, so the house stays cool on warm days.
- It's EASY to use and quick to clean up.
If you're thinking about getting an Air Fryer, I highly recommend it. Check out my recommendations below!
What type of Air Fryer should I get?
There are many Air Fryers to choose from, so here are some options to check out!
Instant Pot Vortex Plus 10 Quart, 7-in-1 Multi-Use Air Fryer.
Ninja Air Fryer - 4 Quart.
COSORI Smart WiFi Air Fryer - 5.8 Quart, 13 Functions & 'Shake Remind'.
GoWISE USA Air Fryer & Dehydrator 7 Quart.
Important Note: Air fryer cooking temperatures vary depending on the model, make and type, so use the cooking time and temperature in this recipe as a guide only and check and adjust as needed. Start checking before the recommended cooking time is up.
Storage
Storing: Store cooked and cooled air-fried asparagus in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer or by using the microwave or a frying pan.
Freezing: Freezing air-fried asparagus is not recommended as the texture will change too much.
FAQs
Asparagus will let you know if it’s gone bad by having a rotten odor. It will also begin to become slimy and mushy especially at the tips.
Grab an asparagus spear at the bottom and see where it snaps off on its own. This is usually about 1-2 inches from the bottom. That is how much of each stem you want to cut off using a sharp knife, or you could snap them all.
This is a healthy green vegetable because it is low in calories, low in carbohydrates, and contains vitamins and minerals such as folate, vitamin A, C and K. Air frying asparagus also reduces the need to add any excess oil and just needs a little bit.
Asparagus pairs well with dairy, so try it with a little melted salted butter, hollandaise sauce, or a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.
It's also great with eggs, lemon, mint, hard cheese, mushrooms, orange, almond, and potatoes.
Thin, young asparagus is called sprue. They're harvested early, are smaller, and have a great flavor.
Yes! Try it shaved into a salad, or dipped in a sauce with other raw veggies.
Asparagus Recipes
If you still have lots of seasonal asparagus to use up, try it in these recipes!
Roasted Asparagus and Radishes
Roasted Asparagus Tart with Kale Pesto
Spaghetti with Kale, Lemon and Asparagus
More Air Fryer Recipes
I hope you'll love how easy it is to make asparagus in the air fryer. Be sure to try these other vegetarian and vegan air fried recipes too!
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Asparagus
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Cutting board
- Knife
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) fresh asparagus
- 2 teaspoons canola, olive or vegetable oil
To serve (optional)
- Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat the air fryer to 400°F / 200°C.
- Trim the woody firm ends off the asparagus. Toss them in the oil (or rub the oil onto them with your hands.
- Place the asparagus into the basket of the air fryer. Ideally in a single layer, but it’s okay if they are stacked a little since you’ll be shaking the basket during cooking.
- Cook for 7 minutes, shaking once halfway through.
- Check and cook for longer if necessary due to the thickness of your asparagus. You want the asparagus to darken slightly, but not burn.
- Serve dressed simply with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkling of salt and pepper, if desired, or try the optional toppings mentioned above.
Notes
Serving Suggestions
Top it with a poached egg, and serve for a healthy breakfast. Enjoy as a healthy vegetable side dish. Add to an Easter dinner of Mushroom Wellington, with Parmentier Potatoes, Roasted Celeriac, Green Beans Almondine and Glazed Carrots. Pairs well with a side of Greek Spinach Rice. Serve it next to a hearty Portobello Mushroom Steak. Toppings Try these toppings for your asparagus:- Shredded Parmesan
- Balsamic Glaze
- Lemon or Lime Juice
- Lemon Garlic Seasoning
- Italian Seasoning
- Greek Seasoning
- Cajun or Creole Seasoning
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Daisy B
Tried this tonight with our fresh salmon , and it was easy and yum!
Gina
Tried asparagus in the air fryer and loved it. So crispy and such an easy method!
Danielle Wolter
Love this! It was super easy to make and came out perfectly tender!
Allyssa
Thank you so much for sharing this very helpful and easy asparagus recipe! So excited to do it again! Thank you for the idea!
Dannii
We love asparagus in the air fryer (snacked on some yesterday). it gets so deliciously crispy. And the perfect season for it too!