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Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

by Traci · Published: 03/19/2022 · Updated: 03/19/2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe

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5 from 2 votes
15 minutes

Air fried asparagus is so healthy and delicious, you’ll eat it more often! Quick prep, minimal oil, and fast air frying results in mouthwatering, tender crisp asparagus.

Air fryer asparagus on white serving platter
Table of Contents hide
1) Air fried asparagus is the best way to cook it
2) What you’ll need
3) What to look for when buying asparagus
4) How to make this recipe
5) Tips for success
6) How to store and reheat leftovers
7) Can this recipe be frozen?
8) Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe

Air fried asparagus is the best way to cook it

If you're looking for a quick and healthy way to cook asparagus, look no further than your air fryer. Just like air fryer mushrooms and air fryer Brussels sprouts, air fryer asparagus is super fast and has become my favorite way to prepare it.

Using an air fryer to cook asparagus results in spears with crispy ends and tender inside. It's the perfect side dish for easy entrees like air fryer pork tenderloin, baked feta pasta to air fryer whole chicken. I like to serve air fried asparagus with Parmesan and a squeeze of fresh lemon for a bright flavor. It's also delicious on its own with just a touch of salt and pepper.

Can’t get enough asparagus in the spring? Try my recipes for sauteed asparagus, lemony baked asparagus, and asparagus bacon egg casserole too!

Overhead view of air fryer asparagus ingredients with labels

What you’ll need

The ingredients here are simple because asparagus is the star of the show! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • asparagus spears - I'm using a medium sized asparagus for this recipe, so you'll need to adjust the amount of air fryer time up for larger asparagus and down for thinner asparagus.
  • extra virgin olive oil - or spray cooking oil
  • salt and pepper - add to taste
  • grated Parmesan – a sprinkle of this makes asparagus irresistible in my book
  • lemon wedges – a squeeze of this will brighten up the savory asparagus flavor

What to look for when buying asparagus

When buying asparagus, it should be firm, not limp. You should also avoid buying asparagus with shriveled stalks or frayed tips because these are signs that it’s past its prime. Spring is asparagus season which makes it more affordable and abundant!

What size asparagus is best for air frying?

My recipe uses a half pound of asparagus that, as you can see, fits perfect in the 5.7 quart basket-style air fryer. Any air fryer will work for this recipe. Thick spears take longer and thin spears take less time, so adjust accordingly.

Does asparagus need to be peeled?

Some cooks remove the tough, woody stem of asparagus by peeling it. I prefer to remove the tough ends of asparagus by cutting it off with a chef knife.

Asparagus spears on serving tray garnished with grated parmesan and lemon wedges

How to make this recipe

Ready for a 10-minute spring side dish?! Here’s what you’ll need to do.

Prepare. Lightly coat the asparagus with the olive oil, then place it in a single layer in your air fryer basket. I always season after air frying to accommodate restricted diets.

Note: In these pictures, you're seeing ½ pound of medium asparagus spears in my 5.7 quart air fryer basket.

Asparagus spears arranged in air fryer basket

Cook the asparagus at 380°F for 5 to 7 minutes. I usually check it at 5 minutes, give it a shake, and continue as needed.

Asparagus spears in air fryer basket

Transfer the asparagus to a serving platter. Enjoy it with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, a squeeze of lemon, black pepper, and salt, if needed.

Closeup of asparagus on white platter garnished with parmesan and parsley

Tips for success

Here are some tips for cooking asparagus in an air fryer:

Always remove the tough, woody ends of asparagus. You can use a knife and cut them off, or snap them off with your fingers.

Adjust the air fryer time for asparagus size. This recipe is written for medium asparagus with tender-crisp results. Use less time for thinner spears and more time for thicker spears.

Don’t overlap food the air fryer basket because food needs air needs to circulate around it for optimal air frying. If needed, you can air fry asparagus in smaller batches – the cooking time is short enough to do this efficiently.

Air fryer asparagus on white rectangular serving tray

How to store and reheat leftovers

To store, allow the asparagus to cool and refrigerate it in an airtight container up to five days. It can be eaten cold, at room temperature, or reheated in the air fryer.

You can also use leftover asparagus in recipes like my breakfast pizza on puff pastry.

Can this recipe be frozen?

Asparagus is tender crisp when enjoyed right out of the air fryer. If you have leftovers that you’d like to freeze, they can be placed in a freezer bag and frozen for up to 2 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Closeup of asparagus on white platter garnished with parmesan and parsley

Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe

Air fried asparagus is so healthy and delicious, you’ll eat it more often! Quick prep, minimal oil, and fast air frying results in mouthwatering, tender crisp asparagus.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 ¼ pound servings
Author: Traci The Kitchen Girl

INGREDIENTS
 

  • ½ pound Asparagus Spears, trimmed
  • 2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, or oil spray
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste
  • (optional) Grated Parmesan, to taste
  • (optional) Lemon Wedges

Instructions
 

  • Lightly coat ASPARAGUS SPEARS with OLIVE OIL.
  • Place asparagus in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  • Select 380°F and cook asparagus 5-7 minutes for medium sized spears for tender crisp texture. Add or reduce time, if preferred.
  • Transfer asparagus to a serving platter. Add SALT and PEPPER to taste.
  • (optional) Garnish with a sprinkle of PARMESAN CHEESE and LEMON WEDGES.
  • To store, allow asparagus to cool and refrigerate in an airtight container up to five days.
Tried this recipe? I'd love your review!Visit the comments below and tell me how it went.

Traci's Recipe Notes

This recipe is written for medium sized asparagus and cook time should be adjusted accordingly for larger or smaller asparagus. Also, cook similar sized spears together for evenly cooked asparagus.

Equipment

  • 5.8 quart basket air fryer (Cosori XL) or other air fryer
  • baking sheet or mixing bowl to prep asparagus
  • tongs

NUTRITION

Serving: 0.25pounds | Calories: 29kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 429IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.

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Comments

  1. JB says

    March 19, 2022 at 7:47 am

    5 stars
    Yes! Love how easy it is to make air fryer asparagus. Parmesan is a must for me! I'll probably never cook asparagus any other way. Thanks for another winner KG!

    Reply

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