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asparagus with Parmesan and chopped parsley garnish on white serving plate
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5 from 15 votes

Air Fryer Asparagus (with Parmesan option)

Here's how to cook asparagus in the air fryer perfectly tender and crispy in minutes with minimal oil. Try it with Parmesan and other seasonings!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 23kcal
Author: Traci

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ½ pound Asparagus Spears any size
  • 2 teaspoons Olive Oil or preferred oil

Optional add-ons

  • Sea Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Grated Parmesan to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prep the asparagus by removing woody-textured ends, if needed.
  • Coat ASPARAGUS with OIL.
    Note: I prefer to roll asparagus in oil on a baking pan to reduce waste and achieve the lightest oil coating.
  • Arrange asparagus in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  • Cook 5-7 minutes for medium-sized stalks, or as needed to reach a tender crisp texture.
    Note: At your discretion, decrease the cook time for thinner stalks and increase cook time for thicker stalks.
  • Season with SALT, PEPPER, and optional PARMESAN CHEESE. Serve and enjoy!
  • To store, allow asparagus to cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to five days.

Notes

Oil is a necessity to make asparagus in the air fryer crispy because it helps brown the surface. It also prevents the asparagus from drying out.
Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket because the circulating high heat is what makes asparagus cook so efficiently inside your air fryer.
A half pound of medium-sized asparagus spears fit with no overlap in the 5.8 quart air fryer basket. See photos in the above section for reference.
Depending on your air fryer model, you may find it helpful to shake the air fryer basket halfway through the cook cycle to promote even browning.

Nutrition

Serving: 2ounces | Calories: 23kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 214IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg