Air Fryer Asparagus
Air Fryer Asparagus is the side dish you’ll want to enjoy all throughout spring! Cooking asparagus in the air fryer makes the best tender asparagus with crispy tips. A delicious way to enjoy fresh asparagus!
I love fresh asparagus and wish asparagus season could last just a bit longer. While it’s available, I try to incorporate fresh asparagus into our meals as much as possible. The tender stalks are packed with nutrition and flavor. This spring vegetable is also so versatile. I love serving it as a side dish, but it’s also delicious in salads, quiche and stir fries.
If you usually make roasted asparagus, you’re going to love this air fryer asparagus. Cooking asparagus in the air fryer is fast, easy and requires just a few simple ingredients to make the most delicious air fried asparagus. Air fryer asparagus is tender on the inside and crispy on the ends. This healthy side dish is so addicting!
This air fryer roasted asparagus is simply seasoned so that the flavor of this fresh green veggie can shine. I’ve given serving suggestions below for ways to fancy up your asparagus and enhance the flavor.
How to Cook Asparagus in the Air Fryer
Here’s an overview of how to air fry asparagus. Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions below.
Start by preheating your air fryer to 400° F for 5 minutes.
Wash the asparagus and dry it well. Trim off the woody stem end of each spear. To do this, hold a spear of asparagus on both ends and bend it until it snaps. Then repeat with each of the remaining asparagus, or line up all of the remaining asparagus on a cutting board and use a chef’s knife to cut them all at the same point where the first one snapped.
Place asparagus on a plate or in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
Place the asparagus in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook in batches, if needed. Air fry asparagus for 6 to 8 minutes at 400° F, until it is tender.
Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe Tips
- Be sure to preheat the air fryer. When you add the asparagus to the hot air fryer basket, it begins cooking immediately. This helps to crisp the edges.
- After washing the asparagus, dry it well. You don’t want any moisture left on the spears because this may cause the asparagus to steam as it cooks, leading to soggy asparagus.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Cook asparagus in a single layer, with a little bit of room in between each spear for best results. This allows air to circulate around each piece as it cooks, crisping the edges.
- Air fryers can vary so the cook time given is an estimate. Your air fryer may cook faster or slower than mine.
- If cooking in batches, you can serve each batch as it comes out of the air fryer or put all of the asparagus in the air fryer at the end for 1-2 minutes to reheat. It’s ok if the asparagus is not in a single layer when reheating all of the batches together.
Air Fryer Asparagus Serving Suggestions
This air fryer asparagus is delicious served as is, or with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese or some crumbled goat cheese. We also enjoy it with a squeeze of lemon juice and topped with toasted sliced or slivered almonds. If you like spice, try a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat.
Air fryer asparagus is the perfect side dish for many meals including air fryer chicken thighs. Or, try it with Baked Pork Chops, Chicken Parmesan or Grilled Salmon. It’s also an easy accompaniment for baked chicken breast or chicken thighs.
Leftover asparagus can be chopped and added to omelets, egg scrambles, vegetable stir fry, grain bowls and salads.
Don’t forget to try my Air Fryer Cauliflower next!
More Favorite Asparagus Recipes
- Asparagus Quiche
- One Pot Chicken Asparagus Pasta
- One Pan Salmon and Asparagus
Air Fryer Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer at 400° F for 5 minutes.
- Wash the asparagus and dry it well. Trim ends off of the asparagus by holding both ends and snapping off about 1 inch from the bottom, where the asparagus end naturally snaps off.
- Place asparagus on a plate or in a bowl and drizzle olive oil over the spears. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to evenly coat.
- Place asparagus in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with a little room between each piece. Cook at 400° for 6-8 minutes, until asparagus is tender. Thin asparagus will cook more quickly than thick asparagus stalks. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Air fryers can vary so the cook time given is an estimate. Your air fryer may cook faster or slower than mine.
- If cooking in batches, you can serve each batch as it comes out of the air fryer or put all of the asparagus in the air fryer at the end for 1-2 minutes to reheat. It's ok if the asparagus is not in a single layer when reheating all of the batches together.
- Nutrition information estimate does not include added salt, as this will vary.
