Cooked to crisp-tender perfection, air fryer asparagus is a no-fuss, easy side dish perfect for busy weeknights. Simply seasoned with salt and pepper and served with grated parmesan and lemon wedges, air fried asparagus pairs so well with a variety of different main meals.
I serve air fryer asparagus with basically any protein! See below for some delicious chicken, salmon, pork, and beef recipes that would all taste amazing with this side dish. For more air fryer recipes, try my air fryer green beans, air fryer cheesecake, and air fryer baked potato.
What You Need To Make This Recipe
Asparagus — you need 1 pound of fresh asparagus. Choose a bunch of asparagus with spears of approximately the same thickness so they cook evenly. Look for spears that are mostly green throughout and asparagus tips that are not mushy or slimy.
Oil — I used olive oil, but you could use any cooking oil you prefer.
Seasonings — a little salt and black pepper is all you need to enhance the natural flavor of fresh asparagus.
To serve — a squeeze of lemon for brightness and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for nuttiness is the perfect finishing touch on this simple side dish.
How To Make Air Fryer Asparagus
1. Break or cut off the tough, woody ends of the asparagus.
2. Place the asparagus in the basket of an air fryer in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to work in batches.
3. Drizzle the spears with olive oil.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Shake the basket or toss with a fork to coat the asparagus in the seasonings. Air fry at 400°F for 6 minutes. Shake the basket after 6 minutes to move the asparagus around and to promote even cooking. Cook for another 4 to 6 minutes, until the edges are crispy but the insides are tender.
6. Serve air fryer asparagus with parmesan cheese and lemon wedges for a sprinkle of lemon juice.
How To Trim And Prepare Fresh Asparagus
Trimming fresh asparagus is a breeze. The quickest way is to simply lay the spears on a cutting board and cut about 1 to 1 ½ inches off the ends to remove the hard, pale part. You can also bend each spear near the base and the tough, woody ends will simply snap off. You can then trim the ends so they have clean cuts if desired.
Can I Use Frozen Asparagus?
While you can air fry asparagus from frozen, I recommend using fresh asparagus for the best texture. Because frozen vegetables release more liquid during cooking, you may not get the crispy air fryer asparagus you hope for, and the overall texture can be somewhat mushy after they have thawed.
Why Isn’t My Asparagus Crispy?
Overcooking asparagus is the main reason asparagus turns out soggy instead of crispy. Asparagus is one of those veggies that can overcook quite easily, and it’s important to remember that spear thickness will affect cooking time.
Thinner spears of asparagus may only take 6 to 8 minutes to cook in the air fryer. Thicker spears of asparagus will air fry for 12 to 14 minutes. Keep an eye on the asparagus and remove it from the air fryer while it’s still bright green and slightly crisp to account for carryover cooking (meaning it will continue to cook and soften even after you remove it from the air fryer).
Another important thing to consider is overcrowding. If you crowd the air fryer basket and there’s no room for hot air to circulate properly, the asparagus will steam and become limp and soft instead of tender and crisp. To avoid this, place the asparagus in a single layer in the basket and work in batches.
Seasoning Variations
While I favor simple seasonings to let the earthiness of the asparagus shine, there are loads of creative, delicious ways to season up this delicious air fried asparagus:
- Herbs: Chop up your favorite fresh herbs like Italian parsley, tarragon, or basil to sprinkle over the asparagus when you serve it. You can also use a dried herb or herb blend, like dill or Italian seasoning, to sprinkle on the asparagus along with the salt and pepper before you air fry it.
- Add heat: For a spicy twist, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or harissa powder along with the salt and pepper.
- Use garlic: If you love garlic, add 1 clove of minced garlic with the salt and pepper before tossing the asparagus to coat with the olive oil. Or, use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Drizzle with balsamic vinegar: Instead of lemon juice, drizzle the cooked asparagus with a little balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Asparagus
There are so many delicious main dishes that pair well with air fryer asparagus.
To make your whole dinner in the air fryer, serve asparagus alongside flaky air fryer salmon, juicy air fryer steak, or herby air fryer chicken breast. For dessert, try air fryer cookies or air fryer brownies.
Here are a few more main dish ideas:
- Baked Chicken Legs or Baked Chicken Thighs
- Sole Meunière
- Roasted Duck
- Bacon-Wrapped Chicken
- Roasted Pork Tenderloin
- Garlic Shrimp
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- When choosing asparagus: Choose bunches of asparagus with spears that have a similar thickness. They will cook at the same speed, so you don’t end up with thin spears that are overcooked and thick spears that are still hard.
- Air fry in batches: This will yield crispier, more caramelized asparagus.
- Olive oil substitute: You can use an olive oil spray (I recommend a non-aerosol variety!) in place of the olive oil. You could also use avocado oil or avocado oil spray.
- To roast asparagus: Instead of air frying, you can roast the asparagus, after tossing in oil and seasonings, in the oven at 425°F for 9 to 12 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Leftover asparagus will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave, keeping in mind that you’ll lose some of the crispy texture. The flavor will still be amazing, though!
Aerosol cooking spray isn’t recommended for air fryers as the spray can cook onto the surface of the air fryer basket, damaging the non-stick coating. You can use a non-aerosol oil spray instead or toss the vegetables in 2 to 3 teaspoons of regular oil until well coated.
Some air fryers need to be preheated, and others do not. However, even if I use a model that doesn’t need to be preheated, I preheat it for 3 or so minutes anyway so the asparagus goes into a hot air fryer basket and can start to crisp up from the very beginning.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this air fryer asparagus recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Asparagus
Equipment
- 6-quart air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus (450g)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Parmesan cheese to serve
- Lemon wedges to serve
Instructions
- Break or cut off the ends of the asparagus. (This should be about 1 ½ – inches off of the bottom.)
- Place the asparagus in the basket of an air fryer. Drizzle all over with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Shake the basket to coat the asparagus in the seasonings.
- Air fry at 400°F for 6 minutes. Stop and shake the basket to move the asparagus around. Cook for another 4 to 6 minutes, until crisp yet tender.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve with lemon wedges for squeezing over top, if desired.
Notes
- When choosing asparagus: Choose bunches of asparagus with spears that have a similar thickness. They will cook at the same speed, so you don’t end up with thin spears that are overcooked and thick spears that are still hard.
- Air fry in batches: This will yield crispier, more caramelized asparagus.
- Olive oil substitute: You can use an olive oil spray (I recommend a non-aerosol variety!) in place of the olive oil. You could also use avocado oil or avocado oil spray.
- To roast asparagus: Instead of air frying, you can roast the asparagus, after tossing in oil and seasonings, in the oven at 425°F for 9 to 12 minutes.
