Air Fryer Asparagus

The perfect side dish for busy weeknights, air fryer asparagus is crispy yet tender, with simple seasonings that let the vegetable’s earthy flavor shine through.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings to 4 servings

Calories 81kcal

Author John Kanell

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.

Nutrition