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Get It Now- Why You’ll Love My Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How To Cook Asparagus In The Air Fryer
- My Recipe Tips
- How Long To Cook Asparagus In The Air Fryer?
- Flavor Variations
- Storage Instructions
- Serving Ideas
- More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
- My Tools For This Recipe
- Air Fryer Asparagus (Fast & Easy) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
My air fryer asparagus recipe is seriously the fastest way to “roast” asparagus — in less than 10 minutes! And you know I love a good 10-minute recipe. Once you season the stalks, cooking asparagus in the air fryer is super quick, to the point where you might wonder if you can really cook a veggie in that amount of time. You can, and this is that last-minute side dish to save your busy day just in time for dinner. Oh, and did I mention you get the perfect crispness on the tips just like when you grill asparagus? It’s the best, best part.
Ever since I got my air fryer, it’s become my most-used appliance and I’ve been whipping up easy air fryer recipes multiple times a week, sometimes even daily. Anyone who’s been to my house has seen me with it. I love it for making foods crispy without much oil (hello, air fryer french fries!) or super juicy (air fryer pork chops are perfect every time). But the simply fast ones — like my air fryer asparagus — will be your game changer.
Why You’ll Love My Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
- Amazing texture – I can’t get enough of those tender asparagus stalks with crispy tips. If the fast and easy aspect of this dish doesn’t win you over, those golden brown tips totally will.
- Light and bright taste – I’ve got all the classic spring flavors going here. Zesty lemon! Nutty garlic! Earthy asparagus! Yep, my air fryer asparagus is a little sweet, a little savory, and a little tangy in all the right ways.
- 4 simple ingredients – Plus salt and pepper. Going back to the basics!
- So, so fast – I love this vegetable in all the ways, but my air fryer method is a faster alternative to my roasted asparagus and less mess than sauteed asparagus. You can have it on the table in less than 10 minutes!
- Easy, healthy side dish – Not only is it a breeze to prep, it’s also naturally low carb, gluten-free, and just a delicious way to eat your veggies.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for my air fried asparagus, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Asparagus – Look for fresh asparagus spears that are plump and firm, with closed tips. Any thickness works (cook time will vary — see below!), but I prefer medium or thick because they are less prone to overcooking. If you have extras, use them to make my asparagus salad or some pickled asparagus.
- Oil – Helps the seasonings stick, adds flavor, and helps achieve the crispy tips. I usually use olive oil because the flavor pairs nicely with asparagus, but you can also use avocado oil.
- Lemon Juice – I prefer fresh lemon juice for the best flavor, or bottled for convenience.
- Spices – Garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Simple!
How To Cook Asparagus In The Air Fryer
This section shows step-by-step photos together with the instructions, to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Trim the asparagus. Remove the tough, woody ends of the asparagus. The fastest way is to cut off about an inch from the bottom, but the most reliable way to remove just the right amount is to bend each stalk at the base and it will snap at the perfect spot.
- Toss in seasonings. Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat evenly. (I like to do this in a shallow baking dish because the spears can lay flat that way, but a large bowl also works.)
- Let your air fryer work its magic. Place the asparagus in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry until tender, browned, and crispy on the edges. I like to serve it with lemon slices or wedges.
My Recipe Tips
- Choose stalks that are similar in thickness. You can air fry asparagus that’s thick, thin, or anywhere in between, but they all need to be about the same to cook at the same rate. Otherwise, you’ll end up with some pieces that are limp and others that aren’t done yet.
- Cook in batches if needed. Make sure your stalks are in a single layer and don’t crowd the basket! My air fryer asparagus recipe here fits in my basket in one go, but I cook in batches if I want to make more. It’s okay if the pieces touch or overlap a bit, but you don’t want them on top of each other. And the more spread out they are, the more of those delicious crispy tips you get!
- Wondering what to do with the woody ends? You can certainly toss them, but sometimes I use them to make my creamy asparagus soup.
How Long To Cook Asparagus In The Air Fryer?
Air fryer asparagus takes 3-6 minutes for thin stalks, 5-8 minutes for medium, or 7-10 minutes for thick. I love that it takes less than half the time it would take in the oven!
Flavor Variations
- Parmesan – This is my favorite simple addition to air fryer asparagus. Simply toss the spears in grated parm before roasting for a cheesy, crispy coating. You can also just sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese right in the basket before cooking, which gives a more melty result.
- Italian – Add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning for extra flavor.
- Balsamic – When I want a sweeter flavor, I use balsamic vinegar instead of lemon juice. A drizzle of balsamic glaze at the end also tastes amazing.
- Bacon Wrapped – Prepare the stalks the same way as my regular bacon wrapped asparagus, then cook in the air fryer instead of the oven. The time is the same as air frying without the bacon.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Asparagus tastes best fresh, but you can keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat: I like to chop it up and toss it in fried rice or my salmon salad, but if you want to reheat it, using the air fryer again for a minute or two is your best bet.
- Freeze: You could freeze air fried asparagus, but I don’t recommend it. It tends to get mushy, though it could be okay to use in soups or casseroles.
Serving Ideas
This veggie cooks super fast in the air fryer, so I recommend a fast main dish to go along with it! Try my other simple ideas that you can make quickly:
- Chicken – Cook it your favorite way! The staple methods in my family are air fryer chicken breast, juicy baked chicken drumsticks, and crispy oven baked chicken wings. But lately we are loving my air fryer chicken leg quarters, which you can cook right after the asparagus.
- Steak – This is a great option for a meal that feels fancy, but steak is actually one of the fastest main courses to make! Check out my methods for sirloin steak, filet mignon, or ribeye that produce a juicy result every time.
- Fish – There are few pairings more classic than fish and asparagus! This vegetable pairs perfectly with my crispy air fryer salmon or air fried tilapia if you want to use the same appliance. When I want my main and side ready at the same time, I prepare my baked haddock or broiled salmon first, pop it in the oven, then cook the asparagus in the air fryer.
- Brunch – Asparagus is fabulous for brunch! Try it with my crustless spinach quiche or steak and eggs. Don’t forget the hollandaise sauce!
- Salads – In the spring when I inevitably grabbed too much asparagus, I toss extra air fried asparagus into my salads, like strawberry spinach salad or spring mix salad.
More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
Making veggies in the air fryer is incredibly fast and easy! If you like my air fryer asparagus recipe, you might also like some of these:
My Tools For This Recipe
- Air Fryer – I’ve tried a few different air fryers and this one is my favorite!
- Shallow Baking Dish – Prep and serve the asparagus right in this dish.
Air Fryer Asparagus (Fast & Easy)
This crispy, tender air fryer asparagus makes a fast, healthy, and easy side dish. It cooks in just a few minutes, with 4 simple ingredients!
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
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In a shallow baking dish, drizzle the asparagus with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Move the pieces around to coat evenly.
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Working in batches if needed, arrange the asparagus in the air fryer in a single layer. Air fry for 5-8 minutes for medium thickness asparagus, 7-10 minutes for thick asparagus, or 3-6 minutes for thin asparagus, until the asparagus is tender, browned, and crispy on the edges.
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers, or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/4 of entire recipe
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
36 Comments
Holly Secord
0Delicious! I will be saving this recipe! We just had our first asparagus pick of the season 😋
Jay Arcuri
0Loved it
Jennifer
0I live for my air fryer so this recipe was perfect and Oh so delicious. Great Job
Jane
0Good grief! This is the best, the most delicious asparagus ever! Exactly as written. 😋 Thanks so much!
Gail
0Great site, and recipes. So many good things about doing veggies in the air fryer!!
Love asparagus with lemon especially in the air fryer.
Richard Lambert
0Hi ! just let me know if this recepie can be as good if I use an oil frying pan ? Does this dish need to be cook as is or do I need to change or add some other things ? Thanks for all your good recepies.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Richard, Maybe you would be interested in my sautéed asparagus recipe.
Kim
0We love using the airfryer for veggies. I’ve never tried using lemon juice and it was delicious!
Kristyn
0Asparagus is the best!! I make it all the time!! The air fryer makes it so perfectly!! It’s crisp & delicious!!
Lisa
0Yum! Thank you!
Ralph Douvillier
0This sounds good. I’ve only had Asparagus steamed. I’ve been looking for a good recipe. Thank you for posting it…
Robin
0This was so easy and so delicious in my Instant Pot air fryer! 💖
Jane
0This is the best recipe for asparagus ever. Easy to follow instructions, another opportunity to use my air fryer and absolutely delicious. Thanks so much.
Trevor
0Was looking for a side for my air fried chuck roast, and came upon this. Don’t like parmesan so, I changed it ups slightly. Sea salt, fresh ground pepper & lemon juice NO GARLIC POWDER (you’ll see why shortly!).
Otherwise as per your directions. HOWEVER I premade patties of unsalted butter with fresh minced garlic. On serving, a couple of the patties were placed on the asparagus, and with the patties that were also used with the chuck roast…….wow!
nah
0what temperature does the air fryer need to be set at????
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi, The air fryer is set to 400 degrees F. You can find this in step #1 on the recipe card.
Shawn
0Am I missing what temp to set the air fryer to? If so I apologize. What temp do you cook the asparagus at?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Shawn, Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
Barbara
0Do I then transfer the asparagus from the shallow baking dish into the basket in the airfryer?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Barbara, Yes, you will want to transfer into the air fryer basket.
Lori J Moran
0Loved it! It was quick, easy and delish. Usually I will do asparagus on the grill, or steam them (boring). This was perfect. Highly recommend!
Jess
0This was fantastic. Just ate about a pound of asparagus by myself. 🤣 it was better than any other way I have prepared asparagus in my 38 years of existence. To think, I was about to throw the bunch I bought this weekend away because it never turns out good anyways😂😅
Charles
0This recipe is amazing! I have always baked my asparagus, which, don’t get me wrong, was delicious. When I tried this recipe, though, I was blown away by the flavor that the asparagus retained! I did what this recipe suggested and put the parmesan on halfway through cooking, and it came out perfect. I won’t ever cook asparagus any other way again.
Amy L Huntley
0These are so crispy and tender too. Cooked to perfection. The flavor is amazing too.
Laura
0I love air fryer asparagus!! So easy to make!
Shelby
0Asparagus is a popular side dish around here, love how quickly this came together!
Shari
0Wow I haven’t tried asparagus in our air fryer… we just got one for Christmas. This looks delicious and we love asparagus!
April
0This is the BEST way to cook asparagus! It comes out so tender and flavorful.
Toni
0This has been one of my favoite air fryer recipes! Thanks for sharing!
Donna Batrone
0Seriously this is the best and only way to make asparagus! Perfect every time!
Amy L Huntley
0These are perfectly cooked! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. So, flavorful too!
Kristyn
0Seriously the best!! The air fryer makes it super easy & it turns out delicious!!
Jenn
0Asparagus is my favorite vegetable and I love how the tips of the spears get a little crispy in the air fryer!
Eden
0So easy to make and turned out wonderful! I’ll be making it again for Easter dinner!
Allyson Zea
0One of my favorite side dishes in the air fryer!
Doris Layhe
0Asparagus is my favorite! I was so excited to make this and I am so happy I did, it was delicious! And so easy!