Air fryer asparagus – is there anything that little machine can’t do? Locking in all its essential nutrients, asparagus in the air fryer is delicious, healthy, and so easy to make.
I’m a teensy bit obsessed with my air fryer. But who isn’t? If the last two years have shown us anything, it’s that we’re at the forefront of the air fryer revolution. People are transforming anything from gross to gorgeous, without the extra fat.
One of my top discoveries has been air fryer asparagus. This cooking process keeps these nutty, sweet veggies crispy and tender without roasting or baking them in the oven with mountains of butter.
Air-fried veggies are an amazing alternative to steaming, baking, or sauteing. Not only will it add plenty of flavor, but it’s a different way of cooking them that’s still super good for you. And my air fryer asparagus recipe is easy and delicious. It is my favorite way to transform this vegetable into an amazing side dish or green addition to any meal of the day.
Why Do You Air Fry Asparagus
Air frying is a healthy alternative to traditional frying methods. By circulating the hot air in a convection method, air frying uses minimal oil. It also maintains a crispy, crunchy exterior and a soft interior.
Veggies benefit especially from the air fryer method, as it can preserve the nutrients in cooking better than other methods. Asparagus in the air fryer emerges with a delicious flavor and its goodness is still intact.
Air frying asparagus is, in my opinion, the best way to cook it. With just a little olive oil and seasoning, you can turn an ordinary veggie into a five-star side. So, keep reading below to see how to make asparagus in an air fryer!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Asparagus
- Asparagus: For air-fried asparagus, fresh asparagus is best. The extra water from frozen or canned asparagus can mess with the overall texture that the air fryer produces. It can also take longer to cook.
- Olive oil: If you haven’t got olive oil to hand, you can easily substitute it with another heart-healthy fat. Use avocado oil, coconut oil, etc. Also, I recommend using oil over butter.
- Salt & Pepper: An easy seasoning, this will help bring out the natural flavors of the asparagus.
How to Cook Asparagus in Air Fryer
I love how quick and easy this recipe is. There are just two main steps – prepare and cook the asparagus.
Prepare the Asparagus
This asparagus air fryer recipe begins with the proper preparation of your asparagus. The stems are the only part you should be eating!
Trim the woody ends of the asparagus if needed. That way you have trimmed asparagus spears. Then drizzle with olive oil and liberally sprinkle salt and pepper. You can do this in a large bowl or just use your hands – but make sure the asparagus is fully coated.
How to Air Fry Asparagus
Place your asparagus stalks in the air fryer basket in a single layer so they’re not overlapping. Cook at 400ºF/200ºC. This asparagus recipe in the air fryer can be adapted to whatever size of asparagus you have to hand.
How Long to Cook Asparagus in Air Fryer
The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness.
- Thin: Cook for 3-5 minutes.
- Medium: Cook for 5-10 minutes. Mine were medium thickness and I cooked them for 7 minutes. I loved the asparagus texture.
- Thick: Cook for 10-15 minutes.
I love how simple yet delicious this roast asparagus tuns out. However, if wanted, you can further flavor it by adding minced garlic or garlic powder, a drizzle of lemon juice, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, etc.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Asparagus
My asparagus air fryer recipe is so versatile, that it can go with anything.
If I’ve got leftover asparagus hanging around, I love serving it with hot breakfasts. That could be poached eggs on toast or something a little fancier, like my Turkish Poached Eggs or French Baked Eggs.
They make a delicious side dish for hearty dinners too. Air fryer asparagus complements my Grilled Cauliflower Steaks or my Simple Whole Roasted Chicken. You can even add a side of Pickled Asparagus.
This air fry asparagus recipe is also really good with fish. Serve it along with my Baked Teriyaki Salmon or other flavorsome fishes like crab, scallops, and tuna.
How to Store and Reheat
For this asparagus air fryer recipe, make sure you store any leftover asparagus in an airtight container, in the refrigerator. This way, it’ll last up to five days – though it should ideally be eaten within a few days of cooking.
To keep the texture, reheat the asparagus in the air fryer. Do so at half the temperature it was cooked for 3-4 minutes – this will keep it crispy. Alternatively, you can pan-fry it with a little oil.
FAQs
Blanching is the process of quickly cooking a vegetable in boiling water, and then dropping it into ice water. This helps preserve its color and retain the essential goodness that gets lost during the cooking process.
You don’t need to blanch your air fryer asparagus before it hits the tray. Cooking asparagus in an air fryer will maintain its color. And, through its unique convection cooking process, it will also keep in its nutrients.
The air fryer does a lot of the work for you here. It’ll make sure your asparagus stays tender and crispy as it cooks.
If you want to increase the bite during cooking, you can undercook just a little. Or add a dash more oil than usual to crisp it up.
Of course, you can also add an additional crust – using grated parmesan cheese or breadcrumbs. In this way, you can give it an outer coating that’ll keep the outside crispy.
You’ll want to also make sure you eat it almost as soon as it’s done air frying. That way, it doesn’t have a chance to get cold and soggy.
More Recipes
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- Crispy Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli
If you try this recipe for cooking asparagus in air fryer, I’d love to hear your thoughts/questions below. Also, I’d appreciate a recipe card rating below, and feel free to tag me in your recipe recreations on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
Air Fryer Asparagus (Easy & Quick)
Ingredients
- 7.2 oz asparagus fresh is best
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil, coconut oil, etc.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Suggested Equipment
Instructions
- Prepare the asparagus by trimming the woody ends of the asparagus spears.
- Drizzle with olive oil and liberally sprinkle salt and pepper. You can do this in a large bowl or just use your hands – but make sure the asparagus is fully coated.
- Place your asparagus stalks in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 400ºF/200ºC. Adapt the cooking time to the thickness of the spears:– Thin: Cook for 3-5 minutes.– Medium: Cook for 5-10 minutes. I like mine at 7 minutes.– Thick: Cook for 10-15 minutes.
- To store: Make sure you store any leftover asparagus in an airtight container, in the refrigerator. It'll last up to five days – though it should ideally be eaten within a few days of cooking.To reheat: To keep the texture, reheat the asparagus in the air fryer. Do so at half the temperature it was cooked for 3-4 minutes – this will keep it crispy. Alternatively, you can pan-fry it with a little oil.
Notes
You’ll want to also make sure you eat it almost as soon as it’s done air frying. That way, it doesn’t have a chance to get cold and soggy. Check the blog post for serving suggestions and more answers to top FAQs!
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