Looking for a simple veggie side dish but are tired of just steaming vegetables? Try out this air fryer asparagus recipe!
Made with fresh spears of asparagus, a little oil, salt, and pepper, this asparagus turns out lightly crispy on the outside while remaining tender and flavorful throughout!
Ingredients
- Asparagus – Preferably fresh asparagus spears that are about the same thickness.
- Oil – We use avocado oil, but you can use another oil such as canola, vegetable, or olive oil.
- Salt – To enhance the overall flavor.
- Black Pepper – For extra flavor; adjust to taste.
Recipe Tips
- Trim the tough ends of the asparagus. You can either cut or break them off.
- Thinner asparagus spears will cook faster than thicker ones, so keep an eye on them.
- Pierce the asparagus with a fork to test if it is tender.
- If you liked this recipe, you might also want to try bacon-wrapped asparagus for a little something extra!
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Step by Step Instructions
If you would like visuals for how to air fry asparagus, you can follow the recipe step-by-step process photos in this section.
First, wash the asparagus and pat it dry really well since you don’t want extra moisture to get into the air fryer.
Then trim the ends of the asparagus – you can cut them off or break them off.
At this time, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
Meanwhile, add the asparagus as well as the oil, salt, and pepper to a wide mixing bowl and toss until evenly coated.
When the air fryer is hot, add the asparagus and spread it out evenly. It should be in one even layer. If your air fryer is very small, you might have to cook it in two batches.
Air fry the asparagus at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 7-11 minutes or until tender and lightly crispy. Shake the air fryer basket approximately every 3 minutes.
Since every air fryer is slightly different, your cooking time might vary a bit. In our air fryer, the asparagus is usually done after 9 minutes.
When done, remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve it as a side to your main dish. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
Air-fried asparagus tastes best fresh, so don’t make extra just to have leftovers.
If you end up with leftovers, place them in a sealed container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. We recommend eating them sooner rather than later because they will get mushy over time.
You can reheat the leftovers in the air fryer, oven, or microwave (but the first two options will help to whisk away some of the extra moisture).
Related Recipes
For more great air fryer vegetable recipes, check out these classics:
- Air Fried Sweet Potato Fries
- Parmesan Baby Carrots
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Radish Chips in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Cauliflower
Air Fryer Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1/8 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper, more to taste
Instructions
- Wash the asparagus and pat it dry really well since you don't want extra moisture to get into the air fryer. Then trim the ends of the asparagus – you can cut them off or break them off.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Meanwhile, add the asparagus, oil, salt, and pepper to a wide mixing bowl and toss until evenly coated.
- When the air fryer is hot, add the asparagus and spread it out evenly. It should be in one even layer.
- Air fry the asparagus at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 7-11 minutes or until tender and lightly crispy. Shake the air fryer basket approximately every 3 minutes. Since every air fryer is slightly different, your cooking time might vary. In our air fryer, the asparagus is usually done after 9 minutes.
- When done, remove the cooked asparagus from the air fryer and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Thinner asparagus is going to need less time to cook than thicker asparagus. In our experience, thinner, smaller asparagus is done after approximately 7 minutes whereas ones with thicker stems need approximately 10 minutes.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. If yours is smaller than ours (we have a 6 quart), then you may have to cook this amount of asparagus in two batches.
- Pierce the asparagus with a fork to test if it is tender.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
This recipe was first published in February 2021 and updated in June 2024.
