Searching for a side dish but tired of simply steaming vegetables? Try out this air fryer asparagus recipe!
Made from fresh spears of asparagus, a little oil, and some very simple spices, air-fried asparagus is light and crispy at one end while remaining tender and flavorful throughout!
Recipe Tips/Substitutions
Before you make asparagus in the air fryer, read through these recipe tips so you have the best results!
- We use avocado oil when we air fry because it has a higher smoke point (it can be heated up to a high temperature without creating smoke). We don’t recommend oils with lower smoke points – like some olive oils – for use in the air fryer.
- Be sure to trim the tough ends off the asparagus. There’s nothing worse than munching on a yummy asparagus spear and getting to the grainy end that is tough to eat!
- Thinner, small asparagus will definitely cook faster than asparagus spears with a thicker diameter. Watch your asparagus for the ends to become crispy but not too brown or burnt. This is a good indicator that the asparagus is tender through. When in doubt, pierce it with a fork.
We use this air fryer for our recipes and it has been great.
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 tougher 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 7-11 minutes 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
When you air fry asparagus, it’s honestly best fresh and we’d not recommend storing it overnight because it can get a little mushy.
However, if you must store leftovers, place them in a sealed container in the fridge. Eat them as soon as you can.
You can reheat the leftovers in the air fryer, oven, or microwave (but the first two options will help to whisk away extra moisture).
What to Serve Air Fryer Asparagus With
With a nice texture and distinct flavor, air fried asparagus makes a perfect veggie side dish.
Like other green vegetables, we like air-fried asparagus with classic, well-rounded dinners that include another side like mashed potatoes or roasted baby potatoes with a nice gravy and meat (like pork tenderloin, lamb chops, or even duck) or vegetarian alternative (like bean fritters).
Something about asparagus feels a little more “fancy” – but it’s a vegetable that can be enjoyed with most dinner dishes, really!
Related Recipes
For more great air fried vegetable recipes, check out these classics:
- Air Fried Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Radish Chips in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Cauliflower
Air Fryer Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
- 2 teaspoons avocado 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 tougher 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 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 7-11 minutes 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 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.
- Once again, 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.
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.
