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Save time, oven space, and dinnertime stress with this Air Fryer Asparagus recipe, perfect to round out any lunch or dinner menu. The easy vegetable side dish can be yours in just 10 minutes with simple ingredients and lots of flavor.
Meggan’s notes
One of the most impactful lessons I learned in culinary school is that sometimes simple is best. This easy Air Fryer Asparagus recipe is an excellent example of that elegant mindset at play.
When fresh asparagus is in season, it doesn’t need anything more than a splash of olive oil, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to shine. The flavor is fantastic, and this cooked asparagus recipe makes for a stellar side dish for everything from seared scallops and Air Fryer Salmon to grilled steak to skillet chicken dinners.
Utilizing an air fryer allows you to score similar results to roast asparagus, just in far less time and without needing to preheat and take up space in your oven. I’ve learned through ample recipe developing that preheating is key for all air fryer recipes, including this one. It’s also helpful to shake the air fryer basket halfway through (or use tongs to flip the stalks on a tray, if you have a model that’s more toaster oven-style) to ensure even cooking.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Asparagus: When purchasing or harvesting asparagus, look for straight, sturdy spears that are bright green with a purple hue at the tip. At the store or farmers market, check the bottom of the bunch to see if the stalks are wrinkled, completely dried out, or too woody. Inspect the tops of the asparagus, too. To trim the tough, woody ends of each spear, cut it with a knife or bend it until it snaps. The asparagus will break precisely where the tender part ends and the tough part begins. Keep a close eye on slim, thin asparagus spears, as they will likely cook faster than thick spears.
- Olive oil: While you don’t need as much oil as you would to deep-fry or pan-fry, a bit of oil is essential for flavor, texture, and nutrition. (Did you know that your body absorbs some of the vitamins in veggies better when they’re paired with fat?) My favorite olive oil tastes faintly grassy, which plays nicely with the asparagus. However, it’s far from the only oil you can use here. If you prefer avocado oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, or even cooking spray, feel free to swap that in.
- Lemon: The zest of one lemon (about 1 teaspoon) can be added along with the lemon juice. Just zest the lemon before you cut it to squeeze it.
Step-by-step instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 370 degrees. In a large bowl, add asparagus, olive oil, and salt and pepper (I like at least ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper). Toss to combine. Be sure to coat the tips of the asparagus well so they don’t scorch.
- Transfer the asparagus to the basket of an air fryer and arrange in a single layer (work in batches if necessary). Leave enough space for air to circulate around the asparagus without overcrowding.
- Air fry at 370 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes or until the asparagus is tender-crisp but still green with browned edges. Shake the basket halfway through to ensure even heating. Serve hot or at room temperature with lemon wedges.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This easy Air Fryer Asparagus recipe makes four side-dish-sized servings. If you’d like to make more, I recommend doing so in two batches, since overcrowding the air fryer can result in soggy or limp results.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Try them in salads, omelets, frittatas, scrambles, pasta recipes, or soups.
- Jazz things up: I love adding garlic powder and crushed red pepper flakes along with the salt and pepper, and sometimes toss the cooked asparagus with balsamic vinegar or soy sauce when I’m adding the oil. It’s never a bad idea to garnish just before serving with a shower of fresh herbs or cheese, if you have them; try parsley, basil, or freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Peeling: If the skin seems thick and tough, use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to peel the stalk to within about 2 inches of the tip.
- Expired: Asparagus tips are the most tender part of the vegetable and are often the first part of the vegetable to spoil. If the tips start to change to a very dark green color and fall apart easily between your fingers, compost or discard them.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should always wash asparagus and any other produce before cooking, but there’s no need to soak it for an extended period of time. Be sure to dry it if you’re air frying it to help the oil can cling better and to allow it to air fry rather than steam.
There are three common mistakes that can lead to soggy air-fried asparagus spears: cooking them while wet, overcrowding the stalks, or overcooking the asparagus. To set yourself up for stalk success, be sure to dry the asparagus well after washing, allow for some space between the stalks in the basket or tray, and keep a close eye on the asparagus while cooking (especially if you’re starting with slim, tender stems).
More asparagus recipes
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Air Fryer Asparagus
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus trimmed (see note 1)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- lemon wedges for serving, optional
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 370 degrees. In a large bowl, add asparagus, olive oil, and salt and pepper (I like at least ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper). Toss to combine. Be sure to coat the tips of the asparagus well so they don't scorch.
- Transfer the asparagus to the basket of an air fryer and arrange in a single layer (work in batches if necessary). Leave enough space for air to circulate around the asparagus without overcrowding.
- Air fry at 370 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes or until the asparagus is tender-crisp but still green with browned edges. Shake the basket halfway through to ensure even heating. Serve hot or at room temperature with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Asparagus: To trim the tough, woody ends of each spear, cut it with a knife or bend it until it snaps. The asparagus will break precisely where the tender part ends and the tough part begins. Keep a close eye on slim, thin asparagus spears, as they will likely cook faster than thick spears.
- Yield: This easy Air Fryer Asparagus recipe makes four side dish-sized servings. If you’d like to make more, I recommend doing so in two batches, since overcrowding the air fryer can result in soggy or limp results.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.