Easy Air Fryer Asparagus

Jump to Recipe

Are you a fan of preparing asparagus simply, roasting with the tiniest amount oil and sprinkling of salt, to allow the unique flavour of asparagus to really shine.

Well, cooking the tender spears in the air fryer means that you can enjoy delicious roasted asparagus in a fraction of time that the traditional oven roasting method requires.

Plus you get to free up your oven, grill or instant pot so you can cook other dishes at the same time. Easy peasy veggies right.

How amaaaaazing is that?! As easy as this Air Fryer Cabbage and Air Fryer Green Beans and crispy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes and best ever Air Fryer Vegetables.

Healthier Air Fryer Asparagus

Not only is asparagus one of the tastiest vegetables around, it is super low in calories (a half cup contains just 20 calories!) and loaded with fibre. 

Asparagus is soooooo versatile. Serve it up for breakfast of brunch in omelettes and quiches, or add it to soup or a lovely salad for a light and healthy lunch. Plus air fried asparagus really is the perfect side dish to almost any main course.

Asparagus is great paired with my delectable Air Fryer Salmon or this Air Fryer Whole Chicken. So good!

Why Make This Recipe

• needs only 3 simple ingredients.
• kids and picky eaters alike love ’em!
• simple to prepare and no deep frying needed.
• it is very customizable.
• tastes as good as traditional roasted asparagus.
• this is a versatile side that goes with everything.
• naturally vegan, low carb, keto, paleo, whole 30, and gluten free.

Ingredient Notes

• Asparagus – For this you need fresh asparagus which has been rinsed and the woody ends trimmed or snapped off. Make sure they are fresh and firm. Discard if wilted or if color is fading.
• Olive Oil – Use your everyday olive oil, avocado oil or other mild flavored oil to cook this.
• Salt – A sprinkle of salt, finishes this off wonderfully.
• Lemon juice – Optionally you can squeeze on some fresh lemon juice or the bottled version for extra flavor.

Ready to learn how to cook asparagus in the air fryer. Then gather up your ingredients and I will show you….

How To Air Fry Asparagus

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below

1. Preheat the air fryer air fryer to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C.
2. Trim, rinse and dry asparagus spears.
3. Lightly spray with cooking spray or olive oil and sprinkle with the best sea salt making sure the spears are all coated.
4. Place the asparagus in the air fryer basket in a single layer – cooking in batches if needed.
5. Air fry for 5-8 minutes.
6. Remove from air fryer and serve.

Top Recipe Tips

• Try and make sure the vegetable stems are all of a similar size so that they cook at the same time. Separate thick and thin ones and cook separately.
• Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket so the veggies cook and crisp up well (they will steam rather than crisp up if too full).
• Do make sure to trim / cut or snap off the inedible woody stems before cooking.
• For those not following a vegan diet, I highly recommend trying out the variations on this recipe for air fryer roasted asparagus further below.

Delicious Variations

Air Fryer Asparagus With Bacon

You will absolutely loooooove the combination of tender asparagus and crispy meaty bacon. It is perfect for serving at parties or as a delicious game day snack. Because everything is better with bacon, right?!

Here is how to make asparagus wrapped bacon in the air fryer:

• Trim, rinse and season asparagus stalks, following this recipe.
• Wrap one slice of bacon (or prosciutto) around 2-3 asparagus stalks, depending on thickness, and secure with a toothpick.
• Place your wraps in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Cook at 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C for 8 minutes, checking for doneness at least once and adjusting cook time if needed.
• These are ready to eat, so serve and enjoy!

Parmesan Crusted version

Parmesan Crusted Asparagus is amazingly delicious. Air frying the cheese provides a wonderfully nutty flavour and a great crunchy outer coating. To make this, follow these easy steps:

• Trim, rinse and season asparagus stalks, following this recipe.
• Sprinkle the stalks with salt and grated Parmesan cheese, and other seasonings and herbs if desired.
• Place the coated asparagus in a single layer inside the air fryer
• Cook at 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C for 8 minutes, checking for doneness at least once and adjusting cook time if needed.

Season Your Air Fryer Vegetables

• Use Homemade Seasoning Blends to effortlessly add flavor to your crisp, crunchy veggies. You can use store bought seasonings as they certainly make your life easier.
• Add spices – Add some extra flavour with your favourite herbs and spices. Try a combination of thyme, rosemary, and garlic powder. Or you can simple season with salt and pepper.
• Add heat – red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or chipotle flakes are an easy way to add heat.

Storage

• Store – Leftovers should be stored in an air tight container for up to 3 days. 
• Reheat – For a couple of minutes in a preheated Air Fryer or in a skillet on the stove top.
• Freeze – These are can be frozen although they will turn a little bit mushy. Follow the recipe, cool, wrap in aluminium foil, add into a ziplock bag and freeze.

FAQs

How Long To Cook Asparagus In Air Fryer?

Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting out with less cook time, checking for doneness, and then adding more time as needed.

Wondering how long to air fry asparagus? Time will depend on how thick the asparagus spears are.

• Thinner ones will take less time so aim for 4-6 minutes.
• Medium ones will take 5-8 minutes.
• Thicker ones will take 8 – 10 minutes.

How To Trim Asparagus Spears

Wondering how to trim asparagus? Many people swear by the ‘bend and snap’ method for trimming asparagus spears. And while that does indeed remove the woody ends, you will end up with asparagus stalks that are different lengths.

Plus it may remove some of the perfectly tasty, usable portion of asparagus in the process. I find it is faster and more efficient to simply trim off the tough woody ends using a chef’s knife.

• Just line up your stalks on a cutting board.
• Cut at the point where the green colour begins to fade to white,.
• Slice off the ends. Easy peasy!
• If you have a large bunch, you will need to do the trimming in batches.

Best Way To Store Asparagus (Uncooked)

If you’re planning to cook your asparagus within a couple of days, you can simply wrap the woody ends in a wet paper towel and store in a plastic bag.

But if you want to store it for longer, use this method to keep your asparagus fresh for up to 2 weeks:

Trim a little bit off the bottom of your asparagus stems. Fill a canning jar or a pint glass with 1-2 inches of water. Place the asparagus upright inside the container. Loosely cover the top of the asparagus with a plastic bag. Store inside the refrigerator.

How Do You Know When These Are Cooked.

You will notice that the spears turn from bright green to dark green when cooked.

• 

More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes:

Need more Air Fryer Recipes? then try these below.

• Air Fryer Beets. Colorful and delish.
• Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts – An easy festive side dish.
• Air Fryer French Fries. – Loved by the whole family.
• Air Fryer Frozen Waffle Fries. – One of my favs.
• Air Fryer Corn On the Cob. A summer favorite.
• Air Fryer Onions. Great for burgers and hot dogs.
• Air Fryer Cabbage. A great side for all year round.
• Air Fryer baby Potatoes. Goes with pretty much everything.

Serving Suggestions

• Air Fryer Pork Chops <= to mop up all those lovely juices.
• Air Fryer Fried Chicken <= It pairs well with this.
• Air Fryer Salmon <= my favorite combo.
• Air Fryer Steak <= the prefect accompaniment.

Weight Watchers Points

A serving contains 0 (yeap, zero!) Blue Plan SmartPoints.

Recipe Tools

• An Air Fryer.
• A spray bottle.
• Air Fryer Accessories.
• Salt.
• A sharp knife.

Thank you for reading my Airfryer Asparagus recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.

Get the Air Fried Asparagus Recipe: