Air fryer asparagus is a quick, easy, and healthy recipe that makes the perfect side dish or appetizer!
With simple ingredients, you can make this easy air fryer asparagus in under 10 minutes, and it’s one of our favorite easy air fryer recipes! You can have this healthy, low-carb, and delicious side dish on the table in no time!
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Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s healthy! Asparagus is a dark green vegetable with woody ends which means it’s high in tons of vitamins and minerals. It’s rich in fiber, vitamins A, B2, B1, B6, and C! Whoever said that eating healthy is boring was wrong!
- It’s kid-approved! I know how hard it can be to get your kiddos to eat their veggies but my boys will devour these asparagus spears without complaints! Happy and healthy kids = a happy momma!
- It’s a quick side dish. The asparagus cooks in only 7 minutes! Being a busy mom myself, I know how hard it can be to get dinner on the table in a timely manner. This air fryer asparagus recipe is one of my go-to’s because of how quick and easy it is! If I have more time, I may make bacon wrapped asparagus and cook it in the oven, especially if the air fryer is tied up, making the main dish.
Can you cook asparagus too long?
Yes, you can overcook asparagus. Fresh asparagus may become soggy or mushy if it’s cooked for too long. The best way to avoid this is to make sure you are keeping a close eye on your air fryer asparagus and cook only for the directed cook time. The goal is to have tender stalks and crispy ends!
Air Fryer Asparagus Ingredients
- 1 bundle asparagus
- 1/8 cup olive oil (feel free to try avocado oil too!)
- 1/2 tsp garlic
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- parmesan cheese for topping (optional)
Step by Step Directions
- Cut one inch off the bottom of the asparagus. Toss in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and red pepper. (Image 1 and 2)
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F. Add the asparagus to the air fryer, place in a single layer, and air fry for 5 minutes, shaking halfway. (Image 3 and 4)
- Plate and drizzle with fresh lemon juice from lemon wedges.
Expert Tips and FAQ’s
The best way to store leftover asparagus is to put it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. Cooked asparagus should last 3-5 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, you can microwave for 1-2 minutes or air fry for 2-4 minutes at 400 degrees.
My new favorite way to serve these asparagus is topped with lemon zest and black pepper! It adds such a nice flavor and is an easy way to spice up this recipe. If you don’t have fresh lemon zest, you can top with lemon pepper seasoning for the same effect.
To make this recipe a main course, you can wrap the asparagus in bacon. Now, you will have to cook the asparagus longer if you do choose to wrap it in bacon, so check out this air fryer bacon recipe for more details on how to cook bacon in the air fryer.
Breaded Air Fryer Asparagus
If you prefer your asparagus breaded… I don’t blame you! It’s surprisingly easy to make breaded air fryer asparagus. Before cooking, coat your asparagus in egg wash (1 egg + 1 teaspoon water) and then dip in seasoned bread crumbs/Panko crumbs. You can season your breadcrumbs with salt, pepper, garlic salt, onion powder, and/or other simple spices. Air fry the breaded asparagus at 400 degrees for roughly 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
What to serve with this recipe
For a super quick, healthy, (even low carb) and easy dinner, you can pair this air fryer asparagus as an easy side dish with air fryer salmon patties! Air frying can save you cooking time and clean up time because you’re only dirtying the air fryer basket!
Related Recipes
For more of our best air fryer recipes, you’ll want to also try this Air Fryer Butternut Squash, frozen sweet potato fries, and Air Fryer Zucchini without breading for sure! But we’ve also been known to really put our air fryer to work around here so round out the evening with an entire air fryer dinner, with some of our favorite main dishes in the air fryer!
Air Fryer Asparagus
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 bundle asparagus
- 1/8 cup olive oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- parmesan cheese for topping optional
Instructions
- Cut one inch off the bottom of the asparagus. Toss in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and red pepper.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F. Add the asparagus and air fry for 5 minutes, shaking halfway.
- Plate and drizzle with fresh lemon juice.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Beth says
I have tried this and it really is easy and delicious! I need to pick up some more asparagus at the store.
Jessica says
For sure!! It’s on our grocery list, on repeat! Haha! Thank you!
Heidi Schaffer says
The absolute best way to make asparagus! LOVE it!
Jessica says
Yes! I absolutely agree. Cooking it in the air fryer is so easy too!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this side with dinner tonight and it turned out perfectly! So quick and crisp; easily, my new favorite way to enjoy asparagus, indeed!
Jessica says
That is so wonderful to hear about the asparagus! We love cooking it in the air fryer!