If you are a fan of asparagus like I am, be sure to check out my Baked Asparagus, Pan Seared Asparagus, and Steamed Asparagus recipes. And if you are new to shopping for asparagus, give a read to my post on How To Keep and Store Asparagus Fresh to get the most out of this versatile vegetable.
Why You Should Make This Recipe
With the help of air frying technology, getting deliciously crispy asparagus is easier than ever now. Here are a few reasons why you should give this recipe a try:
- The quickest method: Compared to roasting in the oven or cooking on the stove top, roasting asparagus in air fryer is quicker.
- Perfect texture every time: The light and crispy texture of air fried asparagus can’t be duplicated through any other method. It also has less oil than deep fried asparagus.
- Easy to jazz up: Easy customizations with different spices, add-ons and toppings make this a new favorite you’ll make again and again.
- Versatile: It is the perfect side dish, healthy snack, or a great addition to recipes like Asparagus Salad, Asparagus Tart and even Butter Lettuce Salad.
Ingredients
This air fryer asparagus recipe has five simple ingredients:
- Fresh asparagus
- Olive oil
- Minced garlic
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
You probably have most of these at home already.
How to Cook Asparagus in Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer: Plug in your air fryer and let it preheat to 375 F / 190 C. Rinse and dry asparagus spears. Place the asparagus on a cutting board. While holding the bunch with one hand, cut the woody ends by one inch from the bottom using a sharp knife.
- Season the asparagus: In a large bowl, combine the trimmed asparagus, a little bit of oil, minced garlic, and salt and black pepper. With clean hands or kitchen tongs, give it a toss to make sure that each asparagus spear is thoroughly coated with the mixture.
- Arrange in the basket: Carefully arrange asparagus spears in the air fryer basket in a single layer. A larger air fryer might fit all the asparagus stalks, but a smaller air fryer may require multiple batches.
- Cook until tender: Cook for only 6-7 minutes until tender, but don’t forget to turn the spears halfway through. If you are using thin asparagus, air fry for 3-4 minutes.
- Transfer to serving platter: Carefully transfer to a serving plate, season with salt and pepper, and serve while it is still warm.
How to Store & Reheat
Use this air fried asparagus recipe to batch cook asparagus for your weekly meal prep and store them in the refrigerator following my directions below:
- To Store: Let your cooked asparagus come to room temperature, place in an airtight container and store for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- How to Reheat Asparagus: To reheat, air fry your asparagus at 375 F / 190 C for about 3 minutes making sure to give it a toss halfway through the cooking process.
Recipe Variations
Want to check it up and make it your own? Here are a few ways to take your air fryer roasted asparagus to a whole new level:
- Freshen with herbs: Fresh herbs give this dish new flavor. Try basil, parsley, mint or chives.
- Experiment with spices: Make this dish unique each time with new spices. Try paprika, garlic powder or even red pepper flakes to start.
- Use lemon zest and balsamic: Drizzle it with a mixture of lemon zest, balsamic vinegar (or lemon juice) and a little olive oil to give it a refreshing flavor.
- Sprinkle with cheese: Shredded mozzarella or parmesan cheese make the dish more scrumptious.
- Imitate Asian flavors: Use soy sauce, maple syrup or honey to create an Asian-inspired sauce.
Expert Tips
Make sure to follow these tips for the best results with this healthy side dish.
- Take time to trim asparagus, dry it thoroughly and cook in single layers – even if it requires batch cooking. This is crucial for light, crispy asparagus.
- Change the cook time if necessary. As I mentioned earlier, this recipe was tested both with thick asparagus and pencil thin asparagus. If you are using thin asparagus, be sure to reduce the cooking time by half. And don’t forget to turn the asparagus halfway through cooking.
- Add variety with new flavors. Make this dish new each time by experimenting with spices, herbs and other fresh ingredients.
- For more of a crispy air fryer asparagus, air fry it for 1-2 more minutes.
- Keep in mind that the cooking time may differ from one air fryer to another. I tested this recipe in my Instant Vortex 6 Quart Air Fryer (affiliate link). For the best results, it is best to keep a close eye on the asparagus and check doneness after the 5-minute mark.
Serving Suggestions
There isn’t one right answer when it comes to serving this asparagus air fried recipe. It tastes great in so many ways, so consider your options!
- Serve on the side: Air fried asparagus is an easy vegetable side dish that you can serve with any chicken, meat or seafood main dish.
- Toss in salad: Try this asparagus air fryer recipe with my Asparagus Salad and Butter Lettuce Salad.
- Add to pasta and grain dishes: Asparagus adds more healthy fiber to pasta and grains. Toss it with quinoa salads or add it in tabbouleh for a surprising crunch.
- Eat as a snack: Air frying asparagus on its own is a tasty and nutritious snack.
FAQs
The ideal temperature for air frying asparagus is 375 F degrees (190 C).
Cooking asparagus in air fryer takes about 6-7 minutes at 375 F degrees.
Frozen asparagus takes 9-10 minutes to cook in the air fryer, but there’s no need to thaw beforehand.
Air frying leftover asparagus only takes 3 minutes to reheat, so it couldn’t be easier.
Yes, you do. This recipe was tested both with thick asparagus and thin asparagus. By thick asparagus, I mean the regular asparagus you would find in most grocery stores. Thin asparagus is usually available for a short time at the beginning of spring. You can cook both types of asparagus in an air fryer. However, the thinner should be cooked for a shorter amount of time. While the exact time depends on how thin the asparagus stalks are, shortening the air frying time by 2-3 minutes (and keeping a close eye on it) is a good place to start.
If you do not take the time and cut the woodsy ends, you will end up with stringy and tough asparagus.
No, you do not need to soak asparagus before air frying. Instead, we recommend giving it a quick rinse and drying it as much as possible.
Other Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes You Might Like:
If you try this air fryer recipe for asparagus or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus*, woody ends trimmed
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced (optional)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375 F degrees.
- Place asparagus, olive oil, minced garlic, and salt and black pepper in a bowl. Using your clean hands or kitchen tongs, toss to make sure that each asparagus spear is coated with oil, garlic and seasonings.
- Arrange them in your air fryer basket making sure that they are on a single layer. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may have to air fry your asparagus in batches.
- Cook until tender for 6-7 minutes making sure to toss halfway through the cooking process.
- Carefully transfer the now air fried asparagus to a platter and serve right away.
Notes
- Thick Asparagus vs Thin Asparagus: This recipe was tested both with thick asparagus and pencil-thin asparagus. If you are using thin asparagus, be sure to reduce the cooking time by half. And don’t forget to turn the asparagus halfway through cooking.
- To Store: Let your cooked asparagus come to room temperature, place in an airtight container and store for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- How to Reheat Asparagus: To reheat, air fry your asparagus at 375 F / 190 C for about 3 minutes making sure to give it a toss halfway through the cooking process.
- For more of a crispy air fryer asparagus, air fry it for 1-2 more minutes.
- I listed fresh garlic as an optional ingredient as this recipe would work perfectly without it. You can also substitute fresh garlic with 1 teaspoon garlic powder if you wish.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
