Air Fryer Asparagus

Name: Air Fryer Asparagus
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 13 min
Ingredients: 1 lb fresh asparagus; ½ tbsp olive oil; ½ tsp salt and pepper; 1 lemon

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A simple and easy way to make asparagus, this Air Fryer Asparagus is the perfect side dish for when you want to quickly throw something together. It’s a hands-off recipe that is made in less than 10 minutes!

Tender, crisp, and super easy to make, I’ve been obsessed with making asparagus in the air fryer. It’s been my go-to lately whenever I need a side of vegetables for dinner.

Close up of air fried asparagus on a plate.

I cannot believe it’s been a year since I posted this How to Roast Asparagus post. Recently, I’ve been making asparagus in the air fryer because summer decided to hit Ontario early and I’ve pretty much been running the AC since asparagus season started. The air fryer gets a lot more use in the summer as I don’t end up heating up the whole kitchen. While the oven method is perfect for when I had to make a huge batch, lately, it’s just been the two of us at home so a small batch in the air fryer is perfect.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make air fryer asparagus.

fresh asparagus
olive oil
salt and pepper
lemon

How to Make Air Fryer Asparagus

Air fryer asparagus with lemon slices in the basket.

Wash, dry, and trim the ends off the asparagus by snapping off the ends or cutting with a knife.
Coat the asparagus with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Add the asparagus to the air fryer basket in a single layer or with the least overlap possible. Add a couple of slices of lemon on top.
Air fry for 8 minutes at 350F.
Serve with an extra squeeze of lemon over top if desired.

Recipe Tips and Notes

The fastest way to remove/trims all the ends of the asparagus for roasting, I will snap one’s woody end off and use it as a guide for cutting off the rest of the asparagus ends with a knife. This way, they’re all similar in length and can roast evenly.
Be sure to pat dry the asparagus before seasoning as the oil won’t coat the vegetable well if it’s wet.
Cooking time may vary a bit if you have asparagus that are skinny. Mine is a little thick. I’d check for doneness at the 6-minute mark.
The model of air fryer I use does not require preheating. If your air fryer does, you should do so.

My Recommendation

This is the air fryer I use. I love how large this air fryer is! It can fit a whole chicken or 2 bags of frozen French fries!

Get it Now!

Close up of asparagus cooked in an air fryer.

Make Ahead Tips

Meal prep: once cooled, store the cooked asparagus in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
Reheat: simply add the asparagus back to the air fryer and reheat at 350F for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through.
Freezer: since this air fryer asparagus only takes 8 minutes to air fry, I recommend just making it fresh and not freezing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Choose Asparagus

Look for bright green or violet-tinted spears with firm stems. Make sure the tips are closed and compact (instead of loose/opened). When the asparagus bunch is squeezed, it should squeak. Avoid asparagus stalks that appear woody.

How to Store Fresh Asparagus

Keep the rubber band on to hold the bunch together, and trim up to an inch off the ends of the asparagus.
Stand the asparagus up in a glass or jar (I like using a wide mouth mason jar) with about an inch or two of water.
Store in the fridge for up to a week, changing the water whenever it starts to look cloudy/muddy.

Some Other Toppings/Seasoning Ideas for Asparagus

Sprinkle parmesan (or nutritional yeast) on top of the asparagus before or after air frying.
Tuck in a few thyme sprigs between the asparagus before air frying.
Add some panko to the asparagus so it gets even crispier when you air fry it.
Add some chili powder to change up the flavour.
Add some red chili flakes to add some heat.
Season with garlic and onion salt instead of regular salt and pepper .