Air Fryer Asparagus (Quick and Easy)

One of my recent goals is to incorporate greens into every meal. When you’re a busy mom (or just busy in general) like me, sometimes that can be a tough ask. Using the air fryer to cook veggies quickly, like these air fryer zucchini chips, makes eating veggies easy and delicious.

Because of that, this air fryer asparagus has been a game changer for us. Cooking asparagus in the air fryer is the best way to get a crispy outside and tender inside! The beauty of the air fryer is that it gets a crispy fried result without any added oil or deep frying thanks to the hot air circulating around it. 

I serve this easy air fryer recipe alongside almond crusted salmon, cilantro lime chicken, curry chicken salad, or blackened salmon.

We also love this air fryer cod (no breading!) because it’s done in 15 minutes or less.

Reasons to Love Air Fryer Asparagus

This super veggie is a great source of folic acid and it’s full of fiber and vitamins like A, B6 and C. It’s also chock full of antioxidants too. On top of the nutritional benefits, here are a few reasons you’ll love this air fry asparagus.

• Done in under 10 minutes.
• Easy side dish with any main course.
• Simple, straightforward, and full of flavor.
• Air frying results in crispy asparagus on the outside and tender on the inside.

Love asparagus as much as us? Try this asparagus frittata, lemon chicken orzo, or Instant Pot asparagus next.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here are the simple ingredients for this easy air fryer asparagus recipe.  In addition to these ingredients, you’ll need a cutting board, a large bowl, and a sharp knife. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.

• Asparagus: asparagus stalks vary in width, but all sizes will work for this recipe. The cooking time will vary based on the size you buy.
• Oil: we use olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil, but you can also use an avocado or olive oil cooking spray. We don’t recommend vegetable oil spray as it can damage the air fryer and cause it to chip. 
• Salt and black pepper: use kosher salt or sea salt for best results.
• Garlic: fresh garlic or garlic powder work well. 
• Cheese: we love the texture parmesan cheese adds to this recipe, or you can use nutritional yeast for a dairy-free option.

How to Make Air Fryer Asparagus

The full printable recipe is below, but let’s walk through the steps with some photos and a video so you have a clear idea of what to expect. These air fryer roast asparagus are really easy and these step-by-step instructions will make sure they turn out every time.

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees f for 5 minutes. Similar to an oven, this helps cook food evenly. While it’s heating, run the asparagus under cold water to clean it and dry them well with a paper towel. 

Lay the raw asparagus flat on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to trim asparagus. The tough woody ends of the asparagus are too thick and chewy, so find the part of the bottom of each spear where the asparagus because pliable and has a little give—that’s where you want to cut! It’s typically about 2 inches from the end of the stalk.

Place the asparagus in a large bowl and drizzle with oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, and toss quickly to coat. Place the asparagus in a single layer at the bottom of the air fryer basket. Sprinkle with cheese if desired.

Air fry at 400°F for 7-8 minutes, pausing to stir or shake the basket halfway through. For thin asparagus, cook for 5-7 minutes, and 8-10 minutes for thicker asparagus.  The asparagus in the images cooked perfectly at 8 minutes. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley if desired.

Storage Tips

Store leftover asparagus in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.  Enjoy it as a healthy snack or a quick side or part of your lunch by placing it in the air fryer again at 400°F for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

​More Air Fryer Recipes

Try this air fryer baked potato recipe for a quicker version of the classic recipe. Or take your side dish up a notch with these crispy air fryer smashed potatoes.

Need another green veggie? These air fryer zucchini chips are easy and delicious.

Make your entire meal in the air fryer and serve this asparagus with air fryer salmon bites, air fryer meatballs, or air fryer orange chicken.