This Easy Air Fryer Asparagus recipe is ready in under 10 minutes! With minimum ingredients, you have a delicious and healthy side dish to just about any dinner!
My 3-year-old simply loves this recipe! The asparagus are crunchy and perfectly seasoned, even the pickiest eaters will enjoy! I used to always cook my asparagus on a skillet, it was fine but I could never get the perfect crispiness on the outside and required a lot more effort. In the oven I didn’t even consider it as it would take much more time! Since I started using an air fryer that I end up “roasting” a lot more veggies as it is so convenient!
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Table of Contents
Reasons to Love Air Fryer Asparagus
- Quicker than when made in the oven.
- Crispy tips with tender stalks.
- Healthy side to any meal.
- Easy to make. Simply toss your asparagus in some olive oil and spices and let the air fryer to the work!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Asparagus
- Fresh asparagus: Look for thinner asparagus as they will turn out to be crispier with quicker cooking time. Choose the ones that are firm. With closed tips.
- Olive oil: Avocado oil will work as well!
- Lemon juice: Use for added flavor and acidity to the dish (highly recommended)!
- Garlic powder, pepper: simple seasoning and delicious taste!
- Salt: omit for babies < 12 months of age.
Step by Step Instructions
- Rinse the asparagus and trim the woody ends off (about 2-3 inches from bottom).
- In a baking dish or bowl, season with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, pepper, and salt. Ensure that each asparagus stalk is fully coated.
- Place asparagus stalks in a single layer (cooking in batches if necessary). If using Ninja Foodi Dual Zone 550 make sure to keep the sides of the basket clear in order to get the true air fryer crispiness.
- Air fry at 390F for between 7 and 10 minutes (see cooking tips for more details on timing) until tender and browned on the edges.
Cooking Tips for the Best Air Fryer Asparagus
Air Fryer:
- Cooking times will depend on how thick the asparagus are and the type of air fryer you are using. I use Ninja Foodi Dual Zone 550 and mine normally take about 8 minutes total if using both sides. If using only one side, it cooks quicker in about 7 minutes. Make sure to check occasionally to avoid over cooking.
- Ninja Foodi Dual Zone 550 does not require tossing at half time, make sure that you check your air fryer owner’s manual and shake the basket halfway if necessary to ensure crispiness.
General:
- The woody ends of the asparagus should be trimmed by cutting all the tough bottom.
- Make sure that all the stalks are well coated with seasoning before air frying to ensure perfect crispiness. You can use the methods described in the instructions or alternatively add all the stalks and seasoning to a Ziploc bag and shake until they are well coated.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Air fryer asparagus are best fresh, but you can store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: You can reheat in a microwave, skillet, or air fryer.
- Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing cooked asparagus, it turns out soggy after reheating.
Serving Suggestions and Substitutions
Air Fryer Asparagus can be served as a side dish to almost any main plate.
- You can also add it into salads or a baked pie.
- You can add some parmesan cheese in the air fryer a couple of minutes before it finishes cooking for some additional flavor!
Frequently Asked Questions
Cook times will depend on how thick your asparagus is. For thin asparagus I normally cook for 7 minutes at 390F. You need to watch it carefully. It typically takes about half the time it would take in the oven…very convenient!
Before! It is important to season before, the olive oil will help keep your food from sticking and also will give that golden look to the asparagus! Salt, pepper, lemon juice will also enhance flavor if added before air frying.
Yes, you should wash the asparagus with cold running water and trim off the bottom woody ends of the stalks.
Check your owner’s manual! Some require and others don’t. The air fryer I use (Ninja Foodi Dual Zone 550) doesn’t require any preheating.
🥣Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus woody ends trimmed
- 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt omit for babies < 12m old
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the asparagus and trim the woody ends off (about 2-3 inches from bottom).
- In a baking dish or bowl, season with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, pepper, and salt. Ensure that each asparagus stalk is fully coated.
- Place asparagus stalks in a single layer (cooking in batches if necessary).
- Air fry at 390F for between 7 and 10 minutes (see cooking tips for more details on timing) until tender and browned on the edges.
Notes
- Cooking times will depend on how thick the asparagus are and the type of air fryer you are using. I use Ninja Foodi Dual Zone 550 and it takes about 8 minutes total if using both sides for thin/medium thickness asparagus. If using only one side, it cooks quicker in about 7 minutes. Make sure to check occasionally to avoid over cooking.
- Ninja Foodi Dual Zone 550 does not require tossing at half time, make sure that you check your air fryer owner’s manual and shake the basket halfway if necessary to ensure crispiness.
- The woody ends of the asparagus should be trimmed by cutting all the tough bottom (2-3 inches).
- Make sure that all the stalks are well coated with seasoning before air frying to ensure perfect crispiness. You can use the methods described in the instructions or alternatively add all the stalks and seasoning to a Ziploc bag and shake until they are well coated.
Nutrition
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