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Crispy, tender and garlicky, this Air Fryer asparagus is the easiest side dish you’ll ever make. 3 ingredients and 10 minutes is all you need to make this Air Fryer side that goes incredibly well along with your favorite mains.

This recipe is the perfect example of how simple recipes that use minimal ingredients can actually taste SO delicious! I realized this after I made my Air Fryer green beans, Air Fryer snap peas and air fried broccolini– they all barely took any effort or hands-on cooking time and still tasted amazing!

I’ve recently been experimenting with a lot of recipes using asparagus. My Air Fryer bacon wrapped asparagus is a great hearty side to pair with some classic mac and cheese, and my Air Fryer asparagus fries are so crispy and delicious, they’re perfect as an appetizer with a nice dip.

But I really wanted to try something simple and effortless this time- an easy side dish that would come together super quick. And that’s when I tried this recipe.

Quick Look At This Recipe

✨ Flavor: Crispy and garlicky.

⏱️ Prep time: 5 minutes.

🔥 Cook time: 8 minutes.

⏲️ Total time: 13 minutes.

👥 Servings: 4 servings.

🥄 Tools: Air Fryer.

❄️ Freezer friendly: No.

👩🏻‍🍳 Tip: Use asparagus stalks that are roughly the same in thickness. This will ensure they’re all perfectly cooked at the same time.

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Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It’s fast, quick and super easy- just like my easy air fried potatoes and Air Fryer butternut squash– you’ll need less than 10 minutes.
  • Everything comes together in the Air Fryer, which means less dishes to do afterwards!
  • It’s so versatile. You can pair it with pretty much any meaty main!
Pic of Jen Gamble

Recipe Ingredients

  • Asparagus: Choose fresh asparagus spears that are firm yet tender. Skip ones that have soft spots, browning or discoloration of any kind.
  • Olive oil: To help the asparagus crisp up. You can also use avocado oil or coconut oil if you want.
  • Seasonings: I kept it simple and just used some garlic powder, black pepper and kosher salt. You can also use some poultry seasoning or any other seasoning of your choice.

See recipe card for quantities.

Variations

  • Use different seasonings like Italian seasoning, everything bagel seasoning or even just some red pepper flakes to lend the air fried asparagus a bit of extra flavor.
  • If you love a bit of citrusy zing, drizzle some freshly squeezed lemon juice onto the asparagus stalks midway during the cooking time.
  • For a cheesy twist, you can also sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on them! I did the same when I made my Air Fryer Parmesan Brussels sprouts and it turned out SO delish!

How to Make Air Fryer Asparagus

Asparagus being brushed with olive oil
  1. Wash and pat dry the asparagus, and trim the stems, cutting about 1-2 inches off the bottom. Brush with olive oil, covering the asparagus, then season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Asparagus in the air fryer basket after being seasoned and before being cooked
  1. Arrange the seasoned asparagus in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer and air fry at 400 F for 8-10 minutes or until slightly golden brown and crispy.

Are you new to Air Fryers? If you are, we have a great article about What is an Air Fryer. It talks about what you can make, how to use it, and more. 

Looking for the BEST accessories to use with your Air Fryer? We’ve put together this list of our favorite Air Fryer accessories. 

Serving Ideas & Suggestions

Enjoy this air fried asparagus immediately after you make it to enjoy the best texture. Just like my Air Fryer squash, Air Fryer zucchini and favorite air fried carrots, this one retains its slight crispiness only for a little bit- so it’s best to make it right when you want to serve it.

Pair it with some Air Fryer salmon or Air Fryer Tilapia if you’re looking for a simple veggie side to go with your fish, or some classic Air Fryer Parmesan crusted chicken or Air Fryer chicken fried steak for a quick weeknight dinner.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

  • I used my Cosori Air Fryer to make this Air Fryer crispy asparagus. You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly depending on the kind of device you’re using.
  • Leave a little space between the asparagus and leave a little room for the hot air to flow around the basket. This will help them become crispy. This is true for almost all Air Fryer recipes- I keep this in mind especially when I’m making my Air Fryer cauliflower, Air Fryer edamame and other veggie sides.
  • If your spears are thick, add a couple of extra minutes of cooking time. If you’re using thinner spears, cut down the cooking time.
  • Keep an eye on the asparagus at the 8 minute mark to see if they’re done. They should ideally have that slight golden brown crispiness.

Recipe FAQs

How can I tell if my asparagus is done cooking?

Asparagus spears should be soft, but crisp, and should stay a dark green. You don’t want to overcook it so it burns, or undercook it so it is too hard to bite.

Do I need to preheat my Air Fryer?

I didn’t preheat my Air Fryer when I made the asparagus. If you do preheat, you may need to lower the cooking time by a minute or two.

Can I store leftovers for later?

You can, but I wouldn’t recommend storing them beyond 2-3 days. Refrigerate them in an airtight container and reheat them in the Air Fryer.

More Air Fryer Veggie Side Dishes

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Green juicy asparagus on a black plate with lemon wedges.
5 from 1 vote
Servings: 4

Air Fryer Asparagus

By Becky
Air Fryer Asparagus is so crispy and tender, and is done in just a few minutes! This asparagus is a healthy side dish to almost any meal!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 13 minutes
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Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound asparagus
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions 

  • Rinse the asparagus well. Trim the stems of the asparagus, cutting about 1-2 inches off the bottoms of each stem.
  • Brush with olive oil, covering the asparagus, then sprinkle salt and pepper, or desired seasonings on the asparagus.
  • Place asparagus in the air fryer basket.
  • Air fry asparagus at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes of cooking time, depending on desired crispness. Toss asparagus halfway during air frying.

Notes

  • Trim the ends of the asparagus stalks off before cooking- you don’t want any tough, chewy bits. 
  • Shake the Air Fryer basket once midway during the cooking time to help the asparagus get crispy on all the sides. 
  • Check the basket at the 8 minute mark to see if the spears are done. If they aren’t golden brown yet, air fry for a couple of extra minutes. 

Nutrition

Serving: 4oz, Calories: 54kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 135mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 10IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 29mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Becky Abbott

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2 Comments

  1. Tricia Maxey says:

    What temperature do you cook these at?

    Reply
    1. Rebecca says:

      I cooked them at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes. Depending on how crispy you like your asparagus, you can add or substract and an extra minute, until they are how you like them.

      Reply