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If you have never made asparagus in the air fryer then you are in for a lovely surprise. Not only do you get ultra crispy spears but they’re also SO super quick to cook up.
I’m talking like less than 10 minutes kinda’ quick. Even roasted asparagus takes closer to 20 minutes to make!
You can then keep it super simple and just season with a bit of oil, salt and black pepper. Or, spruce it up a bit with a few other simple seasoning suggestions. (Make sure you take a peak at these below!)
But any way you season ’em, they’re going to turn out with the crispiest tips and most tender spears!
The One Thing You MUST Do!
When air frying asparagus, the one essential step you can’t skip is properly trimming the spears. Those woody ends can be fibrous and off-putting, no matter how well you cook them. Be sure to check my notes below for tips on trimming asparagus spears to perfection before popping them into the air fryer!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below.
- Asparagus. One pound of asparagus spears will fit perfectly into a 6-quart air fryer. Thinner spears will cook more quickly while thicker spears take a bit more time.
- Oil. You can select either avocado or olive oil.
- Garlic. Fresh minced garlic cloves are preferred but garlic powder may also be substituted.
- Salt and pepper. Use these to season to taste. There are also quite a few seasoning substitutions you can make, so be sure to read below for more information!
How to Make Air Fryer Asparagus
Please see the recipe card below for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.
Step 1: Trim the asparagus.
The end of the spear is tough, fibrous, and extremely difficult to chew. You need to completely remove the woody ends by either cutting or snapping it off.
- Cut – locate the junction where the light white or brown end starts to turn darker green and slice with a knife.
- Snap – Hold one stalk in both hands and place your thumb at the junction of the light brown and green part. Press lightly until you can feel where the asparagus is soft versus where it is hard and continue pressing until the spear snaps in two.
Step 2: Mix the Seasoning
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, crushed garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Step 3: Coat the Asparagus
Add the asparagus to the bowl and toss until every spear is fully coated in that garlicky goodness.
Step 4: Cook to Perfections
Like an oven, the air fryer works best when preheated. Set it to 370°F and let it heat up for about 3 minutes before adding your asparagus.
Arrange the asparagus in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 370°F for 6-9 minutes, tossing halfway through. Keep an eye on the size—thinner spears will cook faster, while thicker ones might need the full time.
Note: This recipe was created using a 6-quart Air Fryer. However, a smaller or larger air fryer may also be used. If using a 4-5 quart model, you may need to increase your cook time by a few minutes. If using a larger air fryer, you’ll want to decrease your cook time by 1-2 minutes.
Ways to Season Asparagus
While this air fryer asparagus tastes incredible with just some simple salt and pepper, there are a few other flavor options you can try:
- Top with some grated Parmesan cheese and lemon zest.
- Drizzle on a bit of balsamic glaze.
- Give it a little Asian flair with some teriyaki sauce.
- Top with garlic herb butter.
- Pair with roasted cherry tomatoes or roasted garlic!
- Or try bacon jam.
FAQs
The ends of asparagus are woody and tough and should be removed before cooking. If the entire spear is stringy and chewy it is likely overcooked.
Soaking is not necessary, however, the spears should be thoroughly washed.
A higher smoke point oil is best for air frying, such as avocado or safflower oil. Olive oil may also be used but you’ll want to make sure to keep your cooking temperature below 375°F.
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you want a few other simple vegetable side dish ideas to make in the air fryer, you may also enjoy:
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Eggplant
- Air Fryer Kale Chips
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Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus ends trimmed*
- 1 tablespoon oil olive or avocado
- 1 clove garlic finely minced, optional
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat air fryer to 370°F for at least 3 minutes.
- Whisk together oil, crushed garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add trimmed asparagus spears* and stir until they are well coated in the sauce.
- Place asparagus into the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 6-9 minutes, tossing the basket halfway through. (Smaller spears will take closer to 6 minutes to cook while larger spears will take up to 9 minutes.)
- Serve asparagus with a sprinkle of additional black pepper and salt, to taste. Enjoy!
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Video
Notes
- Trim. You can either trim asparagus with a knife or by using the snap method:
- With a knife: Locate the junction where the light white/brown end starts to turn darker green. Cut at this point to remove the woody end.
- Snap method: Hold one spear in both hands and place your thumb at the junction of the light brown and green part. Press lightly until you can feel where the asparagus is soft versus where it is hard and continue pressing until the spear snaps in two.
- Spear Size. Thinner spears will take less time to cook than thicker ones.
- Smaller Air Fryer. Increase the cooking time if using a 4 or 5 quart air fryer, reduce it for a larger capacity.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
love but wish it said measurements for ingredients
If you scroll down to the recipe card everything is listed in detail!
I’m new to the air frying mania, you commented that when using olive oil it’s best to use temps lower than 375°. That’s the first I’ve heard it but I’m curious as to why?
Oils have different smoke points. Olive oil smokes at 375°. Other oils, like avocado and grapeseed oil, smoke at higher temperatures.
This is delicious and perfectly air-fried. I added the lemon zest and parmesan cheese as well. It was so good with our salmon last night that we’re having it again tonight along with chicken marinaded in mesquite. The Asparagus is a must try.
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Connie! I love salmon and asparagus. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
Just made this and it was sooooo easy and delicious. I used 1 lb of fresh asparagus, but did find that it took about 20 minutes total to air fry.
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Eileen! I’m sorry it took a little longer to get the texture you wanted. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!