Crispy and tender Air Fryer Asparagus is an under 10-minute healthy side dish your whole family will love! Top asparagus with Parmesan cheese and lemon to finish off this tasty, quick and healthy recipe!
I know spring is coming when I see asparagus spears popping up in our garden. After what seems to be a never-ending winter this year, the start of asparagus season is much welcomed! For a brief time in the spring and very early summer, we have loads and loads of asparagus. I'm always looking for easy recipes to use up our bounty. One of my favorite and easiest ways to cook asparagus is in the air fryer. Air fryer asparagus is a quick way to prepare an easy side dish that goes with just about any meal.
I love using my air fryer for vegetables because it takes less time than roasting them in the oven, I use less oil and I’m not heating up my whole kitchen to roast a small batch of vegetables. Most importantly, the air fryer circulates hot air around, so you get tender asparagus with a crispy edge – so delicious! It's my new favorite way to cook asparagus.
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Why You Should Make This Recipe
- Air fryer recipes are simple ways to make quick and easy side dishes! Simply toss the asparagus in olive oil, salt and pepper and let the air fryer do its magic!
- Air fryer asparagus with Parmesan cheese is a healthy side dish that pairs with almost anything!
- It’s so quick and uses simple ingredients!
- This recipe is versatile – change up the spices or toppings. See recipe variations below.
- With this recipe, you get both tender and crispy asparagus - you can't go wrong with an air fryer vegetable recipe!
Ingredients Needed & Substitutions
- asparagus – 1 pound of fresh asparagus. Look for bunches that have spears of similar size so they cook more evenly. Also, look for asparagus rich in color and avoid bunches that appear soft or wilted.
- olive oil
- salt & black pepper
- Parmesan cheese
- lemon
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Recipe Variations
If you’re looking to spice up this basic asparagus recipe, here are a few ideas to switch up the flavor:
- Spicy – add a pinch of red pepper flakes, chili powder or paprika. You could also drizzle it with sriracha.
- Savory – coat with garlic powder, top with bacon bits and finely shredded white cheddar cheese.
- Fresh herbs – Top with fresh chives, mint or parsley.
- Balsamic vinegar –drizzle some balsamic vinegar and lemon zest for an extra boost of fresh flavor.
How to Make Asparagus in the Air Fryer
This air fryer vegetable recipe is so simple and quick!
- Wash and trim the asparagus to remove the woody stem – see the FAQs below to learn how to trim asparagus easily. Dry the asparagus so the olive oil adheres to the spears.
- Preheat air fryer if required. Be sure to check the recommended manufactured settings in your air fryer manual.
- Add spears to a large bowl or quarter sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Add asparagus to the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 400°F for 5-7 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus spears.
- Remove asparagus from the air fryer basket and sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Please know that the cooking time will depend on your asparagus thickness, so watch it carefully. The thinner the asparagus, the quicker it will cook.
See recipe card below for exact instructions.
How to Store Cooked Asparagus
If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container for 2-3 days. They will lose their crispiness and can become soggy when refrigerated.
See FAQs below for instructions on how to reheat asparagus to retain some crispiness.
Air Fryer Asparagus FAQs
Sometimes asparagus gets a bad rap for being stringy or super chewy. That’s because as the asparagus plant matures, the base of the spear gets woody and thick. It’s essential to trim the ends so your asparagus dish is tender and chewy.
There are two methods to trim asparagus. One way is to snap the asparagus at its natural breaking point. Bend the spear with your hands on each end, and it will naturally break at its woody end, leaving you a tender spear. Basically, bend and snap! (Any Legally Blond fans here?!)
The next method is to use a sharp knife and trim off the woody end. You would make a cut where the color changes from a vibrant green to a more white color at the bottom of the spear.
That depends on your air fryer. Some manufacturers recommend preheating, and others do not. Please check your owner’s manual for recommendations.
No. If your air fryer has a non-stick finish, it is not recommended to use an aerosol cooking spray because it can damage the non-stick finish. For this air fryer asparagus recipe, it’s easy to coat with oil in a large bowl or sheet pan so there’s no need to use a cooking spray!
Yes! The best way to reheat air fryer roasted asparagus is to use your air fryer! Place them in the air fryer at 350ºF for 2-3 minutes until warm throughout and crisp again.
More Sides You'll Love
- Fall Kale Salad
- Arugula and Quinoa Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
- Radicchio Citrus Salad
- Asparagus Spring Salad
I hope you love this recipe as much I do and that asparagus becomes your favorite spring vegetable! Check out my Refrigerator Pickled Asparagus and Easy Asparagus Puff Pastry Tart recipe for more asparagus recipe inspiration!
If you give this recipe a try, please leave a comment below, rate the recipe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and don’t forget to tag me @homesweetfarmhome on Instagram and use the hashtag #homesweetfarmhome. I’d love to see what you come up with and share with our community. Cheers!
Recipe Card
Air Fryer Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Wash the asparagus is cold water and trim the asparagus to remove the woody ends. Dry the asparagus so the olive oil adheres to the spears.
- Preheat air fryer if required. Be sure to check the recommended manufactured settings in your air fryer manual.
- Add spears to a large bowl or quarter sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Add trimmed asparagus to the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 400°F for 5-7 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus spears.
- Remove asparagus from the air fryer basket and sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of fresh lemon wedge.
Kim says
I got an air fryer for my birthday so I've been experimenting with it. Found this easy recipe and it turned out great! I will definitely try the other air fryer recipes on this site.