Air Fryer Asparagus
Updated Dec 12, 2025
This air fryer asparagus cooks in under 10 minutes and is an easy way to make tender, lightly crisp asparagus without the oven.
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Cook Asparagus in the Air Fryer
Air fryer asparagus has quietly become my go-to way to cook it. I find it easier than turning on the oven, and it’s hard to mess up, so no soggy spears or forgotten sheet pan The asparagus cooks quickly, stays crisp-tender, and doesn’t need much beyond olive oil, salt, and a squeeze of lemon. Air fryer asparagus is what I make now when I want a vegetable side that feels low effort but still really good. Pair it with Air Fryer Salmon or Air Fryer Steak for a complete, easy meal with easy clean up!
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Air Fryer Asparagus Ingredients
- Asparagus: Look for bright green, firm stalks that are roughly the same thickness so that they cook evenly. For help with trimming the asparagus, read my tutorial on how to cut asparagus.
- Olive oil: I prefer the taste of olive oil but any cooking oil will do!
- Seasoning: I just use some salt and pepper, but feel free to add any other spices you like. Lemon Pepper, Italian Seasoning, or even Ranch Seasoning would be good.
How to Make Air Fryer Asparagus
Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Lemon wedged, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat an air fryer to 380ºF.
- Prepare the asparagus by trimming their woodsy ends.
- Place the asparagus in a large bowl along with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
- Transfer the asparagus to the air fryer and shake the basket to make sure they’re in a single layer. You may need to cook in two batches. Cook until crisp tender, shaking the basket halfway through, for 8-10 minutes total. The asparagus will continue to soften after finished cooking so make sure not to overcook.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top and serve immediately.
Notes
- My Top Tip: Cook your asparagus in a single layer. This will help hot air circulate around each asparagus spear for evenly cooked, perfectly tender asparagus.
- Storage: Keep any leftover asparagus in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, you can give the cooked spears a few seconds in the microwave, or place them back in the air fryer for a couple of minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Recipe Tips
- Trim your asparagus properly. First, snap the woody end off of one, then use it as a guide. Grab a stalk with two hands, one hand at the base and another in the middle. Bend the spear until it snaps. It will naturally break at the correct spot. Throw away the woody end, and you have a perfect stalk of asparagus ready to cook! To trim the remainder, place the bunch on your cutting board and use the trimmed spear as a guide for where to trim the rest of the asparagus.
- Cook your asparagus in a single layer. This will help hot air circulate around each asparagus spear for evenly cooked, perfectly tender asparagus.
- Consider adjusting the cooking time if you have thin or thick asparagus. If you have extra thick asparagus or thinner-than-usual spears, you may want to adjust the cooking time: a couple less minutes for thinner and a couple extra minutes for thicker.
- Wash and trim your asparagus ahead of time for even easier prep. If you’re meal-prepping, trim your asparagus beforehand and store it in the refrigerator. Then, when it’s time to cook, you’ve got one less step to do.
Serving Ideas
- Make a dip for serving. These asparagus spears are perfect for dipping, just like french fries! Try homemade ranch or serve with white bean hummus for an added bit of protein.
- Add protein. I love these asparagus alongside cast iron skillet steak, honey lemon salmon, or almond crusted chicken.
- Serve with pasta. This asparagus is such a good veggie side with chicken alfredo pasta, mac and cottage cheese, or lemon ricotta pasta.
FAQs
Any size air fryer will do, just make sure your asparagus is in a single layer on the rack. If you have a smaller capacity air fryer, this may mean you need to cook your asparagus in batches.
