This recipe originally appeared on my sister site: No Sweat Vegan
Air Fryer Asparagus is a super easy dish that requires almost zero prep, and takes less than 15 minutes. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and vegan parmesan for an amazing, healthy side dish!
When I think of asparagus, I think of springtime and early summer. Where I live in Germany, this is such a special vegetable that they name the season "Spargelzeit" (aka Asparagus Time) in its honor. In Germany, white asparagus is king but I prefer its colorful and much more affordable counterpart: green asparagus.
One of my favorite ways to make asparagus is on the grill, but if you don't have a grill, don't feel like firing one up, or can't get outside due to the weather, then Air Fried Asparagus is a great option!
Cooking asparagus in the air fryer is so easy! The trick to getting crispy asparagus that isn't soggy is to get your air fryer screaming hot before adding the asparagus. The high temperature combined with a few simple seasonings makes for an easy, delicious, and healthy vegan side dish.
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Ingredients
Here's what you need to make this easy Air Fryer Asparagus!
- fresh asparagus
- avocado or olive oil
- granulated garlic
- fresh cracked pepper
- lemon juice
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Here are step-by-step instructions with photos.
- Preheat the air fryer to 450F or 240C (or the highest heat yours goes).
- After washing the asparagus, you'll need to trim off the woody end. The easiest way to know where to trim is to hold the asparagus about 1 to 2 inches from the end between the thumb and pointer finger of each hand.
Gently bend the stalk, and the asparagus will naturally snap at the right place.
You can snap each asparagus this way or use the first end as a guide. Line up the rest of the stalks on the cutting board, even with the snapped piece.
In one quick cut, you've trimmed your asparagus.
Season with salt, pepper, garlic, lemon juice, and oil. Place the asparagus in the preheated air fryer in a single row. If your air fryer is smaller or you have a lot of asparagus to cook, you can try making it in two batches or you can place another layer, perpendicular to the first, on top.
Cook for 6 to 10 minutes. 6 minutes for thin stalk, 8 minutes for medium stalks, and 10 minutes for thick stalks. I cooked the ones in the photos for exactly 8 minutes. (Open the air fryer around the 4-minute mark and use tongs to roll the stalks and test the firmness.) Garnish with lemon wedges and vegan parmesan. Serve right away!
Hint: Asparagus cooks really quickly in the air fryer. The trick to getting nicely browned, crispy asparagus that doesn't turn to mush, is to get the air fryer screaming hot before you add it in. (Trust me, this is not the recipe to skip preheating the air fryer!)
Tips for cooking asparagus in the air fryer
- Asparagus cooks very quickly. That's why I recommend cooking at such a high temperature. You want to get some browning on the outside without turning the insides to complete mush!
- Be sure to preheat the air fryer. With other types of veggies, this step is not as important, but in order to get crispy asparagus without a mushy inside, you need the air fryer to be as hot as possible before adding the asparagus.
- About 4 minutes into cooking, open the air fryer and use tongs to roll the asparagus around. You can also give one of the stalks a light squeeze with the tongs to be sure they're still firm.
- Cook your asparagus close to the day you buy it. The longer it sits in the refrigerator, the limper it will get. The firmer your asparagus is when you start, the crispier you can get it on the outside (before going soggy on the inside).
Substitutions
- You can use a variety of seasonings for asparagus. I think oregano and basil would also make a great combo.
- If you don't have fresh lemons, store-bought lemon juice is a perfectly good substitute.
Equipment
For this recipe, you'll just need an air fryer, a cutting board, and a sharp knife.
Storage
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Do not freeze unless you plan to add the air-fried asparagus to a soup or stew.
Top tip for leftovers
In my opinion, reheated asparagus is not great on its own. But the leftovers could be used to make a vegan frittata, breakfast scramble, or asparagus soup. Cold asparagus would also be a great addition to a salad.
FAQ
Sure! Frozen asparagus is already trimmed, so just preheat the air fryer and add it in. The one change I would make is to wait to add the seasonings and lemon juice until after it's cooked. I can't guarantee it will be as crispy as fresh asparagus, but this could be a good option for times of the year when asparagus is out of season.
The best time of year for asparagus is Spring, though if you're in the US you can probably get it year-round.
The air fryer you choose should be the one that best meets your needs for budget, capacity, and storage space. As a bonus, some air fryers have other functions.
I use the Ninja Foodi Grill 4-in-1 (Which is a grill, air fryer, dehydrator, and baker in one). This was the best choice for me because it has a large capacity to feed my family of four. It's on the pricier side, but I bought it on sale as a Christmas gift for myself. If you're looking for more options, check out my post What Air Fryer Should I Buy? or list of the best air fryers of 2023.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Air Fryer Asparagus
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus (14 to 16 oz)
- 1.5 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- fresh cracked pepper
- juice of half a lemon
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 450F or 240C (or the highest heat yours goes).
- Wash and trim the asparagus. (If you're new to cooking with asparagus, see my tips above!)
- Season the asparagus with salt, pepper, garlic, lemon juice, and oil. Place the asparagus in the preheated air fryer in a single row.
- Cook for 6 to 10 minutes. 6 minutes for thin stalk, 8 minutes for medium stalks, and 10 minutes for thick stalks. (Open the air fryer around the 4-minute mark and use tongs to roll the stalks and test the firmness.) Garnish with lemon wedges and vegan parmesan. Serve right away!
Notes
- If you are using a smaller air fryer, you might need to cook the asparagus in 2 batches or you can place another layer, perpendicular to the first, on top.
Air Fryer and food safety tips
Here are a few safety tips for cooking with an air fryer.
- Cook food to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Use oils with a high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always use oven mitts or some protective hand covering when shaking the basket or removing food from the air fryer.
- Hot air comes out the back of the air fryer. Try to keep the back of the air fryer at least a hands length away from the wall, other ingredients, or anything else that could be damaged by heat.
Remi says
Loves the recipe!!
Julianne says
Thanks! I'm so glad you liked it!