Air Fryer Asparagus is the perfect side dish for holidays, family meals, or a summer barbecue. It’s so easy to make and tastes fantastic. It takes minutes to prepare air-fryer roasted asparagus.

Air Fryer Asparagus

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My husband loves Asparagus! It is his favorite quick and easy vegetable to snack on. We used to make it on the barbecue or stovetop, but now, with air frying, it is quick and easy to prepare.

We have been sharing many frozen air fryer recipes, so I am excited to share a recipe with fresh veggies. One of the best parts of this time of year is the fresh produce. Don't get me wrong, I am also super happy it is now sunny, and there is no snow in our forecast for a while.

This past winter was long, and I am soaking up every day of sunshine and warm weather we get.

We make asparagus in the air fryer as often as possible. It is excellent for breakfast with eggs, as a snack, or for lunch and dinner with a chicken burger or anything. It is an easy veggie to whip up, and know that we are getting some green in our meal plan.

I am working on finally photographing all of our favorite air fryer recipes. We use the air fryer daily, and I am writing down the recipes we make all the time and taking photos. You can expect to see many Air Fryer recipes over the next few months.

We hope that you enjoy this air fryer asparagus recipe. It is so nice not having to heat up the oven to roast/cook asparagus.

salt, olive oil, pepper, and fresh asparagus on a white counter

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make epic Air Fryer Asparagus! I love that this roasted asparagus in the air fryer only takes a couple of ingredients, and most of them are pantry staples. The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

Fresh Asparagus
Salt and Pepper
Olive Oil or avocado oil

Optional Garnishes: Parmesan Cheese, teaspoon garlic powder, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar

Bacon - if you love bacon-wrapped asparagus and really who doesn't, try putting in a couple of strips of bacon with the asparagus. They will cook up great together.

Equipment Needed

Air Fryer

Kitchen Tongs - Tongs will help make it easier to remove the asparagus from the air fryer after it is done air frying.

How to Make Air Fryer Asparagus

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

Trim fresh asparagus and drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle salt and pepper over the asparagus and toss to coat.
Place in air fryer basket evenly spread in a single layer and Air fry

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead: Fresh asparagus only lasts in your refrigerator for three to five days, so we recommend preparing them for the air fryer right before you plan to eat them and not too far in advance.

Storage: Transfer leftovers to the fridge in an airtight container and enjoy them within three to five days.

Freezing/How to Freeze: Freeze leftover asparagus in an airtight, freezer-safe container and enjoy within three months.

How to Reheat: The air fryer is always the best way to reheat leftover veggies, including this Air Fryer Asparagus!

Recipe Variations

Substitutions: We use salt and pepper as basic seasonings for any meal, but you can customize this to what you’re serving with your roasted asparagus.

Vegetarian + Vegan Option: This recipe is 100 percent vegetarian and vegan!

Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: We use a pound of fresh asparagus to make four servings. Scale the written recipe to your desired yield, working in batches as needed according to your air fryer’s capacity.

Make It Spicy: Red chili flakes, chili powder, Cajun seasoning, and smoked paprika are all fantastic ways to spice up your Air Fryer Asparagus!

Sugar-Free: This recipe contains 2 grams of sugar per serving, with no single ingredient containing a significant amount.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Asparagus

Make sure to trim the asparagus before cooking.
Thoroughly coat the asparagus with olive oil, salt, pepper, and other seasonings to get the flavor on all the asparagus spears.
The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer. Cook the asparagus just shy of the time listed, check how it looks, and add a few minutes if needed.
This asparagus recipe takes minutes to prepare and tastes fantastic.
If you use thick stalks of asparagus, you may need to add a minute or two to the cooking time. Check and make sure that the asparagus has cooked the way that you enjoy it.
To elevate your roasted asparagus, sprinkle it with garlic powder before cooking and squeeze some lemon juice onto it while plating.
If you love bacon-wrapped asparagus (and who doesn't), try putting in a couple of strips of bacon with the asparagus as we did in our Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus. They will cook up great together.
Check out our best air fryer vegetarian recipes!

air fried asparagus in the air fryer basket

What to Serve with Air Fryer Asparagus

With this how-to guide, you’re only a few minutes away from adding the goodness of roasted asparagus to any meal! Here are some menu planning suggestions.

Sides: BLT Pasta Salad, Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams, Southern Style Green Beans, CrockPot Bourbon Baked Beans, CrockPot Tater Tot Chicken Casserole, CrockPot Corn Pudding, 2 Ingredient Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Cups, Easy Homemade Banana Bread