This air fryer roasted asparagus is a breeze to make. Seasoned with garlic, lemon pepper, and salt, it's the best way to cook this vegetable, and it's super tasty!
As a fan of asparagus, I had to share one of my favorite ways to cook this vegetable...air frying!
Ready in 10 minutes and made with just a few simple ingredients, this vegetable side dish is versatile and pairs well with so many mains.
This air-fried asparagus is low-carb, low-calorie, vegan, and gluten-free.
For more air fryer vegetable recipes, be sure to try my marinated vegetables and air-fried carrots.
Featured Review
So glad we found this recipe.....so simple but so GREAT.
- Jim
Air Fryer Asparagus at a Glance
- Best for: a fast, healthy weeknight side that goes with almost any main
- Prep time: 3 minutes
- Cook time: 7 minutes
- Total time: 10 minutes
- Serves: 4
A Quick Look at the Ingredients
Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Asparagus: Reach for spears that are firm and straight, with tightly closed tips and a smooth surface. Skip anything limp or wilted. Medium spears are the easiest to work with. Thin ones cook faster, and thick ones take a little longer (and may need peeling, more on that below).
- Avocado oil: I like it here because it has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, so it crisps the spears without overpowering them. Olive oil, canola oil, and vegetable oil all work well, too.
- Garlic powder: Coats every spear evenly, which fresh garlic doesn't always do in the air fryer.
- Lemon pepper seasoning: This does a lot of the flavor work. I like my homemade lemon pepper seasoning, but store-bought is fine as well.
- Fresh lemon: A squeeze right after cooking wakes everything up.
- Kosher salt: To taste, at the end. If you don't have kosher salt, fine sea or table salt works too, just use a little less.
- Want it cheesy? Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan over the spears in the last 2 minutes of cooking. It melts into a crispy, savory finish. (Leave it off to keep things vegan and dairy-free.)
How to make air fryer asparagus
Prep the asparagus
Rinse the spears and pat them dry. Trim off the woody ends, either by cutting about an inch off the bottom or bending a spear until it snaps at its natural break point. If your spears are thicker than ½ inch (1.3 cm) at the base, peel the lower half with a vegetable peeler so they don't turn out tough. Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C).
Season it
Add the asparagus, avocado oil, garlic powder, and lemon pepper to a bowl and toss until every spear is coated.
Air Fry
Lay the asparagus in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 380°F (193°C) for 7 to 9 minutes, tossing halfway through, until the spears are tender-crisp with lightly browned tips. If your basket is on the small side, work in batches, so you don't crowd them.
Squeeze fresh lemon over the top and season with kosher salt to taste. Serve right away while the tips are still crisp.
Tanya's Top Tips
- Keep it to a single layer. Crowding the basket steams the asparagus instead of crisping it. Batches are worth the extra couple of minutes.
- Match the thickness. Try to cook spears of similar size so they finish at the same time. Thinner spears can be done closer to 7 minutes, thicker ones closer to 9.
- Peel the thick ones. If the base is thicker than ½ inch (1.3 cm), peel the lower half. It makes a real difference in texture.
- Pat them dry first. Dry spears hold the oil and seasoning better and crisp up faster.
- Toss halfway. It's the easiest way to get even cooking from tip to base.
How to buy the best asparagus
Your asparagus should be as fresh as possible. The stems should be firm to the touch and stand up straight, not limp or wilted. The tips should be closed tightly to the stem and the surface should be smooth.
What do you serve it with?
This air fryer asparagus is great with so many dishes and it's a great accompaniment to any weeknight meal. It's great to serve with chicken, fish, steak and so many more dishes. try it with:
Storage, Reheating, and Freezing
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Reheating: The air fryer is your best bet. Reheat at 400°F (204°C) for 2 to 3 minutes, keeping an eye on it since it warms fast. You can also microwave it with a damp paper towel on top for 20 to 30 seconds, though you'll lose some of the crispness.
- Freezing: I don't recommend freezing cooked asparagus. It holds a lot of water and tends to come out limp and watery once thawed. This one is best made fresh.
FAQs
Only the thick ones. If a spear is thicker than ½ inch (1.3 cm) at the base, peeling the lower half keeps it from being tough and stringy. Thin and medium spears don't need it.
I haven't tested it myself, so I can't promise the result. The flavor should be similar, but my guess is the texture would come out softer and a little mushier than fresh.
More Easy Side Dishes
Easy Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place asparagus, avocado oil, garlic powder, lemon pepper seasoning in a bowl and toss to combine.
- Place in the preheated basket and cook for 7-9 minutes, until tender and tossing halfway.
- Squeeze with lemon and season with additional salt to taste
Nutrition
Notes
- You’ll want to cut the woody ends of the asparagus. I suggest peeling larger asparagus as they can be tough on the ends. If the asparagus bottom is ½ inch or larger, I cut and peel it.
- Thinner asparagus will cook quicker than thicker asparagus.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This post was originally published on January 26, 2021. It has been updated with new information.
Kristen says
This asparagus recipe was so simple and so delicious. Better than broiling in the oven. It was a perfect (and elegant) side for our leftover Chicken Cordon Bleu that I'd made 2 days prior - also reheated in the air fryer.
Tanya says
Thanks so much, Kristen! So happy you liked the recipe. Oh and yes, the air fryer is great for warming up leftovers too.
Jeremiah says
Would this recipe work with frozen asparagus, if fresh isn’t available/on-hand?
Tanya says
Hey Jeremiah, I haven't personally tested it with frozen asparagus, but it would work about the same flavor-wise. My only concern is the asparagus may be slightly mushier in texture.
DOROTHY says
Thank you Tanya. Your recipes are always great. Was contemplating purchasing a new air fryer (Did not like the last one) Definitely have made up my mind now. New air fryer on the way!
Tanya says
Thanks Dorothy! I hope you love your new air fryer.
Jim says
So glad we found this recipe.....so simple but so GREAT. Thanks for sharing your talents with us. Fairly new to the air fryer but so glad we finally discovered it. Please keep posting on youtube so we can enjoy more of your great recipes.
Tanya says
Thanks so much Jim! I'm taking a a short, much needed break from Youtube but plan to come back with new content soon.
Jon says
Like every other recipe by you I have prepared for my wife and me(many), this one is a delight. It is a pleasure to prepare the recipes you post and then to savor them afterwards at the table. Warmest thanks.
WANDA says
I &LOVE MY AIRFRYER, SO EASY & GOOD. I AM MAKING THIS FOR DINNER.
THANK YOU
Ronnie says
Delicious thanks Tanya! Happy late birthday 🎂