Air Fryer Asparagus
Air fryer asparagus takes less than 10 minutes and comes out bright green and tender-crisp, with lightly browned tips. Snapping off the woody ends, coating every spear in a thin layer of oil and matching the time to the thickness of the spears is all it takes. The lemon goes on at the end so it stays fresh and sharp.
Published
- Prep Time
- 5 mins
- Cook Time
- 8 mins
- Total Time
- 13 mins
- Servings
- 4 servings
How do you make Air Fryer Asparagus?
To make air fryer asparagus, snap the woody ends off 450 g of asparagus, toss the spears with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway. Thin spears need 4-5 minutes and thick ones 8-10. It is done when bright green and a knife slides into the thick end. Finish with lemon.
- Total time
- 13 mins
- Calories
- 50 per serving
- Protein
- 2 g
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Method
- Air frying
Ingredients
Asparagus
To finish
Equipment
Air fryer · Large plate or tray · Microplane or fine grater
Quick Directions
Preheat
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 3 minutes.
Trim the asparagus
Wash the asparagus and pat it dry.
Season
Lay the spears on a large plate or tray, drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Air fry
Arrange the asparagus in the basket in a single layer, or criss-cross it in no more than 2 layers.
Finish and serve
Move the asparagus to a serving platter.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these detailed steps to make the perfect air fryer asparagus.
Preheat
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 3 minutes.
Trim the asparagus
Wash the asparagus and pat it dry. Bend one spear near the base until it snaps; it breaks where the tough, woody part ends. Line it up with the rest of the bunch and cut them all at the same point. Trim the spears shorter if they don't fit flat in your basket.
Season
Lay the spears on a large plate or tray, drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the garlic powder, salt and pepper. Roll them around with your hands until every spear is lightly coated.
Air fry
Arrange the asparagus in the basket in a single layer, or criss-cross it in no more than 2 layers. Air fry for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, until the spears are bright green, the tips are lightly browned and crisp, and a knife slides into the thickest end with little resistance.
Finish and serve
Move the asparagus to a serving platter. Grate the lemon zest over the top, squeeze over the juice and serve straight away.
Recipe Tips
- Buy a bunch with spears of a similar thickness so they all cook in the same time.
- Lay very thin spears across the basket grate rather than along it, so they can't slip through the gaps.
- Add the lemon only after cooking. Acid turns asparagus olive-drab if it sits on the spears in the heat.
Variations
- Parmesan: scatter 20 g of finely grated Parmesan over the spears for the last 2 minutes of cooking (the dish will no longer be vegan).
- Bacon-wrapped: wrap bundles of 3-4 spears in a slice of streaky bacon and air fry at 190°C (375°F) for 10-12 minutes, until the bacon is crisp (no longer vegetarian).
- Balsamic: skip the lemon juice and drizzle the cooked asparagus with 1 tbsp balsamic glaze.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories | 50 |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbs | 4.5 g |
| Fat | 3.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.5 g |
| Fibre | 2 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 145 mg |
Estimated from the listed ingredients; values vary by brand.
Related Recipes
Storing & Reheating
- Fridge
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat
- Reheat in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 2-3 minutes, or chop cold leftovers into salads, pasta and omelettes.
Air Fryer Asparagus FAQs
How long do you cook asparagus in the air fryer?
At 200°C (400°F), thin spears under 1 cm thick take 4-5 minutes, medium spears about 1 cm thick take 6-8 minutes, and thick spears of 1.5 cm or more take 8-10 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through.
Do you need to trim asparagus before air frying?
Yes. The pale, woody base of each spear stays tough and stringy however long you cook it. Snap one spear to find where the tender part starts, then cut the rest of the bunch at the same point.
How do you know when air fryer asparagus is done?
It turns bright green, the tips brown and crisp lightly, and a knife slides easily into the thickest end. A spear lifted from the middle should bend slightly. Olive-green, limp spears are overcooked.
Can you air fry frozen asparagus?
Yes. Don't thaw it. Toss the frozen spears with oil and seasoning and air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 8-10 minutes, shaking halfway. Frozen asparagus comes out softer than fresh.
Why is asparagus stringy or tough?
The woody ends weren't trimmed off, or thick spears needed peeling. Snap or cut off the pale base, and for spears thicker than 1.5 cm, peel the lower half with a vegetable peeler before cooking.
Disclaimer
- Nutrition information is an estimate based on the listed ingredients. It changes with the brands, portion sizes and swaps you use.
- Read ingredient labels for allergens and for diet claims such as gluten-free or vegan. Products and their ingredients can change.
- Cooking times are a guide, since ovens, air fryers and slow cookers all run differently. Use a food thermometer and cook meat, poultry and fish to the safe internal temperatures in government food safety guidance.
- This recipe is general information, not medical or nutrition advice. If you have an allergy, a health condition or a special diet, check with a qualified health professional.
