Five minutes is all you need to make perfectly cooked asparagus using an air fryer. Simple, classic and lightly seasoned, this crispy asparagus can be served as a side to basically any meal to add some additional freshness as well as a pop of vibrant green color to round out your plate.

There are some vegetables that taste best when seasoned a certain way, such as snap peas with garlic and shallot or Kabocha squash with maple sugar. Asparagus is definitely not one of them! I've tried dressing it up several times when inspired by a recipe I've seen online, but honestly there is something about a simple drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper that just hits the spot.
There is no need to get fancy or try too hard when it comes to cooking asparagus. A lot of recipes call for garlic, paprika, red pepper flakes, a little lemon juice or even parmesan cheese. And while I'm not knocking how people like their asparagus, I'm just saying it really doesn't need it! Fresh asparagus has such a unique and fresh flavor on its own, so let's use that to our advantage and enhance it with just a few simple ingredients.
This recipe uses hot air from the air fryer to crisp up the asparagus in less than half the time of roasting it in the oven, making it a super convenient and easy way to add asparagus as a healthy side dish to any meal.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Quick and easy side dish
- Foolproof method ensures good quality asparagus every time
- Perfect texture - crispy on the outside (and crispy tips!) but tender on the inside
- Nutritious
- Uses less oil than roast asparagus
- Simple ingredients
Ingredients
The main idea of this recipe is to keep it clean and basic so that you don't even have to think about it. No ingredients to buy and no guessing whether it'll work with your main course - just fresh, delicious and crispy seasoned asparagus!
- Asparagus
- Olive oil (or avocado oil)
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
1. Wash and thoroughly dry the asparagus. It is important to pat the asparagus dry as moisture will cause it to steam and get soggy rather than crispy.
2. Remove the woody ends of the asparagus stalks. Trim asparagus by cutting about 1-2" from the bottom using a sharp knife or by snapping them off with your hands.
3. Toss in olive oil, salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper over the asparagus before adding to the air fryer.
4. Place the asparagus in the air fryer. It is fine if the asparagus overlaps a little.
5. Air fry at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover asparagus in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It will lose its crispiness if reheated in the microwave. For best results, reheat in the air fryer for about two minutes.
Recipe Tips
Undercook the asparagus. Yes, you heard that right! Asparagus continues to cook when you remove it from the air fryer (or oven), so it is important not to overdo it. You'll find that you actually get the best flavor from undercooking in addition to a little more firmness. Overcooking asparagus will cause it to shrivel and taste bitter.
Adjust cooking time (if desired) based on the thickness of the asparagus. Asparagus can range from thin and stringy to medium to thick. Each version is totally fine as there is no difference in quality, so it just boils down to preference. However, thin asparagus will cook in less time than their thicker counterparts. I prefer thicker asparagus and 5 minutes is really all you need. If air frying thinner spears, 5 minutes is still fine but check on it after 4 minutes just in case.
Feel free to overlap the asparagus to cook all in one batch. Overlapping is often a huge no-no when it comes to air frying, but not with asparagus! While we are looking for some degree of crispiness, this isn't the same as making sweet potato fries where crispiness is everything. Separating into two batches is perfectly fine to cook them in a single layer and optimize crispiness, but I don't get hung up on that because it doesn't make a noticeable difference with this vegetable.
Selecting Asparagus
Color: Look for bright green spears (or deep purple if using purple asparagus). The duller the color, the less fresh they likely are.
Tips: Look for stalks with tight, closed and pointed tips. If the tips are open, wilted or shriveled, they may be passed their prime.
Texture: Look for firm stalks rather than limp ones. Different lengths are fine.
After purchasing, extend their life by cutting half an inch off the bottom of the stalks and storing them standing upright in a glass with about an inch of water in the fridge. Alternatively, you can wrap the bottom of the stalks in a damp paper towel.
Health Benefits of Asparagus
Asparagus is an excellent source of vitamins A (contributes to eye, skin and immune health) and K (supports bone health). It is also contains a rich amount of heart-healthy fiber and essential nutrients such as folate and vitamins C and E.
Serving Suggestions
You seriously could serve this air-fried asparagus as a great addition to any entrée, so it is difficult to highlight a particular recipe. It is excellent alongside spaghetti aglio e olio or pasta al limone for an easy weeknight dinner. Or even alongside my cauliflower steaks with lemony mashed peas and mint. There really is no wrong time to serve them!
More Asparagus Recipes
Have more asparagus than you know what to do with? Cook them in a skillet with garlic and sesame seeds as a variation to simple olive oil, salt and pepper. Additionally, you can shave them with a vegetable peeler for asparagus ribbon salad or turn them into vegan cream of asparagus or asparagus and pea soup!
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- 15-minute crispy air fryer cauliflower
- Crispy air fryer zucchini
- Crispy air fryer hash browns
- Quick and easy air fryer broccoli
- Homemade crispy air fryer tortilla chips
- Simple and sweet air fryer butternut squash
This recipe is vegan, gluten-free and paleo-friendly. If you make it, please take a minute to comment below or share it on Instagram so I can see!
Print
5-Minute Air Fryer Asparagus
- Total Time: 8 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Five minutes is all you need to make perfectly "roasted" asparagus using an air fryer. Simple, classic and lightly seasoned, this crispy asparagus can be served as a side to basically any meal to add some additional freshness as well as a pop of vibrant green color to round out your plate.
Ingredients
1 lb asparagus (about 20 spears depending on thickness)
1 tbsp olive oil
⅛ tsp salt
1/16 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Wash and thoroughly dry the asparagus. It is important to pat the asparagus dry as moisture will cause it to steam and get soggy rather than crispy.
- Remove the woody ends of the asparagus stalks. This can be done by trimming about 1-2" from the bottom or by snapping them off with your hands.
- Toss in olive oil, salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper over the asparagus before adding to the air fryer.
- Place the asparagus in the air fryer. It is fine if the asparagus overlaps a little.
- Air fry at 400˚F for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
Notes
Feel free to overlap the asparagus to cook all in one batch. Overlapping is often a huge no-no when it comes to air frying, but not with asparagus! While we are looking for some degree of crispiness, this isn't the same as making sweet potato fries where crispiness is everything. Separating into two batches is perfectly fine to avoid overlapping and optimize crispiness, but I don't get hung up on that because it doesn't make a noticeable difference.
- Prep Time: 3
- Cook Time: 5
TAYLER ROSS says
I made this asparagus with dinner last night and it was perfect! I'll always be making it in the air fryer from now on!
Elaine Gordon says
So happy to hear that! Thank you!