Air Fryer Asparagus

Air Fryer Asparagus is so incredibly delicious. A drizzle of oil, some yummy spices and parmesan, slightly crispy and cooked to perfection. It makes the perfect side or appetizer and is also great for entertaining. Cooked in a fraction of the time without having to heat up the oven, and producing the perfect texture, you'll never cook it any other way!

Asparagus is in season in the spring and early summer, and is often a popular side for holiday meals. We love it in the air fryer during the hot months especially, so as to not heat up the house!

This was inspired by our Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks and Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters. Try our fun and yummy Asparagus Wrapped in Puff Pastry. It's a great side that's easy to make and beautiful too! It pairs perfectly with our Bacon Wrapped Chicken or our Best Manicotti EVER.

Ingredients

• asparagus
• avocado oil
• garlic spread seasoning of choice this one is our favorite -OR- parsley, italian seasoning, salt and garlic powder
• pepper

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

1. Preheat air fryer to 400* F. Rinse asparagus and pat dry. Snap off ends. To do this, bend the asparagus towards the bottom where it starts to lighten and it will snap in the correct place all by itself! Place in a large mixing bowl.

2. Drizzle avocado oil over the asparagus and mix thoroughly until well coated. I like to take the ends and rub them in the oil on the bottom to ensure they are coated completely. You can use vegetable, canola or olive oil for this. Coconut oil is not recommended as it does not have a high enough smoke point.

3. Sprinkle garlic spread seasoning and pepper over the top. Mix well until it's evenly and thoroughly coated. I like to use my hands, but you can use a spatula. Make sure the tops are coated too! You can do this easily by swirling the tops in any spices that are on the bottom of the bowl.

4. Place in air fryer basket. For this dish, it's okay if the asparagus isn't in a single layer. Cook for 4 minutes then shake basket or turn asparagus with tongs. Add parmesan cheese and cook an additional 3 minutes for a total of 7 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.

Hint: Wash your air fryer as soon as it cools down enough! Air fryers are prone to getting a build up of oil residue, washing soon after use helps prevent this.

Substitutions

• Oil - you can use vegetable or canola oil or even olive oil. I don't like to use olive oil in my air fryer, as it leaves a build up of gunk over time, despite washing after each use.
• Garlic Spread- use ¾ teaspoon parsley, ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder instead of garlic spread seasoning.

Variations

• Spicy - add chili pepper flakes at the same time as the other spices, or sprinkle on top after cooking. We love ours this way!
• Bacon Air Fryer Asparagus- add bacon crumbles (we recommend crumbles over bits) at the same time as adding the parmesan. OR wrap the asparagus spears in groups of 3 in bacon. Cook time may take an additional 2-5 minutes- make sure bacon is fully cooked before consuming!
• Air Fryer Asparagus and Salmon- spread butter and garlic spread seasoning on top of salmon and place salmon on top of asparagus in air fryer. Cooking time should be about the same time, but always check your meat for doneness. See our Food Safety Guidelines located below the recipe card.

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Mixing Bowl

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 400* for 2-3 minutes.

These ingredients do not hold up well to freezing- freezing is not recommended.

Top tip

Make sure the asparagus is well coated in oil. I do use as little oil as possible. The tops tend to not get coated as well and can then burn while in the air fryer. After combining with the oil as best I can, I like to swirl the tops in any leftover oil on the bottom. I also do the same with the spices to ensure maximum flavor.

Recipe

Air Fryer Asparagus

Nicole

Air Fryer Asparagus is so incredibly delicious. A drizzle of oil, some yummy spices and parmesan, slightly crispy and cooked to perfection

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

5 from 7 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 7 mins

Total Time 12 mins

Servings 6 servings

Calories/serving 35 kcal

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 lb. asparagus
• ▢ 2 teaspoons avocado oil
• ▢ 2 teaspoons garlic spread mixture* see below for substitution
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese optional

Instructions

 

• Preheat air fryer to 400*F.
• Rinse asparagus and pat dry. Snap off ends. Place in a mixing bowl.
• Drizzle oil over the top and mix to coat thoroughly, making sure to get the ends so they don't burn!
• Add spices and again mix to coat thoroughly.
• Place in air fryer basket and cook for 4 minutes. Shake or turn asparagus then add parmesan cheese. Cook 3 more minutes for a total of 7 minutes.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 400*F for 2-3 minutes.
• It is not recommended to freeze this dish

*may substitute ¾ teaspoon parsley, ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder for garlic spread seasoning.

Nutrition

Serving: 2.66lbCalories: 35kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 31mgPotassium: 156mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 586IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 2mg

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Food safety

• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.