Air Fryer Asparagus

Air fryer asparagus is a quick easy side with minimal prep and almost no dirty dishes. Not to mention barely any oil and a perfect crisp.

Asparagus in the Air Fryer

The air fryer is a great way to get perfectly roasted asparagus. Here are some simple tips to get you started.

It’s easy to air fry asparagus with just a bit of olive oil. Cook until tender and then season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon.

To prep your asparagus cut off the bottom inch or so. You can cook the asparagus in long spears if it will fit in your machine that way. If not, cut your asparagus spears into 2-inch pieces.

The smaller pieces will crisp up and cook a bit faster in the air fryer. As you fry it will be easy to give them a toss and still keep them in a single layer.

How to Air Fry Asparagus

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the asparagus in a bowl and toss with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, toss again to coat.
2. Place the asparagus in a single layer in the basket or directly on the rack. Fry the asparagus for 5-6 minutes. If you are using a basket-style air fryer toss the basket at about 3 minutes for even cooking. The pieces should be slightly crisp on the outsides when done.

How Long to Cook Asparagus in Air Fryer

When cooking in the air fryer the time is always dependent on the size of the vegetable you are cooking. A single layer will always work best for the hot air to flow around the item you are cooking.

Asparagus trimmed to fit the basket will fry in 5-6 minutes. Keep a close eye on it to not over cook.

Keep in mind when working with asparagus that thinner spears will cook much more quickly than thicker ones. Try to select uniform size spears whenever possible. When that isn’t possible, you can cook in batches with similar sizes in each batch. 

I use the COSORI Air Fryer for all of my air fryer recipes. I’m partial to a square basket air fryer as I find it easier to fit more food into the basket. This is a 5.8QT air fryer, one of the largest machines I’ve found that works effectively.

My first machine (photographed in several recipes here) was a bit retro with simple knob controls and I liked it a lot. However, that machine was recalled recently and the company sent out a replacement. I like the new machine every bit as much and have linked it above.

This air fryer is surprisingly easy to clean and the two-part basket locks together (it’s literally impossible for it to detach the way some do) until you open the latch and then push the button to release it. I simply wipe down the baskets with a sudsy dish scrub brush or sponge, rinse and let them air dry on the counter.

The air fryer is a quick and easy way to make almost any vegetable. Here are some vegetables to try: onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and even carrots.

Recipes with Asparagus

There are so many great ways to cook asparagus! Once you’ve mastered air frying, you may want to try roasting, grilling, steaming, sauteeing, or even boiling it.

Crispy, tender, Honey Glazed Asparagus is an absolutely unforgettable side dish for any meal. The smoky heat of the cayenne melds beautifully into the honey in the glaze.

This frittata with crispy bacon crumbles, fresh asparagus, and parmesan cheese is a terrific option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.