Quick & easy asparagus in air fryer

Air fryer asparagus takes only minutes to make. Everyone’s favorite spring vegetable is a perfect vegan and gluten-free side dish.

It goes well with almost any entrée. Or keep it simple with a salad & lemony potatoes.

Asparagus is one of my all-time favorite vegetables, as well as a wonderful harbinger of spring.

It’s right up there with daffodils & butterflies.

For many years, I thought roasting asparagus in the oven was the best way to prepare it.

Then along came the air fryer to prove there’s always room for good things to get even better.

The air fryer takes those beautiful thin stalks and gives them some light brown color, as well as roasty-toasty tips with a delicate crunch & tender interior.

Asparagus is so fast, delicious, and easy to make in the air fryer.

You get all of the toasted flavor of roasted asparagus without any of the waiting time for your oven to preheat.

Ingredients

For this simple air fryer asparagus recipe, you’ll need just 3 ingredients.

Asparagus: Look for firm, plump stalks with tips that are intact and tight. Avoid any bunches that are wrinkly or limp.

Ideally, the asparagus would be sold standing in water for optimum freshness.

Check out your farmers market for the best options.

Oil: A little oil helps the asparagus to brown in the air fryer.

Any oil that you like will work here. I recommend oil spray or a drizzle of olive oil.

Salt: A sprinkle of salt makes the flavors pop. Flaky sea salt is especially nice for finishing.

How to trim asparagus

Wash & dry asparagus spears with a clean kitchen towel.

Then trim asparagus to remove the hard, woody ends.

You can do this simply by using your hands to break off the bottoms of each stalk. It will naturally break where the wooded area ends.

If you’re in a hurry or want them to all be the same length, break just one. Then use it as a guide for the remaining asparagus spears in the bunch.

Line the broken stalk up with the others, so that the tips are all in the same place. Then cut across the base with a sharp knife, so that they’re all even.

Step by step instructions

Put the asparagus into the air fryer basket in a single layer.

Lightly oil it with spray or a drizzle of olive oil.

If needed, use your hands to get even oil coverage throughout – including the tips. Add a pinch of salt.

Air fry at 380 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes, stopping once to shake the basket for even roasting.

For best results

Air frying times can vary because of different asparagus thickness and power of the machine itself. So check on your asparagus starting at 5 minutes.

If your stalks are especially thick, it may take as long as 10 minutes for the asparagus to become tender.

I like my air fryer roasted asparagus to be brown in spots with crispy tips.

Use your best judgment to decide when it’s the perfect amount of doneness for you.

Make it your own

You can make this air fryer asparagus your own by varying the seasonings.

Instead of or in addition to salt, add a squeeze of lemon, lemon zest, sautéed garlic, garlic powder, or your favorite seasoning salt. I’m a big fan of Penzeys’ Fox Point seasoning.

For heat, add a sprinkling of red pepper flakes.

Before serving, add crumbled vegan feta cheese for more richness and tangy flavor, dairy-free parmesan cheese, or a ladling of vegan hollandaise sauce.

A garnish of lemon slices would not go amiss.

What to serve with asparagus

Asparagus goes well with almost any main course.

Serve it with any of these spring dishes:

• Lemony potatoes
• Spinach salad with strawberries
• Vegan crab cakes
• Mediterranean pasta with tomatoes & vegan feta
• Seitan piccata
• Grilled tofu with lemon & rosemary
• Vegan pesto pasta with artichokes & chickpeas
• Grilled Portobello mushrooms

How to store

Store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator.

It will keep 3 to 5 days.

When you’re ready to eat it, throw it back into the air fryer basket.

Cook at 380 degrees until warm. Or reheat for 30 to 60 seconds in the microwave.

More air fryer recipes

Keep the air fryer love going with these easy recipes:

• Vegan baba ganoush
• Air fryer stuffed peppers
• Fried pickles
• Tofu satay

(Still want more? Here are 40 vegan air fryer recipes!)

Content and photos updated March 30, 2022. Originally posted February 23, 2021.