Air Fryer Asparagus

This delectable Air Fryer Asparagus recipe comes together so quickly with just a handful of ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen.  They cook up perfectly in the air fryer in less than seven minutes and they taste so incredibly delicious that you won’t even believe how healthy they are for you.

We try to balance our meals with some low carb heart healthy vegetable sides dishes.  This recipe, Cabbage Steaks, Oven Roasted Broccoli, and Creamy Mashed Cauliflower are just a few of our favorites.

How to make Air Fryer Asparagus

Start by brushing the asparagus with vegetable oil and sprinkling with the lemon pepper and salt.  Then load it into the air fryer and top with a little shredded Parmesan.  Cook at 400 degrees for about 6-7 minutes.  Carefully remove the asparagus and for best results serve promptly. Most air fryers are small so you will need to work in batches.  Please see the full directions at the bottom of the post.

Recipe notes and helpful tips

• Trim the tough ends off the bottom of the asparagus.  I usually trim about 1 1/2 inch off the bottom of each stalk.
• Use vegetable or canola oil as olive oil has a lower smoking point.
• For added flavor spritz with a little lemon juice. 
• Other seasonings and herbs to work with include red pepper flakes, basil, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and balsamic vinegar.  
• Work in batches with the asparagus laying in a single layer in the air fryer.
• All air fryers vary in cooking time and intensity so periodically open the basket and check on it.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at a reduced power or in the air fryer for a couple of minutes. 

How to trim asparagus

I have always found the best way to trim asparagus is with a cutting board and a sharp knife.  Simply line up the heads of the stalks and cut about 1 – 1 1/2 inches off the bottom of the stalk.  This removes the hard woody sometimes dry ends.  You can also bend it until it snaps but I have found that is not necessarily the best approach and is somewhat wasteful.  At $3.99/lb. I like to take the first approach for trimming it to avoid waste.

How to properly store asparagus before cooking

Asparagus dries out quickly so after bringing it home from the store the stalks should be placed head side up in a Ziploc bag with a half cup of cool water .  Wedge it in the refrigerator so the the bag is standing up with the tops of the asparagus pointing up.  I usually wedge it in the door with the mustard and ketchup so it will stand up straight.  The water should be changed daily.  I have had many readers tell me that they do not purchase asparagus anymore because it is so tough.  This is due to it drying out.  Make sure you re-hydrate your asparagus and change the water daily as your grocer is probably not storing it correctly.

Other asparagus recipes you will love!

Air Fryer Asparagus

This easy Air Fryer Asparagus comes together quickly using ingredients you may already have on hand and cooks up perfect every time.

5 from 19 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: side

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 119kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh asparagus ends trimmed
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. Brush the asparagus with vegetable oil and sprinkle with the lemon pepper and salt.  Load it in the air fryer in a single layer and top with some shredded Parmesan.
• Cook 6-7 minutes or until crisp tender. For best results serve promptly.

Notes

• Trim the tough ends off the bottom of the asparagus.  I usually trim about 1 1/2 inch off the bottom of each stalk.
• Use vegetable or canola oil as olive oil has a lower smoking point.
• For added flavor spritz with a little lemon juice. 
• Other seasonings and herbs to work with include red pepper flakes, basil, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and balsamic vinegar.  
• Work in batches with the asparagus laying in a single layer in the air fryer.
• All air fryers vary in cooking time and intensity so periodically open the basket and check on it.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at a reduced power or in the air fryer for a couple of minutes. 

Nutrition

Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 281mg | Potassium: 257mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 931IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 3mg

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