Air Fryer Asparagus Wellplated Com

Asparagus was the first green vegetable I liked as a kid, thanks to my grammy letting me be the one to shake the pan of Roasted Asparagus when she cooked it for family dinners. The fact that she served it with a creamy sauce (Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip anyone?) probably helped too. As an adult, I’ve expanded to enjoy every variety of Oven Roasted Vegetables. We eat them daily, either with dinner or reheated at lunch, so I assumed veggies and my relationship would stay steady. And then…I got an air fryer. It was love all over again! From crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries (I mean come on) to almost-charred Air Fryer Broccoli to candy caramelized Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, the air fryer has opened a new, delicious avenue for us to get our five servings of veggies a day and love them. I’ve been slowly working my way through air fryer recipes, the latest and greatest of which is crispy air fried asparagus. When the weather doesn’t allow for Grilled Asparagus, I’m happy to have this lightning-fast method to cook crispy asparagus.

How to Make Air Fryer Asparagus

Air fry asparagus time is 6 to 8 minutes at 400 degrees F, depending upon the thickness of your stalks and your air fryer model. (I made my air fryer asparagus in a Ninja air fryer.)

Since the air fryer only needs about 3 minutes to preheat, which is less time to preheat an oven to roast asparagus, it means you can have a healthy side dish on the table, stat.Further, the air fryer needs very little oil to crisp foods. This is a high fiber, low-fat recipe you can feel great adding to any meal.

You can vary the seasonings on the asparagus, add cheese (air fryer asparagus with Parmesan is our favorite), or enjoy simple asparagus with salt and pepper. Whatever direction you take, it’s sure to be crispy and scrumptious.

The Ingredients

Asparagus. The main event! Packed with fiber, vitamin A, and even protein, asparagus is extremely healthy and low carb.Olive Oil. Helps the asparagus crisp and adds flavor. A little oil is all you need for vegetables in the air fryer.Salt + Pepper. Simple seasonings that let the asparagus shine. Dried Thyme. Deliciously earthy and savory. Parmesan. Finishing your asparagus with Parmesan is optional, but I’d be remiss if I (and Air Fryer Zucchini) didn’t share how truly tasty it is.Lemon Juice. While optional, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice adds wonderful brightness and acidity to the asparagus.Red Pepper Flakes. Another optional addition. We enjoy the tiny kick it gives the asparagus.

The Directions

Ways to Season Air Fried Asparagus

Spicy Air Fryer Asparagus. If you’re a fan of spice, use extra red pepper flakes.Italian Air Fryer Asparagus. Add 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning to the asparagus.Air Fryer Asparagus Bacon. Take a note from Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, and use bacon to add flavor to your asparagus. Crumble Oven Baked Bacon or Air Fryer Bacon over your cooked asparagus. Garlicky Air Fryer Asparagus. Add Roasted Garlic to your finished asparagus or add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon garlic powder to your seasoning mix. Air Fryer Asparagus with Herbs. Finish the asparagus with a sprinkle of chopped basil, thyme, dill, or parsley.Another option we enjoy is to toss the asparagus with balsamic vinegar or soy sauce before air frying too.

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate asparagus in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the air fryer.To Freeze. Freeze asparagus in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What to Serve with Air Fried Asparagus

Seafood. Air fryer asparagus and salmon is one of our favorite pairings, but it would also be tasty with other fish or shrimp. Try it with Garlic Butter Shrimp, Broiled Salmon, or Baked Cod.Meat. Pair this air fryer asparagus recipe with Grilled Chicken Thighs, Pecan Crusted Chicken, or Crockpot Pork Roast.Pasta. Asparagus is delicious with pasta dishes like Chicken Alfredo Bake, Garlic Pasta, or Sun Dried Tomato Pasta.Other Veggies. Grilled Portobello Mushrooms or Grilled Cauliflower Steaks would be scrumptious with this asparagus.