Easy Air-Fryer Asparagus

By Tara Holland

Updated August 15, 2024

  • Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
10 minutes
Prep Time
3 minutes
Cook Time
7 minutes
Rating
5(201)
Comments
Read comments

Cooking asparagus in an air fryer offers a speedy, hassle-free way to produce tender emerald spears with lightly crispy tips. Before frying, toss with a smidgen of olive oil (less is more, to avoid soggy stalks) and a light seasoning of salt and garlic powder. If you like, garnish with flaky salt, red pepper flakes, lemon zest and freshly grated Parmesan for a salty finish with bright citrus notes. To really save time, serve alongside air-fryer chicken thighs, chicken breasts, or steak, cooking the asparagus in the same basket while the meat rests on a plate, enhancing flavor and minimizing cleanup. A final note: When shopping for asparagus, always choose bright green, firm spears with straight tips and tight buds.

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Ingredients

Yield:2 to 4 servings

  • 1 bunch (about 1 pound) medium asparagus, woody ends trimmed

  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

  • Kosher or flaky salt

  • Red pepper flakes (optional)

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest (optional)

  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (2 to 4 servings)

5 grams carbs; 3 milligrams cholesterol; 52 calories; 1 gram monosaturated fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 2 grams fat; 2 grams fiber; 280 milligrams sodium; 4 grams protein; 2 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Place the asparagus in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with garlic powder and season with salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes (if using). Toss to coat.

  3. Step 3

    Place asparagus in an even layer in the air fryer basket. (A slight overlap is fine. If you cannot fit the asparagus spears flat in your basket, cut them in half crosswise or into 2-inch pieces.) Fry for 5 to 7 minutes, tossing the spears halfway through with tongs or shaking the basket, until the stems are bright green, and the tips are lightly crisped.

  4. Step 4

    Transfer to a serving platter and season with salt, lemon zest, Parmesan and another pinch of red pepper flakes, if desired. Serve immediately.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
201 user ratings
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Comments

Emmessey

I only recently got an air fryer and it has a "air fry" function that is separate from bake or roast. I would assume that's what one would use. If your model doesn't have that, I'd use the convection or "super-convection" option in bake mode, if it has it.

Xanadu Brown

This is unexpectedly good! I was making another side to go with a short rib recipe from NYT... and I couldn't get the finish time to align, so I threw this in at the last minute. I didn't even have grated parmesan! I ended up using Kraft parm in the green bottle, and it still came out amazeballs! This will be in my side dish rotation for sure.

Dave

Skip the hassle of the lemon zest. Use lemon pepper, and feel your tongue go, "mmmmm."

KateB

The flavor was good (no lemon zest or Parmesan cheese) and 7 minutes cooked perfectly soft but there's just something... non-Spring about shriveled dark green asparagus as opposed to pan-boiled bright green asparagus, butter added. But I'm glad I tried it!

Phyllis Klein

Great and easy when you aren't grilling.

Sarah

This recipe was EXCELLENT I grew up in asparagus growing country in CA with it primarily being prepared on the grill. But this recipe is a perfect way to bring out the brightness in the asparagus thanks to the ingredients and finishing touches. 7 min in the air fryer for us, but we are currently at altitude. Makes me want to go buy another bunch to prepare again.

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