I love making air fryer asparagus for a fast and easy side dish. This recipe uses just 3 simple ingredients and can be made in minutes.

I have been cooking with my air fryer for years now and I can’t say enough good things about this appliance. It’s a great tool to have in your kitchen for busy nights, when you need to get food on the table fast, and when you don’t want to heat up your kitchen with the oven. Making asparagus in the air fryer was one of the first things I tried when I first got my air fryer and now it’s a constant on our family menu.

Air fryer asparagus is a vegetable that I can get my whole family to eat, even my picky daughter. The crisp tender texture is perfect, not soft and slimy like some asparagus can be.

If you want to try more roasted vegetables be sure to try air fryer mushrooms, air fryer bacon wrapped asparagus, air fryer carrots, and air fryer roasted broccoli.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Cooks quickly. This asparagus can be cooked faster than in the oven.
• Crisp tender. Delicious crisp tender texture.
• Customizable. You can customize and experiment with different seasonings.

Ingredients

This recipe is made with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Skip to the bottom for the full recipe.

• Asparagus – Look for bright green, firm asparagus.
• Olive oil – This helps to roast the asparagus.
• Lemon pepper – Use lemon pepper for seasoning or seasoning of your choice.

How to choose the best asparagus

The best way to choose asparagus is to look for closed and tight tips that are vibrant green or slightly purple. You will also want the stems to be firm and not limp.

When you bring the asparagus home from the store, pour some water into a large drinking glass or jar and place the ends of the stalks in the water. Store in the refrigerator to keep it fresh if not roasting immediately.

How to make air fryer asparagus

Scroll to bottom for full printable recipe, ingredients and video.

Step one: Trim or snap the bottom off of the asparagus stalks. This is the tough part that isn’t good to eat.

Step two: Pour the olive oil and lemon pepper seasoning over the asparagus stalks. Toss to coat.

Step three: Place the asparagus in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400 degrees F 6-7 minutes.

Heather’s recipe tips

• Make sure to cut off the bottom of the asparagus. This helps remove the tough part of the asparagus and also makes it easier to fit in the air fryer.
• Clean and dry the asparagus. After cleaning the asparagus, be sure to pat it dry.
• Spread out in a single layer. Doing this helps for even cooking.
• Serve warm. I think this is best served right after cooking.

Air fryer asparagus variations

Lemon pepper is one way to season but there are so many ways to add extra flavor. Here are a few suggestions:

• Soy sauce. Drizzle the asparagus with soy sauce and sesame seeds.
• Add cheese. Try topping with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
• Fresh citrus. Squeeze fresh lemon juice or lemon zest over the asparagus.
• Vinegar. Add balsamic vinegar for a tangy taste.
• More seasoning options. Use other seasonings like salt and pepper, Montreal seasoning, Italian seasoning, and more.

What to serve with air fryer asparagus

I like serving this asparagus with a variety of different things. If it’s during the holiday season, it pairs wonderfully with baked ham, pork tenderloin, shrimp scampi, and Lipton Onion Soup meatloaf.

For a busy weeknight I will make it with things like thin pork chops, sizzle steak, or even with a Bisquick breakfast casserole.

Storage

Store: Keep any leftovers covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes. You can also reheat in the oven.

Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing the cooked asparagus because it doesn’t hold up very well.

Frequently asked questions

More air fryer recipes to try

• Air fryer bacon wrapped pineapple – Pineapple chunks wrapped in bacon.
• Air fryer potato skins – Crispy potato skins with all the fixings.
• Air fryer shrimp and sausage – Just like a shrimp boil in the air fryer.
• Air fryer hamburgers – These turn out juicy and delicious.
• Air fryer onion rings – Easy way to cook onion rings.
• Air fryer steak fajitas – Cook up fast and always a family favorite.

Let me know if you make this asparagus recipe in the comments below.