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Home Method Air Fryer Air Fryer Vegetables
5
/5
7 minutes minutes

Air Fryer Asparagus

Gluten Free Gluten Free Low Carb Low Carb Nut Free Nut Free Vegetarian Vegetarian
Jump to Recipe
By: Denise BustardLeave a Comment
Posted: 1/22/21 Updated: 1/24/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This lemon parmesan air fryer asparagus is cooked through to tender perfection in minutes! Low carb, gluten-free, and so simple to prepare.

While famous for cooking crispy foods, the air fryer is also great for 'roasting' up veggies. From air fryer carrots to air fryer green beans, they cook through quickly and always come out perfectly!

holding plate of asparagus with parmesan cheese
Jump to... show
1 Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe
2 Recipe video
3 Ingredient notes
4 Step by step directions
5 Recipe FAQ
6 Storage and reheating
7 Variations
8 More easy air fryer recipes
9 Lemon Parmesan Air Fryer Asparagus

When you need a simple, but elegant side dish, asparagus is a great choice. Serve it up with parmesan mashed cauliflower and herb crusted salmon for a delicious dinner!

Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe

  • the air fryer cooks it cooks quickly to tender perfection
  • it's easy with just 5 ingredients
  • the flavors are simple, yet classic

Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

Recipe video

Wondering exactly how to make air fryer asparagus? Watch this 1-minute video for step by step instructions! You can find more recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

Ingredient notes

ingredients required for air fryer asparagus
  • asparagus- because asparagus can vary so much in size, you may need to adjust the cook time accordingly. Extremely thin asparagus cooked through in as little as 2 minutes, whereas thicker asparagus took as long as 5 minutes
  • oil- I like to use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil in the air fryer, as they have a high enough smoke point to not burn

Step by step directions

asparagus with tips snapped off

1. Snap or trim the woody ends off the asparagus spears. This is typically the bottom 2 inches.

asparagus in bowl

2. Toss the asparagus in olive oil. Optional but helpful- use your hands to massage it in.

overhead view of asparagus in air fryer with basket pulled out

3. Heat the air fryer to 400°F. Cook asparagus for 2-5 minutes, shaking and flipping halfway through.

asparagus in an air fryer basket

4. Season with additional salt, squeeze lemon juice over top, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.


Recipe FAQ

Do you rinse asparagus before cooking?

Yes, wash the asparagus and pat it dry before tossing in the oil. This helps the asparagus get thoroughly coated in the oil.

Do you have to preheat an air fryer?

Yes, make sure you pre-heat your air fryer for 5-10 minutes before adding the asparagus.

Can I cook this in an oven-style air fryer?

Yes, you can use either a basket or oven-style air fryer. This recipe was tested in both a basket-style Phillips air fryer (similar to this one), and an Instant Pot vortex air fryer oven, and the cook times were very similar in each.

How do I know when my asparagus is done?

When your asparagus is ready to serve, it will be bright green and smooth. You do not want it to become dark green and wrinkly, as it can become chewy rather than tender crisp when over-cooked. See the image above for a good visual.

air fryer asparagus on plate with lemon wedges

Storage and reheating

Air fryer asparagus is best served fresh, as leftovers get limp. With that being said, you can reheat in the air fryer:

  1. Cool completely, then store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 days*.
  2. To reheat, set your air fryer to 350°F. Heat for 3 or so minutes, turning asparagus as needed, until warmed through.

*they are safe to eat but get bitter as they store

Check out my favorite meal prep containers!


Variations

This is a very basic recipe as written, but you can certainly put your own flare on it!

  • add ½ teaspoon onion or garlic powder for a little extra savory flavor
  • add ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika for smoky flavor
  • drizzle with balsamic reduction and sprinkle with feta cheese to serve
  • toss in melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt before serving

More easy air fryer recipes

  • Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
  • Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli
  • Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
  • Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Seriously Crispy Air Fryer Gnocchi

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

holding plate of asparagus with parmesan cheese

Lemon Parmesan Air Fryer Asparagus

5 from 2 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 2 minutes mins
Total Time: 7 minutes mins
Print Rate
This lemon parmesan air fryer asparagus is cooked through to tender perfection in minutes! Low carb, gluten-free, and so simple to prepare.
4

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch asparagus see note 1
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ½ lemon to squeeze over
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese to sprinkle

Instructions 

  • Snap or trim the woody ends off the asparagus spears. This is typically the bottom 2 inches.
    asparagus with tips snapped off
  • Toss the asparagus in olive oil. Optional but helpful- use your hands to massage it in.
    asparagus in bowl
  • Heat the air fryer to 400°F. Cook asparagus for 2-5 minutes, shaking and flipping halfway through.
    overhead view of asparagus in air fryer with basket pulled out
  • Heat the air fryer to 400°F. Cook asparagus for 2-5 minutes, shaking and flipping halfway through.
    holding plate of asparagus with parmesan cheese

Tips:

1- asparagus can vary greatly in width, and you may need to adjust the cook time accordingly. Thin asparagus cooked through in 2 minutes, whereas extremely thick asparagus took 5 minutes. Use your best judgement and remove when asparagus is bright green, but before it gets wrinkly.
Storage
Best served fresh, but you can store and reheat:
Cool completely, then store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 days*.
*they are safe to eat but get bitter as they store
Reheating
To reheat, set your air fryer to 350°F. Heat for 3 or so minutes, turning asparagus as needed, until warmed through.

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.25batch, Calories: 103kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 275mg, Potassium: 239mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 948IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 175mg, Iron: 3mg
Author: Annie Holmes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did You Make This?Don't forget to leave a review below, and tag us on Instagram using @SweetPeasAndSaffron or #sweetpeasandsaffron
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Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

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