Air Fryer Asparagus

Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus is incredibly quick, easy, and delicious to make. With just a few ingredients, this recipe will let the asparagus shine while producing a tender and irresistible side dish or appetizer.

Asparagus is a wonderful and healthy vegetable that can be prepared in so many ways. Here, the air fryer works its magic in about 8-10 minutes, which is important if you're a busy parent. I also include a fun asparagus "fries" variation you can try with asparagus spears, especially if you have younger kids who will try anything if it's labeled a "fry."

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

• When you're cooking asparagus in the air fryer, it is the same as the oven-roasted version but it uses less oil and cooks in a fraction of the time.
• This recipe uses 3 ingredients! It doesn't get much simpler than this for an easy side dish for a busy weeknight dinner.
• It's healthy and delicious! Roasted to perfection with crispy tips. It's low carb, low calorie, and will fit any diet.

HOW TO PICK THE BEST ASPARAGUS

Ideally, you want to choose fresh, vibrant green asparagus stalks that are straight and smooth. In the grocery store, you want to make sure they're being displayed upright and in water or ice to keep the lower part of the stem wet. The stems should be firm, not limp and dry. For the tip, make sure it's tightly closed, not sprouting or beginning to open.

You may see different sizes of stalks, depending on when and where the asparagus was harvested. The stalk sizes range from super skinny to very thick. There's no one right size; they will all taste delicious. This recipe uses medium-size asparagus. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your asparagus.

When you get the asparagus home, if you're not using it immediately, make sure you give the ends a small trim and set them upright in about an inch of water or wrap the ends in a moist paper towel. This will help the asparagus stay fresh in your refrigerator for up to 3 days.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF ASPARAGUS HAS GONE BAD?

The first sign of asparagus that is no longer fresh is that it will be limp and possibly mushy or slimy. Furthermore, if you give it a sniff, it will emit a very not-so-fresh smell. Discard immediately.

If the asparagus is dry and woody, and is no longer a bright green color, it has also lost its freshness and should be discarded.

SHOULD I CUT OR SNAP THE ENDS OFF?

The ends are very hard, woody, and inedible. The part that is edible should snap off fairly easily. Start at the end of the asparagus and work your way up to see where it will snap off. I like to snap off one asparagus to get a point of reference before cutting the rest with a knife.

Because we're using an air fryer for this recipe, I recommend using a knife to cut the reedy ends off. It's much quicker and you want all the asparagus spears to be uniform so that they'll fit in the air fryer basket. Use the snapped-off asparagus end as your guide, line the asparagus up evenly from the ends, and cut.

There's nothing wrong with snapping all of the asparagus either. It just takes longer.

TOPPINGS FOR AIR FRYER ASPARAGUS

This recipe is awesome as is, but if you're looking for a little something extra, plate up the asparagus and try one of these toppings:

• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• A drizzle of balsamic vinegar
• A drizzle of butter and finely minced garlic
• A smattering of Bleu cheese crumbles

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE AIR FRYER ASPARAGUS

• 1 pound fresh asparagus
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper

That's it! We're letting the asparagus be the star. You don't need a ton of ingredients to make this recipe delicious but feel free to add any of the extra toppings listed above.

HOW DO I MAKE ASPARAGUS IN THE AIR FRYER

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
2. Trim the ends from the asparagus with a knife, making sure they will fit in your air fryer basket.
3. Lay the trimmed asparagus out in a single layer on the air fryer tray. Do not let them overlap so that they have room to crisp up. You might have to do 2 batches. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper. Give the asparagus a quick toss.
4. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, until tender-crisp.

HOW DO I MAKE BACON WRAPPED ASPARAGUS BUNDLES?

You can't go wrong adding bacon to this recipe! And, luckily, it pairs beautifully with asparagus and it cooks up magnificently in the air fryer, so win-win!

Creating a bacon and asparagus bundle couldn't be easier. It's an elegant way to serve this veggie and it makes a great appetizer, too.

You'll need asparagus, bacon slices and toothpicks. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.

1. Clean and trim the asparagus.
2. Gather 3 stalks and wrap one slice of bacon around and around it and secure it with a toothpick.
3. Place the bundles in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
4. Cook for 8-10 minutes, checking at the 8 minute mark for doneness.

HOW DO I MAKE ASPARAGUS FRIES?

Perfect as a finger food that you can eat like a French Fry, kids love these and they also make a great party appetizer.

We're just adding one more step to the original recipe by rolling the asparagus spears in a simple egg mixture and a seasoned panko mixture before being air fried.

You'll need asparagus spears; olive oil; 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of water, whisked together in a shallow dish; ½ cup panko or breadcrumbs that are seasoned with garlic powder and salt, or use dry seasoning of your choice, in another shallow dish.

1. Clean and trim the asparagus.
2. Add the asparagus to the egg mixture in the shallow bowl and toss to coat all the spears.
3. Add a few asparagus spears at a time to the breadcrumb bowl and toss to coat. Place those spears in the air fryer basket. Continue this step until all spears have been coated and placed in the air fryer in a single layer. Do not let them overlap. You might have to do 2 batches.
4. Lightly spray or drizzle the spears with olive oil.
5. Cook for 8 minutes at 400 degrees F. At the 5 minute mark, open and flip the fries over, close the air fryer and cook for the remaining time.
6. Serve with your favorite dip (optional).

Have you tried this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ rating and comment below to let me know what you think!