Air Fryer Asparagus
on Jan 25, 2024, Updated Mar 09, 2024
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Air Fryer Asparagus is perfectly tender and because it’s made with only four ingredients, it can be ready to eat in just 15 minutes! It’s the perfect simple side dish that will complete any meal.
Asparagus is one of my favorite side dishes to make because it is quick, easy, and has a hearty and rich taste that goes well with so many main dishes! I especially love cooking it in the air fryer because I don’t have to wait for the oven to be ready and can make it right on my countertop. Check out the best way to store asparagus for more information.
I usually serve this lemony asparagus with oven baked salmon, baked chicken, or easy steak to elevate my meals with some color and nutrients! Asparagus has a deep and earthy flavor on its own, so using the lemon pepper seasoning adds brightness and zest. Even the pickiest of eaters are sure to like this rich, tangy, and tender air fryer asparagus!
Table of Contents
Recipe Ingredients
- Asparagus—I like my asparagus to be on the thinner side, but really any kind of fresh asparagus will work.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning—Adds a slight citrus and peppery zing to the asparagus.
- Sea Salt—Amplifies the flavor of the asparagus and the seasoning.
- Olive Oil—Helps the seasoning stick to the asparagus and prevents the veggies from being dry.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Air Fryer Asparagus
Step #1. Gather these 4 ingredients for air fryer asparagus. Trim your asparagus down so that it fits into the basket of your air fryer.
Step #2. Toss the asparagus, olive oil, lemon pepper seasoning, and salt together on a baking sheet or in a large bowl.
Step #3. Transfer your asparagus to the air fryer basket.
Step #4. Cook until fork tender. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Some people prefer to soak their asparagus for just a few minutes before cooking, but it is not a necessary step. Because the air fryer cooks vegetables at such a hot temperature, any excess water will evaporate quickly. This means that soaking your asparagus will not really change the texture of your finished dish.
The ends of asparagus have a tough, woody texture that is rather unpleasant. To remove this, hold the asparagus spear towards the middle with one hand and with the other hand find the natural bending point near the bottom, then snap off the end. This will give you various lengths of your asparagus, but that is totally normal. You can also use a pair of scissors to trim the ends off your asparagus if you want to have a more uniform look.
This can depend on how thick and meaty your asparagus is. Thicker stalks of asparagus don’t tend to get too crispy, but you should notice a slight charring on the outside. Keep in mind that you don’t want your veggies to be mushy! Cooking your lemon pepper asparagus for longer won’t necessarily make it crispier, it might just make it too soft. You’ll know that your asparagus is done frying when a fork can easily pierce the asparagus, but it still has a little bite to it.
Expert Tips
- Most lemon pepper seasonings have a little bit of salt in them, but I like to add some additional coarse sea salt to make sure the asparagus is well seasoned!
- You can check to see if the asparagus is ready by poking a few with a fork. The spears should be soft and tender, but not mushy.
- If you want to add a little bit more flavor, try cutting up pieces of uncooked bacon and throwing that into the air fryer with the asparagus! The flavors go wonderfully together and it will add some extra crunchy texture.
- Not a huge fan of lemon pepper? No worries! You can season this air fryer asparagus any way you like! Try sprinkling on some red pepper flakes, garlic salt, onion powder, freshly cracked black pepper, or Italian seasoning.
- Because you will use olive oil to coat the asparagus, you don’t need to spray the air fryer beforehand, but you can line it with tin foil or parchment paper for easy clean-up!
How to Make Asparagus in the Oven
If you don’t have an air fryer you can still make this tasty asparagus in your oven! The instructions are very similar, but your cooking time and temperature will be a little different.
- Trim your asparagus and preheat your oven to 425°F.
- While the oven is preheating, toss the ingredients together on a baking sheet or in a large bowl.
- Transfer the asparagus to a lined baking sheet and cook for 13-15 minutes until it is tender.
- Serve and enjoy!
How to Store Air Fryer Asparagus
This asparagus is best served fresh. However, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or two. You can reheat your asparagus in the air fryer for about 5 minutes at 400°F. It is important to note that your reheated asparagus will not have as much of a crisp to it. Alternatively, you can toss your fresh asparagus in the oil and spices and then keep the veggies in a plastic container for up to 24 hours before cooking.
More Vegetable Sides To Consider
Side Dishes and Salads
Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
Vegetable Sides
Cauliflower Wings
Vegetable Sides
Brussels Sprouts in the Oven
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Air Fryer Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
- 1 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Trim your asparagus and preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400.
- While the air fryer is preheating, toss the asparagus, olive oil, lemon pepper seasoning, and salt together on a baking sheet or in a large bowl.
- Transfer your asparagus to the air fryer basket and cook for 11 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- The lemon pepper has a little bit of seasoning, but we like to add a little bit of coarse sea salt to make sure the asparagus is well seasoned.
- Use a sharp knife or a pair of kitchen shears to trim the ends of your asparagus.
- This asparagus is best served fresh. While we don’t recommend storing the cooked asparagus, you can toss your asparagus in oil and spices and then keep the veggies in a plastic container for up to 24 hours.
- Other seasonings you can use in this dish include red pepper flakes, black pepper, garlic powder, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning.
- Make sure your asparagus is done cooking by poking a few with a fork. The asparagus should be soft and tender.
