Air Fryer Asparagus – A Couple Cooks

April 25, 2025

- Parmesan and garlic: Add ¼ teaspoon garlic powder when tossing with oil and salt. Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese on the asparagus instantly after air frying.

- Lemon and pepper: Add ¼ teaspoon floor black pepper when tossing with oil and salt. After cooking, squeeze half a lemon over the asparagus and garnish with lemon zest if desired.

- Crimson pepper flakes: Add a pinch earlier than or after air frying for a spicy kick.

- Every thing bagel seasoning: Sprinkle this stylish spice mix over the asparagus after cooking.

- Sesame: Strive a light-weight drizzle of toasted sesame oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

You received’t imagine how simple and scrumptious it’s to make air fryer asparagus! That is now my favourite method to prepare dinner this inexperienced vegetable. The dietary yeast provides a refined tacky taste and tarragon brings a fragile natural word.

This may sound bizarre, however I’ve by no means been that into asparagus—till this recipe got here alongside! I used to be a kind of individuals who have been just a little postpone by its bitter taste. However let me let you know: air fryer asparagus is an entire totally different ball sport. It comes out tender, juicy, and nearly candy, with browned and crispy ideas. Each time we make this, I inhale the spears like French fries!

Alex created this recipe with two distinctive seasonings—dietary yeast and tarragon—which make a surprisingly scrumptious taste mixture! They’re value stocking in your pantry when you don’t already. The dietary yeast provides a refined tacky taste with out dairy, whereas the tarragon brings a fragile natural word. (We inventory dietary yeast often to shake over popcorn, which makes it completely subsequent degree.😊) You possibly can substitute different seasonings as desired!

⭐ Air fryer advice: We’re late to the air fryer sport, however we’re very proud of ours! We use this air fryer, which has a really giant basket so you’ll be able to prepare dinner bigger portions without delay.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Easy and fast – Season your asparagus, place it within the air fryer, and also you’re accomplished in beneath 10 minutes!
Crispy goodness – You’ll find yourself with tender spears and addictively crispy ideas each time.
Versatile – Excellent as a aspect for nearly any fundamental dish, works with numerous seasoning variations.
Wholesome – It’s low-oil, low-calorie, and full of vitamins and fiber, making and straightforward and wholesome aspect dish thought.

Ideas for air fryer asparagus

After making air fryer asparagus numerous instances in our check kitchen, I’ve picked up some tips that make an enormous distinction within the closing outcome:

Trim the woody ends: Lower off the robust ends of the asparagus earlier than cooking. The underside half is fibrous and chewy, so eradicating it helps guarantee a young chew. (Right here’s the best way to reduce asparagus.)
Select the best asparagus: Skinny to medium-thick spears work finest for air frying, providing you with that good stability of tender insides and crispy outsides. We discover the thinner the spears, the sweater the flavour.
Don’t overcrowd the basket: Unfold the asparagus in a single layer to permit the recent air to flow into correctly. For those who pack too many spears into the air fryer without delay, they’ll steam relatively than roast. Relying on the scale of your basket, it’s possible you’ll must prepare dinner in batches.
Watch the timing: Totally different air fryer fashions can fluctuate in cooking velocity. Skinny asparagus could also be accomplished after simply 4 minutes, whereas thicker spears may want the total 7 minutes.

Seasoning variations

Whereas dietary yeast and tarragon make an unimaginable mixture that Alex and I really like, air fryer asparagus is extremely versatile. Listed here are another scrumptious methods to season it:

Parmesan and garlic: Add ¼ teaspoon garlic powder when tossing with oil and salt. Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese on the asparagus instantly after air frying.
Lemon and pepper: Add ¼ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper when tossing with oil and salt. After air frying, squeeze half a lemon over the asparagus and garnish with lemon zest if desired.
Crimson pepper flakes: Add a pinch earlier than or after air frying for a spicy kick.
Every thing bagel seasoning: Sprinkle this stylish spice mix over the asparagus after cooking.
Sesame: Strive a light-weight drizzle of toasted sesame oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Storing leftovers

As with most greens, air fryer asparagus is at its best possible when contemporary from the air fryer. For those who do have leftovers, right here’s what to do with them:

Storage: Let the asparagus cool fully, then retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days.
Reheating: For the most effective texture, reheat within the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes till warmed by means of. This helps restore a number of the crispiness. Keep away from microwaving as a result of it tends to make the asparagus soggy.
Leftover concepts: Chilly leftover asparagus makes an amazing addition to asparagus salad, a grain bowl, or may be chopped and added to frittatas, asparagus quiche, or pasta salad.

Dietary notes

This air fryer asparagus recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Often requested questions

Do I must preheat my air fryer for asparagus?

Preheating for about 5 minutes helps guarantee even cooking and higher browning of the asparagus.

How do I do know when the asparagus is completed?

The asparagus must be vibrant inexperienced, tender when pierced with a fork, and barely browned and crispy on the ideas. The precise time will depend on the thickness of your spears.

Do I must flip the asparagus whereas cooking?

In contrast to typical oven roasting, you don’t must flip every spear individually. Nevertheless, shaking the basket midway by means of cooking (across the 4-minute mark) helps guarantee even cooking.

Is dietary yeast mandatory? The place can I discover it?

Whereas not completely mandatory, dietary yeast is what offers this recipe its distinctive “tacky” taste with out dairy. You will discover it in most well being meals shops, well-stocked grocery shops (typically within the pure meals part), or on-line. For those who don’t have it, you’ll be able to substitute Parmesan cheese or just benefit from the asparagus with simply salt and a squeeze of lemon.

What if I don’t have tarragon?

For those who don’t have tarragon, merely omit it and nonetheless get pleasure from scrumptious air fryer asparagus. I requested Alex when you might use one other dried herb, however he indicated the tarragon blends very properly and he wouldn’t advocate even dill or oregano (although you’re welcome to experiment!).

So, contemplate this air fryer and asparagus skeptic (me) proved fallacious! The air fryer makes essentially the most scrumptious taste that makes these inexperienced spears as addictive as French fries, an simple aspect dish for each weeknight dinners and particular events. The mix of dietary yeast and tarragon that Alex created brings such a singular and scrumptious taste — tell us what you assume within the feedback beneath!