Learn how to make asparagus in the air fryer! It turns out perfectly cooked every time and takes less than five minutes – it’s crunchy and the perfect side dish for any meal!

A white plate filled with cooked asparagus spears seasoned with herbs and spices. A striped napkin and a fork are partially visible in the background on the light gray surface.

I love asparagus, and I’ve cooked it using different methods, and one of my favorites is the air fryer. Air fried asparagus is easy, delicious, and fast and in less than five minutes, it comes out crisp-tender and never mushy or stringy.

Asparagus is usually in season during the spring to early summer, but you can generally find it year-round at the grocery store. You’ll see thin asparagus and thick asparagus – I recommend a medium thickness (not too tiny but not super thick). We love easy air fryer vegetables and make this asparagus side dish a lot. We also like to cook potatoes and zucchini in the air fryer.

Unlike other side dishes, this air fryer asparagus recipe is quick and easy – the perfect side dish for any occasion. Try it with grilled steak, baked chicken, pork chops, and salmon. Or add it as a side for your holiday ham or turkey. No matter how you serve it, I think you will love it.

A bunch of fresh asparagus on a cutting board, surrounded by small bowls labeled Seasonings containing garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Olive Oil, all set on a white surface.

How to Trim Asparagus Spears

Before you cook the asparagus, you will need to trim the ends. The ends are often woody and stringy, so removing them is important. If you hold a stalk of asparagus and bend it, it should naturally break at the point in the stem where it turns woody.

You can break off all of the woody ends using this method, or you can estimate where the woody parts start and chop off all of the ends at once with your knife.

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Air fryer basket filled with cooked asparagus spears, lightly seasoned, on a white background. The asparagus is evenly distributed across the grill surface.

How to Cook Asparagus in the Air Fryer

You can use any seasonings you like but we like to use salt, pepper, and sometimes garlic powder and/or onion powder. Toss fresh asparagus with olive oil in a large bowl to make the seasonings stick, but you can also just use cooking spray.
It’s good to preheat the air fryer basket to 375°F for about 5 minutes.
Spread the asparagus in an even layer on the rack. Don’t pile it or overlap it – it needs to be in one layer, so it cooks evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
Asparagus will cook in the air fryer in 3-5 minutes.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftovers in the refrigerator for three to five days in an airtight container. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave.