The absolute best way to roast asparagus is in an air fryer because it’s super quick and the asparagus is perfectly tender and crisp!
There are no fancy ingredients for this healthy asparagus recipe and absolutely no oil–not one drop. It’s as simple as a few spices and about 7-minutes, and you’ve got a delicious wholesome side dish.
You’ll love this air fryer asparagus because it’s…
- Perfectly cooked
- Fast & easy
- Completely oil-free & healthy
- Absolutely delicious
We love asparagus, and cooking it in an air fryer is the very best way that I’ve found to get the texture and taste perfect. I’ve never liked it cooked to a mush, and making it in my air fryer allows it to get done but retain that crispy crunch.
If you love your air fryer like I do, some of the recipes in this list of Best Vegan Air Fryer Recipes may get you excited as well.
How to make asparagus in an air fryer
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
Begin by rinsing and then trimming about 1/2″ off the bottom of the asparagus because that’s the tough part that is chewy and needs to be removed before cooking.
I am often asked which knives I use personally, and I have to say that it is Victorinox. They are the same company that makes Swiss Army Knives and the quality is excellent.
Next, it’s time to season it, and there are so many options here. Oftentimes, I just spritz it with lemon or lime juice and then add the dry seasonings.
Other times, I place the asparagus in a bowl or flat-bottom dish and dunk it in aquafaba which is simply the bean juice from cooked chickpeas, but this isn’t required.
I like to do it because the bean juice has a little thicker consistency than water and seems to help the dry spices to stick better. However, your asparagus will already be still wet from rinsing it, so this step can be skipped if you don’t have aquafaba already on hand.
Tasty asparagus seasoning
You really can use any seasonings preferred for the asparagus, and there are so many to choose from. I usually combine 2 or 3 at a time, and the top four listed are my personal favorites.
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Nutritional yeast flakes for a cheesy flavor
- Coarse sea salt
- Parsley flakes
- Homemade vegan parmesan
- Dry Italian seasoning
- Balsamic vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Lemon
Place the asparagus spears in the air fryer basket and sprinkle them with your seasonings of choice. Toss them around a bit with your hands or a spoon to make sure they are coated well.
Set the cooking temperature to 400°F and the time to 7-minutes. If the spears are particularly thick, you may need to add a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time. You don’t want to overcook the spears because they will lose their crispiness. I love mine cooked tender but still with a crunch.
Once the timer goes off, place on a plate or platter and drizzle a little lemon juice or balsamic vinegar over the top. Occasionally, I will use a balsamic vinegar glaze.
Can asparagus be cooked in an oven?
Though I prefer the air fryer cooking method, an oven can definitely be used instead. Simply set the oven to 425°F and allow the asparagus to cook for approximately 15-minutes. Thicker spears will require a little longer cooking time.
Dishes that pair well with air fryer asparagus
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Air Fryer Asparagus | Oil-Free
The absolute best way to roast asparagus is in an air fryer because it's super quick and the asparagus is perfectly tender and crisp!
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh asparagus
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast flakes
- Spritz of lemon or lime juice OR 1/2 cup aquafaba (chickpea bean juice) OPTIONAL
Instructions
- Begin by rinsing and then trimming about 1/2″ off the bottom of the asparagus because that’s the tough part that is chewy and needs to be removed before cooking it.
- Next, it’s time to season it, and there are so many options here. Personally, I like to place my asparagus in a bowl or flat-bottom dish and dunk it in aquafaba which is simply the bean juice from cooked chickpeas, but this isn’t required. I just like it because it's thicker than water and helps the spices stick better. Oftentimes, I just spritz it with lemon or lime juice instead.
- Place the asparagus spears in the air fryer basket and sprinkle with your seasonings of choice. I like to use garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and nutritional yeast. But, I've included a list of many others to consider above.
- Toss the spears around a bit with your hands or a spoon to make sure they are coated well.
- Set the cooking temperature to 400°F and the time to 7-minutes. If the spears are particularly thick, you may need to add a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time. You don't want to overcook the spears because they will lose their crisp. I love mine cooked tender but still with a crunch.
- Once the timer goes off, place on a plate or platter and drizzle a little lemon juice or balsamic vinegar over the top. Occasionally, I will use a balsamic vinegar glaze.
Oven Directions
Though I prefer the air fryer cooking method, an oven can definitely be used instead. Simply set the oven for 425°F and allow the asparagus to cook for approximately 15-minutes. Thicker spears will require a little longer cooking time.
Notes
Seasoning:
Oftentimes, I just spritz it with lemon or lime juice and then add the dry seasonings. Other times, I place the asparagus in a bowl or flat-bottom dish and dunk it in aquafaba which is simply the bean juice from cooked chickpeas, but this isn't required. I like to do it because the bean juice has a little thicker consistency than water and seems to help the dry spices to stick better. However, your asparagus will already be still wet from rinsing it, so this step can be skipped if you don't have aquafaba already on hand.
Cooking Method for Oven:
Though I prefer the air fryer cooking method, an oven can definitely be used instead. Simply set the oven to 425°F and allow the asparagus to cook for approximately 15 minutes. Thicker spears will require a little longer cooking time.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Pure Natural Non-fortified Nutritional Yeast Flakes (8 oz.) -
Non-GMO Balsamic Glaze - De La Rosa 8.45oz - Made from Aceto Balsamico Di Modena P.G.I. & Only 3 Ingredients | Vegan, Kosher, Gluten-Free | Drizzle on Everything! -
Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer that Cooks, Crisps, Roasts, Bakes, Reheats and Dehydrates, with 5.5 Quart Capacity, and a High Gloss Finish, Grey
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 30Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 17mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
