Name: Air Fryer Asparagus
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh asparagus (trimmed); 1 Tablespoon olive oil; 1 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 2 Tablespoons fresh shredded Parmesan; pepper (to taste)

The best asparagus! This Air Fryer Asparagus is lightly seasoned and cooked to tender-crisp perfection. A delicious appetizer or side dish for any of your favorite meals!

There’s something about asparagus that always feels just a little bit fancy. It’s the vegetable of choice at fancy restaurants, a favorite for holiday meals, and one of those ingredients that instantly elevates any plate of food.

But for as fancy as it feels, the truth about asparagus is that it’s incredibly EASY to prepare. Case in point: this air fryer asparagus! Tossed in a simple mixture of olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese, it’s ready in just 5 minutes and always delicious!

My favorite thing about this recipe, aside from how quick and easy it is to make, is how easy it is to customize according to your tastes. From adding extra seasonings to topping it with crumbled bacon to drizzling it with your favorite sauce… this asparagus is the perfect base for any of your favorite flavors!

what you’ll need for this recipe

Asparagus – This recipe calls for fresh asparagus, and I used one pound of it. I always prefer fresh veggies to frozen, but if you’re unable to find fresh asparagus you can substitute frozen spears. You may need to adjust the cook time slightly.

Olive oil – One tablespoon of olive oil gives the asparagus a light coating that keeps it from getting dried out in the air fryer. Olive oil also adds delicious flavor to the dish (I used extra virgin for maximum flavor).

Seasonings – Simple seasonings are all that’s needed to bring out the naturally delicious flavor of asparagus. I used a combination of salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can feel free to leave the garlic powder out and/or substitute another seasoning in its place if you prefer.

Parmesan – Last but definitely not least, I used two types of Parmesan cheese in this recipe. I added 1 Tablespoon of grated Parmesan to the olive oil mixture prior to air frying, and I added 2 Tablespoons of fresh shredded Parmesan to the finished asparagus.

how to make air fryer asparagus

Wash & trim the asparagus. Rinse the asparagus gently, then pat dry. Trim the ends 1-2 inches up to remove the tough, woody ends. Discard the ends.

Toss the asparagus in olive oil to coat. Place the asparagus in a baking pan (9×13 inch or similar). Drizzle with olive oil, seasonings, and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss the mixture to evenly coat the asparagus.

Air fry. Transfer the coated asparagus to the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400° 3-5 minutes, shaking halfway through. If your asparagus is very thin, watch it closely to prevent over-cooking.

Garnish. Remove it from the basket onto a serving plate. Top with fresh shredded Parmesan and additional toppings according to taste. (See ideas below.)

Recipe Variations

Cut the asparagus into smaller (2 inch) pieces before air frying
Substitute avocado or grapeseed oil for the olive oil
Drizzle it with lemon juice before serving
Omit the cheese to make it dairy free
Add extra seasonings, such as onion powder, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, or smoked paprika
Drizzle it with any of your favorite sauces or dressings
Garnish it with sliced almonds or crumbled bacon

The perfect dips!