This easy air fryer asparagus recipe comes together in less than ten minutes. If you're new to using the air fryer, this is a great recipe to get you started. Olive oil, salt, cherry tomatoes and garlic powder come together as the perfect asparagus seasoning. Quick and easy side dish that goes with many different meals.
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If you'd like more easy air fryer recipes, make sure to check out these Crispy Air Fryer Diced Potatoes or these Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts next!
Why you'll love this recipe
- Vegan and gluten free
- Quick and easy side dish to add to any weeknight meal.
- Asparagus is really healthy for us. Any time you can get more greens into your diet, it's a win.
- Asparagus is full of vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, K, C and E, potassium and phosphorous.
Ingredients
This is one of the quickest and easiest side dishes you'll ever make. It only has five ingredients:
- Asparagus - this is in season in the spring, so it will taste best around this time. Choose ones that have a nice color.
- Olive oil, salt and garlic powder
- Vegan parmesan cheese - This adds an amazing cheesy flavor that elevates this recipe to the next level. You can also use vegan feta or nutritional yeast.
- Cherry tomatoes (optional) - tomatoes add a nice sweetness to the asparagus and they taste amazing when they've been caramelized a bit in the air fryer.
How to roast asparagus in an air fryer
Make sure to scroll to the recipe card for full step-by-step instructions.
- Clean off the dirt - The tops of asparagus get trapped with dirt and grit so rinse off or soak in some water. More on this below.
- Trim the ends - The ends of each stalk are a bit woody and not fun to eat, make sure to trim this part off.
- Season - Season with olive oil, salt and garlic powder.
- Air fry - Add to the air fryer basket and sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese. Air fry for 7 minutes at 400 degrees. Then add the optional cherry tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.
Recommended equipment
You can use any air fryer that you want. What I personally use is the AICOOK instant pot air fryer lid. I love this because I didn't have to buy a whole new appliance to take up space in my cupboards.
It's perfect if you have a small kitchen with limited space.
I could just use an appliance I already had and loved, the instant pot!
Air fryers are amazing to use because it uses less energy to heat up, and it doesn't heat up your whole house. It's great for cooking on hot days.
How to clean and prep
Since asparagus grows near the ground, and the tips of asparagus have a lot of crevices, dirt and grit can get caught in the tips. It's important to rinse the tips of the asparagus very well before cooking.
Run the tips under water for at least a minute, gently rubbing the tips.
You can also fill up a large mason jar with water and store the asparagus upside down (tips in the water) for a few hours. This helps the grit to sink to the bottom of the mason jar.
The other end of the asparagus are always woody and chewy. Always make sure to trip and inch or so off the ends of the asparagus, to keep it nice and crunchy, instead of chewy.
Variations
Top with a squeeze of lemon to brighten it all up. Smoked paprika and seasoning salt also taste good. Sometimes I use a steak seasoning salt and it really tastes amazing.
Serving suggestions
Asparagus is an amazing side dish to an endless number of meals. I love serving it with baked tofu, vegan chicken, or BBQ seitan. It also goes great on top of salad, pasta or with a baked potato. Serve with other delicious sides like vegan mac and cheese or roasted Brussels sprouts.
Storing tips
Cooked asparagus will last in an air tight container in the fridge for about five days. Reheat it in the air fryer, oven or on the stove.
FAQ's
Absolutely! Just follow the recipe below. Then after the asparagus is cooked, let it completely cool.
Store in an air tight container or freezer zip-loc bag. You can also use a re-usable silicone freezer bag, if you want to cut down on waste. Cooked asparagus will last in the freezer for 10-12 months.
When you're ready to eat it, just let it thaw in the fridge, then heat it up in the oven, microwave or sauté it on the stove.
You can absolutely make this oil free. It won't taste as rich and delicious, but it will be healthier for you.
Just rinse off the asparagus so it's damp, then add the garlic powder and salt and mix well. Then follow the rest of the instructions for cooking the asparagus in the air fryer.
As long as the asparagus is well seasoned, it will taste delicious, especially if it's in season, around the spring time.
Absolutely! If you don't have an air fryer, you can make this in the oven by pre-heating the oven to 400 degrees.
Add the seasoned and oiled asparagus to a baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
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📖 Recipe
Easy air fryer asparagus
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup vegan parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast)
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the asparagus very well. The tips can collect grit and dirt. I like to fill up a large cup or mason jar with water, and store the asparagus upside down (tips in the water) for a few hours, to let the dirt rinse out. Cut off the woody ends of the asparagus.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the asparagus, salt, olive oil and garlic powder and mix well.1 pound asparagus, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Let your air fryer pre-heat to 400 degrees. Then add the asparagus to the air fryer. Sprinkle the top with the vegan parmesan and air fry for 7 minutes.⅓ cup vegan parmesan cheese
- Add in the cherry tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes, or until the tomatoes are blistered.¼ cup cherry tomatoes
- Plate up and enjoy! These cool quickly, so eat as soon as they come out of the air fryer.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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