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Air Fryer Asparagus

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Perfectly tender-crisp asparagus spears cooked in the air fryer in under 15 minutes. A simple, healthy side dish with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb fresh asparagus spears (medium thickness recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (or light oil spray for oil-free cooking)
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Optional: lemon zest, Parmesan, chili flakes, or Italian seasoning

Instructions

  1. Rinse asparagus under cold water and pat completely dry with a kitchen towel or paper towels. Hold one spear at each end and bend to find the natural snap point, then trim the woody ends from the entire bunch and discard.
  2. Place trimmed spears in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat evenly, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and toss again until every spear is lightly coated.
  3. Arrange asparagus spears in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure spears do not overlap. Cook in two batches if necessary to avoid crowding.
  4. Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 6 to 10 minutes depending on thickness, shaking the basket once halfway through. Begin checking at 6 minutes — spears are done when tips are slightly frizzled and stalks are tender when pierced with a fork.
  5. Transfer immediately to a plate and serve hot. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice if desired.

Notes

Dry thoroughly: Residual water creates steam and prevents crisping — pat every spear dry before seasoning.

Single layer is essential: Overlapping spears trap steam; always cook in one layer, in batches if needed.

Adjust time by thickness: Thin spears need 4–6 minutes, medium 7–9 minutes, thick 10–12 minutes.

Garlic-Parmesan variation: After 8 minutes, sprinkle 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan over spears and cook 2 more minutes until golden.

Lemon-herb variation: Toss with 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and lemon zest before cooking; finish with fresh lemon juice.

Find it online: https://airfrycentral.com/air-fryer-asparagus/