This air fryer roasted asparagus with parmesan is one of my favorite recipes and it’s ready in minutes with a few simple ingredients! It makes a delicious side dish, last minute quick lunch salad recipe, when you need an easy vegetarian dish, or an easy asparagus appetizers recipe for holidays or party foods all year.
Best Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus Recipe
This is my favorite way to make asparagus not just because it’s a quick and easy recipe, but also because air frying asparagus brings out the roasted, nutty flavor that I love while also giving a tender but crispy texture. The addition of the parmesan also makes these air fryer asparagus fries that kids can eat with their fingers as an after school snack for my favorite spring vegetable.
3-Ingredient Air Fried Asparagus
- Fresh asparagus
- Olive oil
- Parmesan cheese
Get the printable recipe card for this perfect side dish below at the bottom of the page!
How To Air Fry Asparagus Step-By-Step Tips
About Air Frying Asparagus
We use our air fryer oven, but you can easily cook asparagus in a smaller air fryer basket, too. Just trim the asparagus into bite-sized pieces to fit into the basket. (We’ve made it this way, too!)
If you use an air fryer basket, be sure to place asparagus in single layers. You may have to work in batches to roast asparagus in the air fryer this way.
PRO RECIPE TIP: Do not overcook asparagus or it gets soggy! Depending on your air fryer, it will only take around 5-7 minutes (maybe a little more or a little less, depending on the size and thickness of the asparagus and your air fryer). Keep an eye on cooking asparagus, especially if cooking thin asparagus (which will take less time)! How long to cook asparagus in the air fryer will also depend on your specific air fryer. For example, cooking time my air fryer basket usually takes longer than stated recipes so I always give it more time.
How To Clean Asparagus and Prepare Asparagus For Air Frying
If you’ve never made asparagus or tried to get trimmed asparagus spears, you need to know that they have what are called woody ends. They are especially prominent if your asparagus stalks are larger or thicker asparagus.
This bottom section is very tough and hard to eat, even when cooked.
To get rid of this section, hold each asparagus stalk with both hands and gently bend the stalk. The asparagus will break at that tough stalk part. Keep the top parts for cooking the recipe.
Some people like to trim asparagus with a knife, but it’s easy to bend and break the ends of the asparagus.
You can discard the bottom part or use that woody part for compost or to make asparagus stalk soup. (We usually throw ours out at the back of the woods for wildlife.)
To clean fresh asparagus, gently run it under cool water and remove any dirt. Pat dry with a paper towel before roasting or cooking.
3-Ingredient Crispy Asparagus Air Fryer Directions
Printable Recipe Card For Asparagus
This is one of my favorite side dishes when I need easy vegetarian dishes.
You can use freshly grated parmesan cheese or parmesan cheese from the can on this. We love parmesan on asparagus, but if parmesan crusted asparagus is not your thing, just leave it out. The recipe is great without cheese, too!
You can also add a little salt and black pepper, your favorite seasoning salt, lemon salt, lemon zest, or garlic salt / garlic powder to this recipe for extra flavor.
RECIPE TIP: If I’m making a large batch of roasted asparagus in the air fryer oven, I turn them halfway through to get a good roast on both sides.
We rarely have leftovers asparagus, but you can store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container in 3-4 days. However, I find that asparagus is soggy when I reheat it after storing.
RECIPE NOTE: You can make this asparagus in air fryer with butter, but we like to use olive oil. You can use more oil or less oil than listed here, based on personal preference. You can also use lemon juice.
Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus With Parmesan
Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh asparagus around 1 pound, woody ends removed (trimmed asparagus spears)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare asparagus by cleaning and removing woody ends. (SCROLL UP IN POST FOR DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO EASILY REMOVE ASPARAGUS ENDS.) If you're using a smaller air fryer basket, cut asparagus into bite sized pieces.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- In a medium bowl, add asparagus and olive oil. Toss to coat completely.
- Add in parmesan cheese and toss to coat.
- Place asparagus in a single layer on air fryer sheet or in air fryer basket. Sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese (optional).
- Cook the asparagus for 5 minutes, or until just roasted. You should be able to pierce the asparagus with a fork, but it should still be firm. DO NOT OVERCOOK UNTIL SOGGY. Thin asparagus will cook quicker and thick asparagus will take longer. Keep a close eye on the asparagus during roasting.
- Serve warm immediately with salt and pepper, to taste. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat as needed.
Notes
Nutrition
Try More Easy Asparagus Recipes Like This Balsamic Asparagus Recipe
I hope you enjoy this air fryer roasted asparagus recipe as much as we do! Even my kid loves this recipe!
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