The Quickest and Easiest Way To Make Asparagus (It’s Just 3 Ingredients)

The first time I tried asparagus, it didn’t go very well. I was in high school and my mom dished some up on our plates with dinner. She told us the stories of how tasty and crisp asparagus is and how she used to pick it fresh from the ditch banks growing up, but the slimy green stems on my plate did not match up with her tales. I swore off asparagus forever.

I’ve since learned just how delightful fresh asparagus is, and I’m hooked. From snapping the ends off while preparing it to the delicate crunch of every bite after cooking, it’s a complete experience for me. Before using my air fryer, I roasted it in the oven, which was lovely but time-consuming. I knew there had to be a better way to get it on the dinner table fast!

Answer: the air fryer. It has a way of crisping up asparagus like nobody’s business and it’s all done with just 10 minutes of cooking time. The method is simple: Snap the ends off, wash, pat dry, toss in olive oil and garlic salt, and air fry to perfection. 

Tips for Making Air Fryer Asparagus

• Always trim the asparagus before air frying. This ensures that you won’t be left with the woody part. How you trim asparagus is a personal preference. You can either trim about 1 inch off the ends with a knife or snap the ends off.
• After rinsing the asparagus, be sure to pat it dry with a clean towel. If there’s water on the asparagus, the oil may not adhere and you’ll end up with limp and soggy asparagus. 
• One bundle of asparagus will fit just fine in a standard air fryer. My air fryer is six quarts which is pretty standard, and I was able to add two bundles of asparagus, or double this recipe. If you have a smaller air fryer, you should still be fine to make this recipe without any modifications.

Adding Little Extras

The sky is the limit for embellishing these gems! While they’re pretty terrific on their own, here are some ways to add a little more flavor:

• Squeeze a little lemon juice on top after air frying
• Add grated Parmesan cheese to the top during the second half of air frying 
• Drizzle with a balsamic glaze right before serving
• Go wild with seasonings! Think taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, or toss in a little bit of Sriracha for added spice

Air Fryer Magic

• Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
• Air Fryer Hamburgers
• Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
• Air Fryer Hash Browns

Preheat the air fryer:

Turn the air fryer to 390°F and let it preheat while prepping the asparagus.

Prepare the asparagus:

Snap or trim off the woody ends of the asparagus. Rinse under cool water and lay on a clean towel. Pat the asparagus dry.

Place the asparagus on a small cookie sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle on the garlic salt. Toss with tongs until they are well-coated and seasoned.

Air fry:

Place the asparagus in the basket of the air fryer and cook until crisp-tender, 9 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. The cook time is based on preparing medium asparagus; note that especially thin asparagus will take less time, while really thick asparagus will take longer.

Store leftover asparagus in an airtight container and place in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat it in the air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes.

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