Air Fryer Asparagus with Lemon

Air fryer asparagus is an easy and delicious side dish that's cooked in less than 10 minutes. The asparagus gets perfectly roasted in the air fryer, is cooked with dried herbs, and then topped with fresh lemon juice.

Crispy asparagus in the air fryer is one of my favorite things. It's such a healthy side dish, and it's so quick to make! I also love how you can customize it with whatever seasonings you have on hand.

For my version of an air fryer asparagus recipe, I took inspiration from Greek flavors and used some dried oregano and then finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. End result? Fresh, delicious, and so easy.

If you're looking for more ways to use asparagus, try this lemon orzo with asparagus, this easy asparagus tart, or roasted asparagus and tomatoes.

Don't have an air fryer? Check out this way to make oven roasted thin asparagus.

Ingredients

• Fresh asparagus
• Olive oil
• Oregano
• Lemon
• Salt and pepper

Why make asparagus in the air fryer

Making air fryer roasted asparagus is quick and easy! The asparagus gets deliciously roasted to perfection as is quicker than cooking asparagus in the oven, as it takes less than 10 minutes for regular asparagus!

It's also a nice alternative to turning on the oven during those summer months.

Cooking asparagus in the air fryer also does not require any preheating, saving time and energy!

How to store raw asparagus

The number one best way to store asparagus is to put in inch or two of water into a tall glass, then place the asparagus spears in the glass, with the asparagus tips up. (You may need 2 glasses, depending on the size of your glass and the amount of asparagus you have).

Put the glass in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Don't trim the asparagus before adding to the glass. Instead, trim asparagus right before use.

What kind of asparagus spears to use

The cooking times in this recipe are for the medium thickness fresh asparagus you find in the store. If you are air frying thin asparagus, your cook time will be much shorter. You'll probably want to check for doneness around the 4 minute mark.

If using the thick asparagus, your cook time will be longer and might take up to 10-15 minutes.

What to serve with the air fried asparagus

Want to make this a meal? Serve the air fryer asparagus with brown sugar air fryer salmon, air fryer Greek-inspired chicken thighs, air fryer salmon with crispy skin, air fryer tuna patties, or air fryer honey garlic salmon.

It would also pair nicely with honey harissa chicken, green goddess chicken bites, or chicken piccata.

How to customize

• For a bit of heat, add a touch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
• Top with freshly shaved or grated parmesan cheese or drizzle with some balsamic vinegar.
• Swap out the dried oregano for a different dried herb.
• Add any seasonings you want! Garlic powder, paprika, etc.
• If you don't want to use olive oil, you could use avocado oil or a similar substitute.

Recipe tips

• Cooking times for the air fried asparagus will vary based on the thickness of your asparagus. Start checking around the 6 minute mark for regular asparagus, but cook until your desired level of doneness.
• Be careful when rinsing and drying your asparagus. The tips or the asparagus stalks are fragile and can easily come off if you're too rough.
• Use a plate to season and toss your asparagus on. Because the asparagus spears are long, they can be hard to toss in a bowl. It's easier to do on a large plate.
• There is no need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe.

How to make asparagus in the air fryer

To make the air fryer asparagus, first prep the asparagus. Snap or cut off the woody ends of the asparagus spears.

Place your asparagus on a plate and drizzle the olive oil over it, then add the salt, pepper, and dried herbs. Gently toss to coat.

Add the asparagus spears in a single layer to your air fryer basket. I like to make sure there is a little room in between to allow for great air flow in the air fryer.

Air fry, checking frequently for doneness. When the air fryer asparagus is cooked to your liking, remove from the air fryer and plate.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top and season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

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