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With perfectly crisp edges and a sprinkle of cheesy deliciousness, this air fryer frozen asparagus recipe transforms a contentious veggie into a crowd-pleasing side dish everyone will love. Ready in 15 minutes and foolproof, it’s the easiest way to make asparagus the star of your plate!
save this recipe!Your New Fave Side Dish
This is hands down the best way to cook frozen asparagus! Skip the hassle of preheating the entire oven—just pop those spears in the air fryer and let it do its magic while you tackle the main dish on the stove or grill.
And can we just take a moment to appreciate the secret brilliance of frozen veggies? Picked and frozen at peak freshness, they pack all the nutrients of fresh ones without the guilt of forgetting them in the crisper drawer (which I know we all do way too often).
Sometimes, the texture can change from fresh to frozen, but air frying brings the spears to life, turning them golden, tender, and shockingly crispy.
Here’s What You’ll Need
It only takes five simple ingredients to make crispy asparagus in the air fryer! Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements—this is just an overview.
- Asparagus: Frozen asparagus can be found in the frozen vegetable section of most grocery stores. Can’t find any? Swap in fresh spears!
- Oil: A light coating of oil is key for crisping up asparagus in the air fryer. Olive oil is my go-to, but avocado oil is a great alternative!
- Seasonings: Sometimes, simplicity wins! A touch of salt and pepper brings out the asparagus’s natural flavor beautifully. Feeling fancy? Add a dash of garlic powder or red pepper flakes for an extra punch.
- Parmesan: We’ll finish things off with shredded Parmesan cheese for a savory, nutty flavor.
Frozen Asparagus Tip
Frozen asparagus spears are usually already washed and trimmed (woody ends snapped off), so there’s literally nothing you need to do to prepare them for cooking!
Air Frying Asparagus Is So Easy
Making air fryer frozen asparagus is as easy as 1, 2, 3! (Jump to the recipe card for the full printable instructions.)
Step 1: Stir Everything Together
Add the asparagus, oil, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Toss to combine well (get everything evenly coated!).
Step 2: Preheat The Air Fryer
Let the air fryer preheat to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. You want it to be good and hot before adding the asparagus to prevent it from turning soggy.
Step 3: Cook The Asparagus
Cook the asparagus until crispy and browned to your liking!
Recipe tips
Preheat: I often say preheating isn’t necessary when using an air fryer. However, with frozen veggies, it’s important! If you don’t preheat the machine, you’ll end up with sad, soggy veggies (they’ll steam rather than crisp/roast).
Freezing Cold: Besides the above tips, don’t thaw before cooking! This will keep things crispy because the asparagus will roast on the outside while the inside “thaws” into tender perfection.
Optional Flavors: Want to elevate your air fryer frozen asparagus even more? Try a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a drizzle of balsamic glaze, or a sprinkle of toasted almonds after cooking!
Why this Recipe Works
- Air frying your frozen asparagus prevents it from becoming soggy while cooking (because who likes soggy asparagus?).
- Frozen asparagus is often more accessible and affordable (a great way to save seasonal produce). Buy a bunch when it’s on sale and store it in the freezer for a quick side dish!
- Dairy-free? Try using a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for flavoring. This recipe is flexible to any dietary needs or preferences!
How To Cook Frozen Asparagus In The Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 8 oz frozen asparagus spears, 226 g
- 2 Tbsp oil, 30 mL
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- Optional: grated Parmesan, lemon juice/zest
Instructions
- Stir: In a large bowl toss together asparagus, oil, salt, and pepper to evenly coat each spear.
- Preheat: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for 5 minutes.*
- Cook: Transfer asparagus to the air fryer in as much of a single layer as possible. Cook, shaking the pan once during cooking, until slightly crispy and browned, about 10 to 13 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
Thank you for good instructions.