Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 Ounces Frozen Asparagus Spears (see note 1); 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil, Optional (see note 2); Salt and Fresh Cracked Black Pepper, To Taste (or spices of choice); Squeeze of Lemon; Grated Vegan Parmesan Cheese; Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

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Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus is one of the easiest veggies and really quite delicious. Make this healthy side dish with frozen OR fresh asparagus in just 10 minutes! You'll love this easy side dish with just 4 simple ingredients.

Hey Internet, I love my air fryer. I really do. It makes it so easy to make quick veggies, tofu, and more. Even something like frozen asparagus, which you wouldn't think would be that great, is absolutely delicious in the air fryer.

There are lots of things I like to make in the air fryer, but I definitely have a few favorites. My favorite vegan air fryer recipes: Air Fryer Pizza, Panko Tofu, Air Fryer Gnocchi, Crispy Tofu, Salt and Pepper Tofu, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, Easy Vegan Croutons, Air Fryer Butternut Squash, and a lot more honestly.

And I actually really like to cook frozen veggies in the air fryer such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli... but I hadn't tried air fryer frozen asparagus until just recently and let me tell you I am hooked! It's so easy and faster than preparing fresh asparagus. And you can find frozen asparagus any time of year!

Plus, you can't always get fresh asparagus for a decent price. So when I see frozen asparagus on sale, I always get like 10 bags and throw them in my chest freezer in the basement. It's one of my favorite affordable air fryer recipes.

But back to just how easy this recipe is! This simple side dish is made with only 4 ingredients: frozen asparagus, olive oil (optional), salt, and black pepper. Of course, you can add other ingredients like garlic powder or vegan parmesan cheese, but it's not necessary because the air fryer frozen asparagus is delicious on its own!

The cook time is about 8-10 minutes for soft and perfectly tender asparagus. You can adjust the cooking time for your preferred texture, and of course adjust the seasonings to your personal preferences. This short cooking time makes this a great option for a weeknight dinner and asparagus pairs really well with just about anything!

I just season my air fryer asparagus with salt and pepper, but you could add crushed red pepper flakes, paprika, garlic powder or onion powder, nutritional yeast, vegan parmesan cheese, or anything you like really!

So if you've ever wondered if you can make frozen asparagus in the air fryer, keep reading for the best way to do it!

Why You'll Love My Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables

Simple Ingredients: I try to keep the ingredients list short and sweet to make this a simple side dish that you'll want to make again and again. No matter how complex your main course is, you can keep this great side dish simple.
Flavorful and Delicious: Even if you're not the biggest fan of asparagus, you'll love this delicious side dish. It's simple, easy, and it's my favorite way to enjoy frozen asparagus spears. When I started this food blog I actually hated asparagus. But after loving it in my vegan asparagus risotto and sometimes serving roasted asparagus with my vegan hollandaise sauce, I've become a very big fan of asparagus.
Customizable: Make the perfect air fryer asparagus for YOUR tastes. Prefer a crispy texture? Increase the cooking time OR you can lightly bread the asparagus with breadcrumbs halfway through the cooking time (after it's thawed). And of course, add your own seasonings. Maybe you prefer garlic salt instead of regular salt, or maybe you really want to add heat with some crushed red pepper flakes. Go for it!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Grab these simple ingredients from your local grocery store and get ready to make one of the easiest side dishes ever! See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for a complete ingredients list, instructions, and accurate nutritional information (to the best of my ability; please consult your physician or healthcare professional if you have specific dietary needs).

12 Ounces Frozen Asparagus Spears: I prefer full length spears, but this recipe will work with the frozen cut asparagus too. You can also make this exact recipe with fresh asparagus! Just make sure you wash and trim asparagus before cooking it. Thicker spears tend to taste better than thin spears, but with a bit of oil and some seasonings you can make a delicious asparagus recipe. You can even use this recipe for green beans for another nutritious side dish!
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil, Optional: I like to make oil optional since everyone has different dietary needs. I don't personally like to eat oil but I make sure to test recipes both ways. So if you want to skip the oil, go ahead. If you're cool with oil, olive oil is best but avocado oil also works!
Salt and Fresh Cracked Black Pepper, To Taste: A good grind of fresh cracked pepper and salt to taste are my favorite ways to season this delicious vegetable, but you can use your favorite seasonings, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, etc!
Optional Additions: Add a squeeze of lemon juice at the end if you like! Other nice ideas include grated vegan parmesan cheese or crushed red pepper flakes.

How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus

Preheat: If your air fryer allows preheating, you can do that for a great texture to your frozen asparagus. But it's optional.
Initial Cook: Add the frozen asparagus stalks to the air fryer basket in a single layer (for best results). Cook for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Season: Once the frozen asparagus spears have defrosted, add them to a large bowl. Dress with the rest of the ingredients: olive oil (if using) and salt and pepper to taste.
Second Cook: Gently toss and put them back in the air fryer basket (still in a single layer) and cook for 3-5 minutes until the asparagus are your desired texture. You can do more or less time to your preferences.
Using Fresh Asparagus? Wash and trim asparagus, and follow the recipe! You can add the oil and seasoning now and cook for 8-10 minutes. Time will depend on how thick your spears are, but 8-10 minutes is usually perfect for me.
Serve: Serve air fryer frozen asparagus immediately. Garnish with grated vegan parmesan or crushed red pepper flakes if you like.
Storage: Leftover asparagus will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge in an airtight container, but I personally think it's best the first night.

Expert Tips

Single Layer: For best results, do not pile more than 12 ounces of frozen asparagus into your air fryer basket. Unless you have a REALLY huge basket (mine is pretty big and I can only fit 12 ounces asparagus in a single layer). This will cause the asparagus to steam more and might be a bit limp. If you don't care about that, then go right ahead!
Save the Lemon for the End: Citrus flavor tends to cook off, so the best time to add a squeeze of lemon is when the food is fully cooked.
Less Oil: Use less or NO oil if you prefer! This is my preferred method of cooking. And the biggest difference is really just the oil taste. If you really love the richness the oil gives, you can use it. If not, don't and it will still be delicious.

Serving Suggestions

There are a few different ways to serve this air fryer frozen asparagus, such as alongside a hearty entree, as a veggie-forward snack, or you could toss it with cooked pasta or another grain to make it part of your main dish. It makes a flavorful addition to any meal! The best part is that it fulfills a serving of veggies, so it's a perfect side dish with unique flavor.

Some of my favorite main dishes that this side dish pairs well with include:

Storage Instructions

It's my personal opinion that cooked asparagus is best on the first night and I'm not a huge fan of reheated cooked asparagus, however if you have leftover asparagus, follow these simple instructions:

Refrigerating: Let the cooked asparagus spears cool to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Reheating: Reheat asparagus gently in the air fryer or microwave. Add a fresh squeeze of lemon if you like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this method with fresh asparagus?

Yes! It works very well with fresh asparagus. Depending on the thickness of your spears, you should be able to get the asparagus fully cooked in 8-10 minutes, but you can monitor it. I'd shake the basket halfway through the cooking process.

Can I use green beans or broccoli instead?

Yup. Check on them to ensure they cook in the preferred amount of time, but it will work!

Is it normal for the asparagus to turn out a little limp?

Yup, that's totally fine and it's still delicious! I've noticed it depends on the brand of frozen asparagus, the thickness of the spears, and the cook time.

I have a small air fryer basket. Should I change anything?

Yes, I would do smaller batches for best results. If you don't mind the texture, then you can layer the asparagus in there and follow the recipe as written.

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