Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus | Bites of Wellness

Air fryer frozen asparagus is a simple side dish that is ready in less than 15 minutes. Cooking frozen asparagus in the air fryer is so easy and the asparagus becomes perfectly tender and the tips get slightly crispy, the perfect combination. The asparagus cooks directly from frozen, no defrosting needed!

Why you will love this recipe

• Quick and easy – making frozen asparagus in the air fryer is so easy. Just spray with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and cook. No defrosting required!
• Simple ingredients that are easy to have on hand – frozen asparagus is very budget friendly and so easy to keep on hand. This recipe has super simple ingredients, just frozen asparagus, oil, and salt. You can add your favorite seasonings to change up the flavor depending on what you are serving alongside of the frozen asparagus. This recipe is vegan, Whole30, low carb and gluten free and great to serve for pretty much any diet or way of eating.
• Versatile – This healthy asparagus side dish can be spiced up lots of different ways so you will never get bored! You can even serve it as a side dish or use the asparagus in meals like pasta, frittatas, grain bowls or even on pizza!

Ingredients

• Frozen asparagus – you can find frozen asparagus spears in most grocery stores. I usually pick them up at Trader Joe’s or Aldi. You can also find frozen asparagus tips, which will cook up quicker in the air fryer and will get crispy and super fun to snack on.
• Olive oil spray or avocado oil spray – be sure that the spray that you are using has just 1 ingredient, either avocado oil or olive oil. You don’t want to use a spray with added propellants, as those have been shown to break down the coating on the air fryer baskets.
• Salt – salt helps to make the asparagus super yummy. You can add more spices depending on what you are serving with the asparagus (see my list of suggestions below).

How to make frozen asparagus in air fryer

Top tips

• Pause the air fryer to shake around the asparagus a few times during cooking. This is especially important if the air fryer basket is very full, and the asparagus is not in one layer.
• Be sure that the oil spray you are using doesn’t have any added propellants, as those can damage the coating on your air fryer baskets. The only ingredient should be olive oil or avocado oil. You can also drizzle the asparagus in some oil if you don’t have the right kind of spray.
• Change up the seasoning based on what you are having alongside the asparagus.
• Cooking times may vary based on how thick or thin the asparagus is and the brand of air fryer you have. Thicker asparagus may require more time to cook, thinner asparagus may require less time. Also, every air fryer is different (different wattage and size), so the time needed to cook the frozen asparagus in the air fryer may be different based on what brand you have. Start with 9 minutes at 390F and adjust as needed.

Other flavors and spices

• Garlic powder – garlic powder is a simple way to add so much flavor. It gives a subtle garlic flavor and adds umami which helps make the asparagus taste even more delicious.
• Thyme – thyme has such a springtime flavor that pairs perfectly with cooked asparagus.
• Herbs de Provence – the lavender in herbs de Provence bring a slight floral flavor to the dish
• Lemon juice – a squeeze of lemon juice added after cooking can give a bright flavor to the dish.
• Za’atar seasoning – slightly smoky flavors paired and a subtle sesame flavor from the sesame seeds make this seasoning great, especially when serving it alongside of eggs, chicken or fish.
• Red pepper flakes – add a hint of spice
• Everything bagel seasoning – everything bagel seasoning is packed with flavor and a really simple way to add a ton of flavor at once.
• Italian dressing, Greek dressing or Creamy basil dressing drizzled on top after cooking.

What to serve with air fryer frozen asparagus

Common questions

Do you need to trim frozen asparagus

No, the beauty of using frozen asparagus is that it’s already been trimmed, so it’s ready to use.

Do you have to defrost the asparagus before cooking?

No, the beauty of this recipe is that the asparagus can cook from frozen, making this a great option when you are trying to get a meal on the table fast.

Do you have to preheat the air fryer when cooking frozen asparagus?

You do not have to preheat the air fryer, the cooking time reflects a cold air fryer basket. If your air fryer is preheated, it likely won’t require as long of a cooking time (take 1-2 minutes off the cooking time indicated in the recipe).

Is frozen asparagus good?

The texture of frozen asparagus is a little softer when cooked than fresh asparagus. No matter how you cook it, the structure of the asparagus changes when frozen so you will always get a slightly softer texture once cooked.

Does air fryer frozen asparagus get crispy?

The top tip of the asparagus does get crispy, but the rest of the stem is tender and perfectly cooked. The asparagus is similar in texture to roasting asparagus in the oven. If you prefer really crunchy asparagus, I recommend cooking fresh on the stove for just a few minutes until cooked through.

Storing leftovers

Fridge: Store leftover frozen asparagus cooked in the air fryer in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

• Reheating leftovers: Reheat in a 390F air fryer for 3-5 minutes. You can also microwave on high for 1-1:30.
• You could also enjoy leftovers cold in a salad or stirred into another dish like frittata or pasta to be reheated.

Substitutions

• Olive oil spray: If you don’t have olive oil or avocado oil spray on hand, you can drizzle the asparagus with olive oil and it will work out fine. The beauty of the spray is that you can easily coat the asparagus without using too much oil, which makes clean up easier.

If you love cooking vegetables in the air fryer, you should try

Air Fryer Frozen Brussel Sprouts

Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli

Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower

Air Fryer Carrots

Air Fryer Radishes

Air Fryer Roasted Zucchini