Air Fryer Shrimp and Asparagus in One Basket

Asparagus spears need 8–10 minutes at 400°F to become tender with lightly charred tips. Large shrimp only need 6–8 minutes at the same temperature before they're opaque and slightly curled. The solution is a 2-minute stagger: add the asparagus first, let it cook for 2 minutes, then add the shrimp. Both finish at the 10-minute mark together. Thin asparagus may need only 8 minutes total, so check at 8 minutes and add shrimp earlier if the spears are already wilting.

1. Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes. 2. Trim asparagus ends and toss with 1 tsp olive oil, salt, pepper, and half the garlic. 3. Pat shrimp dry, toss with 1 tsp olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes. 4. Arrange asparagus in a single layer in the basket. Cook at 400°F for 2 minutes. 5. Open basket and push asparagus to one side. Add shrimp in a single layer on the other side. 6. Cook at 400°F for 6–8 minutes until shrimp are opaque and asparagus is tender-crisp. 7. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over both and serve immediately.

A simple garlic-lemon-olive oil combination works beautifully on both shrimp and asparagus. For an Asian-inspired version, swap to sesame oil, soy sauce, and ginger. A Cajun seasoning blend (paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder) gives both a bold kick. For a Mediterranean flavor, use Italian herbs, lemon, and capers. Whatever seasoning you choose, apply it lightly to the asparagus before cooking and more generously to the shrimp since they absorb seasoning faster.

Size matters: jumbo shrimp (21–25 per pound) need the full 8 minutes, while medium shrimp (31–40 per pound) only need 5–6 minutes. Adjust timing accordingly. If your basket is smaller than 5 Qt, cook in batches — overcrowding steams instead of crisps. You can swap asparagus for green beans (same timing works). For a one-pan meal that's complete, add cherry tomatoes in the final 4 minutes. Leftovers reheat at 350°F for 2–3 minutes but shrimp can get rubbery — best eaten fresh.