Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe

Eating Works @eatingworks
by Eating Works @eatingworks
4 servings
21 min

Why roast asparagus in the oven when you can make this air fryer asparagus recipe instead? It’s faster and crispier than regular oven roasted asparagus. This simple recipe will teach you how to roast asparagus in the air fryer to crispy perfection. With only 5 ingredients and 20 minutes to make you’ll have a healthy side dish that’s doable on busy week nights.

air fryer asparagus on a plate with lemon wedges

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Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe


  • Gluten Free
  • Fast
  • Easy to Make
  • Only 5 Ingredients
  • Paleo Friendly
  • Nut Free
  • Soy Free
  • Vegetarian Friendly


Ingredients You Need to Make Asparagus in the Air Fryer


  • Asparagus
  • Unsalted Organic Butter
  • Olive Oil
  • Gluten Free Bread Crumbs
  • Lemon


For full ingredient amounts check the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

ingredients for air fryer asparagus, lemon, gluten-free breadcrumbs olive oil and butter
How to Make This Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe


  • Step 1: Prep the asparagus by breaking off the woody stems. Use 2 tablespoons of olive oil to coat and season with salt and pepper.
  • Step 2: Arrange the asparagus in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Sprinkle the gluten free breadcrumbs on top. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the asparagus along with the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Step 3: Set the air fryer to 400 degrees. Place the basket in the air fryer on the middle rack. Fry for 18 minutes.
step one to make air fryer asparagus recipe
step two after air fryer asparagus has been cooked
Ingredient Substitutions for Air Fryer Asparagus


  • Lemon: Instead of lemon zest you can use lime or vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. You simply need something with an acidic flavor to balance the bland taste of the asparagus.
  • Olive Oil: If you’re on an oil free diet or don’t have olive oil on hand you can use unsalted organic butter, ghee, safflower oil or coconut oil.
  • Gluten Free Breadcrumbs: If you aren’t on a gluten free diet you can use regular panko breadcrumbs instead of gluten free panko style breadcrumbs. If you are gluten-free you can use almond meal, crushed nuts, crushed potato chips, crushed gluten-free pretzels or puffed rice or quinoa cereal.
air fryer asparagus on a plate with lemon wedges
How to Pick Asparagus at the Supermarket


If this is the first time you’re cooking asparagus read my top tips to make sure you select the best asparagus possible. So many people wander around the produce department of Target, Walmart, K-Mart, Costco, etc and look lost because they don’t know how to pick quality produce. Don’t be one of those people!


  • Color: Fresh asparagus should be bright green at the top and slowly fade to white at the stalk. If you’re looking at purple asparagus you also want to look for a bright purple color and slight shine. For white asparagus look for pure white stiff stalks.
  • Texture: The stalks should be stiff and stand up straight. If they are mushy and limp (lean over to one side) they aren’t fresh.
  • Flower Heads: The flower heads at the top of the asparagus should be tight. If they’re loose or look like they are blooming the asparagus is old.
  • Size: Asparagus ranges from pencil thin stalks to shoots that can be thicker than your thumb. All sizes taste great. To make cooking uniform, buy asparagus with the same thickness. The thicker the asparagus the longer it will take to cook.


How to Trim Asparagus?


The easiest way to trim asparagus is the simply snap it using your hands. If you hold the flower tip in one hand and the stalk in the other and bend it until it breaks. The asparagus will always break at the end of the stalk.

That way you don’t slice it and accidentally leave the woody section on. If you don’t trim your asparagus then people will not be able to chew and swallow the whole plant.


Can You Make This Recipe in the Oven Instead of the Air Fryer?


Yes! If you don’t have an air fryer you can make roasted asparagus in the oven instead of in an air fryer. To make asparagus in an oven cook it at 425 degrees for 12-18 minutes.

You can prepare the asparagus the same way you would for the air fryer. Instead of placing it in the air fryer basket put it on a foil lined baking sheet.


More Keto Vegan and Gluten Free Air Fryer Recipes


Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks


Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks with smokey sweet spices make for the perfect vegan and gluten free meal. With only 4 ingredients and 5 minutes to prep these insanely easy cauliflower steaks are sure to become a kitchen staple.Keto Cauliflower Wings


These baked keto cauliflower wings are firey, crispy & vegan.


icon air fryer cauliflower steaks on a white plateHow to Reheat Air Fryer Asparagus


The best way to reheat asparagus is in the oven.


  1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Place the asparagus on a foil lined baking sheet and place it in the oven on the middle rack.
  3. Allow the asparagus to cook for 10 minutes until it’s fully warm.


Pro Tip:


  1. If your asparagus is dry place a piece of tin foil over the top to keep it from burning.
  2. You can also prevent your asparagus from burning in the oven while you reheat it by misting it with some oil. The fat will insulate the asparagus and keep it from burning.


How to Store This Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe


The best way to store roasted asparagus is in an airtight glass container. If you want to keep the asparagus crispy place a layer of paper towel on the bottom of the storage container. The paper towel will absorb excess moisture which keeps the asparagus from getting soggy.


How Long will Air Fried Asparagus Last in the Refrigerator


If you store asparagus in the refrigerator in air tight container on an absorbent paper towel the asparagus will last for up to four days.


Can you Freeze Air Fryer Asparagus


If you have leftover asparagus you can freeze it for up to three months. The best way to freeze cooked asparagus is to wrap it in plastic wrap and then to put it in a freezer


What is the Best Air Fryer For Asparagus


There are so many air fryers on the market and if you don’t already have one picking the right one can be dizzying. There are so many options out there that it will make your head spin! I’ve done some digging around and here are the top two air fryers I found for making air fryer asparagus .


Philips Airfryer, Avance Turbo Star, Digital, Black, HD9641/96


icon keto cauliflower wings on a white plate with bbq dipping sauce in a bowl
air fryer cauliflower steaks, Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks

PROS


  • Small
  • Cooks Well
  • Easy To Clean
  • Portable
  • Easy to Use Without Burning Yourself


CONS


  • Expensive


The Philips Airfryer Avance Turbo Star was by far the best option out there for a number of reasons. This air fryer is on the more expensive side at $247. As far as aesthetics go, I like this air fryer because it looks nice and its a smaller size and yet still holds 1 pound of food. I also like the drawer handle for removing the food. This allows you to pull out the food without burning your hands.

A nice touch is also that the air fryer starts counting down the time during the last minute of cooking. This was helpful for me since I tend to put things in the oven and then forget about them.

The cooking results for the cauliflower were great. They were nice and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

The air fryer is easy to clean because the bottom is non stick. So it’s easy to wipe the excess grease from the food off. It’s nice to enjoy fried food without the mess.


GoWISE Air Fryer


GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart 7-in-1 Air Fryer

picture ofGoWISE USA Ming's Mark GW22621 Electric Air Fryer, 3.7 QT, Black

The GoWISE USA 3.7 Quart 7-in-1 Air Fryer was the best affordable option I could find at 69 dollars.

The digital settings on this air fryer were a bit harder for me to use. I had to ask my husband for help. But once I got it going it cooked the food nicely. Like the Phillips air fryer it was short enough to fit under the cabinet. I appreciate this because I hate cluttered countertops. So I was able to store this air fryer under in a cabinet under the counter. If you have shorter shelves you can turn it size ways to store it.


Common Air Fryer Questions and Answers


Do I Need to Preheat the Air Fryer?


I always recommend preheating your air fryer before placing the food in it. If you don’t preheat then the food will not cook as fast. Not only will it take longer to cook but your food won’t come out as crispy. Lower and longer cooking times lead to softer air fryer food.


How Much Can I Put In An Air Fryer?


How much you can put in an air fryer depends on the size of your air fryer. The bigger the air fryer is the more food you can put in it.

You should arrange food in a single layer on the bottom of the air fryer for best results. It may be tempting to stuff as much as you can into an air fryer basket but you’ll be disappointed with the soggy results!


Can I Use Aerosol Spray like Pam or Olive Oil Spray in an Air Fryer?


No, you should never use non-stick spray or any kind of aerosol spray like pam in an air fryer for a few reasons. First of all the chemical agents in aerosol spray cans can chip away at the special nonstick coating in your air fryer basket.

If you want to mist oil on your food in an air fryer basket it’s best to buy an olive oil mister that allows you to put your own olive oil in it. If you use 100% olive oil in a reusable mister you won’t ruin your air fryer basket and the food will be healthier.

I recommend staying away from aerosol sprays for your health anyway.


Asparagus Nutrition Facts


Serving Size: 1/2 cup cooked asparagus


  • Calories: 20
  • Fat: 0.2g
  • Sodium: 13mg
  • Carbohydrates: 3.7g
  • Fiber: 1.8g
  • Sugars: 1.2g
  • Protein: 2.2g
  • Vitamin K: 45.5mcg


Is Asparagus good for a Keto Diet or Low Carb Lifestyle?


Yes asparagus is good for a keto diet and low carb life style because it’s naturally low in carbs and in protein. One 1/2 cup serving of cooked asparagus has only 1.6 grams of net carbs and 2.2 grams of protein. The fat is not high which is recommended on keto but the low fat aspect of asparagus means that. you can eat a lot of it without going over your fat macros. You can add more high fat foods into your daily diet.

Eating asparagus on a keto diet will allow you to eat more food over all. The fiber in asparagus will also help keep your digestive system healthy. Digestive issues and constipation are common issues on a keto diet since foods that are high in fat and low in carbs tend to be low in fiber.


How to Make This Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe Keto and Low Carb Friendly


This air fryer asparagus recipe is not keto or low carb friendly because I used gluten free bread crumbs. If you want to make this recipe keto friendly and gluten-free you can use crushed nuts instead of breadcrumbs.


Is Air Fryer Asparagus Gluten-Free?


Yes this air fryer asparagus is gluten free because I used gluten-free breadcrumbs. If you are making this recipe and want to keep it gluten free just make sure that you’re using gluten free breadcrumbs or one of the gluten-free breadcrumb substitutions I recommend in the ingredient substitution section above.


What makes Asparagus Tough and Stringy?


If your asparagus is tough and stringy then this is an indication that your asparagus is getting old. As asparagus ages it becomes tougher. Also when asparagus is harvested it looses a lot of it’s sugar because it uses it to form tough adhesions to heal where it was cut during harvest.

Asparagus looses most of it’s tenderness and sweetness the day after it’s harvested.


What Temperature Do You Cook Asparagus At?


I cook my asparagus at 400 degrees in the air fryer and at 425 degrees in the oven.


Why Is My Asparagus Not Crunchy?


There are a few common mistakes people make when cooking asparagus that will make it soggy and not crunchy.


  1. Cutting the stems too short
  2. Using very thin or very thick asparagus stalks
  3. Peeling asparagus before you cook it.
  4. If you prep the asparagus too far in advanced it will become soggy when you cook it.


Should Asparagus Be Peeled Before Roasting?


No you should not peel asparagus before you roast it. The outer layer of skin of the asparagus is tender and edible. However, the ends of the asparagus are woody and tough. These stems should be removed.

The easiest way to trim asparagus is the simply snap it using your hands. If you hold the flower tip in one hand and the stalk in the other and bend it until it breaks. The asparagus will always break at the end of the stalk.

That way you don’t slice it and accidentally leave the woody section on. If you don’t trim your asparagus then people will not be able to chew and swallow the whole plant.

Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
Recipe details
  • 4  servings
  • Prep time: 5 Minutes Cook time: 16 Minutes Total time: 21 min
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Ingredients

  • 1 bunch Asparagus woody stems removed
  • 1 tbsp Unsalted Organic Butter cut into quarters
  • 1/4 C Olive Oil reserve 2 tbsp for drizzle
  • 3 tbsp Gluten Free Bread Crumbs
  • 1/2 Lemon juiced
Instructions

Prep the asparagus by breaking off the woody stems. Use 2 tablespoons of olive oil to coat and season with salt and pepper.
Arrange the asparagus in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Sprinkle the gluten free breadcrumbs on top. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the asparagus along with the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Set the air fryer to 400 degrees. Place the basket in the air fryer on the middle rack. Fry for 18 minutes.
Eating Works @eatingworks
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