Recipes/ Side Dish

Air Fryer Asparagus

Air fryer asparagus are so easy to make and are delicious. Topped with delicious buttery, garlicky, and cheesy breadcrumbs, these asparagus become a restaurant style side dish. You can serve these any day of the week or for a special occasion.

Air-Fryer-Asparagus

Asparagus are not only delicious, but they are good for you. They are a good source of antioxidants and can improve digestive health.

Source: Healthline

How to pick fresh asparagus

Let’s talk about picking asparagus, there are a few things to consider before picking asparagus.

  • Check the tips: these should be green and purple tint and should look firm, not soggy or soft.
  • Check the stalks: the stalks should be firm and green, not flimsy, dark, or yellow.
  • Check the bottoms: these should look fresh and not woody or dry.

How to make Air Fryer Asparagus

Air-Fryer-Asparagus-Ingredients

Cut a piece of parchment paper large enough to line the bottom of the air fryer. This will prevent the breadcrumbs from creating a mess. The air fryer basket has holes and if you do not use parchment paper to catch the breadcrumbs, the breadcrumbs will fall to the bottom of the air fryer.  

Next, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.

Now, its time to prepare the asparagus.

Prepare asparagus

Start by trimming the ends of the asparagus, about an inch up from the bottom. The bottoms are very tough, and you want to remove those.

Next with a peeler remove the skin from the asparagus, the skin can be tough to eat. Please note, these instructions are for normal to large asparagus. Very thin asparagus do not need to be peeled, as it would be almost impossible to peel. If you are using very thin asparagus, you will need to reduce the cooking time to about 7 minutes.

I didn’t peel the skin of the asparagus before but peeling them makes them taste so much better. Although, it’s not mandatory to peel them, I highly recommend it.

Next, place asparagus on a plate and drizzle with oil and toss, then add salt and pepper to taste and toss. You want to add the oil first, so when you add the salt and pepper to the asparagus, the seasonings will stick. If you add the seasoning first and then the oil, the seasoning tends to not stick.

Breadcrumbs

To make the breadcrumbs, in a bowl place the melted butter, panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and the grated garlic. Toss until well combined. I used panko breadcrumbs because they have a very nice crunchy texture, that pairs well with the asparagus.

To melt the butter, in a bowl place the butter, then microwave for about 1.5 minutes using the defrost setting. I like using the defrost setting because it doesn’t cook the butter.

Air Fry Asparagus

You want to carefully place the parchment paper in the air fryer and the asparagus, because the air fryer has been preheated and its hot. You do not want to burn your skin. I use thongs to transfer the parchment paper and asparagus. Set the preheated air fryer to 10 minutes.

After 5 minutes, add the panko breadcrumb mixture on top of the asparagus, and air fry for the remaining 5 minutes. I add the panko breadcrumbs during the last 5 minutes, because if you add them at the beginning, the panko breadcrumbs can burn.

Asparagus topped with breadcrumbs in an air fryer

If you like this delicious air fryer asparagus, you may wan to try these honey glazed carrots.

Air-Fryer-Asparagus-close-up

Air Fryer Asparagus

Air fryer asparagus are so easy to make and are delicious. Topped with delicious buttery, garlicky, and cheesy breadcrumbs, these asparagus become a restaurant style side dish.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 131 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lbs. asparagus
  • 1 tablespoon oil avocado oil
  • 3 tablespoons butter melted
  • ½ panko breadcrumbs
  • ¼ Parmesan cheese freshly shredded
  • 1 garlic clove grated
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Parchment paper

Instructions
 

  • Cut a piece of parchment paper large enough to line the bottom of the air fryer. This will prevent the breadcrumbs from creating a mess.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.

Prepare asparagus

  • Start by trimming the ends of the asparagus, about an inch up from the bottom.
  • Next with a peeler remove the skin from the asparagus, the skin can be tough to eat. Please note, these instructions are for normal to large asparagus. Very thin asparagus (see notes) do not need to be peeled, as it would be almost impossible to peel.
  • Place asparagus on a plate and drizzle with oil and toss, then add salt and pepper to taste and toss.

Breadcrumbs

  • In a bowl place the melted butter (see notes), breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and grated garlic. Toss until well combined.

Air Fry Asparagus

  • Carefully place the parchment paper in the air fryer and asparagus on the parchment paper. Set the preheated air fryer to 10 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, add the panko breadcrumb mixture on top of the asparagus, and air fry for the remaining 5 minutes. Take them out of the air fryer carefully and place them on a serving dish.

Oven Baked Instructions

  • For the oven baked instructions, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Place the prepared asparagus on a baking sheet and top with the breadcrumb mixture.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Notes

  • To melt the butter, in a bowl place the butter then microwave for about 1.5 minutes using the defrost setting.
  • If you are using very thin asparagus, you will need to reduce the cooking time to about 7 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 79mgPotassium: 229mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1120IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 2mg
Keyword air fryer, asparagus, buttery breadcrumbs, side dish
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