Air Fryer Asparagus Fries and Asparagus

Are you ready to learn how to Air Fryer Asparagus Fries? Need to know how to Air Fry Asparagus? I've got you covered. The process is simple. they're perfect for dipping and they taste amazing! Learning how to air fry asparagus literally changed my life.

And while that might sound dramatic, it's true. I'm now eating a vegetable that I didn't really care for before - and I'm loving every single bite of these Air Fried Asparagus Fries!

How to Air Fry Asparagus and Asparagus Fries

Have you ever stared at a stalk of asparagus and just thought "what in the world am I supposed to do with that?" There are only so many times that you can bake and grill asparagus before you're craving something new and different.

This is when it hit me. Why not use my handy dandy air fryer to cook up the asparagus? And this, my friends, is how asparagus fries were born.

And I must say, they're amazing. Like crazy good. Like better than you'll get at a restaurant good.

I've even gone back to the store and bought MORE asparagus just so I could make this again.

Ingredients in air fryer asparagus fries

The good news is that you need minimal ingredients to get started and make this quick and easy side dish recipe. These ingredients are to make breaded asparagus fries in your air fryer.

• 1 lb fresh asparagus or 12 - 15 asparagus spears (usually one bunch)
• 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs or panko crumbs for gluten free
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon paprika
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 eggs, beaten

In less than 15 minutes of time, you'll be chowing down on a healthy snack version of fries that you're going to love! All you need to do now is to decide on a dipping sauce!

Our How to make Dip post includes all our favorite dips and I urge you to try them all at one time or another. They're all oh so good.

How to make air fryer asparagus fries

This recipe is crazy simple. (and if you don't want the breaded, I've included a recipe below on frying asparagus in the air fryer without any sort of breading at all)

Start by cleaning the asparagus spears and snapping off the ends.

Spray your air fryer basket with a nonstick cooking spray.

Make the breading by combining the bread crumbs, paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a shallow dish.

Grab your snapped spears and dip them into the egg and then place them in the breading mixture. Coat them all around.

When you place them in the air fryer basket, leave space so they don't overlap or touch. They need to be in a single layer.

Cook for 5 minutes at 400 degrees, then flip. Cook another 5 minutes and serve.

Can I fry asparagus without breading?

Absolutely. If you want to just fry up the asparagus without the breading, you totally can! The ingredients you'll need to do that are listed below:

• 1 pound fresh asparagus, snapped or trimmed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon pepper

All you have to do is rinse and dry the asparagus and snap off the ends.

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and toss your asparagus in the olive oil and seasonings.

Put the spears into your air basket and close. Cook for 7-10 minutes, remove, and enjoy.

Tips for making Air Fryer Asparagus Fries

This recipe is simple and easy to do but there are a few things to keep in mind.

Trim off the ends

Trust me on this...don't eat those ends. Just cut them off and toss them. Typically, you can cut about an inch up from the bottom and you'll be good to go.

Don't skimp on the coating

The thicker the breadcrumb coating, the better. This is what gives each asparagus a crispy crunch so don't skimp on the outer layer.

Make certain that you flip them in the air fryer

This is also a super important step. You want to flip them so that you get them crispy all over.

And don't stack them! They need their space in the air fryer!

Cooking Time for Air Fryer Asparagus

Cooking times might vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus. For this reason, I'd peek at them at about the 7-minute mark and decide. They should be golden brown to show that they're done.

You can even taste test one (let it cool a bit) to see if they're done. It should be tender to bite but still firm. And the ends shouldn't be burnt or blackened at all.

Variations for Asparagus Fries

While I'm a huge fan of the outer coating of breadcrumbs, there are a few ways that you can change it up.

If you want to add a bit of heat, make Spicy Asparagus fries by adding in a bit of chili pepper and cayenne pepper. You can even add a few dabs of hot sauce into your mixture, too.

Add a bit of lemon flavoring by mixing in some lemon juice and lemon zest.

And if you want to have an Asian taste, try using Panko crumbs instead of bread crumbs. They'll still crisp up perfectly and taste amazing, too.

How to store asparagus fries

Honestly, these are best eaten fresh from the air fryer but sometimes life doesn't always work out that way. If you do have leftovers, just store them in a container with a lid and keep them in the fridge. They should stay fresh up about 2-3 days.

You'll want to try and crisp them back up in the air fryer when you're ready to eat them but for just a few minutes of cooking time. The last thing that you want to do is overcook them since you've been saving them and looking forward to eating them again.

Serving ideas for fried asparagus fries

You really can't go wrong here. I love serving them on a platter or in a fun wire basket. I've even put some paper in a cute bucket and served them that way, too!

Don't forget to have some dip options as well - because you're going to eat them like fries after all! Some of my favorite dip choices are:

• Ranch dressing
• horseradish and ketchup
• melted cheese mixed with parmesan

I know, sounds odd but they all taste great with this recipe.

I also like to squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top as well and top with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Pizza Grilled Cheese
• Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
• Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings