Air Fryer Asparagus Fries is a healthier alternative to French fries! Ready in about 20 minutes, they are crisp and golden with almost no oil. Eating vegetables doesn't have to be boring!
This air fryer asparagus fries recipe has become one of our family favorite air fryer snack. It is crispy when hot and tastes amazing with a spicy sriracha dipping sauce.
What is the best way to cook asparagus? Asparagus is delicious grilled, roasted in the oven or made into this quick pan fried asparagus.
Although it is much easier to throw them into a baking sheet with some olive oil and let the oven do the work, it is fun to switch things up and give the spring veggie a make over (check out more recipes for spring season).
Panko crusted asparagus is almost as addictive as french fries but much healthier since they are not fried, nutritious and made without oil.
The spears cook tender with a crisp coating, making them perfect for dipping!
This healthy veggie fries recipe is easy and quick, only takes about 8 minutes to cook. So the next time you have a sudden urge for greasy french fries, give this air fryer veggie a try. They are sure to fulfill those cravings!
Thick or thin asparagus?
You can find usually find fat and meaty stalks or thin as pencils. Both will work for this asparagus fries. However there are some pros and cons.
Thicker asparagus spears maintain a firmer texture, retaining their shape admirably, ideal for dipping.
In contrast, their slender counterparts, while excellent when served piping hot, may lose their crispness within an hour.
(Check out more detailed description on selecting thick or thin asparagus on cooksillustrated.com).
Jump to:
Why this recipe works?
- Asparagus, with its ideal shape and size, is perfect for making fries!
- They’re nutritious, healthy, made with no oil, light and guilt free.
- I used my tried and tested method instead of the standard breading procedure. More sticking power and less mess!
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Asparagus - Look for stalks that are firm, fairly straight, have a bright green color and the tips should be tightly closed. Avoid wilted or soft stalks with dry cracked ends.
- Seasonings - Salt, pepper, garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
- Eggs - Eggs are the main base for binding and flax eggs won't work here.
- Flour - We used all purpose flour, but you can use whole wheat or gluten free flours as well.
- Parmesan: Using parmesan in the breading, make the air fryer asparagus fries flavorful, crispy and nutty.
- Panko breadcrumbs - Panko gives a light, delicate coating without making it heavy. However use whatever bread crumbs you like or have on hand.
Pro Tip - One pound of using thick stalks or half a pound, if using thin variety makes one batch and will fit in a single layer in the basket.
How to make?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
Step 1 - Wash and trim your asparagus. Asparagus can have grit in its tips, so give them a good rinse under cold water and pat dry in a clean kitchen towel. Snap off the tough and woody portions of each stalk with your hand — it should break off naturally.
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Tip: Pat dry your stalks thoroughly! This ensures the batter adheres better without sliding off.
Step 8 - Place them in a single layer without over lapping, in a pre heated 400 degree air fryer and spray a coating of non-stick cooking spray. Cook until deep golden in color for 6 to 8 minutes.
Pro Tip - One pound of thick stalks or half a pound if pencil thin ones will fit in a single layer in a 6 quart air fryer.
Tip: Don’t overcrowd! Try to keep the spears in one layer so they get adequate circulation of hot air, and crisp on the outside.
How to serve?
This crispy breaded asparagus can be served in a variety of different ways! We love to enjoy them as nutritious snack with any of the following sauce suggestions:
- Sriracha lemon sauce (recipe provided)
- Ranch dressing
- Ketchup
- Buffalo Ranch
- Burger sauce - Mix mayo, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, vinegar and sugar (we like this recipe from Browneyedbaker).
- Garlic mayo - Mix mayo, lemon juice, finely grated garlic, salt and ground black pepper.
- Honey Dijon
- Hollandaise - We love this recipe from downshiftology.com
- Yogurt sauce
- Garlic parmesan sauce
It also makes a great vegetable side dish served along side chicken, weeknight shrimp recipes or an easy dinner solution.
How to store leftovers?
Because of the breading and the moisture content in the spears, these panko breaded asparagus are best served fresh.
Pro tip: I recommend using thick stalks if you are planning to serve them a bit later. They not only stay crisper but also hold the shape better for dipping. Thin stalks are less meaty and limp after about 2 hours.
- Fridge - In a covered container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer - To freeze, place leftovers in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until frozen solid. Transfer to freezer safe zip lock bag and store up to 2 months.
- Reheat - Reheat for 3-4 minutes at 400 degrees. When reheating from frozen, cook at 380 degrees or until hot.
Helpful tips
- Single layer - Cook them in a single layer without overlapping for an even brown crispy crust.
- Thick or Thin - Thicker spears will hold firm for dipping even when cold and is perfect for making ahead and thinner ones are great if served right away.
- Skip grinding? You can simply stir panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes in a shallow dish and coat the spears with it. However, we found that the ground bread crumb mixture gave an even and uniform coating to the healthy air fryer vegetable.
- Switch up the seasonings - Feel free any of your favorite seasonings.
- Make it gluten free - Use gluten free flour and gluten free panko breadcrumbs.
- Double the recipe - Make sure that you cook in two batches without over crowding.
Recipe FAQs
When purchasing, look for spears that are fresh, vibrant, plump and firm with tightly closed tips. Their color should not be faded. Both thick and thin variety will work for this recipe. Thicker ones will stay firmer for a longer period of time whereas thinner fries are best eaten hot.
This recipe can be easily baked in the oven. Place a wire rack on a cookie sheet, then place the panko breaded spears on top of wire rack in a single layer and give a lavish oil spray. Bake in pre heated 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes or deep brown.
Fresh spears works best for air frying. Frozen stalks contain a lot of moisture and may cause the fries to be soggy.
If you think that your spears are very gritty, then they will benefit from a quick soak. However, I find that this step is not necessary since the spears are fairly clean from the grocery store. However, you will definitely need to wash them well to remove the grit.
More air fryer veggies
Air Fryer Asparagus Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick asparagus (Use ½ pound of thin aspargus)
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 eggs large
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Any dipping sauce to serve (our favorite recipe included)
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry asparagus until thoroughly dried and trim the tough ends.
- Add all purpose flour, eggs, salt, garlic powder and black pepper into a broad dish and mix until well combined.
- Add panko breadcrumbs, parmesan and red pepper flakes into a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Transfer into another broad dish or plate.
- Dip each aspargus into the egg-flour batter, making sure that it is thoroughly coated and then gently toss to coat the parmesan-panko mixture and place into a plate.
- Pre heat air fryer to 400°F for 7 minutes.
- When hot, gently transfer asparagus into the basket in a single layer, without over lapping and spray a coating of cooking spray.
- Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until a deep golden color is achieved. I like to spray another light coat of cooking spray halfway through to get that rich, golden brown finish.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce (recipe in notes) or marinara.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
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Angela Markovich
I could not get the recipe to print!! Looks like a great recipe. I just got an air fryer and would love to try this recipe.
Maria Doss
I'm so sorry that you had trouble printing. We just printed ours and it seems to be working just fine. Hope you'll try again or you can just use the recipe from your phone, tablet or mobile. Hope it works - Maria