Spicy Parmesan Air Fryer Asparagus is the perfect recipe to convert any asparagus hater. All you need is 10 minutes and an air fryer!
One of my roles as a Registered Dietitian is to promote a healthy, balanced diet. Of course that include a diet with vegetables, which means I have made it my personal mission to take all the commonly hated vegetables and turn them into a dish you genuinely crave.
Honestly, I'd say I'm achieving my mission. This spicy Parmesan air fryer asparagus is SO good you'll want to eat the whole bowl. AND If you haven't tried my air fryer brussel sprouts, you NEED to try them after this asparagus!
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Easy to prepare. This air fryer asparagus recipe can be made in one bowl in 10 minutes or less. It's that simple.
- A veggie dish everyone loves. I promise that you can serve this spicy Parmesan asparagus to everyone, even picky eaters. The asparagus haters in my life swear this is the only recipe they like!
- Nutrient-dense. Asparagus is a great source of nutrients like vitamin K, folate and fibre.
Ingredients
Asparagus. Take advantage of asparagus season (late February- June) when the asparagus is the freshest and the cheapest. For tips on how to choose the perfect asparagus bunch check out these tips.
Lemon. Just the juice! Lemon and asparagus is a classic combination. I love mixing sweet, sour and spicy ingredients together to create that perfect flavour combination (especially with tricky vegetables)!
Parmesan cheese. My favourite part of this asparagus recipe! I love the combination of the Parmesan cheese with the garlic and lemon. If you are vegan or would prefer another option feel free to use nutritional yeast in place of the Parmesan (plus it gives a little vitamin B12 boost).
Olive oil. You can use any cooking oil such as avocado oil, canola oil etc. This helps coat the asparagus to help them crisp up while cooking.
Honey. I really find that adding a tiny bit of honey to more bitter vegetables makes them taste AMAZING.
Red pepper flakes. This can be customized based on how spicy you like things. If you like a little more heat, add more flakes. If you like a little less heat, add less.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
Using a cutting board, chop asparagus into bite sized pieces.
In a medium sized bowl, add asparagus, oil, garlic, spices, honey, lemon juice and cheese and mix until asparagus is fully coated.
Add asparagus to your air fryer basket, ensuring they are spread evenly along the bottom of the basket.
Air fryer at 400°F for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
To make dairy-free: Swap the Parmesan for nutritional yeast.
To make vegan: Follow dairy-free swaps and use maple syrup instead of honey.
To make nut-free: This recipe is naturally nut-free.
Equipment
Storage
This air fryer asparagus is best eaten when fresh. If you do have leftovers, I recommend storing the leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Reheat by air frying at 350F for 5 minutes.
Top Tips for Success
Don't overcrowd the basket. This is my biggest tip with all air fryer recipes! The size of your air fryer will affect this recipe and the asparagus may need to be cooked in batches. You want to ensure the asparagus is arranged in a single layer and is not overlapping to ensure they cook to perfection
On a similar note, make sure you shake the basket ½ way through cooking. This helps distribute the heat to ensure the tops and bottoms of the asparagus get crispy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Follow the recipe as is, spreading the chopped asparagus evenly on a prepared baking tray. Roast at 400F for about 30 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through cooking. Tip: to get the asparagus extra crispy try broiling at the very end for a few minutes!
Yes of course! This recipe is great for 1-4 people however if you are looking to make asparagus for a larger group of people you can easily double the recipe.
I would say it;s on the milder side of the spice scale. What’s great about this recipe is you can easily customize it by increasing or decreasing the amount of red pepper flakes to change the spice level.
More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
I think the air fryer is one of the BEST ways to cook veggies. I even have a whole post with all my air fryer veggies. If you were a fan of this spicy Parmesan asparagus, I think you'd like these too:
- Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli
- Air Fryer Lemon Parmesan Zucchini
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
See you in the kitchen!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this spicy Parmesan air fryer asparagus, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Spicy Parmesan Air Fryer Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (or cooking oil of choice)
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese grated
- ½ tablespoon honey (optional for a touch of sweetness)
- ½ of 1 lemon just the juice
Instructions
- Using a cutting board, chop asparagus into bite sized pieces.
- In a medium sized bowl, add asparagus, oil, garlic, spices, honey, lemon juice and cheese and mix until asparagus is fully coated.
- Add asparagus to your air fryer basket, ensuring they are spread evenly along the bottom of the basket.
- Air fryer at 400°F for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Notes
- see oven instructions in the text above the recipe!
Anokhi M says
This was really good ! Great way to serve asparagus ! And love the idea to try it with green beans like the previous post mentioned ! Soo delicious !!! 😋
Nikki Levasseur says
Hit for the whole family. I like having the crushed red peppers. I will be making this again!
Maddie says
LOVE these! The only way I’ll make asparagus. Thank you!
Kimberly Johnston says
Do you know the nutritional content of this recipe!
Thanks!
Nicole Addison says
Hi Kimberly! I just updated it! Please note the nutritional content listed is for the entire recipe- so divide by the number of people you are serving it for!
Shannon says
Such a quick, easy, and yummy side dish to make!! Was a family fav this summer!