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Air fryer asparagus with lemon and herbs
Alex

Air Fryer Asparagus

Air fryer asparagus is ready in 5 minutes: crispy tips, tender stalks, and a bright lemon-herb finish, the easiest healthy side you will make all week.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dishes
Calories: 65
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb fresh asparagus woody ends snapped off
  • 1 tbsp olive oil the hero, even coating is everything
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp dried Italian herbs or just dried thyme or rosemary
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes optional, but I always add them
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Zest of 1 lemon + juice of ½ lemon
  • 2 tbsp grated Parmesan optional, adds a salty, nutty crust

Method
 

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 390°F for 3 minutes. Don't skip the preheat, a cold basket means uneven cooking.
  2. Snap the woody ends off the asparagus. Where it naturally snaps is exactly where it should break, no measuring needed.
  3. Pat the spears dry with a paper towel. Moisture is the enemy of crispy. Dry them well.
  4. Toss asparagus with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and lemon zest in a large bowl until evenly coated.
  5. Lay spears in a single layer in the air fryer basket, no overlapping, no stacking.
  6. Air fry at 390°F for 5 minutes. Check at 4 minutes if your spears are thin.
  7. Pull them out, hit immediately with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and serve hot.

Notes

  1. Thick spears: Thick spears need 7 to 8 minutes. Pencil-thin spears need 4.
  2. Snap or trim: Snapping wastes some tender stem. Snap one spear, then line up the bunch and cut them all at that point.
  3. Parmesan: Add the Parmesan for the last minute only; it burns at 390°F.
  4. Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days. It's good chopped cold into salads and omelets.