This recipe for Oil Free Air Fryer Asparagus is easy + healthy + will quickly become your favorite way to eat asparagus! Perfectly crispy + ready in 8 minutes! Serve as a side dish for a holiday meal, as a snack with a yummy dip, or as a quick pairing on a busy weeknight!
#airfryerlove ❤
If you know me, you know I LOVE my air fryer. I absolutely love being able to have veggies that are crispy, full of flavor, and ready in minutes. I air fry whatever fresh veggies I have around when I am hungry. It gives me a healthy snack that I don’t have to feel guilty about. Above all, it doesn’t take much effort, so I am actually willing to prepare fresh veggies instead of grabbing something out of a package.
As we here at MVF try to watch our cholesterol more and more (full article here), I have started to cook my veggies without any oil. Occasionally, I will give them just a light coating of oil spray instead of pouring oil onto the veggies. I find that I don’t sacrifice any of the crunch but do get the opportunity to cut some calories and some fat. Perfect method for these asparagus!
Tara’s Tips For Perfect Oil Free Air Fryer Asparagus:
- First, pick fresh asparagus! The stalks need to be bright green + firm with the leaves held tightly against the stalk. I like thinner asparagus because they are tender. If you prefer a chewy asparagus go for the thick ones.
- Second, break off the ends. You can use a knife or you can just break the stalks with your hands. There is usually a spot where the asparagus has a little give and wants to break – that’s the ‘breaking point’ and the perfect spot to snap off the end. Snapping off these ends ensures that the tougher, drier ends of the asparagus stalks that don’t taste as tender and delicious as the rest.
- If you use oil spray, give these green wonders a light olive oil spray right before cooking. This will give them an extra crunch. Totally optional. Not sure about oil-free cooking? Start with my article, Guide to Oil-Free Cooking.
- Shake the basket! Not shaking the basket during air frying is one of the biggest air fryer mistakes that people make. Don’t walk away the entire cook time. Walk away for a few minutes but come back and shake the basket half way through cooking.
- Bring on the heat! if you like it hot sprinkle on the red pepper flakes before and after cooking.
- Flavor options: garlic powder, fresh garlic, Trader Joes Chicken-Less Seasoning or 21 Seasoning, salt, red pepper, black pepper, lemon juice. All wonderful!
What should you make with your Oil Free Air Fryer Asparagus?
- Nothing! They are lovely all by themselves!
- Dunk them into Vegan Chipotle Mayo, or Oil-Free Chipotle Hummus.
- Layer them on top of this Breadcrumb Pasta (yum!)
- Serve them alongside Tempeh BLT, BBQ Jackfruit Sliders, Stuffing Balls or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
Oil Free Air Fryer Asparagus
This recipe for Oil-Free Air Fryer Asparagus is easy + quick + healthy +</p> <p>will quickly become your favorite way to eat asparagus!
Ingredients
- 1 1b fresh asparagus, washed + ends trimmed off (see body of post for full instructions)
- 1/2 tsp salt + black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder or granules
- 1/4 - 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional/to taste)
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Step 2 Place washed + trimmed asparagus in a shallow bowl, sprinkle with spices. Spray with olive oil spray at this time if using.
- Step 3 Transfer asparagus to air fryer basket. Place basket into air fryer. Set timer to 8 minutes. Shake basket halfway through cooking. After 8 minutes, check asparagus. They are done when the tips begin to brown. If they are not brown, cook for an additional 2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook as they will be too soft.
- Step 4 When done cooking, carefully transfer asparagus to a serving dish. Drizzle with lemon, additional salt + pepper, red pepper flakes to taste. Eat or serve immediately, enjoy!
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