Air Fryer Parmesan Asparagus

Name: Air Fryer Parmesan Asparagus
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Vegetables
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh asparagus; 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup grated or finely shredded parmesan cheese; lemon wedges, for serving; sea salt, to taste

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Air Fryer Parmesan Asparagus on a serving plate with lemon slices.

Air Fryer Parmesan Asparagus is a simple Spring side dish. It's ready in less than 15 minutes, and is so good you won't be able to stop eating it!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This asparagus side dish is perfect for spring. It's simple and light using seasonally fresh produce. There's so much flavor in this dish, especially when you add a squeeze of lemon juice when serving.

Asparagus is so versatile that you can serve it with brunch or dinner! It's a great side for easter dinner, mother's day brunch, a weeknight dinner, or weekend brunch.

No air fryer? No problem! You can bake it in the oven.

Ingredients

Asparagus: Fresh asparagus. Choose a bunch that are similar in size so they'll cook evenly. They can be as thick or thin as you prefer.

Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil or whichever cooking oil you prefer! I like Delallo Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Parmesan Cheese: Grated or finely shredded parmesan cheese. I like to shred my own, however you can use pre-grated or shredded.

Sea Salt: The salt brings out the delicious flavors in the asparagus.

Lemon Wedges: Optional for serving. A squeeze of lemon juice really brings out the flavors and brightens up this dish.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Prep the asparagus. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 5 minutes. Trim the tough ends off the asparagus. Toss with olive oil and season with sea salt.
Air Fry. Place the asparagus in the air fryer basket and spread out evenly. Air fry for 4 minutes. Turn the asparagus and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Air fry for an additional 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted, and asparagus is tender but still crisp.
Serve. Place on a serving dish with some lemon wedges for squeezing (optional). Enjoy!

Note: Thinner asparagus may cook faster, and thicker asparagus may take slightly longer. Adjust cook time accordingly.

Variations

I love to keep this Air Fryer Parmesan Asparagus simple, however if you want to take it up a notch, try one of these variations.

Use different cheese. Try it out with pecorino romano, gruyere, goat cheese, feta cheese, or mozzarella.

Add seasoning. Sprinkle on some garlic powder, everything bagel season, or crushed red pepper before air frying.

Bake in the oven. Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F for 15-18 minutes, adding cheese during the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

What should I look for when selecting asparagus?

To choose the best asparagus, look for stalks that are firm and not wilting. They should be bright green and not pale in color. Choose a bunch that are all a similar size for even cooking. Both thinner and thicker asparagus spears are delicious, so choose whichever you prefer!

How do you know when asparagus is done cooking?

You'll know when asparagus is done cooking when it is tender but still crisp. It should be bright green and not mushy.

More Vegetable Recipes

If you like this recipe, then you'll love these other vegetable side dish recipes!