These gluten-free panko-breaded Air Fryer Asparagus Fries are a family-friendly side dish you can feel good about! Dredged in homemade panko crumbs and air fried until golden and crisp, they’re crunchy, savory, and fun to eat! Serve them on their own with your favorite dipping sauce, or as a side dish or appetizer with all your favorite main courses.
Why You’ll Love Asparagus Fries
As the weather warms, we’re itching at the chance to scoop up all the fresh produce and begin making recipes like our massaged kale salad, mayo-free broccoli salad, and our favorite super fruit kale smoothie, too! While we love all the fresh fruit and veggies, we have an extra fondness for asparagus.
That said, let us introduce you to your new favorite fry – not french fries but air fryer asparagus fries! Oh, yes! With the appearance and shape of regular fries, they’re the perfect way to get little ones excited to eat their veggies.
Not to mention, they’re also:
- Crisp on the outside, tender in the center, and loaded with savory, cheesy flavor.
- Naturally gluten-free, nut-free, vegetarian, and dairy-free-friendly.
- Cooked in 10 minutes or less.
- Easy to make in the oven (if you don’t have an air fryer) to suit all your cooking needs.
Nutrition Note: Asparagus is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and potassium!
Storage Tips for Asparagus
If you just brought home your fresh produce from the grocery store or farmer’s market but don’t plan to make these fries for another couple of days, store the stalks in a cup of water. Keep reading here for more produce storage tips.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The key to making these air fryer asparagus fries a recipe even the pickiest of eaters will be excited to eat is the panko coating. However, unlike many store-bought or restaurant panko options, you won’t find any strange ingredients or add-ins in this recipe! Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Asparagus – We recommend using large, thick asparagus spears over thin asparagus spears as they’re easier to coat and less likely to burn in the air fryer as they cook.
- Gluten-Free Panko Bread Crumbs – You can use store-bought panko if you can find it. However, we opt for our homemade gluten-free panko recipe made from scratch! (Don’t worry, it’s super quick and easy!)
- Olive Oil – Technically optional, this helps add richness to the savory flavor of the breading while adding a boost of healthy omega fats.
- Gluten-Free Flour – We prefer to use oat flour, but any gluten-free flour you have on hand will taste great.
- Egg – This is crucial to help bind the breading to the asparagus. We do not recommend attempting to make these air fryer asparagus fries egg-free!
- Non-Dairy Milk – Use oat milk, almond milk, or any other dairy-free milk you have on hand to whisk the egg and add a bit of creaminess to the breading.
- Cheese – Grated Parmesan cheese takes the flavor to the next level with a salty, slightly nutty taste
Swap: Freeze your leftover egg whites to use in baking or omelets. I give tips on how to freeze egg whites in this freezer meal plan post. Or, take a look at the frequently asked questions below to find more recipes!
How to Prepare and Trim Asparagus
Before you toss your asparagus in the air fryer, make sure you trim the spears. If you fail to do this step, your asparagus will come out woody-tasting and be nearly impossible to chew. Luckily, it only takes a few seconds!
To trim the asparagus, line a handful of spears in a row on a chopping board. Then, use a sharp kitchen knife to cut all of the ends off at once. To start, begin cutting where the green portion of the plant becomes white. Repeat this step until all of the asparagus has been trimmed, and the recipe is ready for the next step! For an easy guide to trimming asparagus, take a look at this quick video, and learn more details about how to prepare and air fry asparagus here.
How to Make Asparagus Fries
Air Fryer Option
- Prep the asparagus by washing it, patting it dry, and trimming the ends.
- Coat the asparagus by placing the spears in a sealable bag with the flour, and shake to coak.
- Whisk the panko, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil together in a large bowl. Then, divide the mixture into 2 wide, shallow bowls.
- In a third small bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until smooth. Pour the mixture into the bag of asparagus, and gently shake to coat.
- Roll the asparagus spears into the panko mixture. Make sure to use one bowl and save the second for backup!
- Place the spears in a single layer in a greased basket of an air fryer, and lightly spray the asparagus with cooking oil. Air fry until crispy and golden, working in batches as needed until all the spears have been cooked.
For quick cooking, you’ll want to preheat your air fryer to 400°F before adding in the asparagus. Cooking times vary depending on the size and thickness of your asparagus as well as the breading used. However, at this temperature, a good rule of thumb is to allow 8-10 minutes of total time for the asparagus to fully cook. Then bam! You have “roasted” air fryer asparagus fries ready for eating.
To make meal prep easy, take a look at this chart for all your air fryer temperature needs.
Oven Option
No Air Fryer? No Problem! Follow the instructions below to bake your fries in the oven instead.
- Prep the asparagus as the recipe card states.
- Arrange them in a single layer on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake until tender and crisp, rotating halfway through.
Pro-Tip: To achieve a crisp texture, broil your asparagus fries during the last minute of cooking!
How to Store
This recipe is best enjoyed right away while the fries are still warm. Luckily, it’s easy to make a fresh batch! However, if you happen to have leftovers, let them cool completely. Then, transfer them to an airtight container, and keep them stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
For crispy asparagus fries when you’re ready to eat, pop them back in the air fryer for a minute or two until your desired temperature is reached!
Note: We do not recommend freezing leftovers as they’re likely to become soggy once thawed.
Common Questions
This decision is ultimately up to you and how you like your veggies. However, there are a few signs to look for, particularly when making asparagus fries. For example, the asparagus should turn a slightly darker green. Also, if making asparagus fries, the coating will turn a beautiful golden-brown color and look slightly crispy. When fully cooked, air fryer asparagus should also be soft and flexible instead of hard and straight. Once these boxes are checked, you’ll know your asparagus fries are ready to eat!
No, blanching is not necessary for this air fryer asparagus fries recipe. They cook fast enough that you do not run this risk of them charring like they would when they are grilled, seared, or roasted.
We haven’t tested it, but we do not recommend using frozen asparagus as the breading is likely to become soggy as it thaws.
Technically, you could use any breading you like best. However, we can not attest to the baking time, texture, or results. If you do use a different breading, you may need to adjust the seasonings including extra salt, pepper, garlic powder, and even paprika to prevent your fries from being bland!
This recipe is super tasty on its own. However, we love to pair it with a side of garlic herb aioli or refreshing lemon aioli. Then, add a protein source like ginger air fryer chicken or baked salmon, and you’ve got yourself a nutritious, well-rounded meal!
More of Our Favorite
Gluten-Free Air Fryer Recipes
Love the ease and simplicity of air fryer recipes? Check out more of our favorite sides below!
Air Fryer Asparagus Fries Recipe
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These gluten-free panko-breaded Air Fryer Asparagus Fries are a family-friendly side dish you can feel good about! (Baked Option)
Ingredients
- 1 pound large (thick) asparagus spears, trimmed
- ½ to 1 cup gluten-free seasoned panko bread crumbs, divided
- 2 to 3 Tablespoons grated parmesan or dairy-free grated cheese
- 1 Tablespoon light olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon gluten free oat flour or gluten-free flour of choice
- 1 large egg, whisked
- 2 Tablespoons non-dairy milk
- Avocado or olive oil cooking spray
Instructions
- Wash the asparagus, pat dry and trim the bottom of the spears. Place the asparagus in a large ziplock bag, add the flour and coat the asparagus in the bag. Set aside.
- Whisk together the panko, parmesan cheese and olive oil then divide into 2 wide bowls.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. Pour this mixture into the bag and coat the floured asparagus (see notes for alternative method).
- Gently roll/coat the asparagus in the panko mix (2 bowls are used, one being a replacement in case one panko mixture gets too wet from the batter). Place the coated spears on a lined pan.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 F. Once preheated, spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray then lightly spray the coated asparagus. Place the coated asparagus in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes or until crispy and golden. Remove carefully with tongs and continue cooking in batches.
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container. Reheat leftover asparagus in the air fryer.
Notes
Cooking Tip – An alternative prep method is to set up a dredging station after coating asparagus in oat flour. Thick asparagus spears work best as they hold more panko than smaller thin spears.
Alternative Method – Bake the asparagus fries in the oven on a lined baking sheet at 400 F for 16 to 20 minutes, rotating halfway through cooking. Broil the last minute, if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 178
- Sugar: 3.4 g
- Sodium: 196.4 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 11.5 g
- Fiber: 4.5 g
- Protein: 9.8 g
- Cholesterol: 67.4 mg
LOVE this! This is the only way I will make asparagus from now on!
yay! Hope the kiddos love it too!