Keto Asparagus - Air Fryer or Oven (2024)

Published: by Wendy Polisi Modified: · 1259 words. · About 7 minutes to read this article.

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I always love it when simple, elegant, and delicious collide. You are going to fall in love with this easy to make Keto Asparagus recipe. Crisp tender asparagus is seasoned and cooked perfectly. This finishing touch is a sprinkle of Parmesan and a drizzle of lemon juice.

It comes together without a lot of fuss and works just as well as a holiday side as it does on a busy weeknight. I think you will agree that this one is a keeper!

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I didn't grow up eating asparagus and used to think I didn't like it.

I was traumatized in college by a friend who invited me over for dinner and proceeded to serve asparagus from a can.

Years later, I was coaxed to try a bite of asparagus at a restaurant.

It was nothing like what I'd had before. It was crispy, crunchy, and above all, tasted fabulous!

Since then, I make dishes like thisKeto Asparagusregularly. I love that it only takes minutes to cook!

These days, I would go so far as to say I love asparagus.

It is the perfect low-carb and healthy side dish for those nights when I don't have a plan.

Keeping recipes like this one in my back pocket make sticking to a keto diet so much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Asparagus Keto Friendly?

Yes! Asparagus, like all other green vegetables, are a fantastic addition to your ketogenic diet.

One spear has just .3g of net carbs, meaning it would be hard to over-do the carbs when choosing asparagus as your side.

What Should I Serve with Asparagus?


It is a fabulous side for steak (usethis marinade), and works equally well with roasted chicken. I also love it withKeto Chicken Parmesan. Cooled roasted asparagus is a great addition to a salad.

What are the Benefits of Eating Asparagus?

It is an excellent source of probiotics, which help to feed the friendly bacteria in your gut. Additionally, it is a good source of vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6. It is an alkaline food, which is especially important to include in a keto or low carb lifestyle.

How Do I Pick the Best Asparagus for this Recipe?

While both thick and thin asparagus is sweet and grassy, opt for thicker asparagus for this recipe. Thick spears will stand up to the heat better, and you won't have to worry as much about overcooking.

Look for spears where the bottom is still moist, and the tops are tightly closed.

What is the Best Way to Store Asparagus?


When you get asparagus home from the grocery store, go ahead and trim the ends off. Fill a mason jar with an inch of water, and place the spears in it like you would flowers. Cover with a clear plastic bag.

Do I Need to Peel Asparagus?

It is a matter of personal preference. The thicker asparagus that I recommend you use for this recipe will have a woody base. Some people suggest that you break the bottom off at its natural breaking point.

This practice, while effective, causes a LOT of waste. For the sake of my grocery budget, I like to cut off the bottom inch and then peel the bottom half as necessary.

Tools Needed to Make This Recipe:

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Variations for Low Carb Asparagus

  • If you are dairy-free, skip the Parmesan.
  • Use lime juice instead of lemon juice, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and top with toasted pine nuts.
  • Top with pancetta or bacon. Keto Asparagus with Bacon = Dinner Bliss!
  • Use goat cheese instead of Parmesan cheese.
  • You can use melted butter instead of oil. (Use unsalted - that way, you can control the salt levels!)

How to Make Low Carb Asparagus

First, preheat. You can make this recipe in the oven or the air fryer. To make Keto Air Fryer Asparagus, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees. If using an oven, preheat to 420 degrees.

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Next, trimthe ends off the bottom.

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Mix the oil and seasonings next.In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

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Toss- Place the vegetables in a bowl and pour the olive oil mixture over it.

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Cook -Next, arrange in a single layer in an air fryer basket or on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cooking time in the air fryer will be between 5 to 11 minutes, depending on the desired doneness. For the oven, the time will be from 6 to 13 minutes.

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Transfer the cooked veggies to a serving platter. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the vegetables and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. (If desired, you can melt the cheese first and then transfer to a serving platter before drizzling with lemon juice.)

More Keto Side Dishes

  • If you like crispy, you are going to fall in love with theseKeto Brussels Sprouts. So ridiculously easy!
  • Prepare for dinner bliss with thisKeto Roasted Cauliflower.
  • Like bold flavors? You are going to go wild for thisKeto Buffalo Cauliflower Wings.

Want more delicious recipes? Subscribe to my newsletter, and I will send you new gluten-free keto recipes every week!

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If you like this recipe don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.

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Print Recipe

5 from 12 votes

Keto Asparagus

This Keto Asparagus is ridiculously easy to make and such a flavor-packed side dish. Easy enough for a weeknight and elegant enough for entertaining! Just three net carbs a serving.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish, Vegetables

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Crispy

Servings: 4

Calories: 106kcal

Author: Wendy Polisi

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified sales.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound asparagus with ends snapped off
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt for an extra punch of flavor use truffle sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees or your oven to 420 degrees.

  • Trim the ends of your asparagus off. If you have especially thick asparagus, you may wish to trim the sides as well.

  • Place the asparagus in a bowl.

  • Whisk together the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.

  • Pour over the asparagus and toss to coat.

Air Fryer Keto Asparagus

  • Spread the asparagus in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to cook in batches.

  • Cook for 5 minutes for crisp-tender asparagus, or for 8 to 11 minutes for asparagus that is crisp and brown but still tender on the inside.

Baked Keto Asparagus

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread asparagus in a single layer.

  • Cook for 6 minutes for crisp-tender asparagus, or for 10 to 13 minutes for asparagus that is crisp and brown but still tender inside.

Before Serving

  • Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the asparagus and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Variations

  • If you are dairy free, skip the Parmesan.
  • Use lime juice instead of lemon juice, at a pinch of cayenne pepper, and top with toasted pine nuts.
  • Top with pancetta or bacon. Keto Asparagus with Bacon = Dinner Bliss!
  • Use goat cheese instead of Parmesan cheese.
  • Melted butter can be used instead of the oil . (Use unsalted - that way you can control the salt levels!)

Nutrition

Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 493mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 955IU | Vitamin C: 7.8mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 2.5mg

Low Carb Side Dishes to Try:

  • Prepare for dinnertime bliss with this delicious Fried Cabbage and Bacon from Kasey Trenum. I am pretty sure I could make a meal off this one!
  • This Low Carb Mexican Slaw from Kalyns Kitchen is one I could eat again and again! This delicious low carb side has just a handful of ingredients and is flavor packed.

This post was originally published October 2019. It was updated May 2021.

Keto Asparagus - Air Fryer or Oven (2024)

FAQs

Are air fryers good for keto diet? ›

Air fryers are a great option for keto because they can cook everything from vegetables, chicken, steak, appetizers and more.

How much asparagus can I eat on keto? ›

Asparagus is a keto vegetable because it has a low carbohydrate count. There are 2 grams net carbs in 6 spears of asparagus. It is one keto approved vegetable that you can fill up on!

Why is my oven roasted asparagus soggy? ›

If your roasted asparagus is soggy, you may have overcooked it. In a hot oven at 425 degrees, asparagus only needs to roast for about 10 minutes—any longer and it can become limp and soggy. You should also be sure to pat the asparagus dry and spread them out into a single layer before roasting.

How is asparagus supposed to be cooked? ›

Add olive oil or butter to pan; when hot, add asparagus, season generously with salt and pepper and cook about 3 to 4 minutes, until bright green, shaking or stirring the pan frequently. The key is to cook the asparagus just enough so that the exterior browns a bit, but the interior remains crunchy.

What are the best keto vegetables? ›

You do not have to limit vegetables if you are on the keto diet or are considering it. Plenty of low-carb vegetable options include arugula, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes.

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
  • Wet Batters. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

Is there a downside to air fryers? ›

Air fryers have a limited cooking capacity compared to traditional ovens or deep fryers, making them unsuitable for larger families or cooking larger portions.

Can you overeat vegetables on keto? ›

“Even though all vegetables have health value, eating too much of some will likely push you over your carb limit.” Worried about their carb counts, some people avoid veggies altogether when they go keto.

How many carbs are in roasted asparagus spears? ›

Each serving contains about 53 calories, 3 g protein, 4 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 5 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, and 2 mg sodium.

What is the lowest carb vegetable? ›

List of the best low carb vegetables
  • Iceberg lettuce. Perhaps one of the most popular — though least nutritious — vegetables, iceberg lettuce has only 2.97 g of carbohydrate per 100 g. ...
  • White mushrooms. Mushrooms contain only 3.26 g of carbs per 100 g. ...
  • Spinach. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Zucchini. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Asparagus. ...
  • Radishes.

Does asparagus get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Does asparagus get softer the longer you cook it? Yes, it does. But you don't want to cook it too long or it will be soggy. That's fine when using in a soup, but not so much as a roasted side.

What's the healthiest way to eat asparagus? ›

Try adding shredded, raw asparagus to pasta dishes and salads. Alternatively, enjoy the spears lightly steamed or sautéed in a frittata, or as a stand-alone side dish. Asparagus is a nutritious choice, regardless of whether it's cooked or raw. Try eating a combination of the two for maximum health benefits.

Do you wash asparagus before cooking? ›

One thing you definitely don't want to do is wash asparagus before storing it—the added moisture will cause the spears to get slimy. When you're ready to cook, just give them a quick rinse under cool running water and pat them dry with a kitchen towel, as Pradhan recommends.

What foods can I eat unlimited on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

How many eggs a day on a keto diet? ›

It's totally fine and safe to eat up to 6 eggs a day while on the keto diet. You can consume even more eggs per day occasionally, as long as you make sure that you eat your greens, healthy fats and proteins from other sources.

What vegetables are off limits on keto? ›

On the keto diet, you should restrict the consumption of starchy vegetables such as potatoes, yams, and corn.

Can you lose weight cooking with an air fryer? ›

Using air fryers can promote weight loss

A higher intake of fried foods has direct links with higher obesity risk. This is because deep fried foods tend to be high in fat and calories. Switching from deep-fried foods to air-fried foods and reducing regular intake of unhealthful oils can promote weight loss.

Why restaurants don t use air fryers? ›

Not Enough Volume Capacity

However, most air fryers don't offer the same capabilities as traditional commercial kitchen equipment due to their size and speed. Larger, deep, or open air fryers can cook more food items at a time, leading to a faster service rate.

Is Airfryer healthier than oil? ›

Air frying uses less oil

This means that your food has fewer calories. Still, food isn't necessarily healthier just because it contains less oil. Extra virgin olive oil, for example, is rich in polyphenols and has known heart health benefits. Overall, air frying is healthier than deep-frying.

Is air fried popcorn keto? ›

A typical serving of air-popped popcorn is 3 cups (24 grams) and contains 4 grams of fiber and 18 grams of carbs — or 14 grams of net carbs ( 7 ). Popcorn can easily fit into a keto diet with a daily limit of 50 grams of net carbs and can even be included in more restrictive versions of the keto diet.

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