"Conception" Air Fryer Asparagus w/ Cheese Sauce {Recipe & Video}

This air fryer asparagus recipe provides a lot of bang with very little effort. Beyond the sheer convenience, it’s big on taste and achieves great texture.

Asparagus is great anytime, but it’s a perfect side dish for a weeknight dinner. It also has enough celebrity status to enjoy on special occasions.

The beauty of asparagus is you can deliver deliciousness with just a few ingredients. Asparagus shines on its own, but can easily be elevated with just simple seasoning.

Beats and Eats (music pairing for Air Fryer Asparagus)

Black Thought’s “Conception” is the perfect pairing for this dish. The song has that classic Black Thought rapid fire cadence which speaks to the short overall prep and cook time. The song also has quite a bit of soul with the Saleem Remy vocals which carry that 70’s Marvin Gaye vibe. I know “soulful” isn’t your typical descriptor for asparagus, but the cheese sauce gives it quite a bit of soul.

Air Fryer Asparagus Ingredients

• Asparagus
• Olive Oil
• Garlic Cloves
• Kosher Salt
• Black Pepper
• Heavy Cream
• Manchego Cheese
• Olive Brine

How To Make Asparagus In An Air Fryer (Step by Step)

Prepare the Asparagus

1. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
2. Trim the rough ends of the asparagus. Discard and set remaining asparagus in a shallow bowl.
3. Add the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Massage the asparagus with the oil mixture until all spears are coated fully.
4. Place the asparagus into the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 6-8 minutes depending on thickness of the spears. Toss the spears about halfway through.
5. Remove the asparagus and season with salt and pepper.

Make the Sauce

1. Heat the heavy cream under medium heat in a heavy bottomed pan.  Reduce the cream by half
2. Add the lemon juice and allow to simmer for about 2 minutes.
3. Grate the cheese and add about ¼ pound along with salt and pepper. Blend well and either refrigerate or serve immediately over the asparagus or as a dip.

Considerations and Tips for Cooking Asparagus in An Air Fryer

Trim the asparagus well. Get rid of all the woodsy ends. Trust me, you don’t wanna eat these hard chewy edges.

You don’t want asparagus that’s too thin. Thin asparagus will be flimsy after cooking lightly. You also don’t want it too thick. Really thick asparagus makes it difficult to cook to just right temperature throughout the whole asparagus.

Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. The asparagus should all be laid flat in one layer. Cook in batches if necessary.

Serve with main dish items like Air Fryer ribs, Denver steak, blackened redfish, or piri piri shrimp. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Cooking Asparagus In Air Fryer

Is This Recipe Keto-friendly?

Yes it is. These is no sugar and the sauce is cheese and cream based.

What type of cheese works best in the sauce?

I used Spanish Manchego cheese in this recipe. It has great flavor and melts well. Parmesan can be used as well.

Can I Use An Alternate to Heavy Cream?

Full fat heavy creamy is rich and flavorful so it’s preferred. To reduce the calories you can use half and half. For non-dairy option coconut cream or almond milk can work. It will be a very different flavor profile for the the sauce though, so keep this in mind.

Can The Sauce Be Made Ahead?

Yes, you can definitely make the sauce a day ahead and refrigerate it.  Slowly reheat it in a pan or via very low settings in the microwave.

What Type of Air Fryer Do I Use?

I have an older model NuWave 8 quart which I love. I prefer it for it's large capacity and front-loading capabilities. Front-load equals easy access/loading which I can't underscore enough.

For Similar Recipes, Try These:

Air Fryer Broccoli

Air Fryer Broccolini

Air Fryer Brussels sprouts

Quick Grilled Asparagus

Charred Asparagus with Harissa Sauce

Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

Charred Asparagus with Harissa Sauce

Grilled Vegetable Salad

Sharing is caring!