I always love it when simple, elegant, and delicious collide. You are going to fall in love with this easy to make Keto Asparagus. 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!
I used to think that I didn’t like asparagus.
I was traumatized in college by a friend who invited me over for dinner and proceeded to serve asparagus from a can. Since it wasn’t a vegetable that my mother ever cooked while I was growing up, this was my first experience with it.
To say that I was unimpressed would be an understatement.
It was mushy, tasteless, and gross.
I am someone who is super-conscious of hurting other peoples feelings, especially when they’ve gone to the trouble of making a meal for me. So despite my feelings about the dish, I forced myself to eat it.
As a result, I swore: never again.
Then I got married. And guess why hubby’s favorite vegetable is?
You guessed it. Asparagus.
I’ve always loved cooking for him, however, this was one dish I wouldn’t budge on.
It was years into our relationship that he finally coaxed me to try a bite of his asparagus at a restaurant. (I am pretty sure that the only reason I did it was that at that point I’d already had a couple of glasses of wine.)
It was nothing like what I’d had before. It was crispy, crunchy, and above all, tasted fabulous!
Since then, I make dishes like this Keto Asparagus on a regular basis. I love that it only takes 5 minutes to cook! It is the perfect low-carb and healthy side dish for those nights when I don’t have a plan!
1 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.
2 Next, trim the ends off the bottom.
3 In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
4 Place the vegetables in a bowl and pour the olive oil mixture over it.
5 Next, arrange in a single layer in an air fryer basket or on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cook in the Air fryer for 5 to 11 minutes, depending on the desired doneness. Cook in the oven for 6 to 13 minutes.
6 Transfer the cooked veggies to a serving platter. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the vegetables and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
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.
It is a fabulous side for steak (use this marinade), and works equally well with roasted chicken. I also love it with Keto Chicken Parmesan. Cooled roasted asparagus is a great addition to a salad.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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This Keto Asparagus is astoundingly easy to make and makes the perfect low carb side dish. You need this recipe on hand for busy weeknights – it takes just 10 minutes to make with less than 5 minutes of hands-on time. It is a cinch to throw together!
Yum, this looks SO good. I’ve always been a fan of asparagus and this looks amazing. What an amazing side dish.
Oh yum, that sounds like a delicious side dish. I think my whole family is going to like this.
It always amazes me all the different items which you can have on a keto diet and the different ways you can cook them! These asparagus sticks sound delicious.
My family loves asparagus. This would be the perfect side for dinner tonight. I love that It looks super easy to make.
Oh, that looks wonderful! I really like asparagus! I don’t cook it too often because the kids think its too chewy or weird. But I like it. Thanks for the recipe.
I always thought I didn’t like asparagus too. It turns out that my mom didn’t really know how to make it.
These asparagus look so good! I have some at home and I need to try your recipe!
I really do love asparagus, it’s really yummy and healthy. It’s great that this dish is s easy and quick to make as there isn’t much time for cooking in the evenings.
Oh wow! It really looks tasty and easy to prepare! I will save this amazing recipe and make this coming weekend.
My sister is on a keto diet. I am sure she will appreciate this dish.
Asparagus is just one of those vegetables that just taste amazing. I will definitely be making this recipe soon.
That recipe looks so good. Asparagus is so delicious! My daughters love it as well. I’ll have to try this recipe and see what we all think.
I adore asparagus and I love your combination of spices you use on them. Great recipe I am pinning for later.
I love asparagus! I get so excited when it’s in season. I actually have a few bunches in my fridge, ready for the grill! Your Keto recipe is a fabulous way to enjoy this yummy vegetable!