Oven Baked Asparagus Fries

Let me start this off by saying I think that asparagus is so underrated.  

This is something I've never understood.  Not only is asparagus super healthy, but it’s also really easy to make. I mean, you can have a pretty great, nutritious side dish ready in a matter of minutes.

There are so many ways you can cook asparagus, but I really like to keep it simple. Come asparagus season, you'll find me making my Easy Pan-Fried Asparagus or these Oven Baked Asparagus Fries on the regular. 

If you liked these Oven Baked Asparagus Fries, then you'll enjoy my Lemon Roasted Asparagus.

So, today, we're gonna share the asparagus love, okay?

And we're cool with turning them into fries, right?  I mean...everyone’s happy when there are fries, no?  Even my kids can't get enough of these babies and they don't really care for asparagus!

Ingredient Notes

Asparagus: This recipe is perfect for asparagus, but it can also be substituted with other spear veggies if you'd prefer. A few that would work great would be zucchini or carrot. I also have a zucchini spears recipe on the blog for reference. Look for asparagus that is even in size so it bakes evenly. Ideally, it will not be too thin or too thick.

Almond Meal: I use almond meal as the second coating for these asparagus fries to add a little crunch, and they have the bonus of additional nutrients, too. You could sub with a different flour or even panko breadcrumbs if you'd prefer.

Parmesan: To make this recipe non-dairy, substitute the parmesan for nutritional yeast.

Chickpea Flour: Chickpea flour is also known as Garbanzo Bean Flour and can be a little tricky to find at some stores. Suitable alternatives would be any unrefined flour, like whole wheat flour, oat flour, or quinoa flour.

Eggs: I use eggs to add a little gumminess to the coating, which adds more of a crust when baked. If you'd like to omit the eggs, choose a wet alternative like plant-based yogurt or almond milk. You could also choose Greek yogurt or buttermilk if you are not vegan or dairy-free.

How To Bake Asparagus Fries

Baking asparagus fries is definitely one of the easiest ways to turn this superfood into a delicious, healthy side dish. It’s also mess-free as you only need one sheet pan. The high heat will deepen the flavor beautifully.

While I love asparagus, Dustin and the kiddos take some convincing every now and then so I always try to come up with different ways to sneak it into our diet.  Turning them into baked asparagus fries makes it so easy!

Follow these easy steps for how to bake asparagus fries:

1. Preheat your oven.
2. Snap or slice off the woody ends of the asparagus and discard them.
3. Spread the asparagus on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
4. Sprinkle with some sea salt and pepper.
5. Bake (Roast) in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the asparagus is crisp on the outside and tender in the center. minutes.

How Long To Bake Asparagus

I usually bake or roast asparagus in the oven for 8-10 minutes. But, it really depends on how you like your asparagus.

I find asparagus is best when it's not cooked completely through so I like to take it out before that time.  This makes it super fresh and crunchy. Others prefer it completely tender and cooked all the way through, even crispy on the edges.  To get it more crispy on the edges, you'll want to add another 4-6 minutes in the oven.  Take care not to overcook the asparagus, though, or you'll wind up with bitter, stringy asparagus and you'll be sad.

How To Store

Place the leftover spears in a shallow, airtight container to store cooked asparagus fries. My favorite is this meal prep container, but you can also use re-usable silicone storage bags. You can also tightly wrap your asparagus in heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap. 

Stored this way, he asparagus fries will last in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.