Wash the asparagus and then pat the spears dry. Trim the bottom ends by cutting 1 inch off or by breaking the end where the stalk naturally snaps.

Now, prepare the breading station. Place flour in one bowl, whisked egg in the second, and breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and parmesan cheese in the third bowl or container. Mix the breading blend until it’s all uniform. Be sure to choose bowls or dishes that will fit an asparagus stalk whole.

One by one, roll the asparagus spears in flour, then in egg. Let the excess egg drip off, then roll the stalks in breadcrumbs until fully coated. Next, place the breaded stalk on a plate. Repeat the steps until all asparagus stalks are breaded.

Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spray half the asparagus stalks with avocado oil, then place them in the preheated air fryer leaving some room between. Be sure not to overcrowd the tray! You’ll probably have to cook the asparagus spears in two batches unless your air fryer is very big.

Cook the breaded asparagus stalks for 5 minutes, then gently flip them. You can spray them again with oil spray. Then cook the breaded asparagus for another 3-5 minutes until the asparagus is tender and the breading is crispy (total cooking time: 8-10 minutes). Your exact cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus stalks and your air fryer.

When done, remove the cooked asparagus from the air fryer tray. Then spray the second batch with oil spray and place them into the air fryer to cook.

When all the stalks are cooked, serve them with a dipping sauce as an appetizer or as a side dish!