Roasted Asparagus
With its tender stalks and crispy tips, Roasted Asparagus is one of the most delectable ways to enjoy this healthy, quick-cooking veggie. This is a recipe that’s easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but fancy enough to serve for a holiday meal!
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Why You’ll Love This Oven-Roasted Asparagus Recipe
- Quick-Cooking. Because asparagus is a softer vegetable and the spears are thin, it cooks more quickly than hard vegetables like Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Sweet Potatoes. Just 9 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness!
- (Almost) Zero Prep. Just trim the ends, and you are ready to roast (no laborious peeling like when you’re making Roasted Butternut Squash).
- Versatile. Season it up with Parmesan and lemon, make it spicy, or keep it simple. Pair it with a protein like Baked Salmon, or serve it alongside any of these pasta recipes.
- Feels a Little Fancy. Ohh-la-la asparagus! This veggie is a popular restaurant side but, like Roasted Mushrooms another dining-out favorite, it’s super simple to make at home.
- Kid-Friendly. Asparagus is quite mild, and the spears are fun to pick up with your fingers if you don’t mind letting the kids (and kids at heart) have a little fun. Asparagus was the first green veggie I loved as a kid. Roasted Broccoli took me until adulthood to embrace, savory fresh asparagus and I got along right away.
5 Star Review
“This will be my go to way to prepare and cook asparagus from here on out! It was SO savory, 10/10 taste and texture.”
— Gabriela —
How to Make the Best Roasted Asparagus
Baking perfect roast asparagus comes down to a few easy but essential tips.
Trim the Asparagus
Every stalk of asparagus has a tough, woody end that should be removed before roasting. Where this woody section stops and starts varies from stalk to stalk.
There are two methods for trimming asparagus to consider: bend and break or trimming with a knife.
- Bend and Break (least amount of waste). Hold the top of the stem in one hand and grip it near the base with the other. Briskly bend, and the asparagus will naturally snap in the right place. (Feel free to channel Legally Blonde and refer to this method as the “bend and snap.”)
- Cut the Bunch (fastest method). Hold the entire bunch of asparagus in one hand (this works very well if it’s still rubber-banded together) and trim off the ends about 1 1/2 inches or so from the bottom.
In my opinion, the best method of trimming asparagus is to bend and break.
It takes a little longer, but not much, and it ensures you only remove the tough portions of each stalk, resulting in less waste and guaranteed tenderness on every stalk.
Get Ready for Roasting
- Wash and Dry the Asparagus. Like Roasted Green Beans and other veggies, asparagus should be washed before it is roasted (no need to soak, unless your asparagus is super dirty). You can do this either before or after trimming it; just be sure to dry it completely.
- Oil and Season. Make sure the asparagus has a light coating so the tips do not burn. Keep the seasonings simple with salt and pepper, or try one of the variations below.
- Spread the Asparagus into a Single Layer. Make sure the spears aren’t touching so the air can circulate.
Roast at a High Temperature
- 425 degrees F is the ideal oven temperature for roasting asparagus. The high heat yields the crispy outside, caramelized inside texture we are looking for without burning the spears.
- If you are baking other dishes with the asparagus in the oven (or adding it to this Sheet Pan Chicken with Rainbow Vegetables) and need to tweak the oven temperature to accommodate, my second recommendation would be asparagus at 400 degrees F.
Recipe Variations
Here are some tasty ways to season roasted asparagus with everyday simple ingredients.
- Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan. Sprinkle the roasted asparagus with freshly grated Parmesan cheese just before serving. You also can sprinkle on the cheese, then pop the asparagus back into the oven for a minute or two if you’d like the cheese more melty. Asiago cheese would also be delightful.
- Roasted Asparagus with Lemon. Add a thinly sliced lemon to the pan with the asparagus prior to roasting. Finish the dish with an extra squeeze of fresh lemon juice and lemon zest.
- Spicy Roasted Asparagus. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes. This variation is especially good combined with lemon and Parmesan.
- Balsamic Roasted Asparagus. Drizzle the asparagus with 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar during the last few minutes of cooking.
- Herb Roasted Aspargus. Add dried herbs like basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning (before roasting), or finish with chopped fresh herbs like parsley (after roasting).
- Nutty Roasted Asparagus. Top the asparagus with a sprinkle of toasted slivered almonds, chopped toasted pecans, or toasted pine nuts.
- Garlic Roasted Asparagus. Sprinkle and toss the asparagus in garlic powder prior to roasting.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate asparagus in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F.
- To Freeze. I don’t recommend freezing roasted asparagus, as it becomes mushy. If you must, freeze asparagus in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Storage Tips
To extend the life of your fresh (uncooked) asparagus spears, start by removing the woody stems. Then, place your trimmed spears in a glass or jar with an inch or two of water. Place a plastic bag over the top of the spears, then refrigerate them for up to 5 days. Replace the water as needed.
Leftover Ideas
Use leftovers for this delicious Scrambled Egg Toast with Roasted Asparagus for brunch. Take a note from this Avocado Pasta, and toss your roasted asparagus with a pasta dish (Lemon Pasta would be tasty with asparagus). Finish off a pizza with leftover asparagus (we love using ours for this Asparagus Pizza). A Niçoise Salad is delish with some leftover roasted asparagus tossed in too.
What to Serve with Roasted Asparagus
- Salmon. Garlic Salmon with Butter and Lemon and Balsamic Glazed Salmon are both flavorful and easy salmon recipes to serve with roasted asparagus.
- Steak. Air Fryer Steak with asparagus will make you swoon.
- Pork. Stuffed Pork Tenderloin or Baked Pork Tenderloin.
- Chicken. Rosemary Chicken Thighs or Lemon Butter Chicken would be even classier with roasted asparagus.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Rimmed Baking Sheet. Ideal for making roasted asparagus.
- Citrus Juicer. A must-have when cooking with lemons or limes.
- Parchment Paper. Makes cleanup a breeze. I love these convenient sheets.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t Crowd the Pan. This is the cardinal rule for all roasted vegetables, whether we’re talking about Oven Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Tomatoes, or mixed Roasted Vegetables.
- Use Enough Oil. The spear needs a light coating on all sides. If there isn’t enough, the spears’ tender tips (the best part!) will burn. Roasting is one of the healthiest ways to cook asparagus, so don’t worry about using olive oil; it’s critical to making it taste delicious.
- Don’t Overcook. If you overcook asparagus, it will become mushy, and it can burn. It happens more quickly than you’d expect.
- Use a Fork to Test for Doneness. The best way to tell if asparagus is done and to keep it from becoming soggy is to pierce it with a fork. As soon as the fork can pierce the stalks easily, the asparagus is done.
- Get Creative. Have fun with the seasoning ideas above. When in doubt, make Bacon Wrapped Asparagus.
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Roasted Asparagus
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Ingredients
For the Asparagus:
- 1 pound asparagus
- 1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Toppings of your choice (optional—see below for suggestions)
Optional Toppings (pick one, two, or your mix of choice):
- Lemon zest and juice
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes (just a pinch)
- Thyme* (1 teaspoon fresh or a slightly heaping 1/4 teaspoon of dried)
- Basil* (1 tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dried)
- Drizzle balsamic reduction or aged balsamic vinegar
- Drizzle of melted butter
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. For easy cleanup, line a rimmed baking with parchment paper or aluminum foil. You may lightly coat it with non-stick spray too.
-
Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus by holding the stem end in one hand and gripping it near the base with the other. Briskly bend and the asparagus will naturally snap in the right place (I find this task very satisfying). Discard the stem ends.
-
Arrange the asparagus on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and any dried herbs you are using. Toss to coat, then spread into an even layer.
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Bake the asparagus for 9 to 11 minutes (for thin stalks) or 15 to 20 minutes (for thicker stalks), just until it easily pierces with a fork.
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Sprinkle the asparagus with your toppings of choice. My favorite is lemon zest and juice, a sprinkle of Parmesan, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Enjoy hot or at room temperature.
Notes
- *INGREDIENT NOTE: If using dried herbs (see suggested amounts in “toppings”), add them with the salt prior to roasting; if using fresh herbs, sprinkle them on after the asparagus is finished roasting.
- DOUBLE BATCH: If doubling the recipe, divide the asparagus between two baking sheets to ensure it has room to roast in a single layer. Bake in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, switching the pans’ positions in the upper and lower racks halfway through.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate asparagus in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F.
- TO FREEZE: I don’t recommend freezing asparagus, as it becomes mushy. If you must, freeze asparagus in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
More Asparagus Recipes
Thanks to their ease and nutrition, asparagus is the perfect side dish to prepare for any occasion. Here are some of my favorite asparagus recipes:
Pastas
Shrimp Orzo with Lemon and Asparagus
Main Dishes
Easy Asparagus Tart
Soups & Stews
Asparagus Soup
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