Oven-Roasted Asparagus is the all-time quick and easy side dish recipe that goes with everything from grilled steak to roasted salmon and anything in between. I can't think of a more simple dish that is not only delicious, but it's good for you, too!
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And, if you're in the mood for more simple side dishes, you've come to the right place! Try my Parmesan Spaghetti Squash, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or my Simple Green Salad! They'll all be the perfect accompaniment to any meal!
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Oven-Roasted Asparagus is a side dish my entire family loves, even my girls. And, what's not to love about it? It's mild and tender when roasted. The flavor is both fresh and slightly sweet. It pairs with anything, and I devour the leftovers straight out the fridge for a snack.
Another reason to absolutely love this Oven-Roasted Asparagus recipe? It's pure simplicity. The seasonings? Simple. The cooking method? Simple. The eating? Super duper simple!
And, if you're looking for other easy side dishes that are beyond easy, try my Roasted Green Beans or Cauliflower Mac and Cheese! They'll both knock your socks off!
If asparagus flavor is what you love, try my Cream of Asparagus Soup. It's heavenly.
What You'll Need
As I have said, this Oven-Roasted Asparagus recipe is simple and you don't need many things to make it. That said, you do need to make sure you're using the best you can find.
Asparagus - The star of the show. Read below on how to choose it and prep it.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Find a good quality one that you like. You'll be able to taste it in this recipe and it will make a difference. You can also use avocado oil if you prefer.
Kosher Salt - A must-have for basic seasoning.
Fresh Ground Pepper - Buy whole peppercorns and grind them yourself. It makes a difference.
Parmesan Cheese - For the salty, nutty flavor. I love it with oven-roasted asparagus.
Lemon - A squeeze at the end brings all the flavors together. Acid enhances the flavor of food, and we want these oven-roasted asparagus to be the very best they can be!
How To Pick Out and Prep Asparagus
While this Oven-Roasted Asparagus recipe is very easy, there are a few tips you need to know first when it comes to picking out and prepping the asparagus.
To begin, make sure the asparagus are bright green without any evidence of sliminess or frayed tops. The tops of the asparagus should be nice and firm. In other words, it should look fresh. Under no circumstance should there be a smell of anything other than freshness and spring and rainbows.
Once you've picked out your asparagus, you need to know how to gauge where the nice, tender part of the spear is in relation to the tough, woody part. To determine this, simply hold the spear in both hands and bend it.
Bend the asparagus until it breaks. The natural breaking point will determine where the delicious parts are and where the inedible parts are. Keep the lovely, tender part of the spear and feed the woody bottoms to the rabbits.
Fun Fact: The tops of the asparagus can also be called the "squibs". Let's bring squibs back. I like that word. Squibs.
Instructions and Roasting Tips
While there's not much to do, let's get into the meat and potatoes of this recipe. See what I did there? I've had a lot of caffeine today. Moving on.
Grab your prepped and dried asparagus spears and lay them out onto a large sheet pan. Add the extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Toss the ingredients together with tongs until the asparagus is evenly coated.
Arrange the asparagus spears in a single layer. This is to prevent steaming and maximize roasting. Top with some grated parmesan cheese. Is there a technical measurement for the cheese in the recipe card below? Sure. Should you just measure with your heart? Absolutely.
Roast the asparagus in a preheated 425° oven for 10-15 minutes. I only cook mine for 10 minutes. I love for the spears to have a bit of bite. If you like yours more done, just cook it a little longer.
I finish my oven-roasted asparagus with an additional rainfall of grated parmesan and a fresh squeeze of lemon. It's simple. It's delicious. It's one of my favorites, and now, it'll be one of yours, too!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store the leftover Oven-Roasted Asparagus in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. If it lasts that long. One of my favorite snacks ever is cold, roasted asparagus straight out of the fridge.
To reheat, simply cover the asparagus spears with a paper towel and warm them in small increments in the microwave.
I don't recommend freezing the leftovers. It will not do well.
Variations and Substitutions
- Use nutritional yeast instead of parmesan if you're non-dairy.
- Make it spicy. Add some red chili flakes or a drizzle of chili crisp at the end.
- Play with the citrus. A squeeze of orange or lime would be lovely, too!
- Feta would be a wonderful cheese to use instead of parmesan.
- Add fresh herbs like dill, parsley, and chives to make this oven-roasted asparagus taste exceptionally fresh.
- Add toasted nuts like almonds, pine nuts, and even pecans.
Top Tip: Make Sure the Asparagus Are Dry
Make sure that after you've washed and prepped the asparagus, dry it well. This is an Oven-Roasted Asparagus recipe. Not an oven-steamed recipe. Excess moisture on the asparagus will prevent proper roasting and we just cannot have that!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Oven-Roasted Asparagus recipe gluten and/or dairy-free?
This recipe is 100% gluten-free. No worries there.
All you need to do to make this recipe dairy-free is to omit the parmesan. You can leave it out entirely or use a little nutritional yeast instead.
What other oil could I use besides olive oil?
If olive oil isn't your favorite, avocado oil would be a fantastic substitution for this oven-roasted asparagus.
How long do I cook the asparagus?
The good news about asparagus is that you don't have to roast it long no matter what. However, roasting times depend on the thickness of the spears.
-Super thin asparagus needs less time. Start checking it at 8 minutes so that it doesn’t overcook.
-Thicker asparagus takes longer. Thick spears can take up to 15-20 minutes to become tender.
I would lean toward undercooking it rather than overcooked. You never want asparagus to be mushy or stringy. That will make you sad and I don't want you to be sad.
Recipe
Oven-Roasted Asparagus Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus woody ends removed and dried well
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
- 1-2 tablespoon parmesan cheese grated
- squeeze of fresh lemon
Instructions
- Toss the asparagus spears with the extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper.
- Arrange the spears in a single layer on a sheet pan, top with parmesan cheese, and roast in a preheated 425° oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from oven, top with a little extra parmesan, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and enjoy!
Nutrition
If you guys make this Oven-Roasted Asparagus, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a star rating in the recipe card! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments! And, as always, be kind. I’m only human.
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Oven-Roasted Asparagus recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or YouTube! And, please leave a comment or star rating in the recipe card above. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. It makes my heart so happy! And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
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Edward says
So easy! We added some garlic powder. Thanks!
Melissa Hall says
This is the perfect side for the grill or oven. Takes no time but tastes amazing!
Rufus says
Thank you so much, Melissa!