Roasted Asparagus

Roasted Asparagus

With its tender stalks and crispy tips, Roasted Asparagus will open the way for more vegetables on your plate! This post is the all-things-asparagus guide for your perfect, crispy oven-baked asparagus, with numerous seasoning and topping ideas.

While Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Beets, and Roasted Broccoli took me until adulthood to embrace, savory fresh asparagus and I got along right away.

It’s fabulous on the grill, with this scrumptious Grilled Asparagus recipe, and particularly crispy in the air fryer with Air Fryer Asparagus.

I know if you try this best-ever roasted asparagus recipe, you’ll fall in love with the easy vegetable side dish too.

Roasted Asparagus is Quick

When it comes to roasted vegetables that can be on the table fast, roasted asparagus is hard to beat.

• While Roasted Butternut Squash and Roasted Sweet Potatoes are delish, you have to peel them first; Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and roasted Cabbage Steaks, they take a bit of time to roast in the oven.
• Conversely, at 425 degrees F roasted asparagus cooks in just 9 to 15 minutes, depending upon the thickness of your asparagus. Thin asparagus will cook faster than thicker asparagus.

Asparagus is Healthy

• It’s packed with fiber, vitamin K, and folate.
• Asparagus is also rich in key nutrients such as vitamin A and vitamin C.

Combine the quick cook time with how fast asparagus is to prep, and you have the makings for a go-to healthy side pronto.

Tips for Perfect Roasted Asparagus

Baking perfect roast asparagus comes down to a few easy but essential tips.

Trim the Asparagus Properly

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 (the best method) or trimming with a knife.

• While trimming the entire bunch of asparagus at once is faster, you’ll inevitably waste edible flesh on some spears, and miss some of the woody parts of others—resulting in a few tough, stringy bites.
• Bending and breaking asparagus ensures you only remove the tough portions of each stalk, resulting in less waste and guaranteed tenderness on every stalk.

Wash the Asparagus

Like Roasted Green Beans and other veggies, asparagus should be washed before it is roasted. You can do this either before or after trimming it.

• After you rinse, be sure to dry the asparagus well on a kitchen towel to make sure it crisps nicely in the oven.
• I like to wash prior to trimming to give the asparagus extra time to dry.

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 Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

• If you crowd the pan, the air won’t circulate properly. The vegetables will steam instead of roast and won’t become as crispy.
• For perfect, crispy asparagus, make sure the spears aren’t touching one another.

Season and Oil

Proper oil and seasoning are critical to helping food taste its best, and roasted vegetables are no exception.

• Be sure to use kosher salt or sea salt (which have a better, more natural taste than table salt).
• For more variation, add black pepper or try one of the other recipe variations listed in “The Ingredients” section below.
• Use enough oil to give the spears a light coating on all sides. If you don’t, 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. Plus, olive oil is high in antioxidants and beneficial fats.

Roast at a High Temperature

I tested roasted asparagus at 350, 375, 400, 425, and 450 F.

• 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 F.

Don’t Overcook

If you overcook asparagus, it will become mushy, and it can burn. It happens more quickly than you’d expect.

• 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.

How to Season Asparagus

Here are some tasty ways to season roasted asparagus with everyday simple ingredients.

• Roasted Asparagus 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 the lemon and Parmesan suggested above.
• Balsamic Roasted Asparagus. Drizzle the asparagus with 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar during the last few minutes of cooking.
• Herbed Roasted Asparagus. 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.
• Caramelized Onion Roasted Asparagus. Caramelize 1 large red onion. Place the asparagus on a serving platter and top with the onion and sprinkle of salt.
• Garlic 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. 

What to Serve with Roasted Asparagus

Roasted asparagus is an excellent side choice for really any protein. Here are some of my favorite pairings:

• 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. My easy method for juicing lemons and limes.
• Parchment Paper. Makes cleanup a breeze.

If you have vegetable skeptics in your family, this roasted asparagus can be a gateway for them, the way it was for me (this Bacon Wrapped Asparagus is likely to help your cause too).

With its fast prep, tender stalks, and crispy tips, this simple, spectacular roasted vegetable deserves to be a regular on your menu.

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

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Main Dishes

Easy Asparagus Tart

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Soups & Stews

Asparagus Soup

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