Roasted Asparagus

Cooking asparagus in the oven is our favorite. Roasted asparagus is incredibly quick and easy to make and is much more flavorful than if it's steamed. You can switch up the seasonings (we have lots of ideas in the recipe!) so you'll be able to make this no matter what is in your pantry.

Easy roasted asparagus

Roasted asparagus is on the top of our list of favorite spring recipes. (Followed closely by miso butter roasted radishes.) It's an incredibly simple recipe that requires little more than asparagus, olive oil, salt, pepper, a baking tray, and an oven.

We love this roasted asparagus recipe for a few reasons:

1. It's a healthy veggie side dish that goes well with almost any main course. If you're not sure what to serve with your dinner, go with roasted asparagus; It will work.
2. Five (5!!) minutes of easy prep and you can pop these into your oven.
3. Super customizable. Most of the time, we stick with oil, salt, and pepper. But you can easily add some pantry-staple spices to switch things up. We have lots of ideas for spice combinations in the recipe!
4. Cooking asparagus in the oven leaves your hands free to prepare the rest of dinner, tidy the kitchen, or (most importantly) pour yourself a glass of wine or open your beer.
5. It's one of those recipes that after you make it the first time, you probably won't need to look at the recipe again. It's a staple recipe that you'll find yourself making again and again.

How to prep asparagus

The ends of asparagus can be tough and woody. While you can cut the ends, cutting them does not always remove the woody part. The best way to prep asparagus is to snap the ends off. Hold a spear with one hand at the very bottom and the other in the middle. Bend the asparagus until it snaps. It will snap just above the woody part. If it does not snap easily, move your hand in the middle a little closer to the tip and try again.

There is something very satisfying about snapping the ends off of asparagus. It's fun!

How to store asparagus

Asparagus is best stored in the crisper in your fridge. I love these mesh produce bags for storing all veggies, including asparagus. If you need to store asparagus for more than 4-5 days, wrap a damp paper towel around the tips of the spears to keep them fresh longer.

How to roast asparagus

Cooking asparagus in the oven is very easy. All you need to do is toss the asparagus in a little oil and season it with salt and pepper. Lay the spears on a baking sheet in a single layer so that they cook evenly. That's it!

How long to roast asparagus

How long you'll need to roast your asparagus will depend on the thickness of the spears and personal preference. We like our veggies cooked crisp-tender. But if you like them softer, simply keep them in the oven for an extra couple of minutes.

• Thin asparagus: 9-10 minutes
• Medium asparagus: 11-13 minutes
• Thick asparagus: 14-15 minutes

How to season roasted asparagus

Most of the time when we make roasted asparagus, we season it simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The flavor of the asparagus concentrates as it roasts and the basic seasoning allows the asparagus flavor to shine. But it's also fun to switch it up. Here are some of our favorite ways to season asparagus:

• Parmesan cheese + lemon slices + red pepper flakes
• Minced garlic + oregano
• Garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne
• Italian seasoning + lemon slices
• Salted butter + slivered or sliced almonds

What to serve with roasted asparagus

We love making roasted asparagus as it's a hands-off side dish that allows you to focus on cooking the rest of the meal. Most often, we'll start dinner by putting some potatoes into the oven. This smoky roast potatoes recipe is a favorite. Next, we'll prep one of these main course recipes and cook them alongside the potatoes:

• Juicy Baked Pork Chops
• Perfect Baked Chicken Breasts
• Juicy Baked Chicken Thighs

Once the main dish is in the oven, we'll prep the roasted asparagus and put it into the oven 10 minutes before the potatoes and meat are ready.

Pro tip: either use a small baking sheet for both the potatoes and asparagus OR use a large one for the potatoes then push them to one side and add the asparagus beside them.

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Favorite asparagus recipes

• Sauteed Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan
• Asparagus Salad with Reduced Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Asparagus Goat Cheese and Cherry Tomato Breakfast Tart
• One Pan Lemony Greek Chicken with Potatoes and Asparagus
• Healthy Asparagus Mushroom Breakfast Tacos

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