Name: Oven Roasted Asparagus
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 pound asparagus spears (trimmed); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 1 clove garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper.; ½ teaspoon lemon zest; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon

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This is the best Oven Roasted Asparagus. Made with olive oil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, this simple side dish is absolutely delicious. It is the absolute best way to prepare Asparagus.

Baked Asparagus makes the perfect side dish to any dinner recipe! Even picky kids delight in the crispy, salty cheesiness of this oven baked vegetable. My favorite meals to pair this vegetable with are Baked Salmon and Chicken Marsala.

Asparagus has to be one of my all-time favorite vegetables. While I love asparagus anyway I can get it, steamed, boiled, in a frittata, in a stir fry, and even raw, roasting is in my opinion the best way to prepare this vegetable.

Roasting the asparagus makes the center tender, and the ends a bit crispy. As it roasts, the natural sugars are developed and the slightly bitter flavor that asparagus can have is mellowed out completely.

While it needs nothing more than olive oil and salt to roast, when garlic is added to the mixture and the roasted asparagus is finished with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese and the zest and juice of a fresh lemon, this vegetable become worthy of a restaurant menu.

The baked asparagus is crispy, tender, salty, acidic, fresh, and tangy. While the preparation is simple, the end result is a masterpiece.

How to Trim Asparagus

The bottoms of asparagus need to be trimmed off before baking. This part is woody and tough--not at all pleasant to eat.

The best way to trim asparagus is to hold one piece from both ends and gently bend the stalk. It will snap right at the portion of the stalk that needs removal. You can do this for each and every stalk, but that is not necessary. Use the one stalk as a guide as to where to cut the remaining bunch.

How to Roast Asparagus

Dress your asparagus right on the sheet pan. You can toss the vegetable evenly with olive oil, salt and garlic and then spread out evenly on the sheet pan. This will save you an extra dish to wash.

Pro-Tip: Be sure to spread out your asparagus in a single layer. If you overlap the asparagus they will steam and not roast.

How long you bake asparagus depends on a few factors.

Oven Temperature
Desired Crispiness
Thickness of Asparagus

The higher the temperature of your oven, the faster the asparagus will roast. I prefer roasting asparagus at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. The high heat crisps up the tips of the asparagus in the time it takes for the vegetable to get tender. If you prefer your asparagus less crispy, roast at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can purchase asparagus in all diameters, but thin is best. It cooks up a lot faster is much less bitter. If you happen to have thicker asparagus, you may need to roast for an additional couple of minutes.

More Roasted Vegetables

Roasting vegetables brings out their natural sweetness, while adding a crispy exterior which is a great contrast to a tender inside. I prefer Roasted Vegetables to steamed any day and they make a great side dish to a variety of meals. They are also delicious chopped up and added to a salad.

For the most flavorful asparagus, be sure to try out this recipe. It is perfect for Easter Dinner, a date night in, or a side dish for a family meal. And let me know in the comments how much you enjoyed it!