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Get It Now- Why You’ll Love My Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How To Trim Asparagus
- How To Roast Asparagus In The Oven
- How Long To Roast Asparagus?
- Flavor Variations
- Storage Instructions
- Serving Suggestions
- More Easy Asparagus Recipes
- My Favorite Baking Sheet For This Recipe
- Oven Roasted Asparagus (Easy) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
At the end of every winter as spring rolls around, I get excited about asparagus again. Sure, you can make it all year round — and admittedly I do — but that seasonal vibe just hits different in the spring. And while I have lots of asparagus recipes here on Wholesome Yum (shoutout to my oldest and most popular: bacon wrapped asparagus!), I still come back to this oven roasted asparagus recipe most often. It’s quick and easy, it’s fresh, it’s flavorful without fuss… it checks all the boxes for a healthy side dish.
Why You’ll Love My Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe
- Perfectly tender, earthy, and mildly sweet – Tender asparagus is the star here! My recipe doesn’t get the credit for how this veggie tastes, but I think it does cook it just right.
- Works with asparagus of any thickness – I’ve made this dish so many times that I lost count, and that often meant using whatever asparagus thickness was available. Good news for you, I have a time recommendation no matter how thick (or thin) yours is… so it never turns out mushy again.
- Just a few simple ingredients – If you picked up a bunch of asparagus, you probably already have everything else you need. I do have flavor variations for you to try if you’re up for it, though.
- The fastest veggie to roast – I love my roasted cauliflower, brussels sprouts, zucchini, and even roasted eggplant, but they all take much longer than this roasted asparagus recipe. So when you’re in a rush, choose this one!
- Versatile side dish – Since it’s so quick, this vegetable is perfect for busy weeknights when you’re short on time (or forgot to make a side). But, I definitely have memories of asparagus at fancy restaurants alongside a filet mignon or sea bass, so you can also serve it with something fancy!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This section explains how to choose the basic ingredients for my roasted asparagus recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Fresh Asparagus – Any thickness is fine. My recipe calls for a pound (so grab that much at the store), but the weight will be less after trimming.
- Oil – For flavor, browning, and helping seasonings stick. I use either regular olive oil or avocado oil for a mild taste, or extra virgin olive oil when I’m in the mood for a richer flavor.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper – Kosher salt is also fine.
- Garlic Powder – This is optional, but adds great flavor. I don’t recommend using fresh minced garlic because it tends to burn in the oven, but if you want to use it, add only in the last few minutes of roasting.
See the Flavor Variations section below for more ways to season your oven roasted asparagus!
How To Trim Asparagus
Before cooking, you’ll need to trim the woody ends of the asparagus, as they can be hard to chew. (My picture above shows them already trimmed!) There are two ways to do this:
- Knife – The simplest way is to just line up the stalks parallel to each other and cut off the woody ends using a knife. This method is the fastest, so I use it on hectic days, but you may end up cutting off some good parts or leaving on some woody parts.
- Bend & Snap – To trim each stalk at the optimal spot, bend each asparagus stalk gently near the base, until the end snaps off. It only takes a little longer than knife. (And it’s fun to do with my kids!)
How To Roast Asparagus In The Oven
This section shows step-by-step photos together with the instructions, to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Season. Arrange the vegetables in a single layer on a sheet pan. (You can line with aluminum foil if you want, but you don’t have to if it’s non-stick.) Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle on the seasonings. Toss with your hands, then arrange in a single layer again.
- Roast. Place the asparagus in the oven and roast until it’s crisp-tender. (See my cooking time chart below!)
- Enjoy. Serve your oven roasted asparagus right away, as it’s best fresh! And, I highly recommend a squeeze of lemon.
TIP: Make sure that each piece touches the pan.
This will ensure even cooking and a little browning on the tips. I think the tips are the best part!
How Long To Roast Asparagus?
The roasting time for asparagus depends on the thickness of the stalks. It can range from 8-20 minutes, but 12-15 minutes at 400 degrees F is average. Here’s my time chart for different sizes.
Asparagus Stalk Thickness | Roasting Time |
---|---|
Thin (1/4″ thick or smaller) | 8-11 minutes |
Medium (3/8″ to 4/8″ thick) | 12-15 minutes |
Thick (5/8″ thick or larger) | 16-20 minutes |
Flavor Variations
As I often do, I made this oven roasted asparagus recipe very basic, designed to be a simple staple or a starting point for other flavors. Here are some ways you can change it up:
- Lemon – I usually just add a squeeze of lemon after cooking, but you can also toss the asparagus in fresh lemon juice, add lemon zest, or do both, before cooking.
- Balsamic – Toss the asparagus spears in balsamic vinegar in addition to the olive oil. Or you can just drizzle with my balsamic glaze at the end!
- Parmesan Cheese – Sprinkle on a few tablespoons of parmesan before or after cooking. I fight my kids for the crispy bits on this version! For thick stalks that take longer to cook, I recommend adding the cheese halfway through cooking, so it doesn’t burn. If you want a more melty cheesy version, try my baked asparagus with parmesan.
- Herbs & Seasonings – Add Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes before roasting. You can even use fresh herbs — they never burn for me with the short roasting time.
- Sauces – When I want to make my roasted asparagus a little fancy, I drizzle it with tahini sauce (also yummy with pine nuts sprinkled on top) or hollandaise sauce (a bit like my asparagus casserole). Instant upgrade!
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The texture does change, so it’s not my favorite food to eat later, but it’s definitely doable.
- Reheat: You can eat it cold straight from the fridge, let it warm up to room temperature, or quickly reheat the roasted asparagus in the oven again. I like to use it for asparagus salad, so that I don’t have to heat it. If you opt to warm it up, do so only briefly, as it gets soggy fast. The microwave is the worst with this dish.
- Freeze: Avoid freezing. Frozen asparagus tends to get mushy, though it could be okay to use in my creamy asparagus soup.
Serving Suggestions
My oven roasted asparagus recipe makes an easy veggie side dish for chicken or fish, and I think it’s especially tasty with an egg dish for a spring brunch. Here are some simple meals to pair with it:
- Chicken – Make my air fryer chicken breast or pan seared chicken breast while roasting asparagus in the oven, or bake chicken legs first and then cook the asparagus quickly. I usually also make a quick side of riced cauliflower to go with these meals.
- Steak – For a steakhouse meal, serve up your asparagus with my popular sirloin steak! If you want a fancier cut, my fave is filet mignon, but you might prefer ribeye or New York strip. For a complete steakhouse experience, add a baked potato or side of my roasted potatoes.
- Seafood – Asparagus is one of the best vegetable pairings for fish and seafood, plus you often need similar ingredients to cook them. Try it with my pan seared salmon or air fryer shrimp, or for a fancier meal, lobster tail or halibut. When I’m serving this side dish with seafood, I like to drizzle lemon butter sauce over both!
- Eggs – Make a spring brunch spread with my coddled eggs, or if you’re making a meal for a larger crowd, baked eggs in a muffin tin are a time-saver.
More Easy Asparagus Recipes
There are so many ways to love asparagus! I tend to cook it simply, and if that’s your thing too, try some of my other recipes for it:
My Favorite Baking Sheet For This Recipe
This baking sheet virtually never sticks, so I don’t even have to use foil when I’m roasting asparagus. I have multiple sets of these pans because I use them so often!
Oven Roasted Asparagus (Easy)
This oven roasted asparagus recipe is perfectly tender and takes less than 20 minutes, with simple ingredients. An easy, healthy side dish!
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil, if desired.
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Arrange asparagus in a single layer on the baking sheet, all parallel.
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Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper and garlic powder, if using.
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Use your hands to toss and turn the pieces, so that they are evenly coated in oil and seasoning. Rearrange in a single layer.
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Roast asparagus in the oven until crisp-tender: 8-11 minutes for thin stalks, 12-15 minutes for average stalks, or 16-20 minutes for thick stalks.. (Time will depend on thickness of asparagus.)
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers, or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/4 lb, or 1/4 of entire recipe
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
205 Comments
Melanie
0I have been trying to include more vegetables into my meals and this was a great addition. I broiled for a couple of minutes at the end and it was perfect!
Holly
0Easy and delicious!! Even my 7yo picky eater loved it!! Would make it again for a healthy and delicious veggie side. Thanks! A+++
Mich Griffin
0Wow and wow! I did not know that something so simple could taste soooooo good! I don’t know if it is the garlic powder that gave it that extra kick of flavor or just the right amount of time it was in the oven, but this was really good. Nearly ate my family’s serving.
Nancy
0This is the best way to cook asparagus. I don’t use garlic powder but this is how I always cook asparagus and it comes out perfect every time and very juicy.
TAMMY VOGELGESANG
0I like to toss it all in a ziplock bag for even distribution of seasonings and avocado oil. When it is done, I sprinkle with nutritional yeast…Delicious~
LisaLee
0Easy, thanks!
Nancy
0I made this recipe tonight and my boyfriend and I both loved it. It took 20 minutes. Very tender and tasty. We finished all the asparagus in one meal. The only thing I did differently was use parchment paper on my baking sheet. I will definitely cook it again!
Dominique
0This recipe was simple & easy! Turned out delicious & yummy! Thanks for the recipe! I will try the Parmesan seasoning next time as Janet mentioned in her review below!
Lisa
0That looks delicious!
Janet
0When i have time, i marinate for an hour in a plastic baggie the olive oil, garlic powder and grated parmesean cheese before roasting.
Marilyn
0Can you eat all of the asparagus except the woody end?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Marilyn, Yes! Chop off the woody, tough ends before cooking. Enjoy!
Lindi
0I was in the middle of a kitchen remodel when everyone was locked down. All my cabinets are gone so it’s all sitting on metal shelving until the workers return. I have a stovetop but not an oven (taken out). Sooo… I was forced to buy a small countertop oven – it is good quality as far as baking, but smaller, of course. It only holds only a 9×11 inch baking pan. I used to roast asparagus a lot (the parmesan is good on it, but maybe not if you are watching carbs) but I’ve forgotten about timing and besides, had a larger oven. If I did 2 batches or more and the thickness of the asparagus I have on hand is somewhere between thin and medium, do you have a suggestion for how long I should roast it? I’m actually very happy with my counter oven/broiler. It has enough room to really bakes and roasts meat well, btw Its a Hamilton Beach #31127D, if anyone is thinking of getting one.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Lindi, If you double the recipe, are you still able to lay the asparagus in a single layer on your pan? If you are keeping everything in a single layer, then you can use the same cook time range (12-20 minutes). If you are creating a second layer of asparagus, it will take longer to roast (possibly another 10 minutes or so).
Karen Teeling
0Seriously, love roasted asparagus, BUT I’m making a batch for a friend who’s having 12 people over for Beef Tenderloin. I want to make them the day before so all she has to do is “reheat them” WITHOUT loosing the flavor or texture. Is this doable? If so what is the surefired way?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Karen, Asparagus is fine to reheat as leftovers but if you’re having a large dinner for friends/family, I think it’s best fresh. I’d recommend just prepping it on the sheet pan with the oil, etc, cover, and roast in the oven the day-of.
Cheryl Malik
0Delicious!
Rashida M Lee
0My kids love this recipe. They beg me to make it almost every night. I use misses dash for flavor. Healthy and delicious what else can I ask for!!!
Katherine
0Asparagus is one of my favorite sides! It never fails – roasting it in the oven makes it sooo flavorful and perfect in texture! Great guide!
ChihYu
0I love asparagus and love even more that it’s easy to grill in the oven! Thank you!
Yang
0Thank you for all the great tips! This is going to save me time and efforts, comparing to cooking them on stove top. So glad to try a new way!
Hope
0I loved this easy method to cook asparagus. Asparagus is one of my favourite side dishes – thanks for all the tips!
Zuzana
0This is a great help. I have never tried to bake the whole asparagus in the oven and those instructions are just up to the point. Thanks a lot.
Renee D Kohley
0I love the garlic powder – so yum! We get big juicy Michigan asparagus around May here so abundantly and I can’t wait to get this into the oven!
Anne Lawton
0Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables, and I love it roasted or grilled. Thanks for sharing your tips on cooking it in the oven.
Megan Stevens
0I have rarely cooked asparagus in the oven and love how you often figure out basics and exact how-tos to take away the figuring it out!! Thank you! The asparagus looks perfect and sounds so good with the bit of garlic and olive oil. Pinning to make this spring!
Raia Todd
0I’ve never tried baking asparagus before. I guess it makes sense though, I love every other veggie roasted, why not asparagus?
Jean
0I cook my asparagus this way too and it always turns out amazing! You are making me crave them. Gotta make it tonight!
Sara
0This is my favorite way to cook/eat asparagus! Thanks for sharing the tools you use too; I love having good recommendations for things like that!
Kelly
0This is one of my favorite vegetable side dishes to eat. It’s simple perfection!
Nicole Triebe
0This is my all time favorite way to cook asparagus! Garlic powder is key! Thanks for sharing!
Chris Collins
0The perfect easy side dish! Love the addition of garlic powder too. Will be making this again soon!
Emily
0I am sooooo happy when asparagus is back in season. Thanks for these detailed instructions for baked asparagus. I’ve pinned the recipe to make again later in the week.
Adriana
0This is the way I cook my asparagus so easy and come out perfect. I am so happy we are already on asparagus season.
Kelly Anthony
0This is also our go to veggie for weekdays because it is fast and easy. Even my picky eaters love roasted asparagus.
Taryn
0We love oven baked asparagus! Thanks for the tips.
Nellie Tracy
0I LOVE asparagus, but sometimes struggle baking it. Love these tips!
Traci
0We lovvve fresh asparagus baked in the oven during winter! Love garlic powder on it too! Just made it last night to go with our chicken dinner. YUMM!
Fred
0I am looking for vegetarian recipes
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Fred, This one is vegetarian! You can also find more vegetarian recipes in the recipe index here.
Celeste
0LOVE asparagus! Thanks for the tips helped me cook it perfectly
Jenna
0I love asparagus so much but I never know the best way to cook it. I tried this last night and it was great. Defs saving this so I can refer back to it later in the week again! 🙂 SO helpful!
Jules Shepard
0How I love oven roasted asparagus – alas my kids are not fans so I haven’t made it in awhile. I think the time has come to give it another try. YUM! Great recipe!
Pegeen
0Excellent!
Jenn
0Hands-down favorite oven method for asparagus!
Tayler Ross
0I’ve always made asparagus on the stove, but after trying this, I’ll always make it in the oven! So good!
Monica Davis
0Thanks for such a complete guide of how to make asparagus! I was never a fan of asparagus until I had it baked!
Kortney Kwong Hing
0I love to use these the next day in a salad. Just cut them into bite-sized pieces! Yum
Vicky
0Isn’t it amazing how the simplest recipes are often the best? You don’t have to do a lot with asparagus, simply cook it the right way and I did with this recipe 🙂
Tristin Rieken
0The perfect roasted asparagus recipe! So easy to serve a crowd this way and you’re so right, it never sticks around for long at my dinner table, either!
Jessica Formicola
0After making asparagus this way, I’ll never make it another way again! It was so great!
Jacqueline Debono
0I love roasting asparagus and sometimes make a sheet pan dinner with roasted asparagus, prawns and cherry tomatoes! Can’t wait for asparagus season to begin!
Sabrina
0This is always side dish that my whole family loves! So quck and easy.
Justine
0I love asparagus in the oven! This recipe is great!
Marjory
0Love this easy method to make asparagus and we use it all the time!