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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
DP
0Delicious! Love asparagus!!
Rebecca
0This is my go to for delicious asparagus. I just got some fresh asparagus and I am making this for Christmas Eve dinner. Thank you Maya.
Martha
0This recipe is so easy, and the result is delicious and quite elegant.
Christine
0I make this almost weekly. It’s the only way to cook asparagus!
Sue
0This way of cooking asparagus lets you control how soft you want it by simply popping a knife in the thicker parts. It’s so delicious and easy to cook, a no-fault recipe! And great keto dish.
Nicole Daniels
0Delicious! I have made this twice now it is so good. Last time I admit I did one small tweak at very end when I pulled out for half I added a few sprinkled of shredded fresh parm for a picky child who loves cheese on all things, and he gobbled it up too! My friends love this recipe too, it is my go to side dish, so easy and delicious.
Kenna
0Fantastic recipe! Simple to prepare and tastes incredibly fresh. I made as-written; the garlic powder was something I’ve never tried on asparagus and added a delicious counterpoint to the naturally pungent flavor. Squeeze of lemon at the end totally made it. Also appreciated the roasting guide; we’ve had lots of tough or shriveled asparagus so it was nice to have a suggestion for getting it perfectly cooked regardless of the stalks. This was a hit with everyone at the table! Will make again.
Danielle R Williams
0I love asparagus but had always been intimidated by it. I tried this recipe it was so easy and it was absolutely delicious! Thanks for making a favorite of mine easy for me to prepare!
Angela Hawkins
0Great asparagus recipe! I don’t normally measure my seasonings for this, just go by look and taste, but this works great! I prefer avocado oil for cooking, so I use that rather than olive oil and it tastes good. This is my go-to asparagus recipe!
Julietta Dastrup
0I absolutely love roasted asparagus this is a great recipe. I even went ahead and put some fresh grated parmesan on top. So good even as a lunch item.
Victoria
0Asparagus is my all time favorite food and roasting it is a simple way to enhance the flavor. I would not do anything more or less.
Corie
0The easiest way of doing asparagus ever❣️
Barb
0I absolutely love making the roasted asparagus! My favorite is with the Parmesan cheese on top. Bacon wrapped is also right up there. Both are Keto Favorites of mine and my family!! Thank you for all your great recipes!!!!
Sharon Howard
0I’m not a fan of asparagus prepared any way but this. This is wonderful. Thank you.
Colleen Dyer
0Asparagus has always been one of my favorite vegetables and this recipe just makes the veg even tastier! I’ll be fixing it this way from now on!
Gail A Holcomb
0We loved this roasted asparagus, and we definitely kept in the garlic powder. It will also be on our Christmas dinner table because it is so quick and easy.
Melody Varieur
0Love asparagus. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Skylar
0This came to my inbox at just the right time! I got some asparagus and wasn’t sure how to cook it ( my last batch was somehow burnt AND chewy so I wasn’t looking forward to it) but these came out great! The addition of lemon was wonderful to cut the oil and even my husband was impressed they didn’t come out too stringy!
Elizabeth Harris
0Love air fried asparagus and make it frequently to serve with salmon or chicken the light touch of lemon when served is great addition.
Patti Cooksey
0Looks delicious. I want to try asparagus cause I’ve never ate it.
Cathy Beaudry
0This is the only way I will cook asparagus from now on! So easy and elegant for a Holiday meal or just a weekday dinner.
Jake
0This is the best way to make asparagus, other than grilling them. I like to add a bit of Parmesan cheese to mine.
Jill
0I usually roast asparagus in a pan, but will definitely enjoy the oven roasted variety also.
Jan
0These turned out great and were very yummy!
Vanessa Vargas
0Can’t wait to try this!!! 🙂
Tamzie
0Excellent tips and roasting temp and times. The drizzle of lemon is awesome.
Josie
0I love how simple this is, in the past I’d always overcook asparagus and they’d turn out mushy. Doesn’t happen anymore =) I added some red chili flakes because we like a little kick, and then topped with freshly grated parmesan at the end.
Rhonda
0This is a staple in our house! We like to add grated Parmesan cheese.
Christine Brown
0I absolutely loved this Roasted Asparagus recipe!! I used scissors to trim the ends and this was super easy!! Great flavor palette!!
Molly Waidner
0Delicious and I added parmesan cheese! Thank you!!
Torianne Merkley
0This was so delicious! I recommend everyone try this recipe.
Lily Wheaton
0This will taste amazing with some buffalo chicken and potato’s!
Laurentine Turner
0Fantastic recipe. I put it all in a gallon ziplock bag to marinate and mix, then to the oven. Everyone loved this.
Beverly Dixon
0Asparagus has always intimidated me, but dang, your recipe just makes my anxiety a thing of the past. Thank you!
RoxAnn
0One of my favorites! You can cook salmon on the same pan. If it is thin asparagus add in about 5 mins after you start the salmon.
Abe
0It’s good but nothing special. That being said, it was quite easy to make.
Jo Wright
0I don’t care for baked asparagus but I liked this! Added red pepper flakes for a kick and it’s going to be a staple at my house! Yummy!!!!
Lisa
0This was delicious.! Asparagus is not usually my favorite vegetable but I really liked it made this way.
Maria
0I have never in my life made asparagus and have never liked eating it. This was sooo good and easy to make. Definitely going to be a staple for dinner.
Lisa Cottrell
0I opted to put the asparagus, olive oil, and seasonings in a baggie and then shook it. I like it better that way as it covers it better. I did try with the pepper flakes and yum!!!
Debra Burrows
0We just made these for dinner. I am usually not a fan of asparagus, but I have to say these were delicious!
Barbara Clark
0Please tell me what you think use very good quality garlic infused olive oil and maybe 1/2 and 1/2 with regular olive oil do you use extra virgin olive oil?
Thank you
Barbara
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Barbara, I use mild tasting olive oil.
Gail Lillie
0THE best way to make asparagus! I’ll never make it any other way.
Wendy
0So good and super easy. The best roasted asparagus recipe I’ve tried. Thanks!
Kimberly Rickert
0A new family favorite, the cooking charts and explanations are very much appreciated
Brenda Yates
0Delicious!
Sam Cohen
0This is a classic dish. To really liven it up, cut a lemon in half and grill it until the flesh gets nice and brown. Squeeze it on top of your cooked asparagus.
Lovey
0Recipe was simply and easy. Food delicious, thanks
Andera Hemsley
0When you reinsert the basket, the air fryer slides across the counter, because it doesn’t have enough weight or grip to stay in place.
Linda J Kilcoin
0Great recipe. Was so happy to read the roasting times for different sizes of stalks.
Debi
0Love this! It has become my most favorite side dish. So easy & so tasty. I do use non-stick alum foil. It makes the clean up as easy as the recipe. Thanks so such a great recipe, Debi.
Gwen
0Yummy and SO easy! Thank you for sharing!
Lara Minerva
0These were so tasty! They shrunk a lot though. I don’t know if that’s normal or if I just overcooked them(?). I’m definitely going to try this again.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Lara, It is normal for asparagus to shrink when cooked.
Julie Ehlich
0Delicious and easy. Too good for leftovers. Will make extra for snacking next time.
Racer
0So easy
Kristyn
0This is our favorite way to cook asparagus! It’s one of our favorite sides!!
Shelby
0Roasted asparagus is my favorite! I made these for a side one night and threw them into an omelet the next morning- so yummy!
Katerina
0This is so helpful! Thank you for sharing!
Toni
0This is really amazing!! So easy! My new favorite way to cook asparagus!
emma reeves
0I absolutely love asparagus and roasting is the perfect way…I squeezed lemon on it afterwards as suggested…AWESOME!!!
Tara Richard
0I’m trying this tonight. Thank you!
Clover
0Making for son tonight…he is picky! I’m going to try it with the garlic and see if he likes it that way. Wish me good luck!