Perfectly seasoned oven-roasted asparagus that’s fresh, healthy, and delicious. This simple side dish makes a great addition to any meal!
Table of Contents
Oven Roasted Asparagus
Baked asparagus is a go-to side dish of mine. It’s so easy to throw in the oven and only takes 15 minutes to roast. Sometimes we even make bacon-wrapped asparagus if we’re feeling a little fancier. Both are so delicious!
Oven-roasted asparagus is one of my absolute favorite vegetables! If you don’t like asparagus (or have never tried it), you need to try this recipe! It’s so simple and delicious. I even converted my asparagus-hating husband into liking it. :) Now we make it at least once a month.
You can keep the seasoning as simple or as fancy as you’d like. Sometimes we stick with just salt and pepper, and others we add a drizzle of balsamic glaze and freshly shaved parmesan. The natural flavors really come through when roasting in the oven, so either way it’s super delicious!
Recipe Ingredients
There are only two main ingredients and seasoning to help balance out the flavor of this roasted asparagus. This simple roasted asparagus recipe is perfect for a quick side dish that still has all the flavor!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Asparagus: The main event! Pick your asparagus fresh at the grocery store or farmers market. Thin asparagus is best for this recipe. Remove the woody ends at the bottom of the asparagus. You can either snap off the bottoms or cut with a knife.
- Olive oil: This will help crisp the asparagus as well as give it the flavor and allow the seasoning to stick to the asparagus. It has a lot of important features!
- Salt: Kosher salt or sea salt is best. These are both coarse salt that gives the asparagus texture and a salty taste.
- Black pepper: Crushed black pepper is thicker than regular pepper.
Checking for Freshness
Before baking, it’s definitely important to make sure your asparagus hasn’t gone bad. It’s pretty easy to tell when it’s fresh vs. bad. Just pay attention to the color of the asparagus…if it’s a really dark green and is no longer vibrant, it’s probably bad.
Another way to tell is to closely look at the tips of the asparagus. The tips should be crisp and pointy. If you touch the tips with your fingers and they are mushy and break off, your asparagus has most likely gone bad.
Tip: I like to store my asparagus spears in a glass jar with water. Add the bottoms of the spears to the water, then place the jar in the fridge. I’ve found that this helps them stay fresher for way longer!
How Long to Bake in Oven
I like to bake my asparagus at 400°F for about 10 to 12 minutes. It’s tender but still has a little bite. For crunchier or softer asparagus, I would adjust the baking time by about 2 minutes depending on your preference.
- Lay flat. Place asparagus onto a baking sheet laying flat in a single layer.
- Coat the asparagus. Drizzle olive oil over the top (you can also use a olive oil spray to coat the tops). Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over top.
- Roast. Bake asparagus for 10-12 minutes, or until tender.
- Garnish. Add parmesan cheese and a balsamic glaze if desired. Add more salt and pepper, to taste if needed. Enjoy while hot!
Variations
Try some different variations on asparagus for more flavors. Roasted asparagus is so versatile and easy to make. Add different ingredients to experience more ways of enjoying your fresh asparagus!
- Salt & pepper: This simple combination really helps bring out the natural flavors.
- Balsamic: Drizzle the asparagus with balsamic glaze and top with parmesan cheese.
- Lemon: Right before serving, drizzle with lemon juice and a little lemon zest if desired.
- Garlic: Before roasting, add minced garlic or garlic powder for a more fragrant taste.
- Soy Sauce: Coat with 1-2 Tablespoons before roasting. You could also add in some honey and garlic.
- Butter: Drizzle some melted butter over the asparagus before roasting. Feel free to add in extra seasonings too, like garlic or seasoned salt.
Recipe FAQs
For thin asparagus it takes about about 10 to 12 minutes to cook in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. For a thicker asparagus it will take longer around 18 to 20 minutes.
For this recipe I recommend cooking at 400 degrees Farhenheit. This cooks the asparagus quickly and thoroughly from the inside out.
Baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit takes a little longer but also doesn’t give the asparagus that crispy outer layer. It takes about 14 to 16 minutes for thin asparagus to cook at 350 oven temp.
5 star review
“I LOVE this recipe and how easy and flavorful it is…thanks for the variation tips, I’ll try one next time!”
-Paige
Do you love asparagus?! Then you need to try this asparagus pasta for dinner or this grilled asparagus as a side, or sheet pan salmon dinner with asparagus for a complete meal!
More Vegetable Side Dishes
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Roasted Asparagus Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 ounces thin asparagus (ends trimmed)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed black pepper
Optional for serving: shaved parmesan cheese and balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Place asparagus onto a baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over the top (you can also use a olive oil spray to coat the tops). Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over top.
- Bake asparagus for 10-12 minutes, or until tender.
- Add parmesan cheese and a balsamic glaze if desired. Add more S&P, to taste if needed. Enjoy while hot!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
I LOVE this recipe and how easy and flavorful it is…thanks for the variation tips, I’ll try one next time!