Oven-roasted asparagus is a quick and easy side dish that combines asparagus, minced garlic, and freshly grated Parmesan Cheese. This perfect side dish is one of my go-to recipes for easy weeknight meals. It is delicious with grilled pork chops or grilled or baked chicken.
This super easy roasted asparagus is a delicious, healthy side dish with only five ingredients and fifteen minutes to prepare. I love to serve it with grilled chicken, stuffed manicotti, and New York strip steak.
Asparagus is one of those vegetables that you either love or love to hate! We love it! It is so incredibly easy to cook with and unbelievably healthy. This easy recipe is so full of flavor you will wonder why it has not been on your regular rotation for years.
I like to use freshly grated Parmesan cheese, as the flavor is out of this world. This easy side is perfect with pasta, fish, chicken, shrimp, eggs, and half a dozen other main courses.
Ingredients Notes and Substitutions
- Asparagus: Look for good-quality fresh asparagus stalks that are dark green, plump, and not shriveled, and clean, crisp (not soft or slimy) tips. Please see my section on properly storing asparagus.
- Olive oil: extra virgin
- Parmesan cheese: Use freshly grated Parmesan Cheese. It is flavor-packed, and it makes this recipe so tasty. You can substitute freshly grated asiago cheese.
- Garlic: fresh, of course
- Seasonings: salt and freshly ground black pepper. Other herbs and seasonings to try are Herbs de Provence, lemon pepper, parsley, rosemary, and thyme.
How To Make Oven-Roasted Asparagus
This is the nutshell version. See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and instructions.
Start by washing, trimming, and drying your asparagus. Next, lay it out in a single layer on a sheet pan. Brush or drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic.
Then, grate some Parmesan cheese over the top. Roast the asparagus for about 10-15 minutes or just until tender. The roasting time will vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus.
Preparations Tips and Storage
- Cook the asparagus just until they are tender, which is usually about 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. It should be just fork tender.
- Plan on serving this dish fairly promptly. It is best served warm while it is just a teeny bit crisp. If desired, serve with a fresh lemon wedge for a spritz of fresh lemon juice.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Asparagus is similar to celery in that it needs moisture to stay crisp. To prevent the asparagus from drying out, store it stem side down in a little less than an inch of cool water, covered loosely with a plastic bag. Tall, thin measuring cups are great for this. Change the water daily; the asparagus is good for up to about a week in the refrigerator.
There are two ways to trim asparagus. One is to snap it. You bend the woody ends of the asparagus until they snap. The asparagus always seems to break right where the dry ends and the crisp, juicy begins.
The second method is relatively faster but perhaps less accurate. I use my eyes and intuition to determine where the dry end begins and cut the ends off in bulk. The length usually ends up being about 1.5 – 2 inches.
More Asparagus Recipes
Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb asparagus spears trimmed 1 bunch
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼-½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Arrange asparagus in a single layer on a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Bake until crisp-tender, approximately 8-15 minutes, or until just fork tender.
- Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
Notes
- Cook the asparagus just until they are tender, which is usually about 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. It should be just fork tender.
- Plan on serving this dish fairly promptly. It is best served warm while it is just a teeny bit crisp. If desired, serve with a fresh lemon wedge for a spritz of fresh lemon juice.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can also be reheated in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
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Abida
This asparagus was delicious. It really cooked up well and it was so easy.
Lesa
So simple and easy, with very little time and it was delicious! Love asparagus so I can’t wait to make the recipe again!
Melanie E
I do love asparagus and like to find different ways to enjoy it. Love the cheese and garlic twist. It was delicious!
Mila R
I tried this so many times, but I never was able to do baked asparagus as good as I eat it in a restaurant. Idk why tho…
Beth L
Asparagus is one of my favorite side dishes and this recipe is simply divine! Thanks so much for this! My entire family LOVED it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Beth!
Patricia Chamberlain
This was amazing! I love asparagus. This is one of my favorite asparagus recipes!
Jennifer Prince
Such a great recipe! It is very easy and one of my favorite ways to make asparagus!
Caroline
Im looking at the photo and thinking this must be such a delicious meal. Saving the recipe to try it
Melanie williams
I love asparagus and so does my other half. This recipe is delicious and easy.
Christine
Thanks for the delicious recipe. I happen to really like asparagus but like it more when it is roasted and seasoned well. I love parmesan.
Luna S
This looks amazing! I love making Asparagus, but I have never cooked it in the oven I always steam it or cook it in a pan. I will try this out the next time we are in the mood for Asparagus, thanks for sharing this.
Erika
This recipe is so delicious and easy to make. Yum!
Angela
Roasted asparagus has such a great texture. Paired with the Parmesan you can’t go wrong with this side dish. Thanks for sharing!
Pamela
This is such a delicious recipe! I love it jut served with simple rice! YUM!
Beth Neels
We loved this parmesan asparagus! Such an easy vegetable dish for any night of the week!
Bintu
What a delicious side! The combination of asparagus and parmesan sounds absolutely incredible!