Tender stalks of fresh spring asparagus are slow roasted in the oven with a simple blend of seasonings to create a healthy, quick and delicious side dish. This Quick and Delicious Roasted Asparagus side dish is the perfect accompaniment to so many mains and is a firm staple in our house when asparagus is in season.
We eat a lot of asparagus in our household. It is one of the highlights of early Spring when these beautiful, tender stalks start showing up at farmers’ markets and local grocery stores.
Besides being delicious, asparagus is such a healthy vegetable. It is low calorie, high in fiber, and packed full of antioxidants and important vitamins.
And there are so many ways to eat asparagus! It is an easy, tasty vegetable to incorporate in to your diet. Roast, sauté, steam, add to a stir fry, toss with creamy pasta… the possibilities are endless!
Plus, if you try to grow your own, a bed of asparagus crowns will produce for years to come. A delectable, delightful homegrown treat to look forward to each Spring.
Ingredients for Quick and Delicious Roasted Asparagus
Asparagus
Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
These are my go-to seasonings, but you can always mix it up however you like! Want a bit of heat? Sprinkle on crushed red pepper. Want smokiness? Smoked paprika is always delicious. I’ve also added grated Parmesan and minced garlic in the past. You really can’t go wrong with any seasonings you choose. Make it your own. Or stick to the classic olive oil, salt and pepper.
How to Prep and Roast Asparagus
This is truly such an easy way to prepare asparagus. Roasting is a favorite of mine for most vegetables. Such little clean up and very little effort.
Preheat Your Oven to 425 degrees.
Gather Your Asparagus and trim them of their tough, woody ends. These are often unpleasant and unappetizing. Not worth keeping!
Select Your Seasonings – I always tend to use my 4 basics – salt, pepper, onion and garlic powders – but use what you enjoy most!
Spread Asparagus Evenly on a Baking Sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle your seasonings on top. Toss well to combine.
Roast Asparagus for 10-15 minutes. Thinner spears of asparagus will naturally take less time, with thicker ones being on the longer end. Check them starting around the 9 minute mark. The asparagus will be ready when the edges begin crisping up and the spears are easily pierced by a fork.
Fun Fact – An Old Wives Tale ! – A dear friend of mine told me once that if you place cut asparagus in to a container of water and allow them to sit for a bit of time, the asparagus will become sweeter…… Since she told me this Old Wives Tale, I’ve been placing my asparagus in water for an hour before roasting. Does it work? I’m not sure. But it will help keep your asparagus fresh longer. 🙂
Tips and Tricks
Add Heat – Sprinkle crushed red pepper flake, cayenne or Cajun seasoning on top before roasting for a unique taste and a little bit of extra kick.
Add Lemon Juice / Lemon Zest – For a bit of added Spring brightness
Sprinkle with Parmesan – Freshly grated is best. I love the extra saltiness from the Parmesan.
Serve Quick and Delicious Roasted Asparagus as a side dish to so many meals!
Serve it like we did above with a simple grilled chicken, bacon ranch salad.
Served alongside eggs, they make for a delicious, healthy brunch addition.
Or simply enjoy eating them right off the baking sheet, like we tend to.
No matter how you serve these vegetables, they are quick, easy, so tasty and will be loved by everyone. 🙂
Quick and Delicious Roasted Asparagus
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Asparagus ends trimmed
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1.5 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1.5 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1.5 tsp Onion Powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
- Trim off the tough, woody ends of the asparagus spears
- Spread asparagus evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil
- Sprinkle seasonings over asparagus. Toss well to evenly coat
- Place baking sheet in oven and roast asparagus for 10-15 minutes, stirring once
- When finished roasting, allow asparagus to cool a few minutes and then enjoy!
Learn How To Preserve Fresh Asparagus…
Trim, Blanche and Preserve Fresh Spring Asparagus for use year-round!
While you unfortunately can’t use frozen asparagus to make Quick and Delicious Roasted Asparagus, you can use it in a number of different healthy, nutritious recipes!
It takes no time at all to use the trim, blanche and freeze method to make sure you have delicious, tender vegetables available in your freezer. 🙂
Are you a fan of Quick and Delicious Roasted Asparagus? Let me know below!
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