My best oven-roasted asparagus is a whole new way to roast asparagus and still maintain a crispy, delicious exterior that makes for a great side dish to dinner.
There’s little in this life that can’t be improved by roasting it. And one of my favorite veggies to take to the oven and roast is asparagus. There’s something about the crispy texture asparagus takes on when it’s roasted that makes it taste even better. My simple oven roasted asparagus recipe can be ready in as little as fifteen minutes.
Cooked asparagus in the oven seals in the natural, nutty flavor of this summertime staple. Also, it enhances the flavor with a blend of garlic, olive oil, and a little char. If you’re wondering how to roast asparagus and make a simple side dish for a picnic, barbecue, or just for dinner – I’ve got you covered. It’s a great healthy side dish.
The health benefits of asparagus are also significant. With only five ingredients, this oven-roasted asparagus is super good for you. Plus, it doesn’t take away any of the nutrients (they get sealed in by blanching).
Asparagus provides amazing nutrition. It is naturally rich in fiber and low in calories, high in Vitamins K, C, and A, and antioxidants. It has been shown to support pregnancy and lower blood pressure.
So, let’s bake!
And check my Air Fryer Asparagus recipe for how to bake asparagus in an air fryer! Or check my guide on how to cook asparagus to perfection.
The Recipe Ingredients
- Asparagus: A fresh bunch of asparagus is better than canned or frozen – purely because there’s less water involved. Water is the great enemy of roasting. If you want a crispy exterior, fresh asparagus will get the best results in the oven. Before you bake, pat your asparagus dry after rinsing for extra crispiness.
- Olive oil: I like to use extra virgin olive oil. It’s the highest quality oil and unrefined, so your roast asparagus won’t have any nasty extras drizzled onto it. EVOO also has a relatively high smoking point, so it won’t seep up the oil as you bake the asparagus.
- Salt and black pepper: This will add a depth of flavor when you bake asparagus.
- Garlic: A couple of cloves will do, but you can adjust to your taste. They’ll need to be minced before the roast begins.
How to Prepare Asparagus
If you’re working with fresh asparagus, you’ll want to start by rinsing it to get rid of any dirt, dust, or germs. If necessary, you should remove the woody ends of the asparagus (if they haven’t been removed already). You can easily snap or cut them. Don’t try to roast or bake your asparagus without prepping it first – it won’t taste very nice.
Should I Blanch Asparagus Before Roasting?
This step is completely optional and I often skip it.
Blanching asparagus spears is a simple process. The vegetables are boiled in hot, salty water for a short amount of time, then immediately placed in ice water. It keeps the beautiful green flavor when you’re baking asparagus.
Plus, it’ll also give you a headstart on the process of cooking asparagus in oven. It also means that when you bake them, the outside won’t overcook before the insides are done. It’ll keep them beautifully crisp too.
How to Cook Asparagus in the Oven
Arrange the asparagus in a single layer on a baking sheet or oven-safe pan and season. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper, then add the minced garlic. Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil so all the asparagus stalks are covered.
Before roasting, you can also add any other seasoning you like. You can add lemon zest, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, thyme, etc.
How Long to Cook Asparagus in the Oven
If you’re wondering how long to roast asparagus in the oven when they’re different sizes – don’t worry. You’ll just need to adjust the timings based on the thickness of the roasted asparagus.
Generally, the best roast asparagus will need to cook for 12-15 minutes in a preheated oven to 400 ºF/200ºC. But the time should be adjusted for the size. Here’s an easy guide for roasting asparagus:
- Thin: 8-11 minutes
- Medium: 12- 15 minutes
- Thick: 16-20 minutes
The best asparagus will be lightly browned and fork-tender when it’s ready.
Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan
If you want to jazz up the classic roasted asparagus in oven recipe, I have a quick and easy solution. Follow the same basic recipe. Once you’ve added your minced garlic, sprinkle the asparagus with freshly grated parmesan cheese just before you roast it.
This baked asparagus recipe will have a whole new boost of flavor and can elevate a familiar side dish. Garlic parmesan asparagus is a favorite of mine.
FAQs
Oven baked asparagus is one of the easiest ways to prepare this summer veggie staple. But it’s also easy to get wrong!
Roasting asparagus at 400ºF/200ºC can burn easily and cook unevenly. Especially if you’ve opted not to blanch the asparagus before you bake.
Bake your asparagus for a minimum of 8 minutes. Then check every three minutes or so by pressing a fork into it. Asparagus in the oven is ready when the fork sinks easily into it without it being mushy and the outside is a crisp, light brown color.
If your asparagus is mushy or soggy, it’s been overcooked. When your oven-roasted asparagus is getting too stringy and mushy, opt for buying bigger stems at the grocery store. Thicker asparagus stalks tend to fare best when roasted.
Also, make sure there’s no steam in the oven – steam is the enemy of the roast! Make sure it’s completely dry before you bake; this will cook it evenly and keep it crisp.
More Roasted Vegetables
- Roasted Cabbage Steaks
- Easy Honey Roasted Carrots
- Simple Roasted Onions
- Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli
- Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Cauliflower Head
- Perfect Oven Roasted Green Beans
If you try this oven-roasted asparagus recipe, I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions below. Also, I’d appreciate a recipe card rating below, and feel free to tag me in your recipe recreations on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
The Best Oven Roasted Asparagus
Ingredients
- 14.1 oz asparagus fresh is best
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil, coconut oil, etc.
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
Instructions
- Start by rinsing it to get rid of any dirt, dust, or germs. If necessary, you should remove the woody ends of the asparagus (if they haven't been removed already).
- This step is completely optional: Blanch the asparagus spears. Prepare a bowl of ice water. Bring a salted pot of water to a boil, then add the asparagus. Boil for 3 minutes then remove the asparagus using a slotted spoon or tongs and place it in the ice bath.
- Arrange the asparagus in a single layer on a baking sheet pan and season. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper, then add the minced garlic. Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil so all the asparagus stalks are covered.
- Roast in a preheated oven for 12-15 minutes at 400ºF/200ºC, though the time should be adjusted for the size. – Thin: 8-11 minutes– Medium: 12-15 minutes– Thick: 16-20 minutesThe best asparagus will be lightly browned and fork-tender when it's ready.
Vengatesan
This article is very helpful and genuine. Thank you very much and I humbly request you to publish many more articles like this.
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