Oven roasted asparagus is a classic spring side dish. Now that asparagus season is here, it’s time to enjoy it while it’s fresh. My favorite way to make it is roasted in the oven because it brings out the natural sweetness.
Oven Roasted Asparagus
When asparagus starts coming out in the spring, I can’t wait to start cooking it. I shave it into raw salads, grill it, and roast it in the oven. Oven roasted asparagus is the method I like the most. It’s quick to make and pairs well with chicken, beef, and fish.
I added lemon zest to this oven roasted asparagus right before serving. Or, you can add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, too. It adds acidity that perfectly balances the sweetness of the asparagus. I also included some other ideas for different toppings below.
Is Asparagus Healthy?
Oven roasted asparagus is a super healthy vegetable. A 100-gram serving (1) features:
- 202 milligrams potassium
- 15% DV of Vitamin A
- 13% DV of folate
- 12% DV of iron
- 4 grams carbs
- 2 grams fiber
Asparagus works well with low carb and keto styles of eating. Not only is it already low in carbs, but half of those carbs are fiber.
How to Trim Asparagus
Sometimes, the bottoms of asparagus spears are woody and tough. Everyone seems to have their own favorite method to trim asparagus so they’re easier to chew.
First, hold a spear and gently bend it until it breaks at a natural breaking point.
Second, use a knife or vegetable peeler to shave down the bottom of the stalk.
Finally, chop off the bottom quarter of all the spears with a knife.
I use the last option because it’s fastest, but there’s no right or wrong answer.
How to Make Oven Roasted Asparagus
Making oven roasted asparagus is so simple. Depending on the thickness of the pieces, the time to make oven roasted asparagus may vary. If the spears are thick, it will take longer for them to roast.
- Wash the asparagus stalks and lightly dry them with paper towel or a kitchen towel.
- Cut the bottom quarter of the asparagus off with a knife.
- Spread them in a single layer on a parchment or foil lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle them with olive oil.
- Roast the asparagus for 15 minutes at 400 degrees preheated oven until it’s tender.
- Take it out of the oven. Then, sprinkle it with lemon zest and juice if you want.
Other Oven Roasted Asparagus Toppings
Try these other yummy toppings for your asparagus.
- Lemon zest and lemon juice
- Sliced almonds and garlic
- Garlic and parmesan cheese
- Bacon or prosciutto baked in the oven until crispy
- Toasted sesame seeds
More Spring Vegetable Recipes to Try
Oven Roasted Asparagus
Oven Roasted Asparagus is a classic spring side dish. Roasting it in the oven brings out the natural sweetness of this favorite spring vegetable.
Ingredients
- 2 lb asparagus washed and trimmed
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 lemon zest and juice, optional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Be sure you’ve trimmed off the tough lower ends of the asparagus. To do this, gently bend the asparagus and it’ll break where the tough part is. Discard that tough little end. Repeat for all the asparagus. If you’re pressed for time, hold the tough part that broke off against the rest of the asparagus bunch and use it as a guide. Cut the ends off with a knife.
- Place the trimmed asparagus onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Gently toss it with your hands until the asparagus is well coated.
- Roast the asparagus for about 15 minutes, until it’s tender but not dried out.
Place the asparagus on a serving plate. Sprinkle with lemon juice and lemon zest, if desired.
Recipe Notes
Change it up: top with minced garlic, sliced almonds, or crispy bacon!
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Recipe was originally published in April, 2015 and was updated to include new photos and more information.
2 Responses
I’m very interested in the recipes for whole 30
thanks
marilyn
Hi Marilyn,
When you go here to the Recipe Index https://www.stephgaudreau.com/recipe-index, every Whole30 recipe is marked W30. Hope that helps…there are hundreds to pick from 🙂