Garlic Parmesan Roasted Asparagus Recipe (2024)

This Garlic Parmesan Roasted Asparagus recipe is made with just a few simple ingredients and is the perfect side dish for any meal. Crisp, yet tender asparagus is seasoned with salt and pepper, then coated with olive oil, garlic, and parmesan cheese before roasting in the oven. This is the BEST way to cook asparagus!

For more fresh Vegetable Side Dish Recipes, be sure to check out my Instant Pot Carrots, Air Fryer Zucchini, and Italian Green Beans.

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Asparagus is one of myfavorite vegetables. It’s theperfect side dishfor pretty much any meal, and makes a regular (almost weekly) appearance at ourdinner table. This easy asparagus recipe is the way I’ve been making it for years, and it has gotten rave reviews since I first posted it over eight years ago!

There are manydifferent waysthat you can prepare asparagus; you can steam it, grill it, sauté it, etc. Theeasiest waythough, and my personal favorite, is toroast asparagusin the oven.

There is just something magical that happens when you popcrisp-tender asparagusin the oven and roast it to perfection. Roasting really brings out the natural sweetness in this asparagus recipe, and it cuts out the bitterness, too.

It’s such asimple method, yet it elevates the nutty, rich flavors and adds a crispy texture that is so delicious.

Garlic and parmesan are two of my favorite ingredients to add to just about any kind of savory recipe, so tossing them in with thisbakedasparagus recipewas a no-brainer. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper, then spritz witholive oiland you are ready to bake!

I love to serve Mississippi Chicken or Easy London Broil with my roasted asparagus, but it’s so versatile it pairs well with just about anything!

Ingredients for Roasted Asparagus

• Fresh asparagus – choose asparagus that is bright in color and has tightly closed tips with a green or purple tinge. I have more tips for choosing the perfect bunch of asparagus below!
• Salt + black pepper – use freshly cracked pepper and as much salt as you prefer. I season mine pretty generously.
• Fresh Garlic – you will need 3-4 cloves of freshly minced garlic.
• Cheese – I recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese. It complements the nutty flavor of the asparagus so well.
• Olive oil spray – this helps to bind everything to the asparuagus. You can also use a drizzle of olive oil instead of the spray.

A full list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions are located in the recipe card below.

How to Cook Asparagus in the Oven

Step 1: Spread out rinsed and trimmed asparagus (remove any woody ends) on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 2: Spray asparagus with olive oil spray, then sprinkle with the salt, pepper, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Use your hands to mix the asparagus with all of the other ingredients.

See Also

Butternut Squash Quinoa Casserole RecipeIs the Always Pan Worth the Hype? (plus some favorite family recipes)Roasted Chickpeas Recipe | Gimme Some OvenEasy Homemade Vegan & Paleo Bounty Bars Recipe | Not Enough Cinnamon

Step 3: Lay the asparagus out in a single layer again. Spray once more with olive oil spray.

Step 4: Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 8-9 minutes, then serve.

Tips and Notes

• I preparemy roasted asparagus on the same cookie sheet that it bakes on. I can’t stand extra dishes to wash, so if a recipe allows a short-cut, I go for it! Just make sure to use arimmed baking sheetand line it with foil or parchment paper. It will make cleanup easier, too.
• Thebest waytostore asparagusis upright in a bowl or wide glass of cold water in the fridge. If you don’t have the space for this method, you can also wrap the bottom of your asparagus in a damp paper towel before storing in the fridge. This will help your asparagus to stay nice and crisp.
• To give some brightness to your asparagus, add asqueeze of lemon juicebefore roasting.
• Don’t overcook it! I like to cook my asparagus for just about 8-9 minutes. If you go any longer than that, the asparagus gets too soft for my liking. I like it to be a little bit crisp and not mushy.
• Store leftoversin anairtight containerin the fridge for up to three days.

Thick Asparagusvs.Thin Asparagus

Which is better? It really comes down to personal preference, so one isn’t necessarily better than the other.Thicker asparagussometimes gets a reputation for having a more woody, tough texture, but this isn’t always the case. In reality, asparagus’ thickness actually comes down to age. Thinner asparagus is younger, whilethicker asparagusis older and has had more time to grow.

​How to Choose theBest Asparagus

When you are looking for asparagus at the grocery storeorfarmers market, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Look forasparagus spearsthat are tightly closed and have bright green or purple tips. If the tips are yellow, they are past their prime.
• Check the thick ends for freshness. Look for asparagus that has nice juicy ends. If the ends are dried out, keep looking.
• Asparagus is in season during the spring months. February to June is typically the ideal time to purchase asparagus for thebest flavorand freshness.

FAQs

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!