Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus – Spend With Pennies

This tender veggie is a favorite and really shines with just simple seasonings.

Oven Roasted Asparagus spears are simply tossed with olive oil and seasonings and roasted in the oven until lightly golden and tender crisp. They caramelize beautifully and roasting adds another layer of flavor.  

This side dish both looks and tastes elegant yet it’s easy to make and can be prepped well ahead of time.

Why We Love Roasted Asparagus

Oven roasted asparagus recipe is one that you’ll find on our dinner table all year ’round!

• Just a few simple ingredients.
• The spears can be prepared, trimmed, and seasoned ahead of time and roasted before serving.
• Asparagus cooks quickly in the oven, we often cook it while our meat rests for a perfect side.
• The simplicity of this asparagus recipe allows the flavor of the asparagus to shine.

How to Prepare Asparagus

I like to use as much of the edible stalk as possible but asparagus spears do have a woody end.

1. Gently hold each end of the spear and bend, it will snap off woody ends of the asparagus leaving you with a tender asparagus tip.
2. Give it a quick rinse and allow it to dry (or pat it dry) before cooking. Added water will cause it to steam instead of roast.

How to Roast Asparagus

Roasting is just one of the many ways to cook asparagus. Just like grilled asparagus, very little prep work is involved in making this easy side dish.

1. Preheat the oven to a high temperature (per the recipe below) for the best caramelization.
2. Place asparagus stalks on a baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, salt & pepper and give the pan a little shake to coat the asparagus.
3. Roast until tender.

How Long to Roast Asparagus

• Thick Spears 8-10 minutes at 425°F
• Thin Spears 5-7 minutes at 425°F

Variations

There are lots of other ways you can top this oven roasted asparagus recipe to take maximum enjoyment from its all-too-short season. You can top the roasted spears with so many delicious options:

• minced garlic sautéed in browned butter
• a sprinkle of fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, some garlic powder, or another favorite cheese (and broil for a little bit)
• lemony hollandaise sauce or bernaise sauce
• a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or zest

Recipe Tips

• Use a hot oven for roasting asparagus ( or broccoli, or any roasted vegetable for that matter). Since asparagus is thin, it needs a hot temperature to caramelize while keeping tender crisp. 400 to 450 degrees F is best.
• Asparagus spears are pretty delicate, so they’ll roast quickly in a hot oven, do not overcook.
• If possible choose thicker stalks of asparagus, they roast better without becoming overcooked.
• Line the pan with parchment paper (or aluminum foil) for easy clean up.

How to Store Asparagus

Raw asparagus should be stored in the refrigerator, loosely covered. If you’d like to keep it fresh for a longer time, store it in a jar with a small amount of water in the bottom as you would keep fresh flowers in a vase.

Once cooked, asparagus can be stored in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. It can be cut and added to salads chilled or reheated and stirred into pasta.

What to Serve With Asparagus

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