Oven-Roasted Asparagus (3 Ingredients)

This oven-roasted asparagus is delicious and simple – just the way it should be. Everyone needs a foolproof, no-fuss baked asparagus recipe in their back pocket for the perfect spear and this is it. With just 3 simple ingredients, this recipe is a no-brainer side dish that’s great for everything from weeknight dinners to fancy dinner parties. 

How to Properly Trim Fresh Asparagus Spears

So, you went to the store and you have your bunch of asparagus. Now it’s time to get your spears trimmed and ready for cooking. Follow these easy steps:

1. Wash the Asparagus: Wash asparagus before you start.
2. Trim the Asparagus: Trim the spears by cutting off the tough, woody bottom half with a sharp knife. You can also bend the asparagus stalk to snap the woody part off with your hand — it will break off naturally.
3. Toss the Ends: Toss the ends and use the spears in your favorite recipes.

How to Prepare this Oven-Roasted Asparagus Recipe

Cooking asparagus in the oven couldn’t be easier. The trick is cooking it at the right temperature for the right amount of time to give it a nice bite. Here are two different ways you can cook asparagus in the oven:

Method #1: Quick Broil in the Oven 

• Trim the Asparagus: Trim the woody ends of the asparagus off.
• Assemble the Asparagus: Place your spears in an even layer on a baking sheet.
• Season the Asparagus: Sprinkle with olive oil and parsley salt.
• Broil the Asparagus: Bake on broil for about 5 minutes. Tim loves his spears a little undercooked!
• Serve the Asparagus: Serve the spears warm or cold.

Method #2: A Longer Roast in the Oven

• Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 400℉ and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
• Assemble the Asparagus: Arrange the asparagus in a single layer on the pan, parallel to one another.
• Season the Asparagus: Drizzle the asparagus with extra virgin olive oil and season it with garlic parsley salt. (If you don’t have garlic parsley salt, you can also use garlic powder, black pepper, and salt instead.)
• Toss the Asparagus: Toss the spears with your hands to coat them.
• Bake the Asparagus: Roast for up to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Asparagus is done cooking when it’s tender but still crisp and bright green. We find that the sweet spot is around 12 minutes!

5 Tips for Making Perfect Oven-Roasted Asparagus

These 5 tips will help you roast asparagus like a pro. 

• Roast the asparagus in a single layer. To ensure that the asparagus cooks evenly, make sure to assemble it in a single layer on the baking sheet. Avoid stacking and overlapping the spears and you’ll be golden.
• Pull the asparagus out early. To prevent asparagus from getting mushy, take the asparagus out a minute or two before you think it is done. Also, make sure to account for the asparagus cooking a little more as it rests.
• Add parmesan cheese. Like it cheesy? Sprinkle some freshly grated parmesan on top of your asparagus and let it create a nice crust in the oven.
• Squeeze on some lemon. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice atop your asparagus for a burst of freshness and citrusy taste.
• Marinate the asparagus overnight. For extra flavor, prep your asparagus the night before by marinating it in the oil and salt. When you’re ready to eat, simply pop it in the oven and prepare it as directed.

Storing Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Store roasted asparagus in an airtight container or aluminum foil in the fridge for up to a week. The longer the asparagus sits in the fridge, the more likely it is to get soggy and limp, so you must warm it up properly. When you are ready to reheat, simply broil the asparagus on a baking sheet to make it crispy again. Avoid microwaving it, as this will just make the spears rubbery. 

What to Serve Alongside Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Asparagus is a healthy side dish for just about any protein. If you’re in the mood for beef, serve it alongside a juicy cast iron ribeye steak or a roast beef tenderloin. For chicken, we like to do air fryer chicken parmesan or a roasted spatchcock chicken. If you’re going the seafood route, garlic herb roasted salmon is a must. You can even chop it up and toss it into alfredo pasta. 

FAQ

More Roasted Vegetable Recipes

• Roasted Cabbage Wedge Salad – Slavic-style cabbage steaks 
• 10-Minute Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe – Crispy roasted florets 
• Parmesan Panko Roasted Vegetables – Crispy asparagus and brussels 
• Roasted Cauliflower Steaks – 4 ingredient cauliflower steaks

Recipe

Oven-Roasted Asparagus (3 Ingredients)

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Servings

8 servings

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 6 mins

Total Time 11 mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This 3 ingredient oven-roasted asparagus comes together with 5 mins of prep time, a little salt, and oil. Delicious in its simplicity and super versatile!

Ingredients

• 2 lbs asparagus
• 1 tbsp garlic parsley salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Trim or snap the woody ends off the asparagus.
  
• Assemble the spears on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Sprinkle the spears with olive oil and some garlic parsley salt.
  
• Place the baking sheet on a middle rack of the oven and bake it on broil for about 5 minutes. Serve the asparagus hot or cold.
  

Nutrition Facts

Oven-Roasted Asparagus (3 Ingredients)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 32 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Sodium 872mg36%

Potassium 8mg0%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 30IU1%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.