Add this easy oven roasted asparagus side dish to your meal plan. It’s easy to prepare and such a simple, delicious way to enjoy asparagus.
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Asparagus as an Easy Side Dish
Whenever I shop at Costco I cannot resist checking the asparagus to see if they’re tender and fresh. Usually they are amazing and since it’s one giant bag of asparagus, I roast the entire 2.25 pound bag on a baking sheet. This makes a generous sized vegetable side dish for dinner and the leftovers make it easy to grab a quick lunch during the week.
Asparagus is Worth Every Penny
Asparagus deserves superfood status
Most fruits and vegetables are healthy and nutritious for everyone. When we avoid foods due to food allergies, I think it’s a good idea to incorporate a variety of different healthy foods that we can eat.
I serve asparagus often because it is high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber and according to Healthline, it is ranked among the top 14 most nutritious vegetables.
It’s hard to grow!
I’ve always loved asparagus, but as a young adult, I rarely bought it due to the cost. When I asked my dad about how to grow asparagus, the next time I saw him my sweet dad gave me a bag of asparagus crowns to plant.
I learned that growing asparagus takes patience. You dig a deep trench, plant the crowns, and wait 2–3 years before harvesting. The spears start pushing through in late winter, but I usually miss the short harvest window and end up with tall, frilly plants instead. After trying for over 15 years, I truly appreciate convenience of store-bought asparagus and the people who grow it.
How to Select Fresh and Tender Asparagus
Asparagus is in season during late winter and spring season. They will be fresher and less expensive when they’re in season locally.
- Check the asparagus tips and look for firm and nicely shaped tips. Avoid bunches of asparagus where the tips are broken off or appear to be soft or slimey.
- Green even colored stems are best. Look for bunches where the bottoms of the asparagus are mostly green. Avoid bunches with nearly white bottoms because they will likely be woody and inedible, which will need to be snapped or cut off with a knife.
- Size matters! For this recipe, I select asparagus spears that are about the thickness of pencils or slightly larger. Asparagus that are a little bit thicker (like chubby crayons) will require more roasting time (approximately 15 to 18 minutes).
- Lastly the bunch should feel smooth, firm, and heavy for its size. Handle them gently and you want to listen for a little squeak when the spears rub against each other. Put them back if the stems are a little bit wrinkled.
Allergy Aware Roasted Asparagus
This recipe is free of the top 9 allergens as written.
See what’s in my cupboard if you are interested in nut-free ingredients that I use.
Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe
Ingredients
- 2.25 pounds asparagus spears fresh
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Wash asparagus and trim and discard the white woody bottom of the asparagus. Place the trimmed asparagus on the parchment paper lined baking tray.
- Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Gently gather and spread the asparagus to coat the asparagus evenly.
- When the oven reaches 350°F place the asparagus tray on a middle rack. If the asparagus spears are very thin, set a timer for 12 minutes, roast medium sized asparagus for 15 minutes, and allow up to 18 minutes for large asparagus pieces.
- After 10 minutes, use a pair of tongs to mix the asparagus so that the pieces can cook evenly. Depending on the thickness, the asparagus are ready when the asparagus look bright green with just a little bit of charred edges.
Nutrition
Related Recipes
I love to make oven roasted asparagus when I already have something cooking in the oven at 350°F anyways, such as the when I start baking Super Easy Chicken Drumstick Recipe.
It’s a great sping time veggie side dish to serve with Easy Lamb Loin Chops Recipe, No Nuts, No Dairy. I pop the asparagus into the oven and then focus cooking all 5 sides of lamb loin chops.
This light and fresh roasted asparagus recipe is also delicious with Instant Pot Chinese Spare Ribs with Five Spice Recipe.
If you love asparagus, then you might like my asparagus beef stir fry. It’s just like making broccoli beef but with asparagus instead.
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