Food and Recipes Veggies Asparagus Oven-Roasted Asparagus 5.0 (3) Add your rating & review This classic oven-roasted asparagus recipe is a side fit for nearly any meal. By Southern Living Test Kitchen Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 11, 2024 Rate PRINT Share Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Cook Time: 10 mins Active Time: 10 mins Total Time: 20 mins Servings: 8 to 10 Oven-roasted asparagus pairs beautifully with a variety of main dishes, and it's one of those go-to vegetable recipes that even the kids will enjoy. Want to know the best part? It takes little to no effort. Simply trim the ends of the asparagus, season, and pop the crispy green veggie in the oven. Just like that, you'll have a go-to side dish for your holiday celebration or weeknight supper. Of course, one side dish is never enough, so be sure to check out some of our other favorite party side dishes. Learn how to make oven-roasted asparagus, and always have a simple, delicious side ready to go when you need to fill up your plate. Ingredients for Oven-Roasted Asparagus Oven-roasted asparagus requires only a handful of ingredients, most of which are pantry staples: Asparagus: Get the freshest you can find. Medium-thick stalks are ideal so that they are still tender but don't quickly turn limp in the oven.Olive oil: This helps roast the asparagus by protecting it from drying out and browning nicely.Garlic: For added savory flavor.Slivered almonds: Optional, but they provide a nice crunch and contrast to the simple asparagus spears.Salt and pepper: To season to perfection. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox How To Trim Asparagus The ends of asparagus need to be trimmed before cooking because they can be tough and woody. The "snapping" method you've probably been taught isn't really the best way to go about it. Instead, try lining up all of the spears on a cutting board and slicing off the ends all at once, cutting where the stalks turn from white into green. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Trimming Tip It's not always necessary to trim asparagus. For example, super fresh, pencil-thin stalks are fairly tender throughout, but generally it's a good step to do in order to avoid chewing on inedible ends. How To Trim Asparagus The Right Way How To Make Oven-Roasted Asparagus It takes just minutes to get asparagus ready for the oven, which is why it's a great side dish for any number of occasions. The full recipe for oven-roasted asparagus is below, but here's a brief recap: Step 1: Wash and trim. Remove tough ends of the asparagus.Step 2: Season. Place the asparagus on a lightly greased baking sheet. Toss with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, to evenly coat.Step 3: Roast. Roast the asparagus at 350°F for 10 minutes or to desired degree of tenderness. Transfer to a serving dish, and sprinkle with almonds. How To Store and Reheat Leftover Roasted Asparagus Put leftover asparagus in an airtight container. Store in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Leftover roasted asparagus won't be as crisp and snappy as freshly-roasted asparagus. If you don't mind that it's limp, just warm the leftovers in the microwave, and enjoy. But if you need a little more life from the leftovers, use the asparagus in another dish: Chop it up and add to a quiche. Toss with a light shallot vinaigrette for a quick salad. Chop and add to a pasta sauce for a vegetable-forward update to a classic dinner. Strange Smell After Eating Asparagus? Here's Why That Happens When Is Asparagus Season? Asparagus is best (and cheapest) when in season. It's a spring vegetable and ready to harvest from February through June with peak months in April and May. Other Seasonings for Oven-Roasted Asparagus Ginger, soy, and sesame seeds are delicious ingredients to season the roasted asparagus with, or you could try wrapping the asparagus in bacon before it hits the oven. A touch of lemon juice or a sprinkle of any tender herbs after the asparagus comes out of the oven is another delicious way to finish the dish instead of adding almonds. 37 Fresh And Flavorful Asparagus Recipes Editorial contributions by Alana Al-Hatlani. Ingredients 3 lb. fresh asparagus 2 Tbsp. olive oil 3 garlic cloves, minced 3/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted Directions Trim asparagus, and season: Snap off and discard tough ends of asparagus; place asparagus on a lightly greased baking sheet. Drizzle evenly with olive oil; sprinkle evenly with garlic, salt, and pepper. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Roast asparagus: Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes or to desired degree of tenderness. Transfer asparagus to a serving dish; sprinkle with almonds. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Temp Tip For a more roasted texture, roast the asparagus at 400°F for 8 minutes. Frequently Asked Questions Should I soak asparagus before roasting? No need to soak asparagus before roasting! Give them a good rinse to get rid of any dirt. Then trim and roast. It's that easy. Should I blanch asparagus before roasting? While blanching is a great technique to use before adding asparagus to a salad or stir-fry, it's not necessary to blanch asparagus before roasting. Should I peel asparagus before roasting? No, unless you're working with very old or tough asparagus. It's an old-school technique for removing the fibrous outer layer of the spears. If you do peel your asparagus, note that it will cook faster. Why is my roasted asparagus mushy? Mushy asparagus means you're overcooking it. Asparagus cooks fairly quickly, so take it out of the oven a minute or so before you think it's done to avoid a mushy mess. You can always test how tender it is by poking it with a fork; it should have just a slight resistance. Learn More: Common Mistakes To Avoid When Cooking Asparagus Rate It Print Additional reporting by Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani is an Assistant Food Editor at Southern Living. learn more