Name: Roasted Asparagus with Lemon
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients: 1 pound asparagus; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 small garlic clove; 1 lemon (Zest and 1 teaspoon juice from half, plus slices from the other half)

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This roasted asparagus is the easiest side dish! Bake it in the oven for about 10 minutes with garlic, olive oil, and lemon slices. Perfection!

Need a side dish on the table fast? Here’s our go-to method we use all the time: roasted asparagus! It’s so simple that you should be able to memorize it. Who needs to follow a recipe? This one you can cook from the gut. It’s so simple: the asparagus is tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon zest. The secret ingredient? Grated garlic, which infuses a delightful savory flavor. Throw that lemony garlic asparagus in the oven and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until it’s tender. It’s a fast and healthy side dish ready to jump on your table!

Want an even quicker method? Try Broiled Asparagus!

How to make roasted asparagus (memorize it!)

Alex and I created this roasted asparagus as an easy side dish you can use to accessorize meals. What meal isn’t more complete with those elegant green stalks on the side? Lasagna, risotto, mac and cheese: you name it! Every meal is better with the fiber and nutrient boost that is asparagus. Here, we’ll help you memorize the steps for how to make garlic roasted asparagus (or go right to the recipe!).

Step 1: Chop off the ends of the asparagus.

Start with 1 pound of asparagus, which is roughly 1 large bunch. With asparagus, you always want to chop off the ends where the stalk gets thick. That part is tough and woody, and is hard to chew. Then line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Step 2: Season!

Mix the asparagus with the 4 magic ingredients! The quantities are below. Once you’ve made this recipe a few times, you can eyeball it: no need to measure! Add these ingredients, then mix with your hands:

Olive oil (1 tablespoon)
Kosher salt (½ teaspoon), plus a few grinds black pepper
Garlic clove (1 small); grate it right onto the asparagus!
Lemon zest (zest of ½ lemon); use a microplane to zest it right onto the asparagus

Step 3: Roast in the oven: 10 to 15 minutes at 425!

Throw the asparagus in the oven and roast until the asparagus are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. The timing will depend on the thickness of the asparagus.

Step 4: Spritz with lemon juice!

Don’t forget the last essential step. Spritz on 1 teaspoon of lemon juice at the end, and it brightens the roasted asparagus with fresh flavor!

Ways to serve roasted asparagus

Now that you’ve got a beautiful green side dish: it really works with any sort of meal! One nice thing about this healthy vegetable is that it adds a nice dose of fiber to a meal that might be lacking. What type of meal needs fiber? Meals like mac and cheese or risotto could use a few more fibrous veggies to round them out. Here are a few of our favorite ways to pair this garlic roasted asparagus:

Serve with salmon. These green stalks make for a beautiful plate!
Add to scrambled eggs. For a perfect brunch!
Serve alongside risotto. It’s one of our favorite ways to make Parmesan risotto a meal.
Pair with pasta. Mac and cheese, lasagna, fettuccine alfredo…all better with asparagus!

What’s the season for asparagus?

Asparagus is the poster child for spring vegetable! Of course here in the US, asparagus is available year round in most grocery stores. But it’s tastiest in the spring. April is the prime month for asparagus. Depending on where you’re located, it’s available February through June. Try to find it at a local farmers market if you can!

Is asparagus healthy?

Yes! Asparagus is full of nutrients and a healthy vegetable we can all eat more of! Here’s some of the nutrition breakdown:

Full of fiber: 1 cup of cooked asparagus has 4 grams of fiber. (Source)
Relatively high in protein: 1 cup also has 4 grams protein. (Source) That’s a similar level to broccoli and potatoes.
Health benefits: It can aid in eye and hair health, and has potential anti-aging properties. (Source)

Want to learn more ways to cook asparagus? Go to How to Cook Asparagus.

Ways to dress up roasted asparagus

There are so many things to do with asparagus outside of this garlic roasted asparagus recipe! Here are a few ways you could dress this recipe up! Or check out all of our Easy Asparagus Recipes.

Parmesan Baked Asparagus Add Parmesan and this one is even more delicious!
Asparagus Risotto Throw it into risotto! This flavor-packed dish pairs creamy arborio rice with Parmesan and lemony roasted asparagus.
Lemon Asparagus Pasta Throw it into pasta! Here it’s paired with Parmesan and lemon, made into a main dish.
Best Sauce for Asparagus Add a sauce! This lemon yogurt sauce with parsley adds even more creamy freshness (and add chopped hard boiled eggs to take it over the top).
How to Blanch Asparagus or How to Boil Asparagus Two handy methods for how to cook it!
Asparagus Salad with Feta Bursting with flavor and totally versatile, serve this healthy veggie sauteed or steamed over greens with lemon, radishes, feta, and a Dijon dressing.

This roasted asparagus recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.