Oven Roasted Asparagus (One Pan)

Quick and easy oven roasted asparagus recipe that's made in one pan (sheet pan) in only 15 minutes. It's packed with lemon and garlic flavors and makes a simple side dish.

This recipe tastes amazing as a side dish or paired with a hearty main dish. You can even chop them up and toss them into this Instant Pot Vegetable Pasta or Vegetable Beef Soup (One Pot). It makes any meal a little more healthy, which is always a plus.

I know that I am always looking for new ways to keep my body healthy and help my family to be as well. And unlike some healthy dishes out there, this one actually tastes delicious. That's a win-win in my book.

Key ingredients

• Asparagus- Be sure you use thicker stalks.
• Olive oil- Helps to lock in flavor and brown evenly.
• Spices- You will need garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Garnish- Lemon juice and parmesan cheese are used to top it off.

Variations

• Use different spices-  Italian seasoning is a good choice, which contains oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary, marjoram, and thyme. You can also use paprika or seasoned salt.
• Add carrots- Put 2 cups of baby carrots on the same sheet pan, similar to these Oven Roasted Carrots (One Pan).
• Lemon asparagus- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 2 tablespoon lemon juice over the asparagus, prior to baking.
• Try with potatoes- Add 2 cups small potato cubes in the same sheet pan and bake those too.
• Add mushrooms- Use 1 cup of mushrooms in the same sheet pan. This will be similar to my baked version of Easy Garlic Mushrooms (One Pot).
• Marinated version- Place asparagus in some lemon juice and pepper for 20 minutes and then roast that in the sheet pan. Top it off with parmesan cheese when you remove it from the oven.
• Make it with parmesan- Simply sprinkle some parmesan cheese over the top before and after baking.
• Salad- Chop the asparagus into 2 inch pieces and mix it together with lettuce, spinach, kale and your favorite vinaigrette and serve immediately. You can even make this Easy Green Salad (One Bowl) and chop some asparagus to toss on top.
• Add garlic- Spread 1 finely chopped garlic clove over the asparagus, prior to baking.
• Cook on the stovetop- Melt some better and oil in a nonstick pan. Add asparagus stalks and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and cook until tender but firm.
• Grill it- This recipe is great on the grill. I like to use a perforated grilling pan to make sure the asparagus doesn't fall through the grilling grate.
• Make it a meal- Add meat like chicken, sausage, or steak bits in order to make this more of a full meal instead of a side dish. It will be more filling and is just as delicious as Oven Roasted Chicken and Vegetables (One Pan).

How to roast asparagus in the oven?

1. Wash asparagus- And cut off the ends.
2. Lay them out- Evenly on a sheet pan.
3. Sprinkle- Olive oil and spices over the top and mix together.
4. Roast in oven- Then garnish with lemon juice and parmesan cheese.

What to serve with roasted asparagus?

These work well as a side dish alongside the following, or you can also toss them into the mix for a more healthy, balanced meal:

• Soup- Such as Chicken Vegetable Soup (One Pot) or this Easy Vegetable Soup (One Pot).
• Rice- Including Bacon Fried Rice (One Pot) or Garlic Rice (One Pot)
• Pasta- Like this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (One Pot) or Butter Garlic Chicken Pasta (One Pot) which would both pair really well with the existing flavors included in this dish.
• Protein- Such as Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken (One Pot), Garlic Butter Steak Bites (One Pot), or Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers.
• Potatoes- Including Microwave Baked Potatoes (One Pan), Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe (One Pot), or Parsley Potatoes (One Pot).

Tips and techniques

• Use thick spears- Because the thin ones sometimes turn out tough and stringy since they dry out too quickly while baking.
• Use high quality olive oil- Because it does make a difference in flavor.
• Garlic powder can be replaced- With freshly minced garlic.
• Easily doubled- If you are cooking for a large crowd, double the recipe and use two sheet pans.
• Line the pan- With foil to prevent the vegetables from sticking to the bottom and for an easy cleanup.
• Don't overcrowd- The asparagus or else they won't cook well or evenly.
• Rub spears together- To get all the spices and oil spread out evenly.
• You know they are done when- They turn a light golden brown color. Also, poke with a fork to make sure they are tender and not hard.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

• Make ahead- This recipe is best served fresh. However, you can store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days or the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw and reheat.
• Refrigerate- You can place them in an airtight container for 1-2 days. However, they will become limp and need to be reheated in the oven. These taste best fresh from the oven.
• Freeze- This is not recommended, because they will become soggy when thawed and won't taste as good. They can be stored in a sealed container for up to 1 month, though.
• Reheat- Place in an airfryer or the oven at 350 degrees until warmed through.

Other roasted vegetables:

• Quick Oven Roasted Tomatoes (One Pan)
• Oven Roasted Broccoli (One Pan)
• Oven Roasted Beets (One Pan)
• Oven Roasted Cauliflower (One Pan)
• Oven Roasted Vegetables (One Pan)

Recipe