Simple Parmesan Roasted Asparagus

Make the most delicious asparagus with this parmesan roasted asparagus recipe. With light seasoning and a dusting of parmesan, these asparagus are a little bit fancy but an easy side dish for any occasion.

Foods made in their most basic form seem to be fresher, lighter, and most delicious. Having just the right amount of sea salt and cracked black pepper. Drizzled with a touch of olive oil and roasted to perfection. What could be a simpler side dish for a gathering or weeknight dinner at home? Topped off with a dash of parmesan cheese, these parmesan roasted asparagus are the perfect side dish.

On the table, I like to have a few vegetable dishes to choose from, and roasting them is the easiest way to do this. The best part is I can focus on the main dish while the oven does the work for me. I make these parmesan roasted asparagus almost weekly during asparagus season and whenever I can find good quality asparagus either at the store or the small farmers market up the road from our house. 

Roasting

Roasting vegetables is my favorite way and in my humble opinion, the best way, to bring out the vegetable’s best flavors. It also enhances their texture and honestly, it is the easiest way to cook them as you are essentially seasoning them, drizzling with oil, and allowing the oven to work its magic. 

Parmesan Roasted Asparagus Is…

• A delicious side dish.
• The best roasted asparagus recipe.
• The best method and a tasty way to make asparagus.
• Made with simple ingredients and a little fancy.
• An easy dinner side that doesn’t require a lot of time to make. 
• ​The perfect recipe for asparagus season.

Ingredients

Asparagus- Use fresh asparagus not frozen. Asparagus stalks should be bright green.

Olive Oil- I like to use extra virgin olive oil but pure olive oil works fine too.

Parmesan- Use freshly grated parmesan not ground parmesan. Ground parmesan loses its flavor quickly and the texture is not as pleasant for topping the oven roasted asparagus.

Salt- I use sea salt in my kitchen but Kosher salt or even standard table salt is fine here.

Pepper- I use freshly cracked black pepper but you can use white pepper or even standard pre-ground pepper if you prefer.

Directions

Heat your oven to 400℉.

Take the asparagus and trim off about an inch or half an inch of their woody stems. See below for tips on properly trimming asparagus. Rinse and pat dry.

Lay the asparagus spears out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Generously drizzle over the olive oil.

Take your hands and mix it a bit to make sure that the olive oil has fully coated all the stems. Salt and pepper evenly.

Pop them into the oven for approximately 15 minutes. Take them out, transfer them to a platter, and garnish generously with grated parmesan cheese.

Cooking Notes

• To know your asparagus is ready the stalks will begin to shrivel slightly and have a slightly darker color. This usually happens right around the 15-minute point. Ovens all work differently so if your asparagus is not quite there be sure to leave it in for a few extra minutes.
• Use good olive oil.
• You can sprinkle Romano or fresh Parmesan. Either cheese works perfectly as a finishing touch.
• Line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up.

How To Properly Cut Asparagus

To properly prepare asparagus you will want to cut off the woody stems. You can easily find them by running your fingers down the stalk and snapping off the bottoms. If using a knife, you will look for the lighter portion of the stalk. Cut those off with a sharp knife making sure that only the green is left on your stalk. Here’s a good visual guide to help.

How to Properly Select Asparagus

It seems easy enough to select asparagus. However, there are some key things to look out for. Look for stalks that are firm to the touch. Ones that can stand up straight and have a smooth texture. The tips of the stalks of asparagus should not be soft to the touch or split at the ends. Instead, they should be closed and compact.

Other Recipes To Try…

• Simple Tomato Confit
• Italian Oven Roasted Bell Peppers
• Fire Roasted Eggplant Puree

Other Ways To Enjoy Asparagus

• A traditional way of eating your asparagus is by making a hollandaise sauce to pour over them.
• Dipping the stalks in boiled egg yolk for breakfast. Soft boil eggs to serve alongside the asparagus stalks. I suggest not adding the parmesan cheese garnish when serving the asparagus this way.
• Create a quiche out of the leftover roasted asparagus with this Easy Asparagus Mushroom Quiche.

Shop This Post

Baking Sheets Set of 2

Handheld Cheese Grater

Olive Oil Dispenser

*Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through the links I provide (at no cost to you).

If you try this recipe and love it, I would appreciate you coming back to give it 5 stars!