Parmesan Asparagus

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Parmesan asparagus is one of the best ways to enjoy fresh asparagus! It’s ready in only 15 minutes, so you can easily add it to your weekday menu plan.

I love making oven roasted parmesan asparagus for friends and family who think they don’t enjoy asparagus. 

Even though it’s such a simple recipe with only 5 ingredients, it tastes incredible. The nutty parmesan cheese is a wonderful pairing for vegetables, and this asparagus is no exception.

Love roasted vegetables in the winter? Roasting is one of my favorite methods for cooking vegetables — I am roasting all year long.

You can’t beat how easy it is! 

Fresh asparagus

Asparagus is in season in late winter and into spring. Depending where you live, you’ll start to see it in the grocery store or at the farmers market as early as mid-February or as late as the end of May.

Asparagus comes in green, white, and purple varieties, although most grocers only carry green asparagus. If you have a local farmer who sells other kinds of asparagus, I encourage you to try it!

Stalk thickness is a matter of opinion when it comes to asparagus. Some folks like thick stalks, while others insist on thin. If you’re not sure what to buy, consider the cooking method.

Thicker stalks hold up well to high heat and longer cooking, such as grilling or roasting.

For steaming or sautéed asparagus, thin stalks work beautifully.

Trimming asparagus

Asparagus spears need to be trimmed before cooking. 

Each stalk has what is known as the “woody” end, which is the end of the stem where it was cut off from the plant.

This end can be fibrous and tough to chew, so it is usually cut off.

To trim asparagus, you can either cut off the bottom inch of each stalk, or bend the stalk end. It will naturally bend and break off the woody portion.

How to make parmesan roasted asparagus

Once you’ve trimmed up your asparagus, you’re ready to make this dish!

Preheat your oven to 400°F.

Grab a rimmed baking sheet and spread the asparagus in an even layer.

Drizzle on the olive oil. Toss the asparagus with a pair of tongs to coat on all sides, then spread into a single layer again.

Sprinkle on the salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. 

Make sure you use freshly grated parmesan cheese, not bagged parmesan or the kind from a can! It will make a difference in the flavor as well as how well the cheese melts.

Roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until the asparagus is tender and cheese is melted.

Recipe suggestions

You can add other flavorings to your parmesan baked asparagus if you like! Try one or a few of these options:

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked salt
• Crushed red chile flakes
• Fresh minced garlic
• Lemon zest
• Lemon juice, squeezed on when serving
• Make bacon wrapped asparagus with the added parmesan

Whether you serve your asparagus for a crowd or just a few, it’s sure to be a hit!