Roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus
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This amazing Roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus recipe makes a super easy and delicious side dish for just about any main course. Fresh garlic and finely grated parmesan add the most incredible flavor, making it perfect for holidays or special occasions but easy enough for a busy weeknight dinner.
If you ask me, I’ll choose roasted asparagus over steamed every single time. Not only does roasting it in the oven bring out the natural sweetness, but with this recipe, the parmesan gets nice and crispy, adding a rich nuttiness to it that you just can’t get any other way.
It’s absolutely my favorite way of cooking asparagus too because you just toss together all the ingredients and bake until the asparagus is tender and the cheese, bread crumb mixture is nice and brown.
This recipe is great for picky eaters too. They aren’t mushy or soggy like some asparagus recipes. In fact, even though this asparagus cooks just until tender, they have deliciously crispy edges that make them totally irresistible. Between the amazing texture and the flavors from the roasted parmesan cheese and the garlic, don’t be surprised if they come back for seconds.
I used some of those same flavors in these Roasted Parmesan and Garlic Sweet Potatoes and these Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes and trust me, there are rarely any leftovers!
If you love roasted veggies, you’ll also want to try my Easy Roasted Potatoes and Veggies or these Honey Butter Roasted Brussel Sprouts.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Super easy recipe: With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep work, you’ll have a simple, yet elegant asparagus dish you can serve for any meal.
- Healthy ingredients: This recipe is a great way to lighten up heavier main courses with a nutritious veggie that’s full of flavor even the kids will love.
- Versatile vegetable: One of the things I love the most about this recipe is that there are so many different combinations for seasoning to it. You really can’t go wrong using any seasoning you prefer.
What’s Needed for Garlic Parmesan Roasted Asparagus?
- Fresh asparagus spears– We used medium sized asparagus. If you use really thin asparagus, you’ll want to reduce the cooking time
- Butter and olive oil– Gives the asparagus wonderful flavor, adds healthy fat and helps the asparagus to crisp up
- Parmesan cheese– This is a key ingredient to giving the dish a slightly salty and nutty flavor
- Panko breadcrumbs– Adds a crispy like crust to the asparagus that you’re going to love!
- Minced Garlic cloves– Nothing beats the delicious flavors of garlic, especially freshly minced garlic cloves.
- Parsley – Finely chopped fresh parsley adds a pop of color and freshness
- Non-stick cooking spray-Keeps the cheese and panko mixture from sticking to the cookie sheet.
- Salt and black pepper– Feel free to add other seasonings of your choice
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Asparagus
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees f. Using non-stick cooking spray, lightly coat cookie sheet or layer of parchment paper
Step 2. Trim the bottom inch ends from asparagus
Step 3. Give the asparagus a good rinse and then pat them dry.
Step 4. In a medium bowl, add the trimmed asparagus and combine with the rest of the ingredients.
Step 5. Make sure you really get a good even coat on the asparagus
Step 6. Arrange the asparagus and breadcrumb mixture in one even layer on the baking sheet. (Line it with parchment paper for easy clean up)
Step 7. Roast asparagus for about 12-15 minutes, or until the asparagus is just tender, followed by broiling for 2-3 minutes until breadcrumbs are golden brown. The actual cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your asparagus stalks.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to several days.
Part of what makes this one of the best roasted asparagus recipes is that they become nice and crispy as they bake. While heating them up the next day will still taste amazing, the texture is softer.
If you want to make this recipe in advance, you can prep the asparagus the night before, but wait to mix in the breadcrumb mixture right before baking on the same day you’ll be serving it.
Is Asparagus Good for you?
It sure is! Asparagus is a rich source of vitamins A. C, K and E as well as a good source of folate and potassium. The nutritional value of asparagus has been linked to many overall health benefits.
If you would like to read more about all the ways incorporating asparagus into your diet is beneficial, check out this article on Healthline.
What Main Course Goes with Baked Asparagus?
This recipe for parmesan roasted asparagus makes a tasty side dish when paired with nearly any meal and also makes for a great addition to a holiday or special occasion menu.
I love to serve it with this Easy Chicken Piccata and this Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf. It’s also great with Grilled Chicken Kabobs and these homemade Shake and Bake Pork Chops. You just can’t go wrong with this versatile side dish.
Can I Make This Asparagus Recipe in the Air Fryer?
You can easily make this recipe in your air fryer with a few simple adjustments. The best way to do this is to prepare you asparagus the same way as you do for this recipe. Next, place a single layer in your air fryer. If you have a smaller one, you’ll have to do this in batches.
Cook the asparagus at 400 degrees for about 8 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Poke it with a fork to make sure it is nice and tender. If some of the bread crumb mixture falls off, just add a little back to the top.
Tips for Buying and Storing Fresh Asparagus
- Most of the flavor in asparagus is found in the tips. Unfortunately, the tips are also the first thing that tends to spoil first. So, when you’re at the grocery store or farmer’s market, look for asparagus with tips that are firm and tightly closed up. Look for any obvious dark spots because that’s a sign they have started aging.
- Smelling it is another way to check for freshness. If asparagus has started aging, it will have a slightly sour and quite unpleasant smell.
- A pro-tip for extending the life of your asparagus is to treat them just like you would a fresh bouquet of flowers. Snip off the tip end of the stalk and stand them up right in a tall glass with a couple inches of water in the bottom. Lay a damp paper towel over the tips. You will get several extra days freshness out of them when stored in the fridge this way.
- If you end up with super thick asparagus stalks, instead of having to cut away so much of the woody stalks, trim off about an inch or so, then take a veggie peeler and peel off the outer layer of the stalks. This helps them to cook up tender while roasting.
Roasted Asparagus Variations and Add-ins
- Topping the roasted asparagus with some chopped bacon or prosciutto is a great way to add even more flavor to this dish.
- Instead of parmesan, you can use pecorino Romano or for something super cheesy you can take the asparagus out of the oven about 5 minutes before it’s done and top it with shredded mozzarella then stick it back in the oven until the cheese is melted and gooey.
- To add a really fresh flavor, once the asparagus has finished cooking, you can add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and add a little lemon zest. A lemon garlic combo really wakes up the flavor to this simple side dish!
- Like a little crunch? Sprinkle some slivered toasted almonds right before serving.
- Change up the flavor by adding your favorite seasoning. Italian seasoning and Cajun seasonings work great. For a little heat you can add a little bit of red pepper flakes.
Want More Easy Side Dish Recipes?
Garlic Parmesan Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus wash, dried & trimmed
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons parsley finely chopped
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees f. Using non-stick cooking spray, lightly coat cookie sheet or layer of parchment paperNon-stick cooking spray
- Trim the bottom inch ends from asparagus1 pound asparagus
- Give the asparagus a good rinse and then pat them dry.
- In a medium bowl, add the trimmed asparagus and combine with the rest of the ingredients. Make sure you really get a good even coat on the asparagus2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, 3 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons parsley, Salt & pepper to taste
- Arrange the asparagus and breadcrumb mixture in one even layer on the baking sheet. (Line it with parchment paper for easy clean up)
- Roast asparagus for about 12-15 minutes, or until the asparagus is just tender, followed by broiling for 2-3 minutes until breadcrumbs are golden brown. The actual cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your asparagus stalks.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Most of the flavor in asparagus is found in the tips. Unfortunately, the tips are also the first thing that tends to spoil first. So, when you’re at the grocery store or farmer’s market, look for asparagus with tips that are firm and tightly closed up. Also, look for any obvious dark spots because that’s a sign they have started aging.
Nutrition
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