What’s better than roasted asparagus in April? Asparagus ushers in such a happy time of year, the pastel colors of Easter and budding trees making us feel like maybe things aren’t so bad. If you’re here, I’m guessing you agree! If you’ve ever wondered how to roast asparagus so it’s perfectly cooked with crisp edges instead of soggy, this simple oven method delivers every time. With just a sheet pan, a little oil, and the right technique, roasted asparagus becomes sweet, nutty, and completely irresistible.

HERE IS AN EASY RECIPE FOR HOW TO ROAST ASPARAGUS :

What is the Best Temperature for Roasting Asparagus

It’s 425° F. Roasting at this temperature is the easiest way to turn fresh asparagus into something deeply flavorful with crispy tips and a kiss of caramelized sweetness.

Do I have to preheat the pan?

Ahhh…I see you’ve seen my Perfect Roasted Cauliflower Recipe. It’s not necessary for this recipe.

How I do I trim the asparagus for roasting?

You may have heard of the “snap method,” where you bend an asparagus spear and let it break naturally. It was believed that asparagus snaps where the tender part begins, but this has largely been debunked. In practice, the spears tend to break at different points, which means you can end up wasting perfectly good asparagus.Instead, line the spears up on a cutting board and trim off the bottom ¼ to ⅓ of the stalks with a knife. This removes the woody ends while keeping as much of the tender asparagus as possible. 

What should I use to season the asparagus?

I quite enjoy this brand of seasoned salt or make my own using this recipe. If you have neither, a light sprinkle of kosher salt will work as well.

How Long to Roast Asparagus?

This depends on the thickness of the asparagus. I would do 8-10 minutes for those very stringy ones and up to 20 minutes for the really thick ones.

Do you wash asparagus before roasting?

Yes. I give it a thorough rinse and then towel it dry using a clean dish towel or paper towels.

Can you roast asparagus without oil?

I would not recommend it as it will become leathery and dry.

Can I leave off the cheese?

Yes. It won’t be as savory (or as pretty) but it will still be super yummy.

Can roasted asparagus be made ahead?

It depends. If you are putting it in a salad like my Roasted Beet and Asparagus Quinoa Salad, then yes. If you want it as a stand-alone side, I would not roast it more than an hour or so in advance.

How to Roast Asparagus

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. asparagus, woody ends trimmed

• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

• 2-3 tbsp grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, the kind that looks like sand. (optional yet highly recommended)

• 1/2 (ish) tsp seasoned salt, I make my own using THIS RECIPE, or sometimes use this brand

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 425°F and adjust an oven rack to the upper middle position. Trim the woody ends off the asparagus and arrange on a single layer on a half sheet pan. Drizzle with the olive oil, rub in the seasoned salt, then top with the grated cheese, if using.
• Roast until softened slightly and crispy on the ends, about 15 minutes (more for very thick asparagus and less for very thin). Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. As it cools, it will unstick itself from the sheet pan.

Equipment

• 
  The Sheet Pans You NEEDLinked Here!
• 
  Wusthof Spatula- (My Holy Grail for 20+ yrs)Linked Here!