This is how long to cook asparagus in oven perfectly! We love baked parmesan asparagus but simple with olive oil salt and pepper is a delicious healthy vegetable side dish too. Follow our step by step directions with fresh produce or this is how to cook frozen asparagus too.
Baking asparagus in the oven turns out great. Kept tender with olive oil or butter you can get a bit of crispy edges on a sheet pan. Serve as is or baked inside a casserole for a delicious brunch item. How to roast vegetables perfectly is here. (affiliate links present)
Baked Asparagus with Parmesan
Our favorite topping is a bit of grated or shredded parmesan cheese with a squeeze of lemon. If you need a dairy free option you could leave this off but it is a wonderful add on. If you love a healthy throw together meal, you’ll love how easy it is to cook roasted vegetables in the oven.
Baked Asparagus 375
We shared how long to bake chicken thighs at 375 recently. I added potatoes to that sheet pan but wanted some vegetables on there too. This is something you can pop in at the same time for dinner some night this week.
A complete meal done in about 30 minutes is where I’m at with my family meals, you are likely the same. 😉
How Long to Boil Asparagus
This is a method I would not recommend because of the texture. If you do not mind it getting soft and limp you can submerge into boiling water for about 2-3 minutes. For the best result take out and submerge in ice water to stop the cooking.
Baked Asparagus in Oven
If there are just two of you you could grab a smaller bunch at the store with breasts or thighs. Together sheet pan chicken thighs and vegetables works quite well as a duo with light seasonings on top. For white meat you would just want to slice in half so they aren’t as thick, that way everything is tender at the same time.
You can use a fork or your fingers. You do want it tender but still have a bit of a snap in the middle. If cooled a bit you can pick one up and grab both ends. If it bends about halfway but then snaps in the center, take it out. Or use a fork and press inside the thickest part. It should slide in without effort.
The secret to cooking asparagus perfectly is to not overcook it! In the oven it will be tender but still have a crisp in under 10 minutes.
I would not boil it unless you just want to quickly blanch it to use cold inside a pasta salad, or else it will get mushy. Air frying is our favorite method.
Oven Baked Asparagus
Another key to the perfect timing is to ensure your oven is preheated before adding your pan full of veggies. I like to slice off the end 1.5″-2″ that tend to be harder and not a pleasant texture no matter what you do. If you were to make baked asparagus tips the timing would almost be cut in half since they are so small.
Baked Asparagus with Cheese
I mean if you ask me the tip is the best part, I’m guilty of leaving some of the ends on my plate but could eat bunches of just the pointy ends. 375 degrees seems to be just the right amount of heat to use for this. It is hot enough to tenderize to the center but not too low and slow to make the stalks too soft.
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Rinse fresh asparagus stalks and pat dry with paper towels.
- Break off or cut off the tough, thicker part of each stem.
- Place the asparagus spears or tips in a bowl and add the olive oil, sea or Kosher salt and pepper.
- Stir to coat the asparagus stalks completely.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, arrange in a single layer and place in the preheated oven.
- Roast for about 5 minutes if you want it to remain a little crunchy, tips for about 3 min.
- After 7 minutes, the asparagus will be more tender.
- cook time will vary depending on how thick your stalks are
- Sprinkle oven roasted asparagus recipe on top with grated parmesan cheese flakes now if you like.
- Heat in the oven for 1-2 more minutes if you do to melt a bit.
- Drizzle with fresh lemon juice before serving.
If you want to skip the cheese entirely your timing would be a total of about 8 minutes, or about 7 for Ninja Foodi Asparagus. There is a HUGE variation in sizes when it comes to this vegetable. I will say that the thinner they are the better they taste, typically. I can’t always find it that size especially during the off seasons but I try.
Boiled Asparagus
This is my least favorite method unless I’m blanching vegetables quickly to use for a cold asparagus pasta salad or something. In this case you could fill a pot with water and a bit of salt over medium high heat. When it reaches a constant rolling boil add your pieces but just for about 2 minutes. Then have a bowl of ice water ready to submerge them in right away for 1 minute.
- If you want to make pan fried asparagus after that to saute with butter and garlic follow these directions.
Or this can be great patted dry and then with a drizzle of olive oil with salt and black pepper tossed in with al dente pasta and balsamic vinegar. Add some heat with a shake of red pepper flakes on top, great choice for a picnic during asparagus season. We make spinach asparagus soup with it when it’s cold.
Asparagus Parmesan
Another favorite method is to roast air fryer asparagus as you see below. That way gives you golden brown edges all the way around and a crisp you can’t get otherwise. It isn’t likely we ever have leftovers but if you do I will say that this is also the best way to reheat them.
You would use the same directions whether you’re serving them as is with dinner, or chopped up to make an asparagus casserole with eggs for brunch.
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How Long to Cook Asparagus in Oven
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb asparagus
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 2 tsp parmesan
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F. Rinse the asparagus thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels. Break off or cut off the tough, thicker part of each stem.
- Place the asparagus in a bowl and add the olive oil, salt and pepper. Stir to coat the asparagus completely.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, arrange the asparagus in a single layer and place in the preheated oven. Roast for about 5 minutes if you want it to remain a little crunchy. After 7 minutes, the asparagus will be more tender.
- Sprinkle top with Parmesan flakes and heat in the oven for 1-2 more minutes. Drizzle with lemon juice before serving.