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Here are all the best asparagus recipes for cooking this tender green vegetable! Try it roasted, in pasta, on salads, and more.
Are you an asparagus fan? This tasty spring ingredient is both perfect as a simple side dish, or as the star of the show in a main dish for any meal! Alex and I love adding it to pasta with lemon and Parmesan, or eating the raw ribbons in a shaved asparagus salad. Or for brunch, it adds a splash of green in an asparagus quiche or alongside scrambled eggs.
As married cookbook authors who are experts in cooking vegetables, asparagus is one of our favorite veggies to highlight. Here are some of the top recipes in our library!
Ways to cook asparagus
First, let’s talk basics. There are several main ways for how to cook asparagus. It’s most popularly cooked roasted in a hot oven. It’s quick and delicious to make broiled, or smoky and charred when grilled. We like it sauteed for a quick fix, but you can also make it boiled, steamed, or blanched.
Facts about asparagus
Want to know more about this super veggie? Here are a few facts about asparagus:
- It’s a great source of fiber. A 1-cup of cooked asparagus has 4 grams of fiber.
- It’s high in protein for a green vegetable. A 1-cup serving has 4 grams protein, a similar level to broccoli and potatoes.
- It can aid in eye and hair health, and has potential anti-aging properties.
💡 Pro tip: Trim the woody ends of the asparagus before cooking with it. Go to How to Cut Asparagus.
And now, our top asparagus recipes!
Let’s get to the fun stuff! These asparagus recipes are the top most delicious on our website, and range from easy side dishes to impressive dinner ideas.
Don’t have time to scroll? Our top favorites are roasted asparagus or broiled asparagus, and that citrusy asparagus pasta.
Here’s a genius way to cook this green vegetable to charred and tender without even preheating your oven. Yes, it’s our new favorite way to make it: Broiled Asparagus! Just throw it in the broiler with a few lemon wheels, and it comes out charred and tender, with a little lift from the citrusy lemon.
Here’s a great way to use those popular bright green spears: Asparagus Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan! This one pairs chewy tagliatelle noodles with lemony roasted asparagus, garlic, and Parmesan. Topped seasoned breadcrumbs and peppery basil leaves, the combination of flavors is unbelievably fresh and savory.
We’ve got a new solution to an easy dinner that pleases everyone: this baked salmon and asparagus recipe! It’s simple, it’s elegant, but it tastes like something you’d order at a restaurant. Roasting it up on a sheet pan with lemon slices and fresh herbs adds effortless flavor that feels fresh yet refined.
Creamy, savory, crunchy, and zingy: this asparagus risotto is truly sublime. Otherwise known as, the best way to usher in spring! Roast up some asparagus with lemon at the same time that you’re stirring up a creamy risotto on the stovetop.
Here’s our go-to method we use all the time: roasted asparagus! It’s so simple that you should be able to memorize it. Who needs to follow a recipe? This one you can cook from the gut. It’s so simple: the asparagus is tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon zest. The secret ingredient? Grated garlic, which infuses a delightful savory flavor. Throw that lemony garlic asparagus in the oven and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until it’s tender.
Looking for an asparagus recipe to impress? Try Pasta Primavera, the Italian-sounding American dish from the 1970’s that’s here to liven up your mealtimes! There are many ways to make a primavera, so here’s our spin. Tender pasta is mixed with spring vegetables like asparagus, broccolini, peas and carrots, then tossed with a creamy, luxurious Parmesan sauce. You won’t want the bowl to end!
Here’s a simple way to get a side dish on the table…fast: sauteed asparagus! When you’re trying to get dinner on the table, you don’t want to get stuck on a side dish. Here’s an easy side dish that requires little prep and almost no thought!
Want a salad that’s as tasty as it is versatile? Enter: asparagus salad! It’s got savory sauteed asparagus, cooked up in a hot pan for a few minutes then spritzed with lemon. Add that to a bed of greens and sprinkle with with peppery radishes and salty feta cheese. A Dijon mustard dressing tops it off, perfectly balanced with tangy and savory notes.
The buttery scent of this recipe in the oven may win you one or two marriage proposals…or at least it will have the neighbors wandering by to snatch up leftovers. Try this crowd-pleasing Asparagus Quiche! It’s packed with savory, cozy flavor, perfect for spring brunches or light dinners with a crisp glass of white wine.
What’s your favorite way to make asparagus? Here’s our very best recipe: easy baked asparagus! It’s baked in a hot oven until tender, but still beautifully green. Then it’s spritzed with lemon: the way to make this healthy veggie taste over-the-moon good. The finishing touch: gooey melted Parmesan cheese shavings.
Ever tried asparagus raw? Raw and shaved into thin ribbons with a vegetable peeler, asparagus has a mild flavor: fresh and almost sweet. Drizzled in a lemon vinaigrette topped with Parmesan, this shaved asparagus salad is begging to get on your table.
This recipe for soft scrambled eggs is a go-to! You'll cook the eggs over low heat and gently shape them into soft folds. Then for an elevated, tangy flair, crumble in goat cheese, cheddar or Parmesan cheese. What results is a creamy, gooey mess filled with tangy cheese pockets. Serve with lemony pan fried asparagus for the perfect pairing!
Turns out grilling asparagus might be the very best way to cook it. It’s easy and requires only a few ingredients. And it comes out incredible: tender and charred, with a hint of smoke. Spritz it with lemon juice for a little brightness, and it’s a fresh and healthy side dish you won’t be able to stop eating!
Last up in our asparagus recipes, this shrimp primavera is like a classic pasta primavera with shrimp added, and smothered in a light creamy sauce, it makes a simple satisfying dinner in just 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Asparagus is so versatile! You can roast or broil it for a smoky sweetness, grill it for a charred flavor, blanch it for a quick and simple side, or even enjoy it raw in a shaved asparagus salad for a refreshing crunch.
No peeling is necessary! Simply trim off the woody ends (about ½ inch to 1 inch from the bottom). For thicker spears, you can peel the bottom third of the stalk for a smoother texture, but it’s not essential.
Asparagus loves citrus! Lemon and balsamic vinegar are classic pairings. It also complements creamy flavors like cheese or a simple olive oil drizzle. Don’t be afraid to experiment with herbs like basil, rosemary, or dill for added complexity.
Quick Broiled Asparagus
This baked asparagus is an easy side dish that’s a hit with everyone! The green stalks are roasted until tender, spritzed with lemon & topped with Parmesan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
- 1 lemon (zest from half, plus slices from the other half)
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (omit for vegan)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Cut off the tough bottom ends of the asparagus. Add the asparagus stalks to a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil, and add the kosher salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Add the zest of half of the lemon and mix with your hands. Thinly slice 4 lemon wheels from the lemon, then add them right on the tray. Sprinkle everything with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until tender when pierced by a fork at the thickest part. The timing will depend on the thickness of the asparagus spears (ours in the photo were done at 12 minutes). Serve immediately.
great set of asparagus dishes, thank you, love the soup and quiche, but so many others look good too, a lot better than my default boiled asparagus!