Valentina's Corner
This baked asparagus recipe is a flavorful and easy side dish that compliments a variety of meals. It’s cheesy, savory, and versatile, pairing well with seafood, chicken, or red meat.
Baked Asparagus Recipe
Asparagus is a healthy vegetable packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin B9, potassium, and fiber. This roasted asparagus recipe is a delicious, mess-free way to prepare this vibrant vegetable. You’ll love the crisp-tender texture of the asparagus, the salty notes in the cheese, and the light crunch of the breadcrumbs!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Kid friendly. This cheesy asparagus will be a hit even with picky eaters.
- Great for parties. The oven-baked asparagus is a quick, simple dish that can be served alongside a wide spread of meals at your next event!
- Customize to your liking. You can adjust for the type and amount of cheese, or opt to leave it out for a lighter side!
- Minimal prep time and cook time. Nothing beats a side dish that takes little effort, especially if you’re preparing a main dish that requires more hands-on time!
Baked Asparagus Ingredients
The ingredients for this asparagus are fridge and pantry basics and can be adjusted to use up what you have in the fridge.
- Asparagus – for the best texture in the baked asparagus recipe, be sure to buy an asparagus bunch that can still stand straight, is smooth, and does not show signs of wilting. These could be thick asparagus or thin spears.
- Cheese – we love the way parmesan and mozzarella cheeses complement one another in the recipe.
- Breadcrumbs – add a pleasant crunch to the asparagus.
- Seasoning and fats – toss the asparagus in olive oil, salt, and pepper and top with butter for the perfect color and flavor.
For a full list of ingredients and quantities, see the recipe card below.
How to Bake Asparagus
Oven-baked asparagus is one of the simplest, healthiest side dishes to make to complete your dinner.
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Prep asparagus: Start by aligning the asparagus stalks and snap off the woody ends, about one inch. Lay the trimmed asparagus spears in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Season with kosher salt and black pepper: Drizzle olive oil over the asparagus and sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste. Toss the asparagus to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Top with cheese: Add the shredded mozzarella cheese over the asparagus, then add the butter cubes, parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs.
- Bake: Bake the asparagus for 10-12 minutes, or until the asparagus is your desired tenderness. Tip: Bake time will depend on how thick the asparagus is! To test for doneness, pierce the thick spear with a fork. The fork should easily pierce the thickest asparagus. Thin spears will take less time.
- Serve and enjoy, friends!
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few ideas on ways you can modify the asparagus recipe to adapt it.
- Leave off the cheese: For a lighter side dish that’s lower in calories, leave off the cheese and roast the asparagus with seasonings. Or, cut back on the cheese using only half.
- Add fresh lemon juice: If you forgot the cheese, try drizzling freshly squeezed lemon juice over the asparagus and sprinkling a pinch of lemon pepper seasoning on top for a slightly different, yet just as delicious, flavor!
- Balsamic glaze: If serving asparagus as a side for an Italian main course dish, try baking with only parmesan cheese, and drizzling with balsamic glaze. Garnish with some fresh herbs, like basil to compliment the Italian flavors of your meal.
Serving Suggestions
Here are just a few serving ideas to get you started. The beauty of this asparagus recipe is that it pairs with almost any main course dish!
- Potatoes: Asparagus pairs very well with potatoes in most forms, but especially with buttery smooth mashed potatoes.
- Seafood: Serve the asparagus with your favorite salmon like our grilled recipe, with our buttered codfish, or with a serving of blackened tilapia.
- Chicken: Make the asparagus on the side of grilled chicken thighs or crispy baked chicken wings.
- Steak: Serve as a side for our salisbury steak for a decedent, restaurant-level meal.
- Pork: Serve alongside our grilled pork chops for a protein-dense meal.
REcipe FAQs
Use asparagus that is still firm to the touch, that can stand straight, and one on which the tips have not begun to spread or soften.
You can make cheesy asparagus in the air fryer following our Air Fryer Asparagus instructions.
Fill a jar with about 2 inches of water. Add the asparagus to the jar and refrigerate it to preserve its freshness until you’re ready to roast!
Store & Reheat
- Storage. Store the cooked asparagus for up to 2 days in the fridge, wrapped tightly in aluminum foil or in an airproof container. The asparagus should be enjoyed as soon as possible, as the texture will change quickly in the fridge.
- Reheat. To re-crisp, air fry the asparagus or add to a preheated oven for a few minutes to re-melt the cheese and re-crisp the asparagus.
- Freeze. We do not recommend freezing the roasted asparagus.
More Side Vegetable Recipes
If you enjoyed this baked asparagus in the oven recipe, be sure to try our other popular roasted vegetable recipes:
Cheesy Baked Asparagus Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus
- 2 Tbsp Olive oil or Canola oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter cubed
- 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tsp plain breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Align the ends of the asparagus and trim the ends. Lay the asparagus out in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle the asparagus with oil and lightly season it with salt and pepper. Toss the asparagus to evenly coat with the seasonings.
- Top the asparagus with the mozzarella cheese. Top the cheese with cubes of butter and sprinkle the shredded parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs over the asparagus.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the asparagus is tender (this may take longer, depending on the size of asparagus and desired tenderness).
- Serve immediately and enjoy, friends!
Notes
Serve: Serve the asparagus with mashed potatoes, chicken, or your favorite beef recipes.