Home > Sides > Roasted Asparagus with Lemon, Butter, and Parmesan (VIDEO)

June 25, 2021

Roasted Asparagus with Lemon, Butter, and Parmesan (VIDEO)

Name: Roasted Asparagus with Lemon, Butter, and Parmesan
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs asparagus (or about 2 bunches); 1 lemon ((half juiced and half sliced into rings)); 4 Tbsp unsalted butter (cut into pats); 1 Tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp sea salt (or added to taste); 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, (or added to taste); 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (or to taste)

It’s the perfect side dish; Roasted Asparagus spears in lightly seasoned lemon butter with parmesan cheese. It’s simple, but hard to beat! Roasted asparagus is our favorite way to prepare this vibrant and healthy vegetable.

I’ve tried several fancy asparagus recipes but I keep coming back to this one. Maybe it’s because I usually have all the ingredients in the pantry? Or maybe it’s just my favorite!

Roasted asparagus on baking sheet with lemon and parmesan.

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We just love asparagus from Asparagus Casserole to Roasted Salmon and Asparagus and we even love it in our Baked Feta Pasta! It’s such a humble ingredient with so much potential. Thankfully it’s a vegetable my kids love so we get creative with it.

We’ve probably made this a hundred times and it is the most popular asparagus recipe on our site since 2012 because it’s easy and excellent

Ingredients for Baked Asparagus

This recipe makes a large batch, but can easily be cut in half to feed a smaller crowd.

Asparagus – you’ll need 2 bunches (about 2 lbs), with the ends trimmed
Lemon – we squeeze half of a lemon over the asparagus before baking and slice the other half into rings.
Unsalted butter – to dot the top of the asparagus spears and it adds rich flavor.
Olive oil – to drizzle the asparagus and keep it moist
Salt & Pepper – these simple seasonings are all you need.
Parmesan cheese – added at the end of cooking to creating a cheesy crust over the asparagus.

Ingredients for roasted asparagus spears with lemon and parmesan

How to Cook Asparagus in the Oven

Prep – Rinse, pat dry, and trim asparagus.
Arrange asparagus on a large rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roll asparagus lightly to coat.
Add lemon and butter – Squeeze half a lemon evenly over the asparagus. Arrange lemon slices over the top then place pats of butter over asparagus (don’t worry, most of the butter will end up on the pan and not on your waistline).
Bake at 400˚F for 10 minutes or until asparagus is tender. Remove asparagus from the oven and set the oven to Broil.
Sprinkle parmesan over the center of the asparagus and broil for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden.

Asparagus on baking sheet, ready to be baked in the oven

Pro Tip: Break off the fibrous asparagus ends by holding the asparagus with one hand at the base and the other hand in the middle of the stem. Bend until it snaps wherever it snaps. This ensures you remove the tough fibrous base that is very difficult to chew.

Common Questions

How many pounds are in one bunch of asparagus?

There is usually about 1 lb of asparagus in a bunch and it can range from 3/4 lb to 1 1/2 lbs+ per bunch depending on the thickness of your asparagus. For this recipe, you’ll need 2 pounds of asparagus before trimming.

Which is better – thin or thick asparagus?

One is not better than the other and they vary in thickness depending on their variety. Both work great in this recipe but keep in mind, thick asparagus will take slightly longer to bake (10-12 minutes) and thin asparagus will take less time (8-10 minutes).

How to Select Asparagus?

Look for asparagus tips that are compact and closed. They should not be falling off or wet. The stalks should be bright green, firm, and smooth (not wilted or floppy).

Baked asparagus with slice of lemon and melted parmesan cheese

Lemon, butter, and parmesan is a winning combination for Roasted Asparagus. P.S. If you love this flavor profile, definitely try our Shrimp Scampi Pasta with asparagus.

Serve With

We love serving roasted asparagus with just about everything – it’s such a versatile profile. These are our favorite pairings for main courses and sides to complete the meal:

Roasted Asparagus with Lemon, Butter, and Parmesan

4.99 from 54 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Roasted Asparagus with lemon and parmesan

The perfect side dish – Roasted Asparagus with lemon, butter, and parmesan. An easy, baked asparagus recipe that pairs well with everything.

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $8-$10

Keyword: baked asparagus, roasted asparagus

Cuisine: American

Course: Side Dish

Calories: 109

Servings: 8 people as a side dish

Ingredients

2 lbs asparagus, or about 2 bunches
1 lemon, (half juiced and half sliced into rings)
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pats
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sea salt, or added to taste
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground,, or added to taste
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese, or to taste

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Rinse 2 bunches of asparagus and break off the ends by holding the base end and snapping it wherever it snaps.
Place asparagus in a large rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roll asparagus lightly to coat in oil and seasonings.
Squeeze 1/2 of a lemon evenly over the asparagus. Line the top third of the asparagus with lemon slices from the second half of your lemon. Thinly slice 4 tbsp of butter and line the center of the asparagus with butter.
Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes or until asparagus is tender. Remove asparagus from the oven and set oven to Broil.
Sprinkle the center of the asparagus with Parmesan cheese then return to the center of the oven and broil 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden.

Nutrition Facts

Roasted Asparagus with Lemon, Butter, and Parmesan

Amount Per Serving

Calories 109 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 21mg7%

Sodium 390mg17%

Potassium 259mg7%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 1074IU21%

Vitamin C 14mg17%

Calcium 102mg10%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclosure

We first published this baked asparagus recipe in 2012. I updated the recipe with new photos and a video tutorial. Here is one of the original photos:

Baked asparagus with lemon, butter and parmesan on a plate garnished with a lemon slice

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.