This simple lemon garlic oven roasted asparagus is an incredibly easy side dish that is SO delicious! The best asparagus recipe that’s great on its own or added to other dishes. Perfectly seasoned, ready in 20 minutes, dairy free, and super flavorful.
Our favorite oven roasted asparagus
Bright green and perfectly roasted asparagus studded with bits of crispy garlic and brightened up with a squeeze of fresh lemon is our ideal quick side dish.
There’s something about that combination that works so well. It’s an exceptional pairing that always hits the spot.
Not fussy, tons of flavor, and ready in less than 20 minutes are a few of the reasons I think that this is one of the absolute best ways to cook asparagus! It’s one of those recipes that we reach for to fill our plate with extra veggies over and over again.
Getting the time in the oven right is important. Too long, and the asparagus will get over-cooked and too soft, and not enough time and it will be too crisp. When testing this recipe I found that about 12 minutes in the oven for an average size asparagus spear is the perfect amount of time. But oven temps can vary, so keeping an eye on them as they cook is always a good idea!
If you’re looking for more easy side dish ideas be sure to check out our recipes for 15-Minute Oven Roasted Broccolini, Roasted Chopped Red Cabbage, Mexican Roasted Cauliflower, Crispy 5-Ingredient Roasted Sweet Potatoes, and Turmeric Oven Roasted Cauliflower!
Ingredient notes & why they work in this recipe
Fresh garlic
Grated or minced garlic both work to make the garlicky mixture that coats the asparagus before baking. If you have a microplane, I recommend grating your garlic for more of a paste like consistency that evenly coats each piece of asparagus with flavor. This method also creates the most delicious little crispy bits of garlic when the asparagus is done cooking.
Fresh lemon juice
The acidity in a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before serving balances out and brightens up the roasted flavor of the asparagus, and takes the recipe to an entire next level of YUM!
How to clean and prep asparagus
Asparagus has a tough, somewhat woody end to each spear that should be trimmed away before you start cooking.
I always prefer trimming the asparagus ends with a knife instead of snapping each piece where it naturally breaks.
Prepping it by using the latter method can be time consuming, and you can end up breaking off more than you need to, which will waste some of what you bought!
So where should you cut asparagus?
Line up all the asparagus spears in a row on a cutting board and cut where they turn from light green, to a deeper green.
How to make this garlicky oven roasted asparagus
If you enjoyed this roasted asparagus I’d love it if you would take a moment to rate and review it below! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 It’s also a great place for questions, and super helpful for other readers if you share any modifications you made to the recipe.
Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!
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Lemon Garlic Oven Roasted Asparagus (Dairy Free)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, Paleo, Pescatarian, Vegan, Vegetarian
Description
This simple lemon garlic oven roasted asparagus is an incredibly easy side dish that is SO delicious! The best asparagus recipe that’s great on its own or added to other dishes. Perfectly seasoned, ready in 20 minutes, dairy free, and super flavorful.
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus, washed and tough ends trimmed away
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2–3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped or grated with a microplane
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- Squeeze of fresh lemon, just before serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Wash, dry, and trim the woody ends away from the bottom of each asparagus spear.
- Place trimmed asparagus on a large baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, chopped or grated garlic, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Pour olive oil mixture over the asparagus and toss to coat. Spread out again so the asparagus is in a single layer (no overlapping spears!). This helps the asparagus roast and caramelize instead of steaming.
- Roast for 10–15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears, until tender and lightly caramelized at the tips. How long it takes to bake the asparagus depends on the size of the spears. The skinnier they are the faster they will cook. You can tell that your asparagus is done when it is tender and slightly caramelized on the tips, but still bright green. You can test it by piercing the thick part of the stalk with the point of a paring knife. If the knife can pierce the asparagus without much resistance, then it’s done!
- Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and more salt to taste if desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Leftovers of this asparagus are best if eaten within 1-2 days.
To reheat, warm in the microwave for 30 seconds or in the oven at 325 for 6-8 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Mic says
Made it tonight. Yummy. Thank you!
Nyssa Tanner says
I’m so glad that you loved it!! – Nyssa
Julie says
I made this for Easter dinner, served with a mushroom lasagna. Everyone loved the bright lemony taste, I only used 1 lemon. Will make again.
Nyssa Tanner says
So glad that you enjoyed it, Julie! Happy cooking 🙂 – Nyssa