Simple Lemon Garlic Roasted Asparagus {vegan + gluten free + whole30}

This simple lemon garlic roasted asparagus is an incredibly easy and healthy side dish that is SO delicious! The best baked asparagus recipe that’s great on its own or added to other dishes. Perfectly seasoned and super flavorful. Vegan, gluten free, whole30, paleo, low carb, keto.

Bright green and perfectly baked asparagus studded with bits of crispy garlic and brightened up with a squeeze of fresh lemon IS my ideal healthy side dish!

There’s something about the combination of roasted asparagus with lemon and garlic that works so well. An exceptional pairing that always hits the spot! And not only is this recipe super delicious, it’s also super simple to make.

Not fussy, tons of flavor, and ready in 15 minutes are a few of the reasons I think that this is the best way to cook asparagus in the oven.

Even though this recipe is super simple, I still want to answer some common questions about cooking asparagus below, like:

• What is the best way to clean asparagus?
• How long does asparagus last when it’s fresh and when it’s cooked?
• And how long does it takes to cook, and how will you know when it is done?

Why you’ll love this simple lemon garlic roasted asparagus

This baked asparagus recipe is:

• Fresh
• Flavorful
• Simple to make
• Super delicious
• Garlicky
• Quick
• Vegan, gluten free, Whole30, and low carb / keto
• SO dang tasty!

Simple lemon garlic roasted asparagus ingredients

(If you’re already ready to get started, scroll all the way down to the bottom for the full printable recipe!)

• Asparagus – When picking asparagus at the store look for stalks that are firm and smooth to the touch, with compact and healthy looking tips. The stalks shouldn’t be limp or look wrinkled, and keep an eye out for tips that are starting to soften and spoil. While we choose organic produce whenever possible, asparagus is a produce item on the “Clean 15” list. Meaning it’s one of the top foods with the least amount of pesticides used to grow it. So if you can’t find or can’t afford to purchase organic asparagus don’t sweat it!
• Olive oil – Olive oil, avocado oil, even melted ghee are all good options for this roasted asparagus 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 highly recommend grating your garlic for more of a paste like consistency. This also creates the most delicious little crispy bits of garlic when the asparagus is done cooking. Such good seasoning!
• Garlic powder – Just for that extra little bit of savory garlic flavor. If you don’t have any garlic powder on hand don’t fret, you can easily skip it.
• Salt + pepper
• Fresh lemon juice – Just the tiniest squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before serving takes this roasted asparagus recipe to an entire next level of YUM!

How to clean and prep asparagus

Okay so before we get into how to make this roasted asparagus recipe, let’s chat about how to clean and prep asparagus.

Asparagus is a pretty simple veggie to prep. By following a few basic steps you’ll be ready to pop it in the oven in no time.

How to trim asparagus

Asparagus has a tough, somewhat woody end to each spear that should be trimmed away before you start cooking.

There are a few different popular opinions out there about trimming asparagus.

Some say that snapping each spear where it naturally breaks is the best way, and others prefer trimming the ends away with a knife.

Personally I prefer trimming the asparagus ends with a knife.

Snapping each piece of asparagus can be time consuming and you can end up breaking off more than you need to.

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 white (or light green) to green.

Do you wash asparagus before roasting?

I always recommend washing vegetables before cooking with them – even if it’s just a quick rinse.

However when you’re roasting vegetables you want to make sure to dry them after washing using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, so that they roast and get crispy instead of steaming in the pan.

A general rule of thumb when cooking vegetables is that moisture = steaming. So unless that’s what you’re going for make sure to dry them off thoroughly before tossing with the oil and seasonings.

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How to make oven roasted lemon garlic asparagus

This baked asparagus recipe is super easy to make. It comes together quickly, and only requires about 10-15 minutes in the oven.

Here’s the step-by-step:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Place cleaned and 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!).
• Move to the oven and bake for 10 – 15 minutes, until bright green and tender.
• Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and more salt to taste if needed.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Best temperature for roasting asparagus

425 degrees

Roasting asparagus at 425 degrees Fahrenheit results in bright green and tender asparagus that is also slightly crispy. I live for the bite of those caramelized tips!

At this temperature it gets a little bit toasty but doesn’t overcook and turn mushy.

How long does asparagus take to cook in the oven

How long to roast asparagus depends on the size of your asparagus spears. Super skinny pieces will roast much more quickly than thick ones.

For average sized asparagus spears (like pictured in this blog post) it will take about 12 minutes to cook at 425 degrees.

How do you know when asparagus is done?

You can tell that your asparagus is done in the oven when it is tender and slightly caramelized on the tips, but still bright green.

You can test to see if it’s tender 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 than it’s ready!

Health benefits of asparagus

Okay, so we’ve established that this asparagus recipe is DELICIOUS, but is asparagus good for you?

Yes! Asparagus is actually a super nutritionally balanced veggie! (source)

It is:

• An excellent source of Vitamin K
• High in folate
• A good source of anti-oxidants like Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Glutathione
• Good for digestion

How long does asparagus last?

Fresh: Depending on how fresh it was when you purchased it, asparagus should keep anywhere from 4 days to a week in the refrigerator.

To make it last longer you can trim the ends and place it in a jar with a few inches of water, or wrap the ends in a damp paper towel and store inside a plastic bag.

Cooked: Once cooked, this asparagus recipe should be eaten within a day or two for the best flavor.

Want some more healthy side dish ideas? Check out these recipes!

• Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
• The Creamiest Whole30 Mashed Cauliflower
• Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
• Sweet and Spicy Mexican Roasted Sweet Potatoes

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