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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.

Broiled Asparagus recipe with spears on a plate with lemon slice.
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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:

💡 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.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the best way to cook asparagus?

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.

Do I have to peel asparagus?

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.

What are some good flavor pairings for asparagus?

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.

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Quick Broiled Asparagus

Broiled asparagus
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5 from 1 review

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.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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1 Comment

  1. Sabrina says:

    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!