Roasted Asparagus with Lemon

I know you’ve probably tried steaming asparagus, but what about tossing them with olive oil, lemon juice, and roasting to perfection?

Lemon Roasted Asparagus is a game-changing recipe you’ll want to keep on hand for an impressive and easy side dish.

Lemon Roasted Asparagus

These asparagus have slightly charred edges from the oven heat and a bright summery flavor of fresh lemon juice. It’s buttery, zippy, and crisp-tender all in one bite. 

Asparagus also provides many health benefits such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Plus, they are the one green vegetable many kids are surprisingly eager to eat, or is that just mine?

Here’s what you need to make roasted asparagus with lemon: 

• fresh asparagus: you’ll need 1 bunch
• lemon: half is juiced and the remaining half is sliced and baked with the spears
• olive oil: helps those edges get all caramelized and golden brown
• salt & pepper: can we do anything without these two? 

How to Prep Asparagus

To prep, the asparagus for roasting, remove the woody stem by holding the asparagus with one hand at the base and the other at the stem’s center. Bend until it snaps. The fibrous, tough part should come off, leaving the tender, green stem intact. 

You can complete this step up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate the asparagus in an airtight container. 

Rinse the asparagus with water right before you cook them, not when you get home from the store. The excess moisture trapped in the tips would increase the chance of them wilting or going bad while in the fridge.  

How to Roast Asparagus with Lemon

Roasted asparagus is one of the easiest veggie side dishes to prepare, taking only 15 to 20 minutes from start to finish. Compared to steaming, these don’t get overcooked or mushy and have plenty of flavor. It’s no wonder they are a popular vegetable on the dinner table. 

Start with a hot oven
Preheat the oven to 425F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. 

Add the flavor
Place the asparagus onto the baking sheet, drizzle with lemon juice, olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat the vegetables in the seasonings then spread them in an even layer. 

More fresh lemon
Using a paring knife, slice the remaining half of the lemon and place the slices over the asparagus. 

Bake to perfection
Roast for 10 minutes or until golden brown and tender. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and serve. 

At this point, you could top the roasted asparagus with shredded Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese for that melty, cheesy action. 

How to Store Roasted Asparagus

On the rare occasion that you have leftover roasted asparagus, the extras can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 4 days. To reheat them in a microwave, place the desired amount in a microwave-safe container and reheat for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.

If you want the asparagus to have that same roasted, charry flavor as the first day, place them onto a baking sheet and bake at 425F for an additional 10 minutes.

How to Serve Roasted Asparagus with Lemon

There’s no shortage of ways to include this delicious veggie side dish into your everyday meals. You can serve it alongside roasted or grilled proteins, as a salad topping, or simply by themselves for a light, savory snack. 

• Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts
• Bruschetta Chicken
• Foil Baked Salmon
• Bacon & Spinach Frittata
• Grilled Steak Kabobs

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