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.

What’s your favorite way to make asparagus? Here’s our very best recipe: easy baked asparagus! It’s baked in a hot oven until tender, but still beautifully green. Then it’s spritzed with lemon: the way to make this healthy veggie taste over-the-moon good. The finishing touch: gooey melted Parmesan cheese shavings. Yes, it’s the perfect way to eat asparagus, which can often be cooked until it’s bitter and limp. (Ew.) Even better, it’s a side dish that’s easy enough to whip up while you’re in the midst of cooking a main. Ready for all the secrets?

Want a few other methods? Go to Roasted Asparagus, Broiled Asparagus, Sauteed Asparagus or Steamed Asparagus.

How to make baked asparagus (basic steps)

I was pretty iffy on asparagus growing up. The image of pushing lifeless green stalks around on my plate as a child is seared into my memory! It wasn’t until adulthood that I started to give it a chance. Even today, when asparagus isn’t cooked correctly it can send me right back to those days. Luckily this baked asparagus recipe makes it taste so good, even our toddler gobbled it up! The lemon and Parmesan asparagus combo is a smash hit every time.

How long to bake asparagus? About 10 to 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Here’s the outline of how to make these green stalks taste positively amazing (or go right to the recipe):

Prep: Cut off the woody ends of the asparagus. Throw them on a foil or parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Season: Toss the asparagus with olive oil to coat, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Top with shredded Parmesan cheese.
Bake: Bake at 425 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, until the largest stem is fork tender. (The timing depends on the thickness of the stalks.) That’s it!

What’s the season for asparagus?

Here in the US, asparagus is available year round in most grocery stores. But it’s at it’s tastiest in the spring! April is the prime month for asparagus. Depending on where you’re located, it’s available February through June. If you can, look to buy it locally!

Ways to serve baked asparagus

This baked asparagus recipe is a great side dish to have as part of your repertoire because it’s so versatile. It has an elegant vibe: there’s nothing pedestrian about baked asparagus with Parmesan, right? It says, I have my stuff together. (Or whatever word you’d like to insert there.) Another plus is that it’s full of fiber, so it make up for that in your main dish. A cheesy risotto or mac and cheese would do well with a side of asparagus. Here are a few great recipes to serve it with:

Salmon: An obvious pairing! Try Lemon Dill Salmon or Cedar Plank Salmon.
Risotto: Add a hint of fiber and green to a plate of risotto. Try Parmesan Truffle Risotto.
Mac and Cheese or Pasta: Take pasta to the next level. Try Yogurt Mac and Cheese or Creamy Cavatappi.

Asparagus nutrition

As you might guess, asparagus is full of nutrients and a fantastic healthy veggie to eat more of! Here’s some of the nutrition breakdown:

Full of fiber: 1 cup of cooked asparagus has 4 grams of fiber. (Source)
Relatively high in protein: 1 cup also has 4 grams protein. (Source) That’s a similar level to broccoli and potatoes.
Health benefits: It can aid in eye and hair health, and has potential anti-aging properties. (Source)

Ready to jump on the baked asparagus train? Let us know if you try it in the comments below! Or check out more of our Easy Asparagus Recipes or How to Cook Asparagus.

More easy side dish recipes

This baked Parmesan asparagus is part of a collection of our best vegetable side dishes! Here are a few more you’ll love to make on the regular:

Best Broccoli This healthy side dish turns out bright green and crisp tender every time: top with feta and red onion!
Lemon Herb Cauliflower This lemon herb steamed cauliflower cooks in minutes and is so tasty, it’s life changing.
Lemony Green Beans These steamed green beans are zingy from the lemon and take only 10 minutes to make.
Asparagus Salad with Feta Bursting with flavor and totally versatile! It highlights this healthy veggie with lemon, radishes, feta, and a Dijon dressing.

This baked asparagus recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, go to Roasted Asparagus with Lemon.