This roasted Lemon Garlic Asparagus recipe is quick, easy, and is a delicious side dish. It has the most perfect combination of garlic and lemon. This easy recipe is the perfect side dish because it goes great with just about anything! Asparagus doesn’t just taste great; it’s good for your body too! It is an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, and folate, which can act as a brain booster.
I love any simple recipe that I can just mix the ingredients together and bake! On a busy evening I will take any simplicity to my meals I can get. From dump and go oven meals to using air fryers, I enjoy finding sides such as these asparagus or my Air Fried Spaghetti Squash on those busy nights where I need to get the meal out quickly.
Side dishes are a great way to get additional vegetables into your daily meals. Some of my favorite sides are: Blanched Broccoli, Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots, Roasted Beets and Carrots, Roasted Leeks, Roasted Bok Choy, Peas and Potatoes, and Air Fryer Frozen Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Pomegranate.
I love having fun sauces to dip my veggies in like my Lemon Dill Aioli.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- This recipe is made of simple ingredients and easy side dish! It takes just a few minutes to get it in the oven to bake.
- Asparagus provides, vitamins, fiber, folate, and helps the body to get rid of excess salts.
- The burst of lemon and garlic are the perfect combination to top off this healthy side dish!
- This vegetable goes with almost any main dish! My favorite pairing is with my favorite crispy chicken thighs.
- This smooth and crunchy side dish can be baked, grilled, or even blanched.
- Spring is the best time to buy asparagus, and it is usually in season until June, making it the perfect springtime side dish to take along to a potluck dinner.
Ingredients
- Asparagus– Look for asparagus with plump, firm stalks with a smooth texture so that you get the freshest product.
- Lemon – The fresh lemon juice adds a bright, citrusy flavor.
- Garlic cloves – adds a wonderful flavor to the asparagus.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutes and Variations
- Lemons– You can substitute lemon juice for fresh lemons, but bottled lemon juice does lack the full citrus flavor that fresh lemons provide.
- Asparagus – can be cooked on the grill instead of the oven. Just be sure to watch the cooking time as the asparagus does come in closer contact with the flame.
- Sea Salt- Any time of salt can be used, although I prefer the taste and texture of pink sea salt.
- If you are not dairy free, adding freshly shredded parmesan cheese or feta cheese would add great flavor.
- Another great addition to this garlic lemon asparagus recipe would be some fresh cracked black pepper, garlic powder, or red pepper flakes to add additional flavor to the fresh asparagus.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Step by Step Instructions
Photo 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Trim asparagus by cutting the woody ends (ugly side) of the asparagus stalks on your cutting board, and place the asparagus as well as the other ingredients in a large bowl. Mix throughout.
Photo 2: Lay the asparagus down on a baking sheet in a single layer, and bake for about 10 minutes. Flip the asparagus at the 5 minute mark with tongs.
Expert Tips
- Tip #1: To keep asparagus from getting soggy, be sure that you don’t overcook it for the best results. Asparagus is meant to be a bit crunchy yet smooth.
- Tip #2: You can grill your asparagus instead, but you’ll only need to grill it for 5-10 minutes since it is so close to the flame. Be sure to flip it with tongs halfway through cooking.
- Tip #3: Be sure to choose asparagus that is firm and has a smooth texture. The best time of the year to buy asparagus is during Spring.
- Tip #4: For an easier way to mince garlic cloves, you can purchase a garlic press!
Recipe FAQs
The asparagus should be crisp, tender, and bright green.
Yes! Keep in mind that asparagus continues to cook even after you are done “cooking” it. Start off by bringing a large saucepan filled with water to a boil. Then, add the asparagus and cover for 1-2 minutes. Once the time is up, drain the water, and place the asparagus in an ice bath. This will prevent it from continuing to cook.
This great side dish can be paired with almost any main dish. The perfect recipe to pair this side dish with is a chicken piccatta dish!
Leftover asparagus side dish can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
I love to garnish a platter of this simple side dish with fresh lemon zest, lemon slices, and even fresh garlic.
More Side Dish Recipes You Will Love
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Lemon Garlic Asparagus
Equipment
- baking sheet or large pot
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Cut off the bottoms (ugly end) of the asparagus, about 1 inch up. Add the asparagus and other ingredients to a bowl and mix the asparagus up allowing it to become evenly coated with the EVOO, garlic, lemon, sea salt, and pepper. Move the asparagus to a baking sheet and line up without over lapping on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip the asparagus at the 5 minute mark with tongs, cook for remaining 5 minutes. See instructions above for blanching and grilling.
Lori says
Such a unique recipe for asparagus. Lemon and garlic pair perfectly with this.
Allianna Moximchalk says
Thanks for your review!