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Easy Roasted Asparagus with Lemon

Apr 2, 2022 · 10 Comments

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roasted asparagus on a white platter sprinkled with lemon zest and a lemon wedge sitting in the corner
roasted asparagus on a white platter sprinkled with lemon zest and a lemon wedge sitting in the corner

This Easy Roasted Asparagus with Lemon is a simple side dish that goes with so many meals. Plus this healthy asparagus recipe is naturally gluten-free, vegan, keto, low carb, Paleo and Whole30 friendly!

a rectangular white platter with roasted asparagus and a lemon wedge on it

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Why this recipe works

Roasting is a great cooking method for almost any vegetable and asparagus is no exception. While you can boil, steam or sauté it, roasting will make it tender but not mushy. Plus it mellows asparagus’ flavor while it caramelizes in the oven.

Adding a bit of lemon zest and juice at the end perks the dish right up.

This easy asparagus recipe is great with chicken, pork, fish, eggs…really just about anything.

And this can be easily doubled.

What you need for Easy Roasted Asparagus with Lemon

Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch asparagus, medium to large thickness (approx. 1 pound) – First, try to find asparagus that’s medium-to-large thickness. If the asparagus is too skinny (about the diameter of a pencil), it’s easy to overcook it, making it stringy and limp. The spears should be clean and firm, not shriveled or limp. The tips should look fresh, not wilted or dry.
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 small lemon
  • optional additions: chopped fresh herbs like parsley, basil or mint; chopped toasted nuts like sliced almonds, walnuts or hazelnuts; a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or flavored olive oil like garlic or blood orange

Equipment:

  • a chef’s knife
  • a cutting board
  • a stainless steel baking sheet
  • measuring spoons
  • a microplane grater
  • cooking or serving tongs
  • serving platter or plate
asparagus baked in the oven on a white platter with a lemon wedge

How to cook Roasted Asparagus with Lemon

Step 1: Heat the oven to 425°.

Step 2: Wash and dry the asparagus. Lay it out on a cutting board. Pick up one spear and hold the bottom end and somewhere about 1/3 of the way up the spear. Bend it until it naturally breaks. This is how much you should chop off the rest of the spears (the bottom end of the spears tend to get tough).

Step 3: Now lay the asparagus on the baking sheet and toss with the oil and salt. I find it easiest to use my hands for this.

Step 4: Place in the oven. For medium-thick asparagus spears, roast them for about 15-20 minutes. For very thick spears, roast them for about 20-25 minutes. You can check on them about halfway through the cooking time. If they’re starting to shrivel and have brown, caramelized spots, they’re ready.

Step 5: Once they’re done, transfer them to a plate or platter.

Step 6: Zest the lemon and then cut it into wedges (always zest fruit before cutting!). Sprinkle with a few squirts of the lemon wedge, the lemon zest and freshly ground black pepper.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is my asparagus stringy?

There’s a good chance the asparagus either wasn’t very fresh to begin with or it was roasted for too long. Also, very skinny asparagus will be stringy now matter how you cook it.

Can roasted asparagus with lemon be made ahead of time?

Often roasted vegetables are fine if made in advance. However, oven-roasted asparagus is different. The longer it sits around after getting roasted, the more limp and soggy it’ll become. That’s because the salt will draw out the moisture as it sits. So I recommend enjoying asparagus as soon as you take it out of the oven.

Can I freeze roasted asparagus with lemon?

I do not recommend freezing roasted asparagus.

Other recipes you might like:

  1. Roasted Mushrooms and Green Beans
  2. Chinese-Inspired Roasted Asparagus and Carrots
  3. Balsamic Roasted Green Beans, Brussels Sprouts and Dates
  4. Braised Red Cabbage
  5. The 4 Best Ways to Cook Parsnips
  6. The 3 Best Ways to Cook Plantains
a rectangular white platter with roasted asparagus and a lemon wedge on it

Easy Roasted Asparagus with Lemon

Don Baiocchi
This Easy Roasted Asparagus with Lemon is a simple side dish that goes with so many meals. Roasting is a healthy and straightfoward way to cook asparagus and a bit of lemon at the end perks the flavor right up.
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 61 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bunch asparagus, medium to large thickness (approx. 1 pound)
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 small lemon

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oven to 425°.
  • Wash and dry the asparagus. Lay it out on a cutting board. Pick up one spear and hold the bottom end and somewhere about halfway up the spear. Bend it until it naturally breaks. This is how much you should chop off the rest of the spears (the bottom end of the spears tend to get tough).
  • Now lay the asparagus on the baking sheet and toss with the oil and salt. I find it easiest to use my hands for this.
  • For medium-thick asparagus spears, roast them for about 15-20 minutes. For very thick spears, roast them for about 20-25 minutes. You can check on them about halfway through the cooking time. If they're starting to shrivel and have brown, caramelized spots, they're ready.
  • Once they're done, transfer them to a plate or platter.
  • Zest the lemon and then cut it into wedges (always zest fruit before cutting!). Sprinkle with a few squirts of the lemon wedge, the lemon zest and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy immediately.

Notes

You can easily double this recipe.
I do not recommend making roasted asparagus ahead of time, as it tends to get limp as it sits.
I also do not recommend freezing roasted asparagus.
Optional additions: chopped fresh herbs like parsley, basil or mint; chopped toasted nuts like sliced almonds, walnuts or hazelnuts; a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or flavored olive oil like garlic or blood orange
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 3gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 293mgPotassium: 266mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 863IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 3mg
Keyword asparagus recipe, asparagus with lemon, healthy asparagus recipe, healthy side dish, paleo asparagus
Tried this recipe?Mention @paleoglutenfreeguy or tag #paleoglutenfreeguy!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ChihYu says

    April 8, 2022 at 8:41 pm

    5 stars
    Yum! This is the perfect side dish! Love the char that you get from the roasting! And the lemon brightens the flavor!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      April 12, 2022 at 9:17 am

      Thanks!

      Reply
  2. Janessa says

    April 6, 2022 at 2:40 pm

    5 stars
    Super simple and delicious! We enjoyed this alongside grilled salmon for our dinner last night and it was perfect.

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      April 6, 2022 at 2:42 pm

      That sounds like a fantastic combo!

      Reply
  3. Shelby says

    April 5, 2022 at 11:24 am

    5 stars
    This is my go-to side dish allll summer long! Lemon + asparagus is easily the best flavor pairing!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      April 5, 2022 at 4:43 pm

      They really are so good together!

      Reply
  4. jennifer says

    April 5, 2022 at 9:56 am

    5 stars
    I love this recipe! So easy to prepare and that lemon profile is just perfect! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      April 5, 2022 at 4:42 pm

      Thanks! So glad you like it.

      Reply
  5. Megan says

    April 5, 2022 at 9:46 am

    5 stars
    Don, thanks for this amaaazing new asparagus recipe!! It is the best. In the past, I typically just saute, but this brings out the flavors so much, just like any roasted veggie lol. Love the addition of lemon, too.

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      April 5, 2022 at 4:42 pm

      Thanks! Sauteing is also a good method, too.

      Reply
5 from 5 votes

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Well hello there! I’m Don, the creator behind Paleo Gluten Free Guy. I share fun, vibrant recipes for good health and pure enjoyment. All of my recipes are gluten-free and the majority of them are also Paleo, meaning they’re free of grains, dairy, refined sugar and legumes.

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