The Only 6 Asparagus Recipes You Need to Know
Spring is upon us! And what does that mean? Fresh asparagus!
If you're like me, you take special pride in eating your garden-fresh asparagus. This vegetable is not necessarily difficult to grow - but it's not easy, either.
Therefore, savoring that first springtime bite of asparagus is really something special.
If you're stuck for ideas on how to make good use of all of your spears, consider these top six asparagus recipes to help you get started.
Whether you make one of these exact recipes or decide to get creative on your own, I hope you find the perfect fit for all of your springtime asparagus.
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What is the Best Way to Cook and Eat Asparagus?
Don’t worry - I’ll give you plenty of tips for how to cook asparagus, a springtime staple, in this post. But for now, know this:
Asparagus can be boiled, roasted, grilled, or stir-fried to make a delicious side dish.
To boil asparagus, blanch for 3-4 minutes.
Roast asparagus on a sheet pan with oil and salt at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
Grill asparagus directly over medium heat for 8-10 minutes and brush with olive oil to prevent sticking.
For a quick meal, stir fry asparagus with garlic and butter until crisp-tender.
Here are a few more fun asparagus recipes to try:
Tips for Cooking Asparagus
1. Always trim and wash your asparagus before beginning.
2. Consider cooking your asparagus ahead of time for pasta dishes by using a handy asparagus steamer basket like this one. It will cut down on your prep time and ensure that your asparagus is cooked to perfection - and not overly wilted or overcooked.
3. Don't settle for any old asparagus. Make sure you only cook the best-looking asparagus and discard any pieces that look wilted or damaged. You can feed them to your pigs or chickens!
4. If you're pressed for time, cook your asparagus in the microwave using a microwave steamer like this one.
Easy Asparagus Recipes to Try
Easy Roasted Asparagus
Fresh, oven-roasted asparagus is one of the easiest ways to cook asparagus up for a quick side dish. You can cut your asparagus into small chunks, or you can cook it whole - just make sure you cut off the woodier portions of the spears.
Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Asparagus spears
Pepper
Salt
Garlic powder
Lemon juice
Parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions:
1. Start by washing the asparagus and cutting off the tips.
2. Arrange your spears on a sheet pan. Try not to allow the spears to touch.
3. Drizzle olive oil and seasonings atop the spears.
4. Roast at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. During the last 2 minutes, sprinkle parmesan cheese (to taste) and lemon juice on top of the spears.
5. Enjoy!
2. Easy Cheesy Asparagus Roast
This recipe is super easy, too. It is just a simple modification of the last fantastic asparagus recipe and is ready in just twenty minutes. You can eat it as a side dish, but I often eat so much of it as a main course that I don’t even want the meat or pasta that I’ve cooked to go with it!
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
Asparagus spears
3-4 T olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 cup mozzarella cheese
½ cup parmesan cheese
1 ½ tsp minced garlic
Directions:
1. Begin by washing your asparagus and cutting off the tips.
2. Arrange your asparagus neatly and evenly on a large sheet pan.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the seasonings (garlic, salt, and pepper) with the olive oil. Once it is thoroughly mixed, toss the spears until they are lightly coated.
4. Bake at 410 degrees for 10-15 minutes - watch the asparagus carefully and wait until it has become tender (though not yet wilted).
5. Remove the pan and sprinkle it with your cheese. Bake the asparagus an additional two minutes or more, depending on how crispy you like your cheese to be.
6. If you are having trouble getting your cheese to brown up, consider turning off the oven and changing it over to the broiler setting. This will help brown your cheese without wilting your asparagus!
3. Savory Southern Asparagus Bake
If you’re looking for a more decadent asparagus dish, look no further. This recipe is a Thanksgiving favorite and is absolutely delicious. It may not be the healthiest way to eat asparagus, but I’m telling you, it’s certainly one of the best! Here’s what to do.
Total Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients:
2 bunches of asparagus
½ lb bacon
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
6 tsp soy sauce
6 tsp melted butter
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Slice your asparagus into pieces that are approximately one inch long. Arrange them on a sheet pan or in a casserole dish.
3. Cook your bacon by frying it in a large pan. If you prefer crispy bacon without all the grease, bake it in the oven instead.
4. Remove the bacon and allow it to cool before chopping it up. Spread the pieces of bacon atop the asparagus.
5. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the butter, garlic, soy sauce, and brown sugar. After they are thoroughly mixed, pour the mixture over the asparagus.
6. Bake for 40 minutes.
4. Foiled Asparagus
Cooking asparagus in a foil packet is a great way to lock int he flavor and make it grill-friendly. One of the biggest challenges involved in grilling asparagus is that the narrow spears can easily slip through the grates of the grill, but wrapping it in foil helps to prevent this from happening.
You can cook asparagus in a foil packet by itself, or add your favorite protein, like chicken, shrimp, or beef. Whatever you choose, know that it is exceptionally easy to prepare.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
½ lb asparagus
4 tsp butter, plus butter for coating the foil
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp pepper
½ T parsley
½ tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
Lemon zest (to taste)
Directions:
1. Begin by preheating or preparing your grill. Regardless of whether you are using a gas or charcoal grill, it should be warmed to about 425 degrees.
2. Prepare a sheet of foil by spreading softened butter on it. Then, lay your asparagus stalks on the buttered foil.
3. Combine the rest of your seasonings and pour them over the asparagus.
4. Add the remaining 4 tsp of butter.
5. Fold the corners of the foil up and over the asparagus. Make sure the foil is sealed on all sides.
6. Grill the foil packets for 7 minutes. Flip. Grill another 8 minutes.
7. Use a set of tongs to remove the packets from the grill, and allow them to cool slightly before you attempt to open them.
5. Chicken and Asparagus Pasta Bake
This asparagus recipe requires a few more ingredients, but trust me, it’s definitely worth it.
Although there are a lot of ingredients required to make this tasty asparagus entree, a majority are spices and other ingredients that you can swap out depending on what you have in your refrigerator. For example, you don’t have to use fresh minced garlic - garlic powder is fine, although it won’t have the decadent crunch of fresh garlic.
I also like to substitute plain, nonfat Greek yogurt for recipes involving heavy cream. You get the same benefit of the milk, but extra protein and probiotics to make the most of the calories.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
12 oz pasta (any kind - I prefer whole grain penne or rotini)
1 bunch asparagus
2 cloves minced garlic
2 cups of shredded chicken
1 T olive oil
¼ tsp onion powder
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
Pinch of red pepper flakes
½ cup bone broth
4 oz cream cheese (usually half a package)
¼ cup heavy cream
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
1. Cook the pasta as recommended on the product package. During the last three minutes of cooking time for the pasta, add the asparagus and steam it with the boiling pasta. When the time has elapsed, drain the mixture and set it off to the side.
2. While your pasta is cooking, you can cook your chicken with the minced garlic by sauteeing it in olive oil in a separate pan. When it’s done cooking, add the rest of your spices and saute for two more minutes.
3. In a separate pan, combine all of your dairy ingredients (cream cheese and heavy cream). Once they are warm, add them to the chicken pan. Do not add these cold ingredients to the hot pan - it will cause the milk to curdle. You can also add half of the Parmesan cheese at this time.
4. Place the pasta and asparagus int he skillet with the chicken. Stir the mixture well until it is fully combined. You can add your broth to help moisten the sauce.
5. When your ingredients are combined and cooked through, remove the pan from the heat. Add any remaining salt, pepper, or Parmesan cheese. Serve hot.
6. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
My husband and I don’t eat large breakfasts very often, but when we do, it’s on the weekends. Because it’s just the two of us, a pound of bacon goes a long way, and we often have leftovers from our morning meal. As a result, I’m often left scratching my head as I try to figure out the best way to use up all the bacon we have left over.
Bacon wrapped asparagus is not only a great way to use up that bacon, but it’s also ridiculously tasty. It’s a great way to impress your dinner party guests and it’s also an easy appetizer that you can whip up at a moment’s notice. Here’s how to make it.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
1 lb asparagus
6 slices of uncooked bacon
⅛ tsp pepper
⅛ tsp salt
¼ tsp garlic powder
1/ cup butter
½ T soy sauce
¼ cup brown sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. It needs to be nice and hot to cook the bacon.
2. Carefully wrap a single piece of bacon around a bundle of four asparagus spears. Place the roll in a baking dish. Repeat this process until you have used all of your bacon and all of your asparagus.
3. While you are doing this, you can have a saucepan going on medium-high heat on your stove. In this saucepan, you should combine the butter, brown sugar, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Bring the mixture to a boil.
4. Once you have reached a boil, reduce the heat and stir the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved. Then, you can pour the mixture over the asparagus.
5. Bake the bundles for 30 minutes. Keep an eye on the spears and make sure you pull them before they have begun to wilt or the bacon has started to burn.
That’s it for my round-up of the best asparagus recipes you can find! What are your favorite asparagus recipes of all time?
As my garden gets going this spring, I’m looking for new ways to use this delicious, nutritious vegetable, and I’d love to hear your tips! I'm planting Jersey Knight asparagus in some raised beds, which is incredibly easy to cultivate, even in Zone 4.
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