Name: Lemon Parmesan Asparagus
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound medium asparagus, ends trimmed; 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste); 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste); 2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (or more to taste); 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

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Lemon parmesan asparagus is a delicious way to serve a classic spring vegetable. Seasoned asparagus is roasted in the oven until tender crisp and topped with freshly squeezed lemon juice and grated Parmesan for the most incredible flavor. This side dish is incredibly quick and easy to make in less than 20 minutes! Serve it alongside your favorite protein such as chicken or salmon and a starchy side dish like pasta or rice for a complete and wholesome weeknight dinner.

Lemon parmesan asparagus is a delicious way to serve a classic spring vegetable. This side dish is quick and easy to make in less than 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You’ll Love Lemon Parmesan Asparagus

It’s quick and easy. Set aside about 20 minutes to prep and cook this lemon parmesan asparagus. It’s a simple recipe that requires minimal prep and just a handful of ingredients. You’ll love how quickly this side dish comes together — especially on busy weeknights.
A healthy side dish. The best part of this lemon parmesan asparagus is certainly the asparagus. Asparagus is a low-calorie vegetable that’s packed with nutrients like fiber, folate, and vitamins A, C & K. In fact, one serving of this side dish (with Parmesan cheese) is just 29 calories. Insane!
Loaded with flavor. Parmesan and lemon kind of go amazing together in so many dishes, especially vegetable side dishes. There is something about the nutty cheese and sour lemon that just go together and helps bring out the flavor of the vegetables that it is added to. Add it to crunchy tender crisp asparagus with garlic, and you've got yourself some major flavorful veggies.

Ingredient Notes

To make this quick and easy Lemon Parmesan Asparagus, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in the recipe card below):

asparagus - I went for medium asparagus. If you are using thinner asparagus, you will have to adjust the cook time slightly so that they don't overcook and burn.
salt and pepper
olive oil
garlic
lemon juice - lemon is a great ingredient in the kitchen because it can add acidity, sourness, sweetness, and citrus notes to any dish. It’s the perfect companion to asparagus and parmesan.
Parmesan cheese - you can substitute freshly grated parmesan cheese in this recipe for the pre-grated packaged parmesan cheese, but I urge you not to. Fresh parmesan is one of the main ingredients in this dish and it adds incredible flavor and texture that you won’t want to miss out on.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a large half sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Lemon Parmesan Asparagus

Season asparagus. Place asparagus on a large half sheet baking pan and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle minced garlic on top and drizzle with olive oil. Toss well to coat evenly.
Bake. Arrange the asparagus in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake in a 400F preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until tender yet crisp. Note that if you are using thinner asparagus, you will have to adjust the cook time by about 5 minutes.
Serve. Drizzle with lemon juice and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Serve immediately.

How to Serve Roasted Asparagus

Serve this lemon parmesan asparagus alongside a protein and simple plain side like potatoes or rice for a complete meal. Some of my favorites to serve with this are:

Storing Instructions

How to store: Allow leftover lemon parmesan asparagus to cool to room temperature before storing it in the fridge inside an airtight container. Eat within 3-5 days.
How to reheat: Reheat roasted asparagus the same way you baked it — in a preheated 400F oven. It only needs about 4-5 minutes to heat completely. Serve immediately. The Parmesan will melt when reheating, so feel free to add extra freshly grated Parmesan on top.

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