Asparagus is great. Oven roasted asparagus is better. But oven roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus is one of the best asparagus recipes out there. Tendercrisp spears with a crispy parmesan panko topping are a sure fire way to get everyone asking for a second helping of veggies. From prep to table in under 15 minutes!
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If the old saying “there’s someone for everyone” is true, then surely it applies to other things in life. Like, “there’s a vegetable for everyone.” And maybe then we could even go so far as to say “there’s an asparagus dish for everyone.”
Perhaps, you’re a “raw tips on the better-than-average crudité platters you find at mid-range galas and weddings” person. You could be someone who doesn’t care how asparagus is cooked as long as it’s tender and charred. Or maybe you need bonus flavor in order for it to work for you, so you prefer lemon garlic asparagus or baked asparagus with balsamic.
I suppose wondering things like this is exactly how BuzzFeed quizzes became a cottage industry. But even if you’re the kind of person who rolled your eyes so hard you pulled a muscle when you saw the latest “Which asparagus recipe are you?” quiz, you also might also be the same kind of person who said to themselves, “Well, obviously, I’m roasted garlic parmesan asparagus.”
Because there are obvious similarities, right? Sometimes you’re salty and sometimes you’re cheesy. You’re right at home whether it’s paper plate or fine china living. Once people get to know you, they love you. And much like parmesan crusted asparagus, some would say you’re absolutely delicious.
Garlic and Parmesan Make It Better!
I have come to accept that even with proper, consistent, repeated exposure, not everyone is going to learn to love vegetables. Sometimes the most we can hope for is tolerance.
However, we can move the needle from tolerance to acceptance with some strategic maneuvers – honey butter, ranch dressing, and “hidden” veggie sauces, to name a few. But the one that works best on my kids while keeping me happiest in the process, are garlic parmesan crusted vegetables.
Ask them what their “favorite” vegetables are and they’ll tell you they don’t like vegetables… but ask them which vegetables they’d eat if they had to, and all of a sudden they remember how much they like roasted parmesan cauliflower and parmesan roasted broccoli.
Nutty, salty parmesan cheese is the perfect foil to slightly-sweet and punchy garlic. The proof is baked right in, or rather on, this garlic parmesan asparagus.
Fat or Thin Spears for Parmesan Asparagus?
Chef’s choice, but we prefer fatter spears for this particular asparagus recipe. When roasting asparagus, thinner spears will roast more quickly, and in this case, the parmesan crust may not have fully browned by the time thin asparagus is done roasting.
If you do have thinner spears, reduce the cook time and flip the oven setting to “broil” in the last 1-2 minutes to help the parmesan-panko breading get nice and crispy.
How to Make Roasted Parmesan Asparagus
Roasted parmesan asparagus is ready in a literal (and figurative) snap! Roast seasoned asparagus spears topped with grated parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs, then fire up the broiler to get that ultimate crunch. This is a super easy, intensely flavored side dish that’s ready in just 15 minutes.
- Toss the asparagus spears with olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Combine grated parmesan, panko breadcrumbs, and olive oil in a small bowl, then mixed until well combined and evenly moistend.
- Sprinkle the parmesan-breadcrumb mixture over the asparagus.
- Roasted in a 425°F oven for 4-6 minutes (depending on size), then flip the oven setting to “broil” and cook 1-2 minutes more until the topping is golden brown.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or basil and serve right away. Enjoy!
Chef’s Tips!
- Choose fresh spears of asparagus that are bright green and firm, never mushy or wilted.
- For even cooking, use asparagus spears that are uniform in size (thin or thick).
- Make sure each spear is evenly coated in oil and seasonings before arranging on the baking sheet and topping with parmesan bread crumb mixture.
- Use fresh grated parmesan cheese, never the shaky powder in a can.
What’s the Best Parmesan Cheese to Use?
When mixing parmesan cheese with bread crumbs, we prefer grated parmesan cheese. You can finely grate fresh off a block using a microplane or the smallest holes on your box grater, or you can use pre-grated parmesan cheese (our favorite brands are BelGioisio and Galbani). Avoid canned cheese – it has too many additives to properly melt.
Storing and Reheating
This asparagus recipe doesn’t reheat well – the breading gets soggy, and in general, I don’t really like reheated asparagus. It never really retains its crunch, even reheated in my favorite leftovers tool, the air fryer! Keep the prep size appropriate (it halves and doubles beautifully) and only make as much as you’ll consume in one setting.
Did you make this garlic parmesan asparagus? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.
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Recipe
Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus
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Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- ¼ c finely grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ c panko breadcrumbs
- chopped fresh basil or parsley, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Position a rack in the center of the oven, then heat to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Trim the asparagus, then arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle the asparagus with one tablespoon of olive oil, then sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Gently toss until the spears are evenly coated, then arrange into a single even layer.
- Combine the parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl until well combined and evenly moistened.
- Sprinkle the parmesan and panko mixture evenly over the asparagus.
- Transfer to the oven and roast for 4-6 minutes, depending on size. Then flip the oven to the broiler setting and broil 1-2 minutes to allow the topping to crisp and turn golden brown.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or basil and serve right away. Enjoy!
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