20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (2024)

Celebrate spring with our 20 Favorite Asparagus Recipes! Asparagus is one of our most-loved spring veggies and has so much versatility in the kitchen! Serve it up as a healthy side dish, fold it into stir-fries and sautees, turn it into creamy asparagus soup, or a lovely sauce or a salad, or have it be the star of an elegant main dish like this Asparagus Risotto! We’ll show you the best ways to cook asparagus: bake asparagus, stir-fry asparagus, saute asparagus, and grill asparagus, then use it in a myriad of ways.

Table of Contents

  • Baked Asparagus Recipes
  • Stir-fry Asparagus Recipes!
  • Delicious Asparagus Salads
  • Grilled Asparagus Recipes!
  • Asparagus for Breakfast? Yes!
  • Asparagus FAQs
  • More recipe collections you may like:
  • 20 Best Asparagus Recipes

Baked Asparagus Recipes

The simplest way to cook asparagus is to roast it in the oven until perfectly tender-crisp, tossed with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. We love the addition of lemon zest for added brightness. Here are several ways to bake asparagus!

Simple Roasted Asparagus

New to Asparagus? This simple Roasted Asparagus recipe couldn’t be any easier! It is one of our “go-to” healthy, vegan side dishes- it’s fast (20 mins!) and yummy and goes with practically everything! Serve it as a healthy vegan side dish or use it in other things during the week- salads, scrambles, pasta, buddha bowls, etc.

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (1)

Asparagus and Salmon just belong together, don’t they? They also take roughly the same amount of time to roast- a total win! This Roasted Salmon with Asparagus and Dill Sauce is a simple, easysheet-pan dinner that comes together in 30 minutes yet feels like a feast! Healthy and delicious!

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (2)

Tarragon Chicken with Baked Asparagus, Lemon and Leeks

Another favorite springmeal- weeknight dinners really don’t get any easier than this! This Tarragon Chicken with Roasted Asparagus, Lemon, and Leeks is fast, easy, andhealthy with minimal clean-up.

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MAIN DISH Asparagus recipes!

In these dinner recipes, asparagus takes center stage! We love asparagus so much we often feature it in the main dish.

Asparagus Risotto

OH MY GOODNESS! This Lemony Asparagus Risotto with leeks and basil is so flavorful! It’s light and creamy, with vibrant spring color. Top it with grilled mushrooms, fish or chicken for a delicious spring dinner!

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (4)

Asparagus Risotto Video

Fennel Crusted Halibut with Creamy Asparagus Sauce

Ok, here’s a fancy dinner that is perfect for date night. Fennel Crusted Halibut is pan-seared then placed atop the most luscious, creamy Asparagus Sauce. The asparagus sauce can be made ahead! Serve it up with spring veggies.

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Need a simple elegant one-pan dinner idea? This Baked Cod with Asparagus, Fennel and Leeks is simple and easy- perfect for busy nights! Serve it on its own or over a bowl of creamy polenta.

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Charred Asparagus Pasta with Lemony Cannellini Beans

This healthy vegan pasta recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes! Charred Asparagus Kale Pasta with a creamy Cannellini Bean Leek Sauce- try it, we think you’ll love it!

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (7)

Orzo Pasta with Asparagus, Lemon and Dill

Hello sunshine in a bowl! This Spring Orzo Pasta with Asparagus, Lemon and Dill – has all the flavors we crave in spring! Serve this warm as a quick flavorful entree or chilled as a side salad.

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (8)

Asparagus Tart with Chives, Tarragon and Gruyere

This Asparagus Tart with tarragon, chives and gruyere may look fancy- but it is deceivingly simple! An easy elegant dish, serve it as lunch, appetizer, or call it a meal – perfect for a special occasion. Under 30 minutes of hands-on time!

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (9)

Creamy Asparagus Soup

This vibrant green Creamy Asparagus soup with fennel and tarragon contains so much spring goodness! Plus, it just makes me happy, just looking at it. That color! A delicious start to a meal, or make it the meal! Vegan adaptable.

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (10)

Stir-fry Asparagus Recipes!

Stir-fried Asparagus is such a quick and easy way to serve up our favorite spring veggie, and it takes just a few minutes! Asparagus gets perfectly tender yet remains snappy and crisp- retaining its beautiful vibrant spring color! Don’t have a wok? No problem- use a skillet!

Szechuan Asparagus with Garlic and Ginger

This Stir-fried Szechuan Asparagus is a flavor explosion! Made with Garlic and Ginger and a flavorful, authentic Szechuan Sauce– enjoy it as a healthy vegan side or add your choice of protein and make it a meal!

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (11)

Lemony Shrimp and Asparagus Stir Fry

We love how fast and easy this Shrimp Asparagus Stir Fry is! Infused with Lemon and Basil -it is a delicious and healthy skillet meal that can be made in just 15-minutes! Low-carb and GF.

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (12)

Asparagus Mushroom Stir-Fry

This simple, flavorful Asparagus Mushroom Stir-Fry is loaded up with vibrant springveggies in a simple sauce, with your choice of protein. It can be made in 20 minutes flat! Keep it vegan with crispy tofu, or add chicken or shrimp!

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (13)

Delicious Asparagus Salads

Fennel Asparagus Salad

Did you know that raw asparagus is one of the healthiest things we can feed our gut? This Fennel Asparagus Salad with Almonds and Lemony Leek Dressing is vegan, can be made ahead, and is a perfect side to fish, chicken or tofu. One of our fall-time favorite salads on the blog.

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (14)

This Spring Pasta Salad with asparagus & mushrooms and Lemony parsley dressing is so tasty- perfect for spring gatherings or potlucks!

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (15)

Quinoa Asparagus Salad (aka Spring Tabouli)

We’ve reinvented Tabouli to make it a little more spring friendly! This Spring Tabbouleh Salad with Quinoa and Asparagus can be made with your choice of spring veggies, infused with fresh dill, lemon, sliced almonds and crumbly goat or feta (optional). A healthy, flavorful side dish that can be made ahead- perfect for barbecues, potlucks and outdoor gatherings.

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (16)

Asparagus Salad with olives, lemon and Israeli Couscous

Spring Asparagus Salad with Israeli Couscous,kalamata olives, pine nuts mint, and feta in a lemony dressing.

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (17)

Grilled Asparagus Recipes!

Simply put, asparagus is elevated when grilled. We could eat our grilled asparagus daily- and I am not joking. It is lovely as a side dish and really highlights asparagus’s texture and flavor

Perfect Grilled Asparagus

Grilled Asparagus is one of the easiest, fastest and tastiest ways to cook asparagus in under 15 minutes! A delicious healthy vegan side dish everyone will love.

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (18)

Grilled Asparagus with Garlic Scapes & Shish*to Peppers tossed with a simple, Asian-Style Marinade then grilled to perfection- a vegan, gluten-free adaptable side dish, perfect for summer that can be paired with your choice of protein.

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Asparagus for Breakfast? Yes!

Asparagus is perfect for brunch or breakfast, easily incorporated into frittata, quiche and scrambles.

Scrambled Eggs with Asparagus, Leeks, Chèvre and Dill

Scrambled eggs get enlivened with vibrant spring asparagus, goat cheese, dill and leeks. A delicious bowl of goodness!

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Springy Vegan Asparagus Frittata

Stocked up with fresh herbs, leeks and asparagus, and a flavorful, creamy chickpea flour filling, this spring frittata is vegan, eggless and tasty!

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (21)

Asparagus Toast with Poached Eggs

A simple yet elegant breakfast or brunch recipe-Asparagus toast is topped with a pillowy poached egg and warm bacon vinaigrette.

20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (22)

Baked Crepes with Asparagus

These savory crepes are made from scratch then stuffed with a mixture of asparagus, mushrooms, leeks and goat cheese– a tasty brunch recipe!

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Asparagus FAQs

What is the best way to cook asparagus?

Asparagus is a tender veggie that cooks quickly. We find that short cooking methods work best to preserve asparagus’s color and crispness. Quick roasting, grilling, stir-frying, or lightly sauteeing until tender-crisp elevates asparagus.

What does asparagus taste like?

Asparagus has a clean, green, grassy flavor that tastes of spring.

What goes well with asparagus?

We love pairing asparagus with salmon, chicken and Asian flavors. Spring herbs like tarragon really elevate asparagus.

Asparagus Don’t’s

Don’t overcook asparagus or you will lose its lovely color, snappy texture and vibrancy. Don’t forget to remove the tough fibrous ends of the asparagus.

How to rehydrate asparagus?

If asparagus seems limp or dry, cut off 1/2 inch of the root end, and submerge ends in a glass of cold water to revive. They will perk right up!

Pick out a few Asparagus Recipes to try out when asparagus starts showing up in your local area- typically April- June!

Enjoy these let us know your favorites below!

xoxo

Sylvia

More recipe collections you may like:

  • 20 Best Quinoa Recipes
  • 25 BEST Salmon Recipes!
  • 40 Easy Healthy Dinner Ideas
  • 25 BEST Lentil Recipes!
  • 20+ Best Zucchini Recipes!

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20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (24)

20 Best Asparagus Recipes

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Sylvia Fountaine | Feasting at Home
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 22
  • Total Time: 27 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: side dish, vegetables
  • Method: roasted
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Celebrate spring with our 20 Favorite Asparagus Recipes! Asparagus is one of our most-loved spring veggies and has so much versatility in the kitchen! Serve it up as a healthy side dish, fold it into stir-fries and sautees, turn it into creamy asparagus soup, or a lovely sauce or a salad, or have it be the star of an elegant main dish.We’ll show you the best cooking methods: bake asparagus, stir-fry asparagus, saute asparagus, and grill asparagus, then use it in a myriad of ways. (Baked Asparagus)

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 bunch asparagus
  • lemon zest from one lemon
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 12 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Garnish: a squeeze of lemon, fresh herbs, optional parmesan

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F
  2. Trim asparagus: Hold one spear of asparagus in your hand, and with your fingers snap off the rough end. Note where it naturally breaks. Use this as a guide to trim the remaining asparagus, laying it next to the others. Cut the remaining spears to match this length.
  3. Toss the trimmed asparagus in a bowl with olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, salt & pepper.
  4. Lay spears out in a single layer on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
  5. Roast until just tender (yet still vibrant green), about 15-25 minutes, depending on size and thickness, tossing halfway through.
  6. Once tender squeeze with lemon juice, and give a good toss. Taste for salt, adding more if needed.
  7. Place in a serving dish and garnish with any of the optional garnishes.

Notes

Serve the roasted asparagus as a side dish, or cut and add to salads, pasta salads, etc.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: with 2 tablespoons pine nuts
  • Calories: 127
  • Sugar: 3.5 g
  • Sodium: 294.6 mg
  • Fat: 10.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 8.3 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 4.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Table of Contents

  • Baked Asparagus Recipes
  • Stir-fry Asparagus Recipes!
  • Delicious Asparagus Salads
  • Grilled Asparagus Recipes!
  • Asparagus for Breakfast? Yes!
  • Asparagus FAQs
  • More recipe collections you may like:
  • 20 Best Asparagus Recipes

Table of Contents

  • Baked Asparagus Recipes
  • Stir-fry Asparagus Recipes!
  • Delicious Asparagus Salads
  • Grilled Asparagus Recipes!
  • Asparagus for Breakfast? Yes!
  • Asparagus FAQs
  • More recipe collections you may like:
  • 20 Best Asparagus Recipes
20+ Best Asparagus Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to cook and eat asparagus? ›

Chop the spears into 1-inch pieces and drop them into the boiling water for about 1 minute, or until tender but still bright green. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the blanched asparagus to the ice water and chill for 1 minute. Drain, pat dry, and toss into salads, pastas, or squeeze with lemon and enjoy!

Why do you soak asparagus in water? ›

Soak the asparagus in water for 5-10 minutes to draw out sand lodged in the tips. Swoosh them around a few times to unsettle grit.

What is the most popular way to eat asparagus? ›

Asparagus develops a rich flavor when roasted, making this one of the most popular ways to eat the vegetable.

Why shouldn't you snap the ends off asparagus? ›

It is not necessary to trim asparagus. On some spears, especially fresh, pencil-thin stalks, the woody ends may tenderize once cooked. But on larger stalks, the ends of the asparagus are often woody and dense—Which makes them difficult to chew, no matter how soft the asparagus is after cooking.

Why is my asparagus tough after cooking? ›

Asparagus contains an enzyme that creates a woody compound called "lignin," at the end of each spear. Lignin is not softened by heat, so it remains fibrous and tough after cooking. To eliminate lignin, snap (don't cut) the end of each spear just before cooking.

How long do you soak asparagus before cooking? ›

Soak in cold water for about 15 minutes, gently agitating every so often to loosen any sandy soil trapped in tips or "fins"; then lift asparagus from the water, leaving grit behind. TRIMMING: For thin spears, hold stalk with one hand at base, the other hand about two inches away; then bend spear.

How to cook asparagus so it's not bitter? ›

Asparagus gets bitter when overcooked. I prefer to blanch it for only about a minute or so, (the color will turn bright green, wait 10–30 seconds after that) then straight into a cold water bath to stop the cooking. You want to keep a little crunchiness to it, at which point it is still sweet.

How many stalks of asparagus should you eat? ›

For asparagus, a standard serving size is six medium spears, a 1/2 cup of pieces, or just over three ounces cooked.

What to avoid when buying asparagus? ›

Avoid stalks that appear limp or wilted. The tips of asparagus should be closed and compact, free from spreading or softness. Color: Asparagus should be should be rich in green color, softly fading to white at the bottom of the stalk. Avoid those dull in color, as this indicates the asparagus is passed freshness.

What month is best to eat asparagus? ›

While asparagus is luckily usually found year-round in grocery stores, like most produce, it has a peak season. You will find the best asparagus during spring. Asparagus season usually starts around late February and goes until June, but the peak months are in April and May.

When not to eat asparagus? ›

By the time the tips turn black, you'll notice they're completely mushy and probably smell a little funky, too. If your asparagus is slimy or sticky, feels mushy and soft, smells foul or has visible signs of mold, it's time to toss it.

What happens if you eat too much asparagus? ›

"There are no life-threatening side effects of eating too much asparagus," said Flores, "but there may be some uncomfortable side effects such as gas, and a noticeable smell to the urine." It is also possible to have an asparagus allergy, in which case you should not eat it, she said.

Is it better to eat asparagus raw or steamed? ›

To reap the greatest health benefits, consider incorporating both cooked and raw asparagus into your diet. That said, from a nutritional standpoint, you can't go wrong with either option.

What is the best way to cook asparagus without losing nutrients? ›

Be sure to trim off any tough or white ends. You only cook the asparagus until it is tender and crisp. Steaming or microwaving are better cooking methods than boiling, and asparagus can also be stir-fried, roasted, broiled, or grilled.

Should you peel asparagus before cooking? ›

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PEEL ASPARAGUS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO but it gives it a sleeker texture. Exposes the grassy flavors.

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