Baked Asparagus With Parmesan

This baked asparagus with Parm is easy and elegant.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated March 11, 2024
Elise Bauer

Are you ready for asparagus season?

This has to be one of the easiest ways to cook asparagus. Just trim the ends, lay out on a foil lined baking sheet, toss with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Parmesan, and then bake until done. I eat them like French fries. They're that good.

They're a perfect side to salmon, scallops, shrimp, or ham and delicious with eggs of any kind—poached, fried, or hard boiled.

A white platter of oven roasted asparagus with Parmesan

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
A platter of oven roasted asparagus on a white cloth surface

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Choosing Fresh Asparagus

Look for asparagus stalks that are a rich green color that gets lighter at the bottom of the stalk. The stalks should be firm, not wilted or brittle with splitting ends. The tips should be tight, not starting to spread.

Asparagus can range in size, so choose stalks of a uniform length and thickness for even cooking time.

Storing Fresh Asparagus

The best way to store fresh asparagus if you're not cooking it immediately is to treat it like a bouquet of flowers, including trimming a little off the bottoms. The trimmed ends need to be kept wet but the stalks need to be kept dry.

Put fresh asparagus stalks in a glass and add enough water so the bottoms of the stalks are submerged an inch deep. Place a plastic bag over the glass and place it in the refrigerator. The asparagus should keep firm for two or three days this way.

Alternately, you can dampen a paper towel and wrap it around the bottom of the stalks, then put the stalks in a zip top bag. Store in the crisper for two to three days.

Great Ideas from Our Readers

  • Michael: "After rolling the asparagus in olive oil, I then rolled the asparagus in Italian seasoning and panko breadcrumbs and the other listed ingredients for some added tasty crunch. My new favorite way to prepare asparagus!"
  • Sandy: "Didn’t have parm but had fontina. Used them the finest side of my grater. Plus I added a little garlic salt instead of regular salt. My husband who hates vegetables went back for seconds!"
  • Tammy: "When I don't have Parmesan cheese, I have used olive oil and Montreal steak seasoning."
  • Darren: "This is magical. However...add lemon juice in the beginning and pine nuts right before the end. You'll love your life."
  • Cindy: "I love this recipe. I don't use parmesan cheese though. I use coconut oil instead of olive oil and I use garlic powder instead of salt."

More Great Asparagus Recipes

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Baked Asparagus With Parmesan

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Servings 2 to 4 servings

For a little extra flavor, add a little garlic powder or fresh minced garlic to the Parmesan cheese.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound asparagus

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse or chunky kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

  • 1/2 cup loosely packed (40g) grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F:

    If using an air fryer, preheat that to 400°F.

  2. Prep the asparagus:

    Break or cut off the woody ends of the asparagus spears. For an added touch, if you want you can use a vegetable peeler to peel the skins off the base of the asparagus spears for a more elegant presentation.

  3. Add the olive oil, salt, pepper, cheese:

    Arrange the asparagus spears on a foil-lined baking sheet and coat with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Parmesan.

    If using the air fryer, coat the asparagus with olive oil then place in a single layer in the fryer basket. Sprinkle the salt, paper, and Parmesan on top.

    A baking tray with asparagus topped with parmesan to show how to cook asparagus in the oven.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
  4. Bake:

    Bake at 400°F until the cheese begins to brown, about 8 to 10 minutes.

    A baking tray with baked asparagus topped with parmesan

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
137 Calories
10g Fat
6g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 137
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 399mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 9mg 44%
Calcium 133mg 10%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 277mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.