Long, slender, and elegant stalks of asparagus are healthy vegetables to add to almost any meal. Wrapped in bacon, air-fried to crispy perfection, or simply steamed with butter, asparagus is a quick and easy side dish.
Here are our best asparagus recipes to get started.
All About Asparagus
- When purchasing asparagus choose firm stalks. The heads should be tight with a slightly purple color to them.
- Slender stalks are a little more delicate and require less cooking time than thicker stemmed ones.
- To keep asparagus fresh, wrap the stalks in wet paper towels and store them in the crisper drawer in the refrigerator. Or place them in a jar of water (like flowers), with a plastic bag loosely covering the tips. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 5 days or so.
- It is important to break off the ends of the asparagus before cooking, especially thicker stalks. To do so, simply break off the ends. They should snap at the proper place. Optionally, thicker stems can be peeled with a potato peeler.
How to Cook Asparagus
Here are 6 basic and simple ways to cook asparagus. It can easily be overcooked so whether air frying, roasting, or cooking it on the grill, keep an eye on it.
Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus is an easy peasy recipe. Why we love it: Roasting at a high temperature will develop caramelized brown bits which add extra flavor!
Steamed Asparagus is a quick and easy recipe! Why we love it: We love it because it’s healthy and great to add to other recipes or simply serve with butter, salt & pepper.
Air Fryer Asparagus is simple but tastes elegant! We love it because it comes out just as good as roasted in a fraction of the time.
Easy Grilled Asparagus will be the side dish of the summer. It is perfect to serve alongside grilled chicken or steak and we love that the whole meal can be cooked on the grill.
Sauteed Asparagus with mushrooms cooked in a buttery garlic sauce. We love that this simple side takes just a few minutes to prep.
Pickled Asparagus is a good way to preserve the summer harvest for a little while longer.
Recipes with Asparagus
There are so many ways to prepare this healthy and slender vegetable. It can be breaded and used as an appetizer, tossed with some parmesan, baked with salmon, or turned into a creamy soup.
Oven Baked Asparagus Fries This recipe turns those healthy stalks into tender spears crusted in a delicious crisp coating. They are the perfect side dish or appetizer.
Roasted Parmesan Asparagus pairs asparagus with parmesan and a touch of garlic. So flavorful!
Asparagus Salmon Foil Packets include highly seasoned salmon and asparagus doused in herb butter and wrapped up in a packet to bake in the oven. The result? Tender and flaky salmon with juicy asparagus on one sheet pan!
Salmon Asparagus Frittata is a healthy brunch addition that the family will love.
Creamy Asparagus Soup is just one of those comforting dishes that is delicious served hot or cold. Made with healthy asparagus, some heavy cream, and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, this soup is so creamy and delicious.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus is the best way to cook up all that summer asparagus. In this recipe, slender stalks of asparagus are wrapped in smoky bacon and roasted to perfection on the grill or in the oven.
Creamy Pasta Primavera is a light pasta dish that is loaded with a colorful array of fresh spring vegetables (like asparagus) that are coated in a parmesan cream sauce. This meal is so quick and easy to make for a light dinner on a warm summer night.
Garlic Butter Sheet Pan Shrimp is an impressive meal that can be made with a simple sheet pan. This dish is so colorful and healthy.
Creamy Asparagus includes a white sauce that is almost like an alfredo. So creamy and smooth, and of course delicious.
Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite asparagus recipe is!
