Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus

Asparagus is one of those vegetables that have a short growing season. Under normal circumstances asparagus is in gardens and grocery stores from April to Fall. When I see asparagus in the stores, it makes me think of the holidays, since we usually eat tons of it from Easter to Christmas. I like to get in as much as I can before it vanishes. My recipe for Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus is the way I most often make it, because it goes with anything this way.

Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus is a quick and delicious one sheet pan side dish.

Asparagus is an odd looking vegetable. It grows out of the garden, looking like, little green sticks. It does produce flowers and was once thought to be in the Lily family. It is high in Vitamin C, E and anti-inflammatory nutrition. It is said to help reduce the risk of cancer and maintain blood pressure. Supposedly, if you eat asparagus before imbibing in your favorite alcoholic beverages, it helps prevent hangovers. So, eat up, then trip the light fantastic!

I love that this Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus is made on one sheet pan. If I line my baking sheet with foil, clean up has gone from easy to DONE in one easy roll up. We are all busy, so make your mealtime and clean up as easy as possible. I do not relish washing dishes, so I utilize anything that gets me out of dish duty sooner.

Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus is yummy asparagus spears coated in garlic, thyme, red pepper flakes and olive oil, then roasted until tender.

To make Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus, you will need a baking sheet and a handful of fresh asparagus. You will want to pick asparagus that is about the circumference of pencils. For store bought asparagus, the thicker the asparagus, the tougher it is. The spears should be firm to touch. The ends of the spears should be closed tightly and they should stand up straight when held from the bottom. If they are limp, they are probably old.

You will want to clean your asparagus by placing it under running water to remove grit. You will want to snap off or trim the tough bottoms. Typically, you are removing about 1 inch off the bottom, maybe a little more, depending on what you are working with. Lay the cleaned asparagus in a single layer, on the baking sheet. Then sprinkle the herbs, spices and olive oil over the top. With your hands, toss the asparagus, making sure to coat all of the spears. You will then place your baking sheet into the oven for about 20 minutes to roast.

Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus falls into my quick and easy recipe section. It is only 20 minutes in the oven and takes up just one baking sheet, so clean up is a snap. It pairs well with any meat and can be served for a weeknight meal or as a side dish for a fancier holiday meal. You can alter the spices if you like, or even give a drizzle of lemon over the top for a fresh change in flavor. Enjoy friends!

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