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Not a fan of asparagus? Well, prepare to be converted because this Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus tastes absolutely amazing! Asparagus and non-asparagus lovers alike will fall head-over-heels for this recipe.
Asparagus spears are tossed in olive oil and garlic, roasted to perfection and then topped with lots of melty cheese to make the best side dish to any of your favourite meals!
If you’ve tried my Browned Butter Baked Asparagus and are looking for something different, this cheesy garlic roasted asparagus recipe is worth checking out.
If you ask me, the easiest way to get asparagus on your plate is by roasting it. Throw this versatile veggie on a baking tray and let the oven do its thing- it really doesn’t get any easier.
Why this Recipe Works
Roasting veggies is such a great way to amplify their natural flavors, and while I absolutely LOVE asparagus in all its forms, I know quite a few who are not a fan of its earthiness and subtle bitterness.
And that’s exactly why roasting it and teaming it up with those salty, cheesy flavors is such an excellent move- it’s actually inspired by my Cheesy Roasted Green Beans.
I actually love throwing a handful of roasted asparagus straight into a pan of brown butter pasta right before serving to make it a full meal.
What Goes into this Recipe
- Asparagus: You’ll need to use fresh asparagus with the woody ends trimmed off. I wouldn’t recommend using frozen asparagus here.
- Garlic: Minced, for that depth of flavor. Garlic powder doesn’t stand a chance here.
- Cheese: I used mozzarella cheese because that’s what I had at hand. You can use Parmesan or experiment with other kinds of cheese too.
- Seasonings: I used just the classic salt and pepper here.
- Olive oil: To crisp up the asparagus. You’ll need a generous amount.
Note: please see recipe card at the bottom for list of full ingredients and measurements
Substitutions & Variations
To lend it a kick of heat, add some cayenne or red pepper flakes along as well to season.
Experiment with different kinds of seasonings like Italian seasoning, taco seasoning or Old Bay seasoning to lend a different flavor to the asparagus.
How To Make
- Prep asparagus: Start by preheating the oven at 425 degrees and greasing your baking sheet with nonstick cooking oil spray. Arrange the asparagus spears on the sheet and set aside.
- Make the drizzle: In a small bowl, combine olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic. Drizzle this over the asparagus and ensure all the spears are coated well.
- Bake: Pop the baking sheet in the oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes, just until the spears start to appear tender.
- Broil and serve: Remove the baking sheet from the oven, top with mozzarella cheese and return it back to the oven. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese melts and the spears appear slightly golden brown and crispy. Serve immediately.
I love pairing this cheesy garlic roasted asparagus with my Easy Honey Garlic Salmon, Parmesan Crusted Chicken, and Roast Beef Tenderloin. It’s such an easy, effortless side dish that you can pair with almost any protein. You can also team it up with some Honey Garlic Pork Chops or just a simple Crispy Garlic Roast Chicken.
To bring a little spiciness to your table, my Thai Green Chicken Curry is exactly what you are looking for.
Leftovers will last for 3-4 days when stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can then reheat it in a preheated oven for a few minutes until it is nice and warm.
Recipe FAQ’s
Oven temperature is key when it comes to getting the perfect texture. Make sure you preheat the oven before you add the asparagus, and broil it towards the end for a few minutes to get that golden brown, slightly crispy texture.
You can! Make sure you preheat your Air Fryer and don’t overcrowd the basket. This will ensure that the hot air circulates through the basket and cooks the asparagus evenly.
If you’re only able to find slightly thicker stalks of asparagus, use them. You’ll just need to cook them for a few extra minutes.
Watch It Being Made
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Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus spears woody ends removed
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced, or 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked pepper
- 1 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with nonstick cooking oil spray.
- Arrange asparagus on baking sheet. Set aside.
- In a small bowl mix together olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Drizzle the oil mixture over the asparagus and toss to evenly coat.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes until vibrant and just beginning to get tender.
- Remove from oven and top with the mozzarella cheese. Return to oven and broil (or grill) until the cheese melts and becomes golden (about 4-5 minutes).
- Adjust salt and pepper, if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Roast asparagus for only 10 minutes first to avoid over cooking them. Just make sure your oven is preheated!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My husband HATES asparagus but tried this and loved it. Can’t get a better recommendation than that.
This asparagus was excellent. I always have trouble getting my family to eat asparagus, but with this recipe it was the first thing everyone went for. The only problem was, was that the cheese kept falling off. However, really that wasn’t a problem since it was even better without the cheese.
My husband usually only eats a few pieces of asparagus, but I made this as a side for Valentine’s day and he went back for seconds! I will definitely be making this again.
My family goes nuts for this recipe!
Didn’t care for asparagus till this bad boy of a recipe with some smoked cheddar, bomb, thanks a lot.
I have made this delicious recipe a few times already. My husband & I love, love it so much. The flavour is so good. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe.
I love asparagus any way I can get it and garlic is one of my go-to for everything so I did make this dish tonight. I am always up for another recipe to try for variety but I don’t think I will ever eat asparagus any other way now. You sure outdid yourself on this one. I love it. Can’t get enough. Thanks for sharing it.
GREAT
It was delicious I’m making it for my coworkers and friends now thank you for the recipe.
♡ SOOOO easy and SOOO good! ♡