Parmesan Oven Roasted Asparagus

Asparagus is one of those vegetables that my kiddos love-and that surprises me! Not every child likes vegetables, let alone asparagus. We introduced it to them by prepping it on the grill over the summer months. Now that the weather is turning cooler, we are moving from grilled vegetables to oven roasted vegetables. Thankfully, asparagus is one of those versatile vegetables that can move from grill to oven, and still be tasty.  One of my go to side dishes has become Parmesan Oven Roasted Asparagus, and I am excited to share that with you today.

We are in the midst of high school football season, and with that comes a constant busyness-the likes of which our family has rarely seen!  With the twins being in the marching band, that means Friday night football, and then Saturday band contests.  Add the after school practices and homework, and our coveted time for dinner around the table is much less than it used to be! But, we are embracing it and loving it.  When we are in the stands, my heart is full of pride.  I am so proud of my boys for embracing this high school life, finding their talent and friendships in the marching band, and being a part of the “Pride of the Berlin Bears”. All their hard work during the week pays off, and I am excited to be spending every Friday night in a high school football stadium, cheering on the Bears, and being proud of the band. They have affectionately earned the title of the “Trombone Twins”!

But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a little extra work behind the scenes, as I find myself meal planning in a different way. I am adding so many easy dishes and sides to our menu-so that’s more time we can spend around the table eating during the week.  Our weekends aren’t as relaxing as the used to be, and we are getting creative and shuffling things around so we can enjoy most of our meals together during the week before we part ways at the high school football field over the weekend. That is where easy side dishes, like the Parmesan Oven Roasted Asparagus come into play.  

Ingredients for Parmesan Oven Roasted Asparagus

1/2 pound of asparagus

3 cloves minced garlic

2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese

Kosher salt {to taste}

Olive oil

Cooking Spray

How to Make Parmesan Oven Roasted Asparagus

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil, spray lightly with cooking spray, and set aside.

Cut off the woody, stalky ends of the asparagus.  Arrange your asparagus in a single layer on your baking sheet, and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the asparagus with sea salt, the minced garlic, and the parmesan cheese.

Using your hands, or a spatula, stir the asparagus around so it is coated nicely with the olive oil, cheese, and salt.  Bake for 8 minutes and serve immediately.

This Parmesan Oven Roasted Asparagus goes amazing with anything!  I typically serve it alongside an Italian themed meal, or alongside pizzas, etc. The extra pop of green on the plate and nutritional value make me feel like I am serving a more well rounded meal.  

 

And I have to tell you, this dish is SO easy, flavorful, and quite possibly my new favorite way to eat asparagus! The parmesan and garlic flavors compliment the pizzas so well! Since Tony’s Pizza is made with 100% mozzarella cheese, it tastes authentic AND delicious….making it a natural pair with a parmesan and garlic flavor in the asparagus. 

What is your “go to” for Football Friday Night?  Will you be trying the Oven Roasted Parmesan Asparagus?