Roasted Asparagus With Parmesan & Lemon

There are so many ways to prepare asparagus, but baking the veggie with parmesan and panko bread crumbs tops the charts in our house! Everyone always loves it, especially the garlicky, crispy parmesan bits left on the pan. That's the good stuff! I can say with confidence that this asparagus has been kid & adult tested, with resounding approval and requests for more 👍

It's fun to eat these with your hands like 'asparagus fries,' and pair with a favorite sandwich, like our Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes and Turkey Burger Sliders.

1. Quick and easy- This can take 12 minutes or less in the oven, and it's incredibly simple. In fact, my daughter did most of the work on her own.
2. Simple ingredients- Aside from the fresh ingredients (asparagus & lemon), you only need panko*, parmesan, olive oil and basic seasonings!
3. Crunchy and crispy! You will love biting into this golden brown, crispy asparagus!
4. Kid-friendly! Kids can treat this asparagus like fries and dip them in their favorite sauce!
5. A hit with veggie haters- Try this on the veggie-averse people in your life and you'll be pleasantly surprised! Everyone ends up loving this asparagus!

*If you're unfamiliar with them, panko breadcrumbs can normally be found in the baking aisle at the store.

Notes on Ingredients:

• Asparagus spears- use fresh (not frozen), with woody ends removed.
• Panko bread crumbs will make your asparagus crunchier than traditional bread crumbs.
• Parmesan- pre-shredded is totally fine (and saves time!), but freshly grated is the best.

See recipe card below for quantities.

Rinse, dry and snip off woody ends of asparagus.

Spread out asparagus spears on a large baking sheet/sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil. Roll asparagus to ensure oil is evenly distributed.

Combine seasoning, panko and parmesan in small bowl, then sprinkle evenly over asparagus, rolling asparagus to ensure evenly coated.

Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 Fahrenheit or until ends are starting to brown. Note: if the asparagus is extra thick, it may need about 2 extra minutes in the oven.

🥄 Kid Steps: Kids can do pretty much every step in this recipe! Specifically, kids may like to rinse, dry and cut off ends of asparagus. They can use their hands to break off the ends. Or they can snip off the ends with these cute Kuhn Rikon snippers.

• Use fresh asparagus for best results.
• To trim asparagus, snap off woody ends right where you see the green part begin to turn white. You can do this with your hands OR for tools, we recommend OXO kitchen shears for adults and Kuhn Rikon little snippers for kids.
• Don't overcrowd asparagus on baking sheet or you may not get that crunchy finish. If necessary, use two baking sheets instead of one.
• Panko mix: It makes a lot. You don't have to use all the panko mix if it's too much.
• Cook less time - if you overcook the asparagus, it may become soggy. Check the asparagus after 8-10 minutes. It's done if the breading is well browned and a fork can easily pierce the thickest part of the asparagus.
• Cook extra time - if the asparagus is extra thick, it may need about 2 extra minutes in the oven.
• Don't forget the lemon! 🍋 That final squirt of lemon juice adds a pop of flavor that brightens and completes the dish!

Baking sheet - We use a rimmed baking sheet. However, you could also use a cookie sheet, a sheet pan covered with oil-sprayed foil, or a greased casserole dish. Side note: I found a helpful blurb about the difference between baking sheets, cookie sheets and jelly roll pans.

Seasonings - Soooo many herbs and spices work with this! To name a few...steak seasoning, onion powder, red pepper flakes, rosemary, parsley and more!

Breadcrumbs - Panko breadcrumbs are the ultimate for crunch, but traditional bread crumbs will also work.

Gluten-free [GF] option - Use GF panko breadcrumbs or simply stick with parmesan. It won't be as crunchy, but still have the flavor!

We recommend roasting the asparagus for 10-12 minutes at 350° Farenheit. However, asparagus can be cooked in the oven anywhere from 350° to 425° F, the time ranging from 8 to 20 minutes. Because asparagus grows at different thicknesses, a safe bet is to check your asparagus after 8-10 minutes. The asparagus is done if you can easily pierce the thickest part with a fork.

We love to pair roasted asparagus with parmesan, garlic, lemon, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Other great flavors are: garlic butter, other hard nutty cheeses, onion, balsamic vinegar, steak seasoning, bacon, and prosciutto.

Ideally and realistically (because it's so darn good), you won't have leftovers. Because of the crunchy breading, this parmesan asparagus is best served immediately. If you do have some leftover, consider reheating in the toaster oven or oven for 3-6 minutes.

Honestly, my kids and my sister's kids all loved this roasted asparagus as is. BUT...if your kids are hesitant to try it or you need to alter the recipe, here are some ideas:

• Encourage the kids to eat the asparagus spears with their hands, like little asparagus fries. This is a way more fun way to eat!
• Have your kid try a crispy bit of cheese off the pan first - that will hook them in, lol.
• Adjust the seasonings to what your kid likes. Increase or decrease the cheese. You can also roast the asparagus with just oil, salt and pepper, and have your kiddo sprinkle cheese on their own asparagus when plated.
• Add some meat! You can roast this asparagus with bits of prosciutto or bacon.
• Add a dip! Honey mustard, ranch, whatever.

Playfood Asparagus! In three easy steps, your kids can make a super cute bunch of playfood asparagus. Kids can play with this pretend asparagus over and over again, creating all kinds of fun meals. This craft inspires both imagination and curiosity around different foods. Bonus: you likely already have most of the supplies at home.

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