Oven Roasted Asparagus

A sweet brown sugar glaze takes this Oven Roasted Asparagus recipe to the next level. This is a delicious side dish that everyone (kids included!) will love.

Why We Love Oven Roasted Asparagus

Asparagus can be a tad intimidating to kids. It’s green. And spiny-looking. And it’s got a lot of syllables. But this nutritious asparagus recipe might pleasantly surprise your kids, when they find that the sweetness and mild green-bean-like crunch of asparagus is tasty and easy to love.

This asparagus recipe has a sweet flavor that’s naturally appealing to kids. And because it’s so quick to make, it’s also a side that’s doable for you, even when you have little ones in your midst.

Asparagus is super healthy for kids, and a welcome change of pace from the usual carrots and peas on their dinner plates. It has tons of Vitamin K and folate, plus fiber and even a few grams of protein, which is a little unusual for a veggie!

Ingredients:

• asparagus– look for firm stalks with closed, compact tips
• butter
• brown sugar– maple syrup or balsamic vinegar work great too!
• sea salt
• black pepper

How to Roast Asparagus

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Trim the ends off your asparagus. Snap one in half- it will naturally break where the stalk gets tough. Use that one as a guide for trimming the rest of the asparagus. Arrange the asparagus on your baking sheet.
3. Melt the butter. Whisk in the brown sugar and drizzle over your asparagus. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Roast for 10-12 minutes or until crisp tender.

It’s really easy to overcook asparagus! You’ll know if you do: it gets mushy and turns a not-too-attractive olive-drab color.

The best way to cook asparagus is quickly and at a high temperature. As soon as the color of the asparagus turns uniformly vibrant green, it’s your cue to take them out of the oven. This Oven Roasted Asparagus recipe enhances the natural sweetness of fresh asparagus, while leaving the texture a little crisp, and the color bright and appetizing.

More Vegetable Side Dish Ideas: