how long do you cook asparagus in the oven
You’ll usually roast asparagus at a high temperature (around 425°F / 220°C) for about 10–15 minutes, adjusting a bit for how thick the spears are.
Quick Scoop
- Thin asparagus: start checking at 8–10 minutes so it doesn’t overcook.
- Medium spears: 10–15 minutes is the sweet spot at 425°F.
- Thick spears: may need up to about 15–20 minutes until tender.
- Visual cue: the asparagus should be tender when pierced with a fork and lightly browned at the tips.
Super simple method
- Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Trim off the woody ends of 1 bunch of asparagus.
- Toss spears with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, then spread in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Roast 10–15 minutes, checking early if they’re very thin and giving thicker spears a couple extra minutes as needed.
- Optional but delicious: finish with lemon juice and/or grated Parmesan right after roasting.
Handy time/size table (HTML)
| Asparagus size | Oven temp | Roast time (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very thin spears | 425°F / 220°C | 8–12 minutes | Start checking at 8 minutes to avoid overcooking. | [5][1]
| Medium spears | 425°F / 220°C | 10–15 minutes | Most common range in popular recipes. | [9][7][5]
| Thick spears | 425°F / 220°C | 12–20 minutes | Go toward the higher end; check tenderness with a fork. | [3][7][5]
A good rule of thumb: cook just until the stalks are bright green, lightly browned at the tips, and yield easily to a fork — then pull them out right away for the best texture.
TL;DR: For everyday cooking, trim, oil, season, and roast asparagus at 425°F for 10–15 minutes, adjusting a few minutes up or down based on thickness.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.