How to cook frozen asparagus in the oven

Q: Can you cook asparagus after its been frozen?

In most cases, frozen asparagus doesnt need to be thawed before cooking. Simply toss the spears in oil and season to taste before roasting or grilling them, or add them frozen to your sauté or stir-fry.

Q: Should I thaw frozen asparagus?

Well, the answer is dont. Thawing asparagus can cause it to lose crispness, so its best just to cook the frozen asparagus straight away.

With the fresh burst of lemon juice, this oven roasted asparagus will become one of your absolute favorite veggie side dish ideas. It's made with just a few simple ingredients yet elegant enough for a dinner party. The recipe can be used to cook frozen asparagus or fresh spears.

Table of Contents Show

Ingredients
Instructions
️ Serving suggestions
Can you roast frozen asparagus in the oven?
How do you know when asparagus is done roasting?
How do you keep raw asparagus fresh in the refrigerator?
How do you store leftover roasted asparagus?
Related recipes
Oven Roasted Asparagus
Ingredients
Instructions
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Should I thaw asparagus before cooking?
Can you cook asparagus after its been frozen?
Should I thaw frozen asparagus?
Why is my frozen asparagus mushy?

Article Index

Ingredients
Quick Tips
Instructions
️ Serving suggestions
FAQs
Related recipes
Recipe

Asparagus is one of the easiest vegetables you can make. It’s also really versatile!

There are so many different ways you can prepare it. You can:

Steam it
Wrap it in prosciutto
Grill it

But, I have to say-this recipe is one of my favorites.

It’s so easy to make that I use it as a go-to when I am too busy to think of something really creative. Thankfully, it tastes so flavorful and the texture is perfect – it doesn’t taste like you didn’t try, even though it’s effortless.

Ingredients

This oven roasted asparagus recipe is made with just a few simple ingredients. So it’s easy to memorize. This also means it’s easy to customize and change too.

I used an entire bunch of asparagus. Before I even roasted them, I cut the thicker, woody parts off the ends. You can do this all at the same time with a knife or pop the ends off with your hands.
For the salt and pepper, I just used regular table salt and pepper, but this is where you can get creative. Add some red pepper flakes if you want it to have a bit more bite.
Using fresh minced garlic will have the most flavor. If you want to speed up the food-prep process, you can use jarred minced garlic. Garlic powder doesn’t taste exactly the same, but you can use it in a pinch.
Finally, lemon is perfect for the asparagus. I love just using juice from a lemon I cut in half. If you have a jar of lemon juice, that will work too.

Please note: Check out the recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients used to make this low carb recipe.

Quick Tips

If you are afraid your oven roasted asparagus will stick to your sheet pan, line it with parchment paper or aluminum foil first. This also makes clean-up a lot faster too!
The cooking times for roasting asparagus will change depending on the size of your spears. You’ll know when the asparagus is completely cooked when you can easily pierce it with a fork. It could take anywhere from 10 minutes for thin ones to 20 minutes for really thick ones.

Instructions

If you want all the ingredients with the instructions in one place, scroll down to the printable recipe card. First, here is some more information about the steps for this easy side dish.

Before you even begin prepping the asparagus, preheat the oven to 400°F degrees. In order for it to cook the asparagus evenly, you need to start with a hot oven.

Next, prep the asparagus stalks by trimming off the woody ends. You can skip this step if you are pressed for time, as long as you remember not to eat the ends. They are tough to chew.

Then, you will drizzle it with a little olive oil and sprinkle some seasonings on it. I used basic salt and pepper. I also added some freshly minced garlic on top.

Roasting asparagus in the oven takes about 15 minutes. It's done when it pierces with a fork easily. Then, spritz with lemon juice before you serve it. You can also sprinkle on a little parmesan cheese for added flavor.

That’s it! It’s so easy.

️ Serving suggestions

Asparagus is a very light vegetable that pairs with most meats and other main dishes, but it is most often enjoyed with fish. It will taste amazing with this Instant Pot salmon. It also tastes delicious with some keto fish tacos!

You can also serve oven roasted asparagus with some chicken or pork. This lemon chicken recipe has a lot of the same flavors so it would pair nicely. Bacon-wrapped pork chops are perfect with it too!

FAQs

Before scrolling down to the printable recipe card, here are some questions I get asked about asparagus.

Can you roast frozen asparagus in the oven?

Yes, you can roast frozen asparagus in the oven too. You don’t have to use fresh asparagus. The steps are all the same, you don’t even have to thaw it first.

The cooking times are pretty much the same too!

How do you know when asparagus is done roasting?

You know the roasted asparagus is done when you can easily pierce it with a fork. You might also see the tops of the asparagus (the crowns) turning a darker color.

How do you keep raw asparagus fresh in the refrigerator?

The best way to keep raw asparagus fresh in the refrigerator is to keep it bunched up and store it in a glass mason jar that is filled halfway with water.

It will look like a bouquet of asparagus. Keeping it like this will prevent the ends from withering.

Your asparagus should last about a week like this.

How do you store leftover roasted asparagus?

Roasted asparagus always has the best texture and taste fresh out of the oven.

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last about 3-5 days.

I do not recommend freezing roasted asparagus. When it thaws, it isn’t the same texture at all. Instead, buy frozen asparagus from the store and then just roast them following the steps in this recipe.

You are going to love how simple this oven roasted asparagus recipe is. Keep this dish in your back pocket for those busy nights when you only have 15 minutes to put dinner together. It’s such a breeze!

There are lots of ways that you can serve vegetables with your meals. These are some of my favorite keto side dishes that are really quick and easy.

Sauteed Green Beans and Mushrooms are packed with nutrients and you can make it on the stovetop in just minutes.
Zucchini Au Gratin has all the flavors of au gratin potatoes without the carbs.
Roasted Radishes are a colorful side dish with a delightfully different flavor.
Keto Broccoli Salad has both bacon and cheese in it – making it popular even with people who don’t normally enjoy broccoli.
Mashed Turnips are a really easy low-carb mashed potatoes replacement. They have a really smooth texture and a mild flavor.

Recipe

Oven Roasted Asparagus

5 from 4 votes

A touch of lemon makes this roasted asparagus side dish so tasty. It's an easy oven-roasted vegetable side dish that's sure to become a favorite.

Prep Time:5 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Print Pin Review Recipe Save RecipeView Collections

Servings: 4

Calories: 87

Video

Ingredients

▢1 pound asparagus woody parts of the stem removed
▢salt and pepper to taste
▢2 tablespoons olive oil
▢2 teaspoons minced garlic
▢squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Place the prepared asparagus with the woody ends removed on a baking sheet.
Drizzle with olive oil, and add salt and pepper to taste.
Add the minced garlic and toss well with your hands to combine.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until the asparagus is tender to your liking.
Spritz with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and serve.

Notes

A little parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast can be sprinkled on for added flavor.You can line your baking sheet with parchment paper first for a non-stick surface. This also makes clean-up faster too!The cooking times will change depending on the size of your asparagus. You’ll know when the asparagus is completely cooked when you can easily pierce it with a fork. It could take anywhere from 10 minutes for thin ones to 20 minutes for really thick ones.

Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart

Nutrition

Additional Info

Net Carbs: 3 g | % Carbs: 13.8 % | % Protein: 13.8 % | % Fat: 72.4 % | SmartPoints: 3

Values

Array
(
    [calories] => 87
    [carbohydrates] => 5
    [protein] => 3
    [fat] => 7
    [saturated_fat] => 1
    [sodium] => 3
    [potassium] => 229
    [fiber] => 2
    [sugar] => 2
    [vitamin_a] => 857
    [vitamin_c] => 7
    [calcium] => 30
    [iron] => 2
)

Notes on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

Copyright

© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.

Should I thaw asparagus before cooking?

Should I defrost asparagus before cooking? Thawing frozen asparagus before cooking is not necessary. In fact, it's not recommended if you want to retain crispness when sautéing, air frying, or roasting. Go straight from the freezer to the pan, skillet, or air fryer basket.

Can you cook asparagus after its been frozen?

In most cases, frozen asparagus doesn't need to be thawed before cooking. Simply toss the spears in oil and season to taste before roasting or grilling them, or add them frozen to your sauté or stir-fry.

Should I thaw frozen asparagus?

Well, the answer is don't. Thawing asparagus can cause it to lose crispness, so it's best just to cook the frozen asparagus straight away.

Why is my frozen asparagus mushy?

A stalk of asparagus is 93 percent water. When that water freezes, it creates large ice crystals that puncture the cell walls that provide the structure of the vegetable, and the result is the watery, mushy texture you experienced.