Fresh asparagus is coated in a flavorful lemon butter sauce and roasted until fork-tender. This is the perfect spring side dish recipe to accompany just about any meal!
Asparagus reigns supreme when it comes to springtime vegetables. It's fresh, healthy, easy to prepare, and super versatile. Not to mention, it tastes delicious! And even if the kids don't agree, this recipe will win them over!
This asparagus recipe is packed with springtime flavors from fresh lemon and sweet honey and can be prepared in under 20 minutes. My husband says this is his new favorite way to have asparagus. I like to say this recipe is elegant enough to accompany Easter dinner but simple enough for weeknight meals. I hope you and your family love this recipe as much as we do!
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Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe
- Asparagus. You will need one bunch of asparagus for this recipe. Rinse the asparagus and trim the rough ends.
- Salt and cracked black pepper. The asparagus is seasoned with salt and pepper before being coated with the sauce.
- Honey. I recommend good-quality honey, such as Nature's Best Oregon Honey, for this recipe. The honey is mixed with butter and fresh lemon juice to create the sauce for the asparagus.
- Fresh lemon juice. You will need 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice for this recipe.
- Fresh garlic. Fresh minced garlic is mixed into the sauce for added flavor.
- Lemon zest. This is an optional ingredient but makes a great garnish for this asparagus.
How To Make This Recipe
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, and spread the trimmed asparagus out on the baking sheet. Season the asparagus with salt and pepper and set aside while you make the sauce.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, honey, lemon juice, and garlic until combined. Drizzle the sauce over the asparagus, making sure all of the asparagus gets coated.
- Roast the asparagus in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until fork-tender. Transfer the asparagus to a serving plate and drizzle with the remaining sauce from the sheet pan. Garnish with lemon zest if desired. Enjoy!
Variations and Substitutions
This asparagus recipe is really versatile and you can change up the sauce ingredients to create something entirely new. Try out some of these delicious sauce variations:
- Honey, butter, and Cajun spices
- Maple syrup, butter, and chipotle pepper
- Honey, lemon juice, and ginger
- Honey, orange juice, and balsamic vinegar
Make-Ahead and Storing Instructions
You can make the sauce for this asparagus up to two days in advance. Just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook your asparagus.
Leftover asparagus can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
What To Serve With This Asparagus
This asparagus can be served alongside a number of different entrées, such as chicken, salmon, or pasta. Serve this asparagus with some of the following reader favorites from the blog archives:
- Hot Honey Butter Chicken Thighs
- Creamy Cajun Mushroom Pasta
- One-Pan Sage Butter Chicken and Orzo
- Creamy Garlic Tuscan Salmon
Recommended Tools for This Recipe
More Flavorful Side Dish Recipes You Will Love!
- Classic Creamy Southern Coleslaw
- Cajun Honey Butter Roasted Carrots
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Creole Sauce
- 1-Hour Honey Butter Dinner Rolls
- Sweet and Spicy Turnip Greens
📖 Recipe
Honey Lemon Butter Roasted Asparagus
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus rinsed and rough ends trimmed
- Salt and cracked blacked pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- Lemon zest for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (191°C).
- Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, and spread the trimmed asparagus out on the baking sheet. Season the asparagus with salt and pepper and set aside while you make the sauce.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, honey, lemon juice, and garlic until combined. Drizzle the sauce over the asparagus, making sure all of the asparagus gets coated.
- Roast the asparagus in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until fork-tender. Transfer the asparagus to a serving plate and drizzle with the remaining sauce from the sheet pan. Garnish with lemon zest if desired. Enjoy!
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