The Best Seasoning for Asparagus: 15 Inspiring Ideas

Ah, good old asparagus…

This delicious (and nutritious) vegetable gets a bad rap for being boring and smelling funny.

Well, if prepared right, asparagus can be a wonderful side dish.

And if you’re brave enough, it can be the main attraction!

The best seasoning for asparagus can be just the way you cook it!

Dressed right, this humble vegetable can offer an amazing flavor and textural experience.

So let’s jump right into all the great ways you can season asparagus for your next dinner party.

1. Garlic Parmesan

 

Everyone knows that roasting asparagus is probably the easiest way to prepare it for a crowd.

But what about seasoning?

From my humble experience, the best seasoning for asparagus in the oven is definitely garlic parmesan.

In this recipe from Small Town Woman, the garlic loses its raw edge in the oven, becoming mellower and sweeter without getting bitter.

And I don’t have to sell you on the cheesy goodness of aged parmesan!

2. Cheesy Patties

This recipe from Food Wishes seasons the asparagus through and through!

Instead of leaving the spears whole, they’re chopped into small dice and coated with cheese and your choice of herbs.

That’s not the best part:

The resulting patties are pan-fried until crisp golden brown and absolutely delicious!

Try it for your next springtime brunch with a couple of mimosas.

Your vegetarian friends will love you for it.

3. Prosciutto and Pine Nuts

 

There’s very little that sounds as scrumptious as the words “prosciutto and pine nuts.”

In this recipe by Cooking with Wine, you take the basic garlic parm asparagus and kick it up a few notches.

How exactly?

The addition of the cured, salty prosciutto contrasts the buttery pine nuts and ties the whole dish together.

Serve this for a special someone and watch as the flavors dance on their taste buds!

4. Panko Breadcrumbs and Yogurt Ranch 

 

Kids are picky eaters, this much is true.

Well, how about you disguise healthy asparagus as another food they notoriously enjoy; french fries!

Is that even possible?

Well, in this recipe, you take regular asparagus and cover it with a seasoned Panko breadcrumb topping.

It’s then baked in the oven instead of being fried, which is ten times healthier.

And if that wasn’t enough, you get a recipe for a creamy yogurt ranch to dip the “fries” in, which is much healthier than the packaged stuff. 

I promise you won’t have any extra asparagus left, so be sure to buy plenty at the store!

5. Sesame Seeds and Soy Sauce

 

On weeknights, I prefer a quick, easy way to prepare my veggies.

There’s just something comforting about a warm bowl of stir-fried veggies instead of munching on a cold, crunchy salad.

This recipe checks all these boxes.

It’s simple enough but packs a punch with the soy sauce and last-minute sesame seed addition.

I personally add a huge pinch of red pepper flakes because I like it spicy, but feel free to keep it kid-friendly if you need to.

6. Puff Pastry & Gruyere

The first time I saw this recipe over on the Martha Stewart website, I knew it’d be a mainstay for my special occasion dinners.

The delicate flavor of asparagus pairs perfectly with the nutty, funky gruyere cheese.

And don’t get me started on the border of buttery, crisp puff pastry that perfectly frames the asparagus spears.

The finished product, though it couldn’t be simpler to prepare, is breathtakingly beautiful.

Similar to how you can up the flavor of canned green beans, you can definitely use canned asparagus for this one as well.

Your dinner guests will never guess it took you less than 15 minutes to put the whole thing together!

7. Roasted Peppers, Feta, and Kalamata Olives

 

I won’t claim to know what the best seasoning for asparagus on the grill is, but this Mediterranean-inspired recipe from Closet Cooking just might be it.

You get the subtle sweetness from the marinated roasted red peppers, the saltiness and creaminess from the feta, and the strong briny flavor of the kalamata olives.

Pair this with the smokiness you get on the asparagus from the grill, and you got yourself a winning combo!

8. Bacon

 

This one needs no introductions.

The king of all asparagus pairings has arrived!

I personally believe everyone remembers the first time they had bacon-wrapped asparagus at a dinner party or as hors d’oeuvre.

Bacon flavors well with asparagus perfectly.

And this brown sugar soy glaze from this recipe just makes it better and better.

The smoky, salty, fatty bacon wraps around the slightly sweet, tender asparagus like a blanket.

That’s a match made in heaven and is an amazing choice for asparagus appetizers!

9. Caprese Flavors

 

If you’re in the mood for something lighter, brighter, and less decadent, how about this Caprese salad-inspired topping for your asparagus?

This option adds sweet pops of cherry tomatoes, fresh chopped basil, balsamic glaze, and extra virgin olive oil to the asparagus.

It’s certainly a flavor combination to remember, especially for roasted asparagus, which can get monotonous after a while.

10. A Flavorful Broth

For those who’ve never tried asparagus soup, you’re definitely missing out.

While most soups rely on dairy for thickening and richness, this completely vegan asparagus soup recipe uses cannellini beans to give the soup body and structure.

If you’re scared it’ll be bland, don’t be!

Using a flavorful broth for the soup base can make this an umami bomb.

You can even use bouillon cubes to give it a flavor boost and no one will be the wiser.

11. Asparagus Au Gratin

 

Fans of creamy, cheesy potatoes au gratin gather around!

Turns out you can “au gratin” any vegetable you want, including asparagus.

This recipe is well and truly the best comfort food edition of this dish.

The cooking method brings out the natural sweetness in the asparagus, and the creamy, cheesy sauce that it bakes in just makes it all the better.

If you’re planning to feed a crowd, this is a great way to go about it; it’s such a rich dish everyone will be satisfied!

12. Ginger & Chili Sauce

 

This is another way to serve asparagus when you don’t have much time on your hands.

This recipe puts dinner on the table in 30 minutes.

It seems the best seasoning for sauteed asparagus always circles back to Asian flavors, though!

You get this delicious aromatic flavor from the ginger, garlic, soy, and chili sauce.

Mixed with chicken thighs and served over a bed of rice, you’ve got yourself a full meal.

It’s truly one of my most loved sauces for asparagus when I’m craving an Asian twist.

13. Lemon Butter

 

So many people believe that when it comes to cooking, the simpler it is, the better.

And I have to agree!

When it comes to dressing asparagus, whether it’s blanched, roasted, grilled, or sauteed, lemon butter is a classic combination!

This is a nostalgic flavor for many people, and it definitely stood the test of time. 

The richness of the butter and the slight tanginess of the lemon is just heavenly.

Oh and a pro tip: if you want more lemon flavor without any more acidity, use a Microplane to zest the lemon before you squeeze it, and thank me later!

14. Smoked Salmon & Hollandaise 

Canned white asparagus can be…underwhelming.

Alas, we can’t get asparagus year-round. 

So, if that’s all you have on hand, how about shaking things up with this simple dish?

Smoked salmon with Hollandaise and white asparagus is a European classic.

It might even be the best seasoning for canned asparagus!

This seasoned asparagus recipe gives you all the details you need to make it and try it out for yourself. 

It calls for fresh asparagus, but using canned asparagus will cut the cooking time tremendously. 

15. Balsamic Vinegar

 

Sometimes, simple is best. This recipe for sauteed asparagus with balsamic vinegar shows you just as much!

If you want to enjoy super fresh asparagus, this might be the way to get all the subtle flavors on board.

Don’t forget to dress it with extra-virgin olive oil right before serving, too!

The fruity, rich flavor will go perfectly with the acidity of the vinegar.

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What is the best seasoning for asparagus?

Depending on your mood, it could be light and simple like lemon butter, or decadent and rich, like cream and gruyere cheese!

Whatever you choose, just know that this often under-appreciated vegetable can be a star in its own right. 

All you have to do is pair it with the right flavors, and you’re good to go!