One of the best parts about spring (outside the return of nice weather, ofc!) is all the fresh produce back in action after a long winter (sorry sweet potatoes and pomegranates, we’ll see you next year). One of our favorites? Has to be asparagus. While somewhat similar in flavor to other green veggies like broccoli or green beans, asparagus’s earthy, slightly bitter taste largely stands alone, making it an awesome addition to a number of recipes and meals. If you’ve started spotting the green stalks at your farmers' market or grocery store, pick some up and get inspired by our list of 50 delicious asparagus recipes.
Sprinkled among our more involved recipes here, we’ve included simple methods for how to cook asparagus. Whether you’re grilling, air frying, oven-roasting, or steaming, we’ve got tips for you. Whatever method you go with, make sure you first trim off the woody ends—no one likes expecting a crispy bite and getting something tough and stringy instead. You can peel down to the white part, or (our fave), simply snap them off. Once you’ve done so, you’ll be ready to turn them into everything from crowd-pleasing appetizers to delicious weeknight dinners.
If you’re looking for something to serve to a crowd, we highly recommend wrapping asparagus in some bacon or prosciutto for a great snack or sit-down meal appetizer. Willing to put in a bit more effort? Get some crescent or puff pastry dough and go to town, like in our asparagus Alfredo bundles, our asparagus and chive tart, or our . Take our word for it, and make extra—these babies always go fast.
For more of a main dish, we’ve got lots of springy pasta and chicken recipes with asparagus as the star or supporting cast. Try our creamy feta-lemon penne with asparagus, our , or our creamy asparagus bacon gnocchi to see all the different ways these ingredients can pair well together. Hint: If you’re into lemon and garlic, you’re going to love them.
Want even more spring fruit and veggie inspiration? Check out our favorite celery recipes, our top strawberry desserts, our best garlic recipes, and our fave rhubarb recipes too.
1
Lemon Asparagus Chicken Pasta
This is the pinnacle of spring pasta dishes—it's fresh and bright, but still filling enough for a weeknight dinner. Don't forget those lemon slices!
Get the Lemon Asparagus Chicken Pasta recipe.
2
Asparagus Soup
This creamy vegetable soup is an unsuspecting hit every spring. To make it, we marry asparagus with a touch of butter and some garlic to soften the grassy notes, simmer it with broth until tender, then blend it until smooth with a healthy dose of cream. What results is a beautiful, soothing green soup that's rich enough to be a light meal or a satisfying appetizer all season long.
Get the Asparagus Soup recipe.
3
Creamy Feta-Lemon Penne With Asparagus
The secret to this springy pasta’s success? A tangy “cream” sauce made with rich Greek yogurt and salty feta that provides a bright contrast for the earthy, vegetal flavors of pan-fried asparagus.
Get the Creamy Feta-Lemon Penne With Asparagus recipe.
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4
Parmesan Asparagus Fries
We coated asparagus in a cheesy Parmesan and panko mixture before baking, resulting in extra-crispy, golden brown fries perfect for dipping in your favorite creamy, savory sauce (ranch or spicy mayo are our go-tos!). It’s hard to beat French fries, but these are guaranteed to give the classics a run for their money.
Get the Parmesan Asparagus Fries recipe.
5
Cheesy Baked Asparagus
Not only is this side dish so delicious, it's also incredibly easy to make. Simply top asparagus with garlic, a little cream, Parmesan, and mozzarella, then bake it until the cheese is bubbly and golden and the stalks are tender.
Get the Cheesy Baked Asparagus recipe.
6
Alfredo Asparagus Bundles
Whether or not you love asparagus, you’re going to swoon over these little bundles wrapped in puff pastry and filled with Alfredo sauce. They're a great anytime app, but the pop of green is particularly lovely for spring.
Get the Asparagus Alfredo Bundles recipe.
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7
Cheesy Asparagus & Bacon Casserole
For this casserole, asparagus gets topped with a bacon cream sauce (!!), plenty of cheese, and the best part of all, Ritz crackers that add the perfect crunch. It's kind of like the springier cousin of green bean casserole—try it and we know you'll love it just as much as that fall classic.
Get the .
8
Steamed Asparagus
These are perfect for those nights when you forgot to prepare a side. They cook up SO fast and can complete any meal, like our garlic Parmesan flounder or some creamy Tuscan chicken. Happy steaming!
Get the Steamed Asparagus recipe.
9
Garlic Butter Shrimp & Asparagus
Similar to our lemon garlic butter shrimp, but with an extra-springy vegetable addition, this garlic butter shrimp & asparagus is simple—it only takes 20 minutes from start to finish—and is great for any level of cook.
Get the .
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10
One-Pan Balsamic Chicken & Asparagus
Chicken, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes are all cooked alongside a sharp, acidic, yet sweet homemade balsamic glaze in this recipe, so you can enjoy a dinner with maximum flavor and minimum cleanup.
Get the .
11
Lemony Asparagus Pasta
We shine a spotlight on the spiky star ingredient here with a supporting cast of a creamy white wine sauce, deeply infused with fragrant lemony notes and a nice salty Parmesan kick, and perfectly al dente pasta. We can't think of a better harmony of flavors to celebrate the beginning of spring!
Get the Lemony Asparagus Pasta recipe.
12
Creamy Asparagus Bacon Gnocchi
This speedy one-pan dinner is 100% pure comfort. With chewy gnocchi, crisp-tender asparagus, and a light cream sauce imbued with smoky bacon, it's also suspiciously delicious for a dish that takes well under an hour. 😉
Get the Creamy Asparagus Bacon Gnocchi recipe.
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13
Garlicky Greek Chicken
All it takes is a few basic ingredients (that you most likely already have on hand) to transform chicken thighs into an herby, garlicky dream. The best part? Your sides and main dish will both be ready in under an hour, making this an ideal last-minute, filling weeknight dinner.
Get the Garlicky Greek Chicken recipe.
14
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Madeira Chicken
Famed for their namesake fortified wine, Madeira is a teeny-tiny island belonging to Portugal. Far away and famed for many things, The Cheesecake Factory is worshipped for their Chicken Madeira, a saucy dish served with asparagus and topped with lots of mozzarella. This one-pan copycat recipe comes together in no time so you can enjoy it at home too.
Get the Copycat Cheesecake Factory Madeira Chicken recipe.
15
Brie, Asparagus & Prosciutto Bundles
Need an easy, last-minute appetizer? These asparagus bundles are it. Flaky, buttery puff pastry is stuffed with prosciutto, asparagus, and brie and brushed all over with a salted honey butter (!!) to make them extra delicious.
Get the .
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16
Foil Pack Grilled Salmon with Lemony Asparagus
Cooking the foil packs over high heat will help to sear the fish while generating enough steam to fully cook the salmon and the asparagus. If the fish is flaking and light pink, then you'll know your salmon is done.
Get the Foil Pack Grilled Salmon with Lemony Asparagus recipe.
17
Roasted Asparagus
There are many ways you can cook asparagus, but roasting is our absolute favorite. When the stalks darken and crisp, they're not burning, they're developing more flavor. Got thicker stalks? Roasting makes a perfectly tender interior that seriously can't be beat.
Get the Roasted Asparagus recipe.
18
Balsamic Steak Roll-Ups
Balsamic-glazed steaks get rolled around fresh veggies for a fun appetizer or an easy summer dinner. Hot tip: Securing the roll-ups with toothpicks makes them MUCH easier to cook. Just don't forget to remove them when it's time for serving.
Get the Balsamic Steak Roll-Ups recipe.
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19
Hollandaise Sauce
Although Hollandaise is considered a basic sauce, one that is used as a starting point to make many other sauces, it’s also wonderful as is, slathered over eggs Benedict or cooked vegetables (like asparagus!).
Get the Hollandaise Sauce recipe.
20
Air Fryer Asparagus
With minimal time and practically zero effort (thanks air fryer!), you can have asparagus ready faster than your oven could even preheat. With a teaspoon of olive oil and a little lemon juice to brighten it up, you have a quick and healthy side ready to go.
Get the Air Fryer Asparagus recipe.
Camille Lowder
Digital Food Producer
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
