60 Amazing Asparagus Recipes for Springtime and Beyond

As fancy as it might look on the plate, asparagus is far from fussy or difficult to cook. From simple, roasted sides to elegant risottos, see why it's well worth learning to cook at home.

March 09, 2023

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A Seasonal Favorite

There’s no denying that spring and this beloved green veggie go hand in hand. Whether you grow your own asparagus at home or buy from your local farmers market, you’re bound to start seeing these tender green stalks popping up all throughout March, April and May. One of our favorite seasonal treats, asparagus is perfect for everything from spring weeknight dinners to your special Easter brunch—and surprisingly simple to cook. Once you get the hang of trimming it properly you’ll find that it’s a breeze to grill, roast, sauté and more. One of our favorite recipes? This simple, 10-minute side. There's no need to pre-heat the oven—a quick steam gives the spears just the right amount of tenderness. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon and you're ready to serve.

Get the Recipe: Steamed Asparagus

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Bundles

These simple-yet-impressive, bacon-wrapped bundles are ready in under 20 minutes. They’re a great addition to dinner parties and get-togethers, although we’d gladly fire up the grill any night of the week to make them!

Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles

Cavatelli with Asparagus

Asparagus and Parmesan feel right at home when nestled in a bed of ricotta-based cavatelli.

Get the Recipe: Cavatelli with Asparagus

Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Vinaigrette

Dress up roasted asparagus with a simple lemon vinaigrette for bright pops of flavor.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Vinaigrette

Cream of Asparagus Soup

This creamy soup is easy to make and so vibrant in color.

Get the Recipe: Cream of Asparagus Soup

Asparagus Crostini

Kick off a party with these easy toasts topped with fresh ricotta and sliced asparagus.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Crostini

Warm Asparagus Salad

The salad that is great for any season. Whether you have leftover asparagus from a holiday meal or simply want to add more greens to your meals, Kardea’s salad makes for a lovely addition to the table.

Get the Recipe: Warm Asparagus Salad

Asparagus and Cheese Tart

Stalks of asparagus take center stage in this eye-catching tart, which comes together easily thanks to store-bought puff pastry and a quick cheesy custard.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus and Cheese Tart

Asparagus Fettuccine Carbonara

Shaved asparagus lends a bright dimension to this fast and easy weeknight classic. The thin green ribbons meld effortlessly with the fettuccine and add a pop of color.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Fettuccine Carbonara

Sauteed Asparagus with Olives and Basil

Full-flavored savory garlic and olives and aromatic basil brighten the crisp asparagus. Cutting the asparagus into short pieces allows them to cook quickly.

Get the Recipe: Sauteed Asparagus with Olives and Basil

Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Puffs

Spears of asparagus elevate both the look and flavor of Valerie's crowd-pleasing puffs, made with store-bought crescent roll dough and a tangy smoked salmon dip.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Puffs

Roasted Asparagus

With more than 350 reviews, Ina's top-rated recipe for easy, roasted asparagus is a trusted standby for cooks at every skill level.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Asparagus

Slow-Cooker Asparagus Barley Risotto

This creamy rice dish is usually made with Arborio rice, but we love it with the toothsome nuttiness (and fiber) of barley. Serve with wedges of lemon for an extra pop of brightness.

Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker Asparagus-Barley Risotto

Eggplant and Asparagus Napoleons

For these party-ready stacks, Giada uses grilled slices of eggplant to sandwich layers of asparagus with a creamy ricotta spread.

Get the Recipe: Eggplant and Asparagus Napoleons

Asparagus with Roasted Red Peppers

This simple side is fast, easy and delicious, thanks to roasted red peppers and crumbled feta cheese.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus with Roasted Red Peppers

Frittata with Asparagus, Tomato and Fontina

Giada dices up asparagus to help them cook faster before adding in tomato, cheese and eggs for a quick and versatile frittata that's good hot or cold.

Get the Recipe: Frittata with Asparagus, Tomato, and Fontina

Roasted Asparagus

Tyler roasts asparagus at a higher oven temperature than you might be used to — all you need is 10 minutes for his perfectly roasted asparagus.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Asparagus

Chicken and Asparagus Crepes

Asparagus, shallots and herbs are cooked in chicken broth to serve as both a sauce and a side in this dressed-up shortcut dish made with store-bought crepes and rotisserie chicken.

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Asparagus Crepes

Asparagus and Corn Fritters

Filled with sweet corn and tedner spring asparagus, these golden-brown fritters make eating your veggies a treat.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus and Corn Fritters

Asparagus Casserole

Trisha's egg and cheese-filled casserole is a perfect make-ahead dish for Easter or any springtime gathering. In addition to the bed of asparagus in the base of the casserole, asparagus "broth" or cooking liquid goes into the cheese sauce for extra flavor.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Casserole

Asparagus, Pea and Zucchini Soup

Boost the creaminess of this smooth spring vegetable soup by adding a bit of potato.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus, Pea and Zucchini Soup

Asparagus with Prosciutto and Pickled Shallots

Dress up basic broiled asparagus with salty prosciutto and sweet pickled shallots.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus with Prosciutto and Pickled Shallots

Asparagus and Chicken Stir-fry

Skip the take-out tonight and make your own stir-fry starring asparagus and chicken in a flavorful soy-ginger marinade.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus and Chicken Stir-fry

Chilled Asparagus Salad

Alex Guarnaschelli blanches and shocks asparagus to make a crispy, refreshing asparagus salad with a honey mustard vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Chilled Asparagus Salad

Summer Veggie Flatbread

Trade your pizza dough for naan! Trisha heats hers up with asparagus, zucchini ribbons and grated parmesan for a flavorful and delicious flatbread.

Get the Recipe: Summer Veggie Flatbread

Asparagus with Serrano Ham

Replace your average breadsticks with these thin and crispy stalks of asparagus bundled with slices of tasty serrano ham. You’ll definitely want a double batch!

Get the Recipe: Asparagus with Serrano Ham

Sauteed Asparagus

Asparagus, prepared simply, shines in Valerie's 10-minute side dish.

Get the Recipe: Sauteed Asparagus

Asparagus Fries

Potatoes beware, asparagus are dressing up as French fries. Thanks to a beer batter and hot oil, the green stalks are golden and crispy. Lemon aioli makes great dipping sauce and there are three seasoning options depending on what mood you are in.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Fries

Asparagus and Bread Soup with Pancetta

Geoffrey uses asparagus, spinach and bread to create this creamy pureed soup. Top with crispy pancetta, creme fraiche and chives for an Iron Chef-style presentation.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus and Bread Soup with Pancetta

Lemon-Herb Asparagus Crostini

Impress your guests with these gorgeous crostini baguettes. They're topped with a bright and flavorful asparagus topping that no one will believe came together in just 15 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Lemon-Herb Asparagus Crostini

Creamy Farfalle with Cremini, Asparagus, and Walnuts

Walnuts, asparagus and cremini mushrooms lend this quick and hearty dinner its rustic appeal.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Farfalle with Cremini, Asparagus, and Walnuts

Cheesy Asparagus Tart

Ree’s asparagus tart will have everyone looking forward to eating their veggies. She pairs the bright green stalks with buttery pie crust and a blend of fontina and ricotta cheeses. Yum!

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Asparagus Tart

Pesto and Prosciutto Asparagus

Elevate simple grilled asparagus with store-bought pesto and crispy prosciutto.

Get the Recipe: Pesto and Prosciutto Asparagus

Cream of Asparagus Soup

Asparagus gives this creamy soup a pleasant pop of color — and lots of fresh, spring flavor.

Get the Recipe: Cream of Asparagus Soup

Asparagus, Bell Pepper and Mozzarella Quesadillas

This vegetarian-friendly quesadilla calls for a sweet and crunchy mixture of bell peppers and asparagus.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus, Bell Pepper and Mozzarella Quesadillas

Risotto with Asparagus

In addition to the asparagus tips that top the dish, asparagus bottoms (which are normally tossed out) are used to create a flavored broth for cooking the risotto.

Get the Recipe: Risotto with Asparagus

Sauteed Asparagus

Shorter cuts help the sauteed asparagus cook faster in the pan for a 4-ingredient side that's ready in under 10 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Sauteed Asparagus

Asparagus Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches

Whether you're treating yourself to afternoon tea or lunch al fresco, these dainty egg-and-asparagus sandwiches are a must-try.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches

Orecchiette with Truffle Asparagus Pesto

You'll find an unexpected umami flavor in this asparagus and basil pesto thanks to truffle pecorino cheese, plus a bit of texture from toasted hazelnuts.

Get the Recipe: Orecchiette with Truffle-Asparagus Pesto

Asparagus-Shrimp Dumplings

Not much of a veggie person? Sneak some green into your diet by adding bite-size pieces of asparagus to your shrimp dumplings!

Get the Recipe: Asparagus-Shrimp Dumplings

Asparagus Bundles

Take bacon-wrapped asparagus to the next level with a mouthwatering brown sugar glaze.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Bundles

Asparagus Pizza

Want to health-ify pizza night a little bit? Top your homemade pies with fresh asparagus.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Pizza

Shaved Asparagus and Prosciutto Salad

Although most recipes call for roasting, steaming or grilling asparagus til it's tender, you can also eat it uncooked! Shaving asparagus with a vegetable peeler turns it into crunchy ribbons, which can be dressed simply with lemon and olive oil, and paired with prosciutto and shaved Parmesan for a refreshing salad.

Get the Recipe: Shaved Asparagus and Prosciutto Salad

Broiled Asparagus

Cut your asparagus cook time down to 10 minutes by using the broiler. The result? Slightly charred asparagus that goes perfectly with a dressing of red wine vinegar and olive oil.

Get the Recipe: Broiled Asparagus

Quinoa Salad with Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Black Olives

Bobby uses quinoa as the base of a healthy make-ahead salad with grilled asparagus, olives, goat cheese and a red wine vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Quinoa Salad with Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Black Olives

Asparagus and Spinach Frittata

For this deliciously green frittata, Katie Lee mixes asparagus and spinach (feel free to toss in other leftover veggies!) with creamy goat cheese and salty Parmesan, and cooks the mixture in a springform pan for a brunch-worthy presentation.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus and Spinach Frittata

Roasted Asparagus with Hollandaise

Hollandaise can go on more on just eggs! The next time you roast asparagus, whip up a quick sauce in your blender to add to the dish.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Asparagus with Hollandaise

Orecchiette with Asparagus and Peas

Lidia Bastianich builds a simple, springy pasta dish with classic Italian ingredients — garlic, olive oil and fresh pepper — alongside in-season asparagus, peas and a generous topping of grated cheese.

Get the Recipe: Orecchiette with Asparagus and Peas

Asparagus Pesto Pasta

Pesto is so flavorful you'll never even know the asparagus is in there, making this dish perfect for kids who aren't sure about eating green veggies.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Pesto Pasta

Asparagus Tacos

Go vegetarian on taco night with this perfect-for-spring version. Charred asparagus, cotija cheese and salsa verde give this meatless meal tons of flavor.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Tacos

Cream of Asparagus Soup

Sunny builds a creamy and satisfying asparagus soup with the help a few aromatics, chicken stock and sour cream.

Get the Recipe: Cream of Asparagus Soup

Five-Ingredient Grilled Asparagus with Pecorino and Pine Nuts

This easy recipe starts with a grill hack courtesy of Geoffrey. If you're worried about losing asparagus through the grates, flip a cooling rack upside down and put it straight on the grill to hold the stalks while they cook. Meanwhile, you can prepare what GZ calls a Caesar-style vinaigrette (sans egg and anchovies) with four ingredients: olive oil, lemon, Pecorino-Romano and pine nuts. When the asparagus is done cooking, serve it with a drizzle of dressing and a generous sprinkle of cheese and pine nuts.

Get the Recipe: Five-Ingredient Grilled Asparagus with Pecorino and Pine Nuts

Asparagus Pasta Salad

Asparagus, endive, red bell pepper and green peas add wonderful color and texture to this vegetarian pasta salad.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Pasta Salad

Asparagus with Mustard Hollandaise

Tender asparagus and creamy hollandaise sauce are a classic pair — and, for good reason: the notes of butter and lemon in the sauce give this simple side dish rich flavor with just the right amount of lift.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus with Mustard Hollandaise

Asparagus Noodles

Use your vegetable peeler to turn asparagus into "noodles" and toss with a homemade pesto for healthy dish in 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Noodles with Pesto

Tempura Asparagus

The tastiest way to eat veggies? Fry them up! Coat each asparagus stalk in the batter and fry in batches in hot vegetable oil until crisp. Crunchy and tender — almost like vegging out on French fries.

Get the Recipe: Tempura Asparagus

Mushroom Barley and Roasted Asparagus Salad

Pile fragrant seasoned barley and button mushrooms on top of roasted asparagus for a guilt-free indulgence.

Get the Recipe: Mushroom Barley and Roasted Asparagus Salad

Asparagus Frittata

Trisha cooks up a quick breakfast frittata on the stove with just a handful of ingredients — asparagus, onion, feta, egg and heavy cream — before setting it under broiler for a few minutes until it's golden brown and ready to serve.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Frittata

White Bean and Asparagus Salad

You'll be surprised at how easy it is to make the long, beautiful ribbons of asparagus that make this salad special. Simply shave each spear with a vegetable peeler.

Get the Recipe: White Bean and Asparagus Salad

Openly Crabby

Looking to up your brunch game? This open-faced, cheesy melt is the new avocado toast! With tender asparagus, crab meat and a cheesy topping, what’s not to love?!

Get the Recipe: Openly Crabby