Roasted Parmesan Asparagus with Bacon

By Amanda Paa – Updated March 23, 2022
5 from 2 votes
Fresh asparagus is roasted with cheesy parmesan and bacon, creating flavor-packed crispy spears. An easy recipe with just 5 ingredients that makes a delicious side dish. You'll learn an easy trick to ensure the asparagus doesn't get soggy in the oven, too.
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Asparagus with Bacon and Parmesan -YUM!

I’m always hesitant to say something is “the best”, but honestly, this 3 ingredient asparagus recipe is the best I’ve ever made, or eaten.

And I take zero credit for its brilliance, as it comes from The Pretty Dish cookbook, created by Jessica Merchant of How Sweet Eats.

Do you love her blog, How Sweet Eats, as much as I do? Her writing makes me feel like I’m talking to my best girlfriend, letting you into her real life, who talks about all the things she loves from food to makeup (the book also includes 50 Beauty DIYs!), clothes, celebrity gossip, music, vacations, her children….. which I appreciate because it brings out the feminine side of me that sometimes gets lost.

The Pretty Dish cookbook by Jessica Merchant

I had the opportunity to spend a weekend with Jessica last year, and I can tell you she is every bit of wonderful – humble and down to earth, a contagious energy, and the ability to make me belly laugh without even trying. Through this book, you’ll find that exact same person, along with 150 delicious recipes with a vibrant photo for each and every one of them. She even includes party menus and her favorite playlists!

I picked this parmesan asparagus recipe to share with you since spring is finally here (even though we’re getting snow today in Minnesota 😐), and Easter is this Sunday.

As Jessica says, “Asparagus is one of the few veggies I can take to a gathering and know that it will be eaten with gusto.” And eaten with gusto it was, in this house. Brian and I ate every single spear straight off the pan.

Spring asparagus // photography // food styling
Spring asparagus // photography // food styling

Ingredients for Roasted Parmesan Asparagus:

  • smoky salty bacon
  • the umami of parmesan
  • and the golden child of spring — asparagus

I altered the recipe slightly, using a tablespoon of the bacon fat that had rendered, to replace half of the olive oil called for. And it paid off in the form of richly flavored spears from the inside out, and crunchy tips. I also must have spaced out for a second while making the recipe, because the shallot I bought from the list of ingredients never made it into the pan. Oops! But that little mistake didn’t seem to hurt the end result. And it certainly keeps things simple.

How to Cook Asparagus So It Doesn’t Get Soggy

The most important tip for making perfectly roasted asparagus is error on the side of less time than more in the oven! Asparagus becomes limp when its overcooked, especially because it naturally has a lot of water content, creating an undesirable texture. Vegetables cook for a few minutes even after they’re out of the oven, so you’ll want to take that into consideration.

Best 3 Ingredient Asparagus Recipe Ever! With bacon and parmesan.
Best Asparagus Recipe Ever! With bacon and parmesan.

More Spring Side Dishes:

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Best Asparagus Recipe Ever! With bacon and parmesan.

Roasted Parmesan Asparagus with Bacon

Fresh asparagus is roasted with cheesy parmesan and bacon, creating flavor packed crispy spears. An easy recipe with just 5 ingredients!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time :15 minutes
Cook Time :20 minutes
Total Time :35 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Author: Amanda Paa

SCALE:

Ingredients

  • 3 slices bacon, diced
  • 1 pound asparagus, woody bottom stems trimmed off
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of the fat rendered from the cooked bacon
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 
  • Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the bacon. Cook until some of the fat is rendered and the bacon just begins to crisp, but does not get super brown and crispy. Remove it with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve one tablespoon of the bacon fat left in the pan, and set aside.
  • Place the asparagus on a parchment lined baking sheet. Drizzle with the tablespoon of rendered bacon fat and olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Then toss with hands to coat. Sprinkle on 2 tablespoons of parmesan and all the bacon. 
  • Roast for 20 to 25 minutes or until the asparagus become a bit crispy and brown. Remove from oven, and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of parmesan before serving. 

Notes

 
  • The original recipe comes from The Pretty Dish Cookbook, which calls for a shallot, finely chopped, that you add at the same time you add the bacon in the recipe. You can certainly make it that way if you’d like!

Did you make this?

tag @heartbeetkitchen on instagram and hashtag it #heartbeetkitchen

March 26, 2018

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9 comments

  1. Abby Burtness

    5 stars
    YUM! My new favorite way to prepare asparagus.

    • Amanda Paa

      So great to hear, Abby! Glad you enjoyed the recipe.

  2. JOANNE KLOEPFER

    IS THIS ONE OF THE BEST YEARS FOR ASPARAGUS? I BOUGHT FROM RALEY’S A GROCERY CHAIN FROM CALIF. THIS YEAR THE TASTE WAS “SOO SWEET” THE TEXTURE WASN’T STRINGY. I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF 2018 ASPARAGUS.

    • amandapaa

      yes, this batch was great! i loved the thickness of the spears, and had a sweet yummy taste.

  3. Jessica

    Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! you are the best. <3 <3 <3
    xoxoxo

  4. Abby @ Heart of a Baker

    We have asparagus in HEAVY rotation in our house, so I bet my husband would LOVE this recipe!

  5. Sara @ Cake Over Steak

    Yessss we had asparagus last night for the first time this spring, and now I’m bookmarking this to make for next time!

  6. Sherrie

    Gimme every spear. So good!

    • amandapaa

      I now double the recipe when I make it, because yes, SO GOOD!