Roasted Asparagus with Prosciutto

Name: Roasted Asparagus with Prosciutto and Parmesan
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 23 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds asparagus (- ends trimmed); 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil; kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper (- to taste); 2 ounces prosciutto (- torn into pieces); 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese (- freshly grated (plus more for serving))

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Roasted Asparagus with Prosciutto and Parmesan is a go-to side dish in my kitchen. Adding some salty prosciutto and parmesan makes this vegetable dish extra tasty, and your family will be asking for seconds!

A white plate of the roasted asparagus with prosciutto and parmesan cheese.

Best Roasted Asparagus

Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables. Over the years, I’ve realized that it’s all about how you cook it – as in not over-cooking it! No more limp mushy asparagus for me.

We love to grill asparagus when we’re on the deck grilling, especially during the summer. Asparagus goes well with almost anything, like delicious Juicy Lucy Burgers (with goat cheese), Grilled Chicken Skewers, or some Stuffed Flank Steak.

Roasting this healthy veggie is also a delicious way to cook it, especially when you want to add savory prosciutto and parmesan. It’s simple and pretty delicious too!

Why This Recipe Works:

SIMPLE – You’ll just need four ingredients plus salt and pepper. The cooking process is also very quick.
TENDER ASPARAGUS – You want the asparagus to be tender but with some bite. Be careful to avoid overcooking it.
FULL OF FLAVOR – The salty prosciutto and parmesan add incredible flavor to plain ‘ole asparagus. It’s our favorite way to enjoy this easy recipe.
AN ELEGANT APPETIZER – Impress your guests with this classic appetizer at a dinner party or any special occasion.

Overhead view of a plate of dinner, including smoked chicken, asparagus, and mustard potatoes.

Ingredients Needed:

Just a handful of simple ingredients are needed. You’ll easily find them at your local grocery store.

Fresh Asparagus Stalks – You’ll want to trim the woody end off of the individual spears.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Crispy Prosciutto
Parmesan Cheese – freshly shredded

Storing Raw Asparagus

Asparagus tastes best when cooked the same day you buy it. If that’s not convenient, store them as you would store cut flowers.

Trim the bottoms of the asparagus and stand the spears up in a jar with about an inch of water.
Cover with a plastic bag and then refrigerate them for up to 3-4 days.
Change the water as it gets cloudy to keep the asparagus perky and fresh.

If you don’t have room in the fridge, wrap the asparagus in wet paper towels instead, and cover with a plastic bag.

The ingredients for the roasted asparagus on a white background.

How to Make Roasted Asparagus with Prosciutto:

There are only a few basic steps to make the best Oven-Roasted Asparagus.

Step 1
Prep. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Step 2
Trim asparagus. Trim the ends off the asparagus (2-3 inches is a good rule of thumb).

Many people swear by snapping the ends of the asparagus. I’ve done this and I find that I’m often throwing away a tender part of the asparagus because it’s hard to know where it will snap. I prefer to just trim the rough ends of asparagus with a sharp knife.

A cutting board of the asparagus with the ends trimmed off.

Step 2
Clean. Rinse fresh asparagus in cold water and use paper towels to pat dry.

Step 3
Add to pan. Spread asparagus in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 4
Add seasonings. Drizzle the fresh asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Step 5
Add parmesan and prosciutto. Sprinkle the asparagus with parmesan cheese. Tear thin slices of prosciutto in pieces and lay on top of the asparagus.

The asparagus plus toppings on a sheet pan.

Step 6
Roast. Roast the asparagus in a preheated 400-degree oven for 10 minutes, or until asparagus is fork-tender. Be careful to avoid over-cooking!

Store leftover Asparagus with Prosciutto Recipe in an airtight container.

Tips for roasting vegetables in the oven:

Tip #1
Cut them in roughly the same size. Try to chop the vegetables in similar size, so that they cook evenly. You want them to all be done at the same time, so you can avoid mushy veggies or some that aren’t done.

Tip #2
Split up certain vegetables. Depending on the type of vegetable you’re cooking, you may want to cook all one type on each sheet. (The three pictured are all hearty and can be cooked together.)

For instance, zucchini, squash, and tomatoes may get mushy when cooked with potatoes, so they should be cooked on a separate pan.

Tip #3
Don’t skimp on the oil. Be GENEROUS with the oil so that the veggies are well coated. I recommend using a bowl to combine veggies and oil – and toss them well. You’ll add the seasoning next.

Tip #4
Add plenty of seasoning. Unless you are on a heart-healthy diet, be quite liberal with your salt and pepper. You want some seasoning on every single veggie!

Tip #5
Give them space. Use extra baking sheets to avoid the veggies being piled up. When roasting veggies, you’re looking for a little crispiness. Piling up veggies too close together will cause them to steam instead, and you won’t get the crispiness.

A sheet pan of the roasted asparagus with the torn prosciutto and shaved parmesan.

Recipe FAQs:

Can you eat asparagus raw?

You can shred the asparagus in small pieces and add it to salads.

How do you cook asparagus so it doesn’t get soggy?

Be careful to avoid over-cooking the asparagus. It will take around 10 minutes to roast/grill depending on your temperature and/or the thickness of the asparagus spears.

Why does asparagus make my pee smell?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, when asparagus is digested, asparagusic acid gets broken down into sulfur which contains byproducts. Sulfur, in general, is not very pleasant to smell. When you pee, the sulfur byproducts evaporate almost immediately, causing you to smell that unpleasant scent.

What is prosciutto?

It’s a salt-cured, dry-aged Italian ham. Prosciutto is a bit on the salty side, but it’s also sliced VERY thin, and a little goes a long way.

Main Dish Recipes to Pair with Roasted Asparagus:

Other Delicious Side Dishes:

The following side dishes are a great addition to a holiday meal.

Closeup on a plate of roasted asparagus.

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xoxo ~Sue