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15-Minute Fork-Tender Purple Asparagus Recipe

on August 17, 2021
last updated February 10, 2025
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This is the best purple asparagus recipe! Simply roasted with minimal ingredients, allowing your beautiful produce to shine.
the best purple asparagus recipe featured image

Looking for the perfect healthy side dish for any meal? Look no further. This is hands down the best purple asparagus recipe!

It’s simple, delicious, adaptable, and really allows that beautiful purple asparagus to shine. (If you’re loving purple asparagus, you should definitely check out White Asparagus, too!). Plus, it takes just 15 minutes and only requires just one sheet pan. Need I say more?

As a mom who loves gourmet food despite a hectic schedule, I love a simple recipe that can be tailored to my taste and whipped up quickly with little clean up!

platter of purple asparagus with two forks next to it

Roasted Purple Asparagus Tips and Tricks


Purple Vs Green Asparagus

While green and purple asparagus taste very similar, purple asparagus tends to be a little more tender and sweeter.

If you love green asparagus, I’m confident you’ll be just as enamored (if not more so!) with purple asparagus.

Purple asparagus does tend to lose some of its beautiful color when cooked. Too much heat will turn your purple asparagus completely green.

How to Store Purple Asparagus

Once you find your beautiful asparagus and take it home, it will stay fresh for about a week if you store it correctly.

Place the asparagus in a jar, tips facing up, and fill it with about 2 inches of water as pictured below.

You can then place a bag on top and store the whole jar in your refrigerator to keep it fresh. You can use this same storing technique for green and white asparagus, too!

storing raw purple asparagus in a mason jar with water

Prepping Purple Asparagus

Just like green or white asparagus, purple asparagus tend to have rough, or “woody” ends. It’s best to take the ends off before roasting.

But don’t throw those ends out! Save them in the freezer along with your other veggie scraps to make your own vegetable broth.

The easiest way to remove your ends is to hold the asparagus in two hands and snap it. It will naturally break where the ends start to get tough.

snapping asparagus to get rid of woody ends

Sometimes Simple Is Best

I kept this recipe super simple because purple asparagus is so delicious on its own. You really only need a few key ingredients to make it shine.

Here’s everything you need:

  • Purple asparagus. Consider organic to go with the most environmentally conscious choice.
  • Olive oil. To coat the asparagus before roasting, to get the best texture.
  • Salt & pepper. To amp up the asparagus’ natural flavor.
  • Other flavor enhancers (optional). Some examples include Parmesan or any other type of cheese, minced garlic, crushed red pepper, garlic powder, lemon juice, and/or butter.
overhead view of all ingredients needed for purple aspargus recipe on a green wooden background - purple asparagus, black pepper, salt, and olive oil

Don’t Be Scared To Get Your Hands Dirty

In order to perfectly roast your purple asparagus, it’s important to make sure they have an even coat of olive oil. Spread your prepped asparagus out on a baking sheet and pour the olive oil on top.

Then, use clean hands to toss the asparagus and olive oil, making sure each piece of asparagus is completely coated.

Other Topping Suggestions

You can keep it as simple as salt, pepper, and olive oil, or you can add some other toppings to spruce your asparagus up! Pictured here, I simply added some shaved Parmesan for a little extra texture and salinity.

Some other delicious toppings include minced garlic, crushed red pepper, garlic powder, lemon juice, and/or butter.

But don’t let me stifle your creativity! Go wild! Maybe some hot sauce for some heat, truffle oil to make it more gourmet. This simple recipe allows you to really make this purple asparagus your own!

plate of roasted purple asparagus

Why You Should Make this Purple Asparagus Recipe


  • It’s simple. Utilizing minimal ingredients to help the purple asparagus shine.
  • It’s easy. Less than 30 minutes and only a sheet pan required.
  • It’s tender! Purple asparagus is so naturally tender, it’s delicious after just a quick 8 minutes in the oven.
the best purple asparagus recipe featured image

15-Minute Fork-Tender Purple Asparagus Recipe

5 from 7 votes
Marley Goldin
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This is the best purple asparagus recipe! Simply roasted with minimal ingredients, allowing your beautiful produce to shine.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients
  

Roasted Purple Asparagus

  • 1 bunch purple asparagus
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Optional Topping Ideas

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspooons lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Parmesan
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 425°F.
    1 bunch purple asparagus
  • Rinse your purple asparagus and break off the tough ends by holding the asparagus in two hands and snapping. The stalks will naturally break where the asparagus starts to get tough.
    1 bunch purple asparagus
  • Spread your prepped asparagus out on a large baking sheet and pour the olive oil on top. Use your hands to toss the asparagus to ensure each piece is evenly coated in oil.
    2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Align asparagus on the baking sheet so they are not stacked on top of each other, and add salt and pepper.
    ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Roast for 8-10 minutes, until the purple asparagus just starts to turn dark green. Add your toppings of choice and enjoy hot.
    2 cloves garlic, minced, 2 teaspooons lemon juice, ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper, 2 teaspoons Parmesan, 1 tablespoon butter, ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Pro Tips

  • Purple asparagus does tend to lose some of its color when heated, so if your asparagus gets mostly green, it will still be delicious!
  • Asparagus tips can be composted or used to make your own vegetable broth.
Course Appetizers, Sides
Cuisine American
Diet Vegan
Keyword 30 Minutes or Less, Easy, Healthy, Purple Asparagus, Quick, Sheet Pan, Spring
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4 thoughts on “15-Minute Fork-Tender Purple Asparagus Recipe”

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you for sharing this recipe. We bought some purple asparagus at the farmers market and are very excited to try it.

    1. You’re welcome, Pat! I LOVE a good farmers market, one of my favorite things to do at the weekend. I hope it turns out deliciously!!

5 from 7 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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