Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze

5 from 2 votes

Homemade Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze is healthy, delicious, and so easy to make! The sweet and sour balsamic reduction tames the bitter asparagus and the vibrant colors makes it holiday ready. Even better, you only need 6 ingredients and 25 minutes for the truly perfect side dish!

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Cooling Time 5

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 90

Author Jessica Kwon

Ingredients

1-1½ lb asparagus spears trimmed
Oil spray
Salt and pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Balsamic Glaze

⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
1½ tablespoon brown sugar tightly packed

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Option to line baking sheet with foil, parchment paper, or a silicone mat.
Add balsamic vinegar and brown sugar to a small pot. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring often, for 10-15 minutes. You'll know it's done when it's very dark and lightly thickened. When you tilt the pan, there should be a thin syrupy layer on the bottom. Let cool at least 5 minutes - it'll continue to thicken.
Meanwhile, spread asparagus onto baking sheet. Spray or drizzle with oil and season with a scant ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper. Roast for 8-10 minutes or until bright green and fork tender.
Drizzle balsamic glaze over asparagus and sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Season to taste and serve immediately.

Notes

Optional toppings: This Asparagus and Balsamic Glaze is scrumptious on its own. However, for a fancy presentation and an extra boost of savoriness, I love to add a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, truffle salt, or lemon juice.
To roast asparagus in the air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 400ºF. Prepare the vegetable as directed, then air fry for 8-12 minutes or until fork-tender. Shake the basket halfway for even cooking.
Balsamic vinegar has a very strong scent. Make sure to reduce the sauce in a well-ventilated area, turn the fan on, and don't put your face directly over the pot.
If the balsamic glaze has cooled too much, it may be too thick to drizzle with. Simply microwave in 5-10 second intervals until loosened enough to spoon over the vegetables.
Substitutions:
- To use frozen asparagus: Add them directly to the sheet pan. There’s no need to let them thaw first! However, you will likely need to add an extra 3-5 minutes to the baking time. Be sure to keep an eye on the spears as they cook, and adjust the time as needed.
- To make this Roasted Asparagus refined sugar-free, substitute the brown sugar with coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup.

Nutrition