• Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  Prepare the asparagus

  Trim the tough ends from the asparagus and spread them out in a single layer on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.

  Start roasting with the lemon

  Place the lemon halves cut-side down on the baking sheet with the asparagus. Roast for 5 minutes.

  Make the lemon honey butter

  While the asparagus roasts, melt the butter over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon zest, honey, and grated garlic (if using). Mix until smooth.

  Add the flavor

  Remove the asparagus from the oven and drizzle the lemon honey butter over the top. Toss gently to coat.

  Finish roasting

  Return to the oven and roast for another 8–10 minutes, or until tender with lightly crisp edges.

  Finish and serve

  Using tongs to hold the hot lemon halves, squeeze them over the roasted asparagus for a burst of fresh citrus. If desired, add a little fresh lemon zest on top. Finish with parmesan, nuts, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra flavor.

Notes

• Roasting the lemon from the beginning builds deeper citrus flavor.

  Roasting the asparagus first helps prevent the honey from burning and gives better texture.

  Always remove the woody ends of asparagus for the best bite.

  This recipe is easy to customize, add your favorite herbs or toppings to make it your own.