How to Cook Asparagus in a Skillet | Easy & Delicious Recipe
on Feb 15, 2010, Updated Nov 19, 2024
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Discover how to cook asparagus in a skillet for a quick and delicious way to bring out the vegetable’s natural sweetness while maintaining that satisfying crisp-tender bite. This is probably my favorite way to make asparagus because it never fails and is so quick and absolutely yummy!
This is one of those recipes that’s not much of a recipe. It’s just a little butter or oil, some garlic, salt, and pepper, all cooked with one of my favorite vegetables. Asparagus doesn’t need a whole lot. It’s a great stand-alone vegetable that is delicious just as it is.
I like to eat my asparagus with a little crisp, so I know that as soon as it starts to turn a beautiful bright green color, it’s time to take the pan off the heat. The asparagus will cook a bit longer in the pan as I set the table, and by the time we are ready to eat, they are perfectly done. It’s such a simple vegetable, but one that I don’t tire of.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Recipe Ingredients
- How to Cook Asparagus in a Skillet
- Recipe FAQs
- Expert Tips
- How to Store Cooked Asparagus
- How to Reheat Asparagus
- What to Eat With Asparagus
- Other Delicious Asparagus Recipes You’ll Want to Try
- More Vegetable Recipes to Consider
- How to Cook Asparagus in a Skillet | Easy & Delicious Recipe Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super Quick: I love to cook it on the stovetop because it only takes a few minutes.
- Perfectly Tender: It’s also easy to control how cooked through your asparagus is on the stove.
- Basic Ingredients: You only need a few simple ingredients.
- Versatile Side: Fresh asparagus sautéed until crisp-tender is really a perfect vegetable side dish to serve with pretty much any meat or main dish.
🍽️ My kids absolutely love asparagus so I often make this basic recipe or take it up a notch by adding lemon & Parmesan to sauteed asparagus!
Recipe Ingredients
- Asparagus – Fresh only!
- Butter – Olive oil can be substituted.
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
How to Cook Asparagus in a Skillet
- Wash asparagus and trim the tough bottoms.
- Heat butter or oil in a pan. Add garlic and stir.
- Add asparagus and cook until tender, stirring often.
- Season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.
Recipe FAQs
Bend the ends of one piece of asparagus in both hands until the end snaps off. That’s where the woody part ends and the tender asparagus begins.
The asparagus should be tender-crisp. The spears will be bright green and easily pierced with a fork.
Experiment with different seasonings like lemon zest, red pepper flakes, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Cooked asparagus can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed. Freezing is not recommended for cooked asparagus!
Expert Tips
- Single Layer: All of the asparagus stalks should touch the bottom of the pan. Don’t crowd them or have more than one layer. If your pan doesn’t allow this, cook them in batches as needed.
- Super Flavor: A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan over the cooked asparagus is excellent.
- Seasoning Options: If you’re not a fan of garlic, cut it down by half or omit it altogether. Add salt and pepper to taste.
How to Store Cooked Asparagus
Cooked asparagus doesn’t retain its crispness as well as fresh asparagus, so for optimal quality, it’s best to use it within a couple of days. Store in an airtight container.
If you have leftover asparagus, I highly recommend trying my sausage asparagus and mushroom risotto!
How to Reheat Asparagus
I like to reheat it in a skillet on the stovetop just until warm.
It can also be reheated in the microwave, air fryer, or oven.
What to Eat With Asparagus
The most classic way to serve asparagus is with baked salmon or salmon patties and a side of brown rice or quinoa.
It also goes well with pork chops, chicken, or steak.
Other Delicious Asparagus Recipes You’ll Want to Try
If you’re anything like me, asparagus is THE vegetable of the Spring season, and I make it a lot! Thankfully my family likes it (almost as much as I do!) so all of the asparagus recipes are eaten up with no complaints.
Here are some of my very favorite asparagus recipes:
- Asparagus Soup
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Easy Sautéed Asparagus – Another basic recipe with the addition of lemon and Parmesan flavors!
- Baked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
More Vegetable Recipes to Consider
Side Dishes and Salads
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Vegetable Sides
Zucchini Fritters
Cornbread Recipes
Zucchini Corn Bread
Vegetable Sides
Baked Cauliflower
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
How to Cook Asparagus in a Skillet | Easy & Delicious Recipe
Equipment
- large skillet It's a bit of a splurge, but it'll last you a lifetime!
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus
- 1-2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 heaping teaspoon)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the asparagus by washing them and trimming 1-2 inches off the bottom, depending on how tough the bottoms are.
- Heat butter or olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- When butter is melted, add garlic and give it a quick stir to combine.
- Add the prepared asparagus. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender (5-9 minutes depending on how big the spears are).
- Add salt and pepper to taste and serve right away.
Video
Notes
- All of the asparagus stalks need to be touching the bottom of the pan so if your pan doesn’t allow this, cook them in batches as needed.
- Asparagus is great with chicken so try serving it with these Baked Chicken Legs!
- Freshly grated Parmesan over the top of the cooked asparagus is excellent.
- Cut the garlic down by half if you aren’t a fan of that flavor.
Simple and delicious
I’m wondering if I can brown the butter in the pan WITH the asparagus at the end of cooking? Normally I just brown the butter in a small carafe and then anoint the spears when they’re in the serving bowl… THIS WAY, I could do it all at once and save dirtying an extra dish.
Thoughts?
I think that sounds like a lovely option!
My mother ALWAYS browned some butter to pour over her asparagus when it was done.
I really can’t recall how she actually cooked it – but I’ll never forget the delicious taste of the bubbly browned butter that she christened it with. SO good!
I’m looking for easy cold asparagus recipe to go with prime rib and potatoes gratin
Simple and easy way to cook asparagus. I used extra lemon pepper and it gave it a nice flavor.
Do you need to turn the asparagus when cooking
You can give them a little stir occasionally.
I make it much the same except I put in a splash of lemon juice and a few drops of sesame oil. And finish it off with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. It’s the only way My son and his fiancé will eat “aspergrass” as they call it. 🙂
the pic shows a cast iron skillet do you have to use a cast iron?
Nope, just a skillet.
the pic shows cast iron pan do you have to use that pan ?