This sauteed asparagus cooks in around 10 minutes for a super simple side dish recipe that goes with any main dish from steak to fish to chicken dinner or eat it as a lunch salad on its own!
I like to make this as a spring recipe to go with Easter ham sides or if I’m too tired for full dinner cooking all year.
Just add this fresh asparagus to a pan with some oil and garlic and it’s ready in no time. No blanching the asparagus and minimal recipe prep — just snap the asparagus ends and sautee, which makes it perfect even when you’re too tired to cook!
How To Make Sauteed Asparagus
The best time to get fresh asparagus in the springtime when asparagus is in season, but you can make this asparagus recipe all year when you can find it.
We like thinner asparagus in our house, but you can also use the thick asparagus for this recipe.
To sautee asparagus, you’ll need:
- Fresh asparagus, cleaned and woody ends removed (see below for how to do this)
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Butter
- Salt
- Black pepper
This is one of the easiest vegetable side dishes you’ll ever make! Be sure to print the free recipe card below.
Cooking Asparagus Recipe Tips
How do you clean and cook asparagus?
Asparagus is simple to prepare. You wash it and then snap the bottom parts off of the asparagus.
COOKING TIP: If you bend the asparagus spear, it will naturally break at the “woody ends” point that you discard.
There are many ways to cook asparagus, but the easiest way is to sautee it with this recipe or steam it in a steaming basket like this for around 5-7 minutes, until just tender but still crisp. (Don’t overcook asparagus! You don’t want mushy asparagus!)
I also love it in this asparagus salad, which is one of my favorite summer bbq cookout party recipe.
Another quick recipe I use is this air fried asparagus with parmesan cheese, especially if I need a vegetarian side dish for holidays or party buffet foods.
Do you blanch asparagus before cooking?
When sauteeing asparagus, there is no need to blanch the vegetable before cooking it this way.
You’ve already removed the tough, woody ends of the asparagus, so what you have left is the tender spears.
How do you keep asparagus crisp when sauteing?
When making sautee asparagus it’s important to get your skillet and oil heated and then place the asparagus spears in a single layer.
Then, turn the asparagus while cooking for around 8-10 minutes.
Free Printable Recipe Card for Sauteed Asparagus – A Quick Dinner Vegetable Side Dish!
QUICK RECIPE TIP: I keep minced garlic like this in the refrigerator. It makes it easy when you’re making a quick dinner with few steps.
▶ If you missed them, scroll up in the post to get the important recipe tips and recipe FAQs.
Sauteed Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus (about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Tablespoon garlic minced (about 2-3 cloves)
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the asparagus by bending each asparagus spear until they snap. Discard the woody (thicker) ends and rinse the spears. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Swirl oil to completely cover skillet.
- Add the prepared asparagus in a single layer to the heated oil and cook, turning occasionally, for about 8 minutes*. Do not overcook or the asparagus will become mushy. (The sauteed asparagus should be tender but still crisp.)
- Reduce the heat to low and add butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until garlic is soft.
- Serve warm immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Note
Nutrition calculations are approximate. If you're following a special diet, please calculate your own nutrition values.
ALSO MAKE THESE VEGETABLE SIDE DISH RECIPES FOR EASY SALADS
I hope you enjoy this easy side dish recipe for sauteed asparagus!
