How to Cook Asparagus on the Stovetop
on Feb 15, 2010, Updated Jul 19, 2024
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How to cook asparagus with butter and garlic on the stovetop in less than 15 minutes! This easy recipe makes tender, crisp asparagus that goes well with everything.
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. It goes great aside some oven-baked salmon.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- I love to cook it on the stovetop because it only takes a few minutes.
- It’s also easy to control how cooked through your asparagus is on the stove.
- You only need a few simple ingredients.
Recipe Ingredients
- Asparagus – Fresh
- Butter – Or olive oil
- Garlic – Cloves
- Spices – Salt and pepper
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
How to Make Asparagus on the Stovetop
- 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. Line up the asparagus you snapped with the others and trim their ends to match with a knife.
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.
I love to serve simple ingredients with simple ingredients. Asparagus is great with chicken (such as baked chicken legs, Garlic and Herb Whole Chicken in the Crock Pot, or baked chicken breast) and a filling carb on the side (such as Twice-Baked Potatoes, Super Simple No-Knead Bread, or Simple Maple Roasted Butternut Squash).
Expert Tips
- 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.
- A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan over the cooked asparagus is excellent.
- Not a fan of garlic? Cut it down by half or omit it altogether.
How to Serve and Store Stovetop Asparagus
The most classic way to serve asparagus is with baked salmon or salmon patties and a side of brown rice or quinoa. It would also go well with pork chops, chicken, or steak. If you have leftover asparagus, try my sausage asparagus and mushroom risotto.
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. I like to reheat it in a skillet.
More Vegetable Recipes to Consider
Vegetable Sides
Baked Cauliflower
Vegetable Sides
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Side Dishes and Salads
Air Fryer Zucchini
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How to Cook Asparagus on the Stovetop
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 ?