How to Cook Asparagus in a Skillet | Easy & Delicious Recipe
Updated Apr 30, 2025
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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!
🍽️ 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!
My 2 Best Tips For How To Cook Asparagus in a Skillet
- 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, and might be my very favorite addition besides garlic. And you can totally cut back on the garlic or even omit it and season with other flavorings or just salt and pepper!
🩷 Melissa
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.
How to Cook Asparagus in a Skillet | Easy & Delicious Recipe
Equipment
- Large Cast Iron 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
- Asparagus Soup
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Easy Sautéed Asparagus – Another basic recipe with the addition of lemon and Parmesan flavors!
- Baked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Nutrition
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!
More Vegetable Recipes to Consider
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Zucchini Fritters
Cornbread Recipes
Zucchini Corn Bread
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Tried it and loved it. Served it with chicken. Easy and tasty!
So easy right Marilyn? Glad you liked it!
Thank you for such a simple and delicious recipe! My husband and I tried it and loved it!
I’m so glad you tried it Sheila! It’s easy right?! One we make often!
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 ?