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Home » Meals » Side Dishes » Pan Fried Asparagus

Pan Fried Asparagus

March 18, 20211 Comment

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Fresh asparagus spears sauteed with olive oil, butter, garlic, and simple seasonings. Light, fresh, and easy. Ready to serve in just 10-minutes. via @thiswifecooks

Pan Fried Asparagus ~ Fresh asparagus spears sautéed with olive oil, butter, garlic, and simple seasonings. A light, fresh, and easy 10-minute vegetable side dish that pairs well with a variety of cuisines.

Fresh asparagus spears sauteed with olive oil, butter, garlic, and simple seasonings. Light, fresh, and easy. Ready to serve in just 10-minutes.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Skillet Asparagus Recipe
  • Ingredients for Pan Fried Asparagus
  • How to Choose the Best Asparagus
  • How Do You Trim Asparagus?
  • How to Cook Asparagus on the Stove
  • How Do You Know When Asparagus is Cooked?
  • What to Serve With Asparagus
  • Storage and Reheating
  • Pan Fried Asparagus Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Nutrition

Skillet Asparagus Recipe

Asparagus cooks quickly in a hot pan, making it a practical choice when something green needs to hit the table without a lot of prep. The garlic is added at the end so it doesn’t burn, and the butter helps round out the flavor while the spears stay crisp-tender. This method works with thick or thin asparagus—adjust the cook time slightly depending on the size.

As a home cook focused on plant-based and vegetarian recipes, I rely on simple techniques like this one to keep side dishes consistent. The ingredients are basic, the timing is short, and the results are reliable.

Ingredients for Pan Fried Asparagus

You will need the following:

  • Olive oil – Helps cook the asparagus evenly and keeps it from sticking to the pan.
  • Butter – Adds flavor and richness. Use plant-based or dairy butter depending on preference.
  • Asparagus – Trim off the woody ends before cooking. Thinner spears will cook more quickly than thick ones.
  • Fresh Garlic – Minced and added during the last minute of cooking to prevent it from burning.
  • Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper – A small pinch of each is often enough to bring everything together.

How to Choose the Best Asparagus

  • Look for bright green, medium-sized asparagus (no larger then 1/2-inch in diameter) with tightly closed tips and firm stalks that stand on their own with no wilting.

How Do You Trim Asparagus?

Trimming asparagus is the process of removing the tough, woody ends and slimming down the stalks, if needed.

  • An easy way to tell where to cut the asparagus is to look for the point where the coloring of the stalk begins to fade towards white.
  • It’s not an exact science. I usually keep the stalks bundled or line them up on a cutting board and give them one good whack altogether.
Fresh asparagus spears sauteed with olive oil, butter, garlic, and simple seasonings. Light, fresh, and easy. Ready to serve in just 10-minutes.

Fresh asparagus spears sauteed with olive oil, butter, garlic, and simple seasonings. Light, fresh, and easy. Ready to serve in just 10-minutes.

How to Cook Asparagus on the Stove

STEP ONE: Heat the oil and butter. Add the olive oil and butter to a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter is melted, add the asparagus.

STEP TWO: Saute the asparagus. Cook for 3-5 minutes (exact time will vary depending on the thickness of your stalks), turning frequently until crisp-tender.

STEP THREE: Add the garlic. Turn the heat down to low. Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.

STEP FOUR: Season and serve. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

How Do You Know When Asparagus is Cooked?

  • It will be crisp-tender and bright green in color. Once the color intensifies, grab a stalk out of the pan and take a bite. You’ll know when it’s to your liking.
Fresh asparagus spears sauteed with olive oil, butter, garlic, and simple seasonings. Light, fresh, and easy. Ready to serve in just 10-minutes.

What to Serve With Asparagus

Pan-fried asparagus pairs well with a wide range of mains. Serve it alongside baked pasta, Lemon Dill Tofu, creamy risotto, or hearty rice bowls. It also makes a simple side for spring-focused dinners or brunch dishes like Tofu Benedict Florentine or Vegan Crab Melts.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in a 350°F oven until warmed through. Avoid microwaving, as it softens the texture.

Fresh asparagus spears sauteed with olive oil, butter, garlic, and simple seasonings. Light, fresh, and easy. Ready to serve in just 10-minutes.

Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating and share your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for being part of our home cooking community!

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Fresh asparagus spears sauteed with olive oil, butter, garlic, and simple seasonings. Light, fresh, and easy. Ready to serve in just 10-minutes.

Pan Fried Asparagus Recipe

Fresh asparagus sautéed in olive oil and butter with garlic and simple sesonings —ready in minutes for a quick and easy side dish.
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: gluten free, side dish, vegan, vegetarian
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 76kcal
Author: Holly Gray
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 bunch asparagus trimmed
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste

Instructions

  • Add the olive oil and butter to a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter is melted, add the asparagus.
  • Cook for 3-5 minutes (exact time will vary depending on the thickness of your stalks), turning frequently until crisp-tender.
  • Turn the heat down to low. Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
  • Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 991IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @thiswifecooks or tag #thiswifecooks!

This post was updated on April 21, 2025.

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Filed Under: Autumn Flavors, Easter, Holiday Favorites, Mother's Day, Recently Updated, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegan & Vegetarian Christmas Recipes, Vegan and Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes, Vegetarian Tagged With: brunch, Easter, gluten-free, Italian, Mediterranean, Mother's Day, quick and easy, side dish, vegan

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Comments

  1. Anthony Pandolfino

    May 31, 2022 at 4:55 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for the very nice recipes.Keep the good work up.

    Reply
5 from 7 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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