How to Cook Asparagus in a Pan

With this simple recipe, enjoy tasty asparagus tender on the inside and slightly crispy on the edges. MUCH better than steamed!

Ingredients 

I know you already have on hand everything you need to cook this epic asparagus in a pan. See for yourself:

• Fresh asparagus: you can keep them whole or slice them into 2-inch pieces.
• Butter or olive oil: for cooking.
• Garlic: fresh garlic cloves minced add delicious taste and aroma.
• Salt and pepper: the classics for seasoning.

You’ll find the measurements in the recipe card below.

How to Pan Sear Asparagus

Are you ready to delight everyone at home? Then grab the skillet and let’s cook this epic pan-seared asparagus! 

1. Prep the asparagus
   Wash the asparagus spears and snap off the bottoms of the asparagus. Keep them whole or slice them into 2-inch pieces.
2. Prep the skillet
   Heat up a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, melt the butter or warm up the oil. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Cook & Season
   Add the asparagus spears to the hot pan, then add the salt, and pepper. Stir to distribute the seasonings onto all the asparagus spears. 
4. Keep cooking
   Continue cooking, stirring to ensure the spears don’t burn, for about 3 minutes, until the asparagus is cooked but still crispy and bright green.
5. Let them sit
   Turn off the heat and let the asparagus sit on the pan for about 2 minutes before serving. They’ll continue to cook and get a bit more tender but without being directly over a heat source. 
6. Enjoy!
   Serve the asparagus with your favorite protein and enjoy!

Need to feed a crowd? Try this Lemon Chicken Asparagus Pasta recipe!

How Long to Cook Asparagus on the Stove

Pan-seared asparagus takes about 12 minutes to be cooked and crispy, but still bright green. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your asparagus and whether you cook them whole or sliced.

If you roast asparagus in the oven, it will take about the same time.

How to Know when Asparagus is Done on the Stove

When you cook asparagus on the stove, you’ll know they are done when it is fork-tender, slightly crispy, and bright green.

Should Asparagus be Soaked in Water Before Cooking

Asparagus shouldn’t be soaked in water; just washing them before cooking is enough to remove any dirt.

If you soak the asparagus after buying, they’ll soak up moisture and will get mushy, in the fridge, and they won’t last as long -they’ll go bad quicker. The best place to store them in the fridge is in the vegetable drawer, and wash them right before you cook them.

If you want to keep asparagus spears fresh longer, trim the ends and place them in a jar with an inch of water, as you would do with fresh flowers. Cover with a plastic bag and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Seasonings for Asparagus Cooked in a Pan 

Today’s recipe includes classic salt and pepper with garlic cloves, but there are many other delicious ways you can season asparagus to give it different flavor profiles. Here are my favorites:

• Spicy Asparagus with red pepper and Sriracha.
• Lemon & Garlic Asparagus with lemon, garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
• Smoky asparagus with taco seasoning.
• Creole asparagus with Cajun seasoning.
• Italian asparagus with Italian blend and minced garlic.

What to Serve with Pan Seared Asparagus 

Asparagus is not only packed with nutrition and health benefits but is also one of those veggies that goes great with everything!

For the quickest dinner ever, serve asparagus with pan-seared chicken breasts, shrimp, or baked salmon. Tasty, healthy, and ready to devour in 15 minutes!

If you crave a meatless meal, enjoy this asparagus with pasta or over a cauliflower rice bowl. 

How to Cook Asparagus in a Pan (Easy)

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 6 minutes mins

Total Time: 11 minutes mins

Learn how to cook asparagus in a pan and make this healthy side taste delicious!

5 from 11 votes

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Ingredients

• 1 bunch fresh asparagus, about 1 ½ lbs
• 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Prep:

• Wash the asparagus spears and snap off the bottoms of the asparagus. Keep them whole or slice them into 2-inch pieces.
• Heat up a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, melt the butter or warm up the oil. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.

Cook the asparagus:

• Add the asparagus spears to the hot pan, then add the salt, and pepper. Stir to distribute the seasonings onto all the asparagus spears.
• Continue cooking, stirring to ensure the spears don’t burn, for about 3 minutes, until the asparagus is cooked but still crispy and bright green.
• Turn off the heat and let them sit on the pan for about 2 minutes before serving. They'll continue to cook and get a bit more tender but without being directly over a heat source.
• Serve the asparagus.

Equipment

Large Skillet

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 851IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3mg