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    Quick and Easy Sautéed Asparagus Recipe (Ready In 5 Minutes)

    Jan 31, 2023 The Diet Chef

    Jump to Recipe

    This sauteed asparagus recipe is seriously one of the best asparagus recipes you'll ever make. Crisp, tender asparagus spears are tossed in a garlicky lemon butter sauce and topped with toasted breadcrumbs for an irresistible crunch in every bite. And, best of all, this simple and easy side dish recipe is ready in just 5 minutes.

    Sauteed asparagus garnished with panko breadcrumbs and served with lemon wedges on a rectangle white plate. Behind it are whole lemons on a tea towel, a small bowl of panko breadcrumbs, and salt and pepper shakers.

    The Best Sauteéd Asparagus

    When it comes to easy asparagus recipes, you simply can't go wrong with this pan fried asparagus recipe. I mean, you only need a handful of ingredients to make it, and it comes together in 5 minutes. Not to mention, the results are to die for!

    Also, while most sauteed asparagus recipes come out greasy or overcooked, this one comes out super tender yet still slightly crisp. Honestly, after you try making asparagus like this once, you'll never want to make it another way again. Atleast that's been the case at our house - my wife literally won't let me cook it any other way now! 

    Oh, and for what it's worth if you want to serve one of the best asparagus recipes ever created with something else, I highly recommend pairing it with either this air fryer chicken breast recipe or this easy roasted pork loin recipe. Honestly, even this pan fried salmon goes super well with it too.

    Sauteed asparagus garnished with panko breadcrumbs and served with lemon wedges on a rectangle white plate.

    Ingredients

    Once again, just 5 simple ingredients - plus salt and pepper - are all you need to make this easy asparagus recipe. And it's more than likely that you have most - if not all - of them on hand already!

    Anyway, here are all the ingredients for this sauteed asparagus recipe:

    • 12oz. fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • Salt and pepper, to taste
    • 1 teaspoon garlic paste
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoon toasted Panko breadcrumbs for serving

    Simple stuff, right?

    Now, just so you know, I recommend using thinner asparagus stalks for this recipe. Thick asparagus takes longer to cook fully than thin ones, and the garlic might overcook if you use ones that are too thick.

    By the way, if you have to pick up asparagus stalks from the store, I def recommend grabbing some extra. You can use 'em to make my bacon-wrapped asparagus recipe next! It's another one of my favorite quick and easy asparagus recipes, and it's always a hit at the dinner table.

    A plate of raw asparagus on a white rectangle plate, a halved lemon, a small bowl of garlic paste, a medium bowl of panko breadcrumbs, a small bowl of butter, and salt and pepper shakers.

    How to Make Sauteed Asparagus

    As I mentioned, this sauteed asparagus can be made in as fast as 5 minutes and with minimal effort!

    All you have to do is prepare the garlic butter and sauté the asparagus in it. Yup, it's really that easy.

    So, if you're looking for a quick and easy side dish recipe to have in your back pocket, this one is it. Now grab your skillet, and let's get cooking.

    Garlic paste sizzling in a pan of melted butter. The pan is speckled grey with a wooden handle on a marble countertop.

    Step 1: Prepare the Asparagus

    First things first, you'll want to remove the ends of the asparagus stalks since they're typically really hard to chew. So, you can either snap those bottoms off with your hand, or you can use a knife to cut them off.

    Raw asparagus sauteeing in butter and garlic in a grey speckled pan with a wooden handle. The pan is resting on a marble countertop.

    Step 2: Saute The Asparagus

    Now that the asparagus is good to go you can add the butter to a large skillet and melt it over medium-high heat.

    Then, once it's melted, you can add the garlic paste - or minced garlic - and cook the two together about 30 seconds or until the garlic is fragrant. Oh, and make sure to give everything a little mix while it's cooking, so it doesn't burn 

    Next, you'll want to add the asparagus to the skillet and season it with a little salt and pepper. Then, you can use a pair of rubber tongs to toss the asparagus in the garlic butter as it cooks. Once that's taken care of you can squeeze in the lemon juice and continue sauteing the asparagus until it's vibrant green and tender enough to pierce with a fork.

    Sauteed asparagus with garlic and butter in a speckled grey pan with a wooden handle. The pan is on a marble countertop.

    Step 3: Garnish and Serve

    Now, to finish up, you can just toast the panko breadcrumbs for a minute or so in another skillet over medium heat.

    Finally, you can serve the asparagus on a tray with the toasted breadcrumbs on top and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese if you want to elevate the flavor even more. 

    Serve your sautéed asparagus hot, and enjoy!

    Garlic butter sauteed asparagus topped with panko breadcrumbs and served with lemon wedges on a white rectangle plate. Salt and pepper shakers and part of a small bowl of breadcrumbs surround the plate.

    What to Serve with Sauteed Asparagus

    This sauteéd asparagus recipe is super versatile and it goes great with practically anything.

    With that said though, here are some of my favorite things to serve this sauteed asparagus with:

    • Steak
    • Roasted chicken thighs
    • Cajun shrimp and sausage
    • Bottom round roast
    • Meatloaf
    • Fish

    Sauteed asparagus spears on a white rectangle plate. The asparagus is garnished with panko breadcrumbs and served with lemon wedges. Behind it are whole lemon wedges on a tea towel, a small bowl of breadcrumbs, and salt and pepper shakers.

    How To Store Cooked Asparagus

    This recipe for sautéed asparagus makes enough for 4 side dish servings. And, honestly, it's so good that you'll probably want to double or triple the recipes. Then, if you have leftovers, you can eat them over the next day/s.

    Speaking of leftovers, you can just transfer your leftover cooked asparagus to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 2-3 days. 

    With that said, if you want to store it even longer, you can freeze your leftover asparagus for 2-3 months in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.

    How To Reheat Cooked Asparagus  

    Leftover cooked asparagus is actually pretty good cold, but you can certainly reheat it. 

    For a quick method, just put the asparagus on a plate and microwave it in 20 seconds intervals until it's warm. 

    Alternatively, if you don't want to use the microwave, you can reheat your sautéed asparagus in a skillet over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Just turn it over frequently until it's warmed through.

    Close up of sauteed asparagus on a white rectangle plate. The asparagus is garnished with breadcrumbs and served with lemon wedges. In the back are whole lemons and a bowl of breadcrumbs.

    FAQs About Making Sauteed Asparagus

    Should I blanch asparagus before sauteing it?

    If your asparagus spears are thicker then giving them a quick blanch before sauteing them is a great way to make them more tender without overcooking the other aromatics. But if you're sauteeing asparagus spears, you generally don't have to blanch your asparagus before sauteing.

    How do you cook asparagus so it doesn't get soggy?

    Cooking asparagus for a short time over high heat is a great way to ensure it stays tender yet crisp and never gets soggy or overly chewy. Roasting asparagus on the grill can be an easy way to achieve this result.

    How do you trim asparagus?

    You can easily remove the tough, woody ends of an asparagus stalk by snapping the bottom quarter off of the stalk with your hands. It'll naturally break where the woody part meets the tender part of the stalk. You can do this for all the asparagus spears or you can use the first asparagus as a guide for trimming the rest of the bunch and cut the rest of the ends off with a knife.

    Close up of sauteed aspargus spears on a white rectangle plate. They're sprinkled with panko breadcrumbs and served with lemon wedges. In the back are whole lemons, salt and peppers shakers, and a bowl of breadcrumbs.

    Wrapping It Up

    Well, that's how to make the best sauteed asparagus in just 5 minutes!

    I know I'm biased, but I honestly think this is one of the best ways to cook asparagus. Not only is it fast and simple, but the asparagus cooks perfectly every single time. Not to mention, it's coated in the most addictive garlicky lemon butter sauce with crispy toasted breadcrumbs on top.

    I mean, can it get any better than that?!

    Anyway, I hope you enjoy this sauteéd asparagus recipe as much as my family and I do! If you give it a try, don't forget to leave a comment below and let me know how it went.

    More Easy Side Dish Recipes

    If you love quick, healthy, and tasty side dish recipes - like this asparagus one - I have a ton of recipes that you can check out on the blog.

    Here are some reader favorites:

    • Oven roasted okra
    • Sauteed broccoli
    • Roasted broccolini
    • Roasted kohlrabi
    • Sauteed eggplant
    • Sauteed brussel sprouts
    • Sauteed shiitake mushrooms

    Oh, and as always, be sure to check out my YouTube channel, TikTok, and Instagram page for even more deliciousness. I post new recipes on there all the time!

    Print

    Quick and Easy Sautéed Asparagus Recipe (Ready In 5 Minutes)

    Close up of sauteed asparagus on a white rectangle plate. The asparagus is garnished with breadcrumbs and served with lemon wedges. In the back are whole lemons and a bowl of breadcrumbs.
    Print Recipe

    This sauteed asparagus recipe is seriously one of the best asparagus recipes you'll ever make. Crisp, tender asparagus spears are tossed in a garlicky lemon butter sauce and topped with toasted breadcrumbs for an irresistible crunch in every bite. And, best of all, this simple and easy side dish recipe is ready in just 5 minutes.

    • Author: The Diet Chef
    • Prep Time: 1 minute
    • Cook Time: 5 minutes
    • Total Time: 6 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: Side
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Vegetable

    Ingredients

    Scale

    12 oz. asparagus, trimmed (the thinner, the better)

    2 tbsp butter

    Salt and pepper, to taste

    1 tsp garlic paste

    2 tbsp lemon juice

    2 tbsp toasted Panko breadcrumbs for serving

    Instructions

    1. Trim the asparagus by removing the bottom parts.
    2. Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet.
    3. Add garlic paste and cook until fragrant, for 30 seconds.
    4. Add the asparagus and season it to taste with salt and pepper. Toss gently to coat the asparagus with butter.
    5. Add lemon juice and cook until the asparagus are tender.
    6. Toast the breadcrumbs in a pan over medium heat for a few minutes until golden.
    7. Serve asparagus warm, topped with toasted Panko breadcrumbs.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 46
    • Fat: 2
    • Carbohydrates: 6
    • Protein: 2

    Keywords: easy sauteed asparagus, sauteed asparagus, sauteed asparagus recipe, how to saute asparagus, how to cook asparagus, sauteéd asparagus, sauteéd asparagus recipe, satueed asparagus with garlic, sauteed asparagus in butter,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me on Instagram @thejoeduff — I can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Hey there! I'm Joe Duff - The Diet Chef, and I've been creating low carb keto recipes for over 15 years. Initally, I started making these recipes to help myself lose weight - I lost over 75 pounds doing so - but now I make recipes for the entire low carb keto community!
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