5 Minute Saut Ed Asparagus

Love cooking with asparagus? Try my asparagus quiche, cream of asparagus soup, and bacon-wrapped asparagus. I always try to make sure my family has some veggie side dish with whatever dinner we’re enjoying. When the weather warms up, and asparagus is in season, my simple sauteed asparagus recipe is a common staple.

Why I love this recipe

Minimal cook time. Cooking asparagus in the pan takes less than 5 minutes. It’s almost as fast as air fryer asparagus. The perfect crisp-tender texture. Asparagus is only good when it hasn’t been overcooked. Cooking the spears over high heat for just a few minutes results in the perfect asparagus texture. Pairs with almost anything. I’m pretty sure my family has enjoyed this veggie with almost every main dish possible (but they do love chicken, seafood, pasta, and steak!).

Ingredients needed

Asparagus. Trim the asparagus spears into 1-2 inch pieces, removing woody ends. Butter. I love sautéing my vegetables in butter as it imparts a rich nutty flavor. Olive oil. As butter has a low smoke point, adding a dash of oil to the pan helps prevent it from burning. Garlic. No matter how simple I keep my sautés, minced garlic is the one ingredient I almost never miss. It provides an incredible aroma and rich flavor for any sautéed vegetable. Kosher salt and black pepper. Add to taste.

How to sauté asparagus

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Step 1- Saute. Add butter and oil to a large skillet and put it over medium heat. Choose a pan large enough not to crowd the spears. Step 2- Season. Once the butter has melted and the oil is hot, add the chopped asparagus and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic when the asparagus is almost done cooking, and give it a good mix.

Recipe tips and variations

Choose good asparagus. Buy stalks that are fresh and firm, bright green, and have tightly closed tips. Add garlic last. Minced garlic burns quickly over high heat and can ruin the entire dish in a blink of an eye. To prevent this from happening, add the garlic to the asparagus sauté last. Change the seasonings and use other flavor boosters like garlic powder, smoked paprika, lemon juice, and fresh herbs. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese, feta, pine nuts, goat cheese, almonds, and/or garlic butter to transform it into an elegant side dish.

Storage instructions

To store. Once cooled, transfer the leftover sauteed asparagus to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat. Reheat leftovers in a skillet over medium heat with a few drops of oil. A quicker way to reheat asparagus is to use the microwave. To freeze. Place leftovers in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.