Pan-fried asparagus is a quick, easy, and delicious vegetable side dish that's cooked to perfection with minimal ingredients! Tasty asparagus spears are tossed in olive oil, butter, salt, and pepper, then simmered with minced garlic until fork-tender. Serve them nice and hot with your favorite main course for an easy weeknight meal everyone will enjoy!
Stove Top Pan Fried Asparagus Recipe
Asparagus is a versatile vegetable that can be prepared in a variety of ways. However, pan-frying it in a bit of oil, butter, and garlic elevates its natural flavors and brings out a satisfying crunch!
You will only need a few simple ingredients and a large skillet to make pan-fried asparagus. It's a quick and easy recipe that's ready to serve in 20 minutes, making it a perfect side dish for busy weeknights!
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🥘 Pan Fried Asparagus Ingredients
There are only simple ingredients required to make this excellent vegetable dish! Be sure to pick out firm, bright green asparagus for the best flavor and texture results.
- Olive Oil - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).
- Butter - 1-2 tablespoons of butter (or use a butter substitute).
- Asparagus - 1½-2 pounds of asparagus (washed and ends trimmed, *see notes).
- Salt & Pepper - ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste).
- Garlic - 2 teaspoons of minced garlic. Freshly minced garlic is great and flavorful, but jarred minced garlic works too.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Pan Fry Asparagus
If you've ever pan-fried vegetables before, then this recipe will seem extra easy to you! To begin, you will need a large skillet, a cutting board, measuring utensils, and a sharp knife.
1 ½ to 2 pounds of asparagus will make around 4 servings! You can easily scale up if you need to if you work in batches.
- Heat oil & cook. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is bubbling, add the 1½-2 pounds of asparagus and season with ¼ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper.
- Add garlic. Stir the asparagus while it cooks, until it begins to get fork-tender and is close to your desired level of tenderness, about 8-10 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons of minced garlic and fry with the asparagus for the last minute before serving.
- Serve. Remove from the heat when done, and serve immediately.
These delicious asparagus spears are the perfect accompaniment to any main course dish! I like to serve them with my pan-seared red snapper and some tasty pan-fried sweet potatoes for a well-balanced family dinner! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- One bundle of asparagus is typically 1½-2 pounds in weight, so once the ends are snapped or trimmed off, the weight will be slightly less.
- If you like your asparagus super tender, cover the skillet with a lid while cooking in between stirring.
- Add some grated Parmesan when adding garlic to your skillet of asparagus for more flavor.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Place cooled leftovers in a shallow airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4-5 days.
Freezing Cooked Asparagus
Use tender-crisp asparagus to freeze with the best results. Transfer the pan-fried asparagus into an airtight freezer storage container or freezer storage bag and remove as much air as possible.
Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheating Pan Fried Asparagus
Return the asparagus to a skillet over medium heat and a drizzle of olive oil, then heat until warmed to your satisfaction.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
Any large skillet will work for pan-frying asparagus as long as it has enough room to hold the asparagus in a single layer. This will ensure that the asparagus cooks evenly at the same time. You can work in batches if the asparagus is overcrowded in your skillet.
Great question! Look for firm, bright green asparagus spears that are straight and not too thick or too thin. Avoid asparagus that is wilted or has a strong odor.
Pan-fried asparagus is a versatile side dish that pairs well with many different main courses. It can be served with chicken, pork, fish, beef, or lamb or as part of a vegetarian or vegan meal with a grain dish or salad!
😋 More Tasty Vegetable Dishes
- Instant Pot Cauliflower - A quick and easy way to get perfectly steamed cauliflower every time!
- Cheesy Baked Asparagus - A delicious vegetable side dish that will be enjoyed by kids and adults alike!
- Instant Pot Artichokes - A tasty and super easy artichoke dish that's practically effortless to make!
- Broccoli And Cheese - Broccoli is extra delicious when topped off with an easy and delicious cheese sauce!
- Candied Carrots - This recipe features tender carrots that are coated in brown sugar and melted butter glaze!
- Baked Cauliflower With Cheese - Once you try baked cauliflower with cheese, it will quickly become your new favorite way to enjoy this tasty veggie!
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📖 Recipe Card
Pan Fried Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- 1-2 tablespoon butter
- 1½-2 lbs asparagus (washed and ends trimmed, *see notes)
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 2 teaspoon garlic (minced)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Heat the oil and melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is bubbling, add the asparagus and season with salt and pepper.
- Stir the asparagus while it cooks, until it begins to get fork-tender and is close to your desired level of tenderness, about 8-10 minutes. Add the minced garlic and fry with the asparagus for the last minute before serving.
- Remove from the heat when done and serve immediately.
Notes
- One bundle of asparagus is typically 1½-2 pounds in weight, so once the ends are snapped or trimmed off, the weight will be slightly less.
- If you like your asparagus super tender, cover the skillet with a lid while cooking in between stirring.
- Add some grated Parmesan when add the garlic for more great flavor.
- To store: Place cooled leftovers in a shallow airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4-5 days.
- To freeze: Use tender-crisp asparagus to freeze with best results. Transfer the pan fried asparagus into an airtight freezer storage container or freezer storage bag and remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- To reheat: Return the asparagus to a skillet over medium heat and a drizzle of olive oil then heat until warmed to your satisfaction.
Anne Gordon says
I liked preparing and eating this recipe. I cooked 9 asparagus each for the two of us. It was perfect along with pan seared chicken and shallots. We also had small baked potatoes. Thank you!