Ready in 10 minutes, this sautéed asparagus recipe is an easy spring side dish! Lemon juice gives the delicate spears a bright taste.
Spring is here: Let’s make fried asparagus! I’ll be keeping this quick and easy recipe on my table all season long, and I hope you will too. It’s SO easy – you can make it in under 10 minutes with 5 ingredients – and it’s super versatile. Serve as a side, add to a frittata, or stack on a cereal bowl or platter with polenta.
The best part about this sautéed asparagus recipe, however, is that it really makes the asparagus shine however you serve it. It cooks up with a juicy, crunchy texture, and a squeeze of lemon juice balances its grassy flavor. It’s the perfect way to celebrate this busy season vegetable.
Recipe ingredients for steamed asparagus
You only need 5 ingredients for this sautéed asparagus recipe:
- asparagus, Naturally! I like this recipe best with medium or thin asparagus spears. Store super thick spears for grilling or roasting!
- Extra virgin olive oil – It adds a rich, fruity flavor and helps the asparagus soften as it cooks.
- Fresh Lemon Juice – For brightness.
- And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors burst!
Trim the woody ends from the asparagus and cut the spears into 1-inch pieces. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and add the asparagus, salt, and some peppercorns. Cook, stirring frequently, until the asparagus is light green and tender, 3 to 6 minutes. The exact timing depends on the thickness of your spears.
Remove from heat and toss with lemon juice. Then taste and serve. That’s it!
wanna change it Fry the asparagus spears with a chopped clove of garlic. You can also omit the lemon juice and drizzle the asparagus with lemon butter sauce or melt a dollop of garlic butter on top.
The full recipe with measurements is below.
How to serve sautéed asparagus
As written, this sautéed asparagus recipe is a delicious, easy vegetable side dish. But if you want to make it a little more elevated, there are all sorts of ways you can dress it up!
- Garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley, dill or chives.
- Top it off with a shower of parmesan cheese and a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts.
- Serve it on a bed of whipped feta with lemon zest and toasted almonds for crunch.
Any of these variations pair perfectly with an easy-boiled protein for a quick weeknight dinner. They also go well with any pasta, like my fettuccine alfredo or spaghetti aglio e olio or my mushroom risotto.
But not only you must serve this recipe as a side dish! Try adding sautéed asparagus to a frittata or omelette, tossed with pasta, placed in a cereal bowl, or served over polenta.
This recipe tastes best the day it is made, but leftovers keep well for up to 2 days. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy them at room temperature or pop them in the microwave to reheat!
More favorite asparagus recipes
If you love that sautéed asparagus, next try one of these fresh asparagus recipes:
Sauteed Asparagus
serves 4
Learn how to sauté asparagus! This easy recipe makes a delicious springtime side dish or addition to frittatas, pasta and more. See the post above for serving suggestions!
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Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus, salt, and some peppercorns and sauté, stirring frequently, for 3 to 6 minutes or until tender. The timing depends on the thickness of your spears.
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Remove from the heat and toss with the lemon juice. Taste and serve.