Sautéed Asparagus is a quick and easy side dish recipe. The asparagus spears are fresh and flavorful and will be ready to eat in only 10 minutes.

A white oval plate with sauteed asparagus spears, garnished with shaved parmesan cheese, sits on a gray napkin with lemon wedges and a drinking glass nearby. - 1

This sautéed asparagus is cooked crisp-tender and hits all the right notes — a little garlicky, a little cheesy, and completely irresistible. With salty Parmesan and those dark, blistered spots from high-heat cooking, it’s packed with flavor and looks exactly like spring on a plate.

It’s quick enough for a busy weeknight, but pretty and tasty enough for a special occasion, too. Asparagus is at its best in the spring when the stalks are small and tender, and sautéing brings out so much depth. Everyone needs more asparagus in their lives — and this is the way to do it.

Key ingredients

  • Asparagus – You’ll want to snap or cut off the tough, woody ends.
  • Garlic – I use three cloves because I love its robust flavor.
  • Parmesan cheese – use your vegetable peeler to shave strips off a block of Parmesan. It’s delicious!
Sauteed Asparagus spears in a skillet, perfectly cooked and topped with delicate shavings of parmesan cheese. - 2 Close-up of sauteed asparagus spears garnished with shaved parmesan cheese on a white plate. - 3

Tips for sautéed asparagus

The best way to prepare asparagus is to snap off the tough ends. This method takes a little more time but ensures that you remove the woody part.

If you’re in a hurry, you can pile the asparagus together and cut all the ends at once.

How to buy asparagus

Springtime is always the best time to buy asparagus, but no matter when you’re buying it, make sure to look for smaller stalks. Thick asparagus can be quite woody and hard to chew, so the thinner the better.

Also, look at the spears’ tops. Don’t buy them if they’ve started to wilt or look slimy.

What to serve with sauteed asparagus

My preference is usually a simply prepared protein like my baked pork chops or honey garlic chicken and a big green salad.

If you’re feeling extra hungry, these smoky roast potatoes are delicious!

Store and reheat

Store: If you have leftover skillet asparagus, you can store it and enjoy it again tomorrow. Place it in a sealed container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.

Reheat: You can serve it cold over a salad or warm it up briefly in a pan on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing cooked asparagus, as it becomes overly soft. If you are ok with that, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

Sauteed Asparagus spears in a skillet, perfectly cooked and topped with delicate shavings of parmesan cheese. - 4

Sauteed Asparagus Recipe

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Sautéed Asparagus Recipe with Garlic and Parmesan - 5

Ingredients

  • ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ▢ 2 lb asparagus (tough ends cut or snapped off)
  • ▢ 3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
  • ▢ 1 ounce Parmesan cheese (shaved with a vegetable peeler)

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over high heat. Once it’s hot, add the oil and asparagus. Using tongs, toss the asparagus so that it cooks evenly. (Make sure the asparagus is completely dry before adding it to the pan to avoid any oil splatters) 2 lb asparagus, 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • After 3 minutes, add the garlic to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes more, then remove the pan from the heat. You’ll know when it is cooked when it turns bright green and bends slightly when you pick up a piece. 3 cloves garlic
  • Add the parmesan to the pan and toss the asparagus so it’s coated in the cheese. Serve right away. 1 ounce Parmesan cheese

Video

Notes

ingredients needed to make sauteed asparagus - 6 ingredients needed to make sauteed asparagus - 7

Nutrition

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .

Sauteed Asparagus spears in a skillet, perfectly cooked and topped with delicate shavings of parmesan cheese. - 8

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A white plate filled with sauteed asparagus spears, garnished with shaved cheese. - 9

Using a vegetable peeler to shave Parmesan over your veggies ensures you get lots of wonderfully salty bites.

A plate with sauteed asparagus, white rice, and a piece of fish topped with creamy sauce, garnished with herbs and served with a lemon wedge. - 10

This asparagus makes a delicious side with mycreamy Cajun chicken!

Sauteed Asparagus spears in a skillet, perfectly cooked and topped with delicate shavings of parmesan cheese. - 11

Sauteed Asparagus Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 lb asparagus , tough ends cut or snapped off
  • 3 cloves garlic , finely minced
  • 1 ounce Parmesan cheese , shaved with a vegetable peeler

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over high heat. Once it’s hot, add the oil and asparagus. Using tongs, toss the asparagus so that it cooks evenly. (Make sure the asparagus is completely dry before adding it to the pan to avoid any oil splatters) 2 lb asparagus, 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • After 3 minutes, add the garlic to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes more, then remove the pan from the heat. You’ll know when it is cooked when it turns bright green and bends slightly when you pick up a piece. 3 cloves garlic
  • Add the parmesan to the pan and toss the asparagus so it’s coated in the cheese. Serve right away. 1 ounce Parmesan cheese

Notes

https://www.theendlessmeal.com/sauteed-asparagus-with-shaved-parmesan/