How To Cook Asparagus
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Learn how to cook asparagus 3 ways with this simple step-by-step guide. Whether you want to grill asparagus, roast asparagus, or cook it on the stove, this blog post will teach you how! Using these easy tested and perfected methods will give you delicious cooked asparagus every time.
Asparagus is full of fiber, antioxidants and vitamins. And it’s delicious in salads, eggs, buddha bowls, pasta, flatbreads, and more.
Table of contents
I’m a huge fan of fresh asparagus in the spring and summer months. It’s a versatile vegetable that you can add to a scramble for breakfast, salad for lunch, and pasta for dinner. It’s high in fiber, folate and vitamin C, yet low in calories and fat.
This healthy vegetable is easy to make in the oven, on the grill, or on the stovetop. Learn how to perfectly cook asparagus using the methods in this blog post, then grab a bunch of asparagus at the grocery store and add it to your weekly menu!
How to grill asparagus
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat, between 350-400 degrees fahrenheit.
- Cut the woody, tough ends off of the asparagus spears. This will usually be the bottom 1-2 inches.
- Place the asparagus in a large bowl, drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss the asparagus until it’s fully coated.
- Place the asparagus spears in a single layer on the preheated grill. Grill for 5-7 minutes. Use tongs to rotate the asparagus throughout the cooking process.
- Remove from the grill and serve as a side dish, or add the asparagus to your favorite meal.
How to bake asparagus
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Cut the woody, tough ends off of the asparagus spears. This will usually be the bottom 1-2 inches.
- Place the asparagus on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss the asparagus until it’s fully coated, then arrange it in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Roast in the oven for 10 minutes for thin asparagus spears, or 15 minutes for thicker asparagus.
How to cook asparagus on the stove
- Cut the woody, tough ends off of the asparagus spears, then cut them into 1 inch pieces.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet on the stove over medium-high heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the asparagus and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the asparagus in the skillet for 3-4 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Optional: at the end of the cooking time, stir in 1 teaspoon minced garlic, toss everything together, then turn off the heat and serve immediately.
What’s the best way to cook asparagus?
- Fastest: on the stove. If you need a quick asparagus recipe, I recommend dicing it up and cooking it on the stove. You’ll have cooked asparagus in less than 5 minutes.
- Best texture: I’m a huge fan of the texture and flavor of grilled asparagus. It’s tender, with a little bit of char on the outside that adds a nice texture to it.
- Best overall: I have to go with the grill, but if you don’t have a grill handy, go ahead and cook the asparagus in the oven, or on the stove. It’s delicious all three ways, I simply prefer the char on the grilled asparagus.
All in all, you can’t go wrong with any of these methods! If you follow my tips throughout this post, you’ll have perfectly cooked asparagus, no matter the method used to cook them.
Ways to season it
Asparagus is delicious with a simple seasoning of salt and pepper. But if you’d like to amp up the flavor of the asparagus, try these seasonings, sauces, and toppings to finish the asparagus with tons of flavor.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the asparagus after you cook it.
- Grate lemon zest over the asparagus after you cook it.
- Use lemon pepper seasoning, instead of salt and pepper, to add more flavor to the asparagus.
- Top the asparagus with 2 tablespoons fresh grated parmesan cheese after you grill it.
- Toss 1-2 teaspoons of fresh herbs in at the end of the cooking time on the stove.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese over the asparagus after it’s cooked.
- Use vegetable seasoning, instead of salt and pepper, to add more flavor to the asparagus.
- Melt 1-2 tablespoons butter over the asparagus, after removing it from the grill.
- Top the asparagus with a dollop of basil pesto after it’s cooked.
- Drizzle balsamic vinegar over the asparagus after you cook it.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sliced almonds over the asparagus after you cook it for a salty crunch.
- Dollop 1-2 tablespoons ricotta cheese, mixed with ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, over the asparagus after it’s cooked.
- Drizzle with a sauce, like Spicy Cashew Dressing, Roasted Garlic Cashew Cream Sauce, or Harissa Tahini Sauce.
Ways to serve it
Asparagus, whether grilled, roasted or sautéed, is a delicious addition to so many meals. Try adding it to these bowls, salads, pasta dishes, and more!
- Add it to the Breakfast Quinoa Bowl, shown above, topped with a fried egg and everything bagel seasoning.
- Use the grilled asparagus in these Whole30 BBQ Chicken Bowls for a healthy meal.
- Add sautéed asparagus to any stir fry, or use this Beef Stir Fry recipe.
- Add cooked asparagus to your favorite bowls, like these Thai Peanut Buddha Bowls, Balsamic Salmon Bowls, or these Bruschetta Grilled Chicken Bowls.
- Incorporate cooked asparagus in salads, like this BBQ Chicken Salad, Steak Salad, Greek Orzo Salad or Avocado Pesto Chicken Salad.
- Add cooked asparagus to this Instant Pot Risotto recipe.
- Stir cooked asparagus into your favorite pasta dish, like Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta, this simple Garlic Mushroom Pasta, Vegetarian Lasagna, Caprese Pasta, or Pasta Boscaiola.
- Stir diced, cooked asparagus into an egg scramble with parmesan cheese and bacon.
- Add cooked asparagus on top of a flatbread or pizza. Try it on this Pan Pizza recipe.
Storage and reheating
Store leftover cooked asparagus in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. I recommend reheating the leftovers on the stove for the best texture.
Dice up the cooked asparagus and add it to a skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until heated throughout.
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Become a pro in the kitchen! Don’t miss these other quick and easy cooking how-to posts!
How To Cook Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
How to grill asparagus
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat, between 350-400°F.
- Cut the tough, woody ends off of the asparagus.
- Toss the asparagus with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Place on the grill for 5-7 minutes, rotating throughout the cooking process.
- Remove the asparagus from the grill and serve it as a side dish, or part of an entree.
How to bake asparagus
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Cut the ends off of the asparagus.
- Toss the asparagus with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Spread the asparagus spears out in a single layer, with a little space between each one, on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes for thin asparagus, or 15 minutes for thicker asparagus.
How to cook asparagus on the stove
- Place a large skillet on the stove over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Cut the ends off of the asparagus, then cut the asparagus into 1-inch pieces. When the oil in the skillet is hot, add the asparagus, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Optional: add 1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic to the skillet at the end, toss everything together, then turn off the heat and serve the asparagus.
Notes
- For optional toppings and seasoning ideas, refer to the blog post above.
- Store leftover cooked asparagus in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. I recommend reheating the leftovers on the stove for the best texture. Dice up the cooked asparagus and add it to a skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until heated throughout.
Nutrition Facts
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