How to Cook Asparagus

5 from 4 votes

This easy asparagus recipe is an incredibly quick and delicious way to cook asparagus! You just need a skillet and some butter, and it's ready in under 15 minutes.

Prep Time5

Cook Time8

Total Time13

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy asparagus recipe, how to cook asparagus on the stove, poached asparagus, shallow boiled asparagus

Servings:

Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

1 bunch asparagus ends trimmed
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup water
Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Trim about an inch and a half off the ends of the asparagus (I do this with a sharp knife while they're still tied with the rubber band).
Add the butter and water to a deep skillet over medium-high heat. As soon as the butter has melted, add the asparagus to the pan.
Cover and cook for 5 minutes. I found this time perfect for medium-thickness asparagus to be slightly more done than tender-crisp. If your asparagus is thicker or thinner or you prefer it to be more crisp, you may need to add or subtract a minute or two.
Season the asparagus generously with salt & pepper. You can spoon some of the buttery poaching liquid over top if you wish when serving.

Notes

I used a small-to-average bunch of asparagus (around 1 pound and standard thickness), but you could definitely add more as long as it fits in your pan!
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition