Easy Sautéed Asparagus

Be the first to rate & review!

This easy sautéed asparagus comes together in a flash. Tender-crisp asparagus is delicious on its own brightened up with a touch of lemon or jazzed up with a crispy topping, fresh herbs or crumbled cheese with the variations below.

By
Pam Lolley
Pam Lolley headshot
Pam Lolley

Pam Lolley is a recipe tester and developer with Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi University for Women in elementary education with a minor in psychology. After graduation she taught for a couple of years, but decided to follow her true passion of baking. She began a personal baking business, which led to a catering company. Pam started developing and testing recipes for the Southern Living Magazine Test Kitchen in 2003. She has developed several of the white Christmas cakes which grace the magazine's cover every December, as well as several other dessert recipes that have been cover-worthy. She has been in the test kitchens now for over 18 years. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, traveling, reading and, believe it or not, loves to cook and bake at home!

EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on April 19, 2024
Tested by
EatingWell Test Kitchen
Eating Well Bio Page
Tested by EatingWell Test Kitchen

The EatingWell Test Kitchen is comprised of a group of culinary professionals who develop and test our recipes. Our recipes go through a rigorous process, which includes testing by trained recipe testers, using different equipment (e.g., gas and electric stoves) and a variety of tools and techniques to make sure that it will really work when you make it at home. Testers shop major supermarkets to research availability of ingredients. Finally, a Registered Dietitian reviews each recipe to ensure that we deliver food that's not only delicious, but adheres to our nutrition guidelines as well. Learn more about our food philosophy and nutrition parameters.

Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen
Reviewed by Dietitian
Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD
Emily Lachtrupp Headshot
Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston.

EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines
Easy Sautéed Asparagus
Photo: Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Styling / Emily Nabors Hall / Julia Bayless
Active Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
15 mins
Servings:
4
Nutrition Profile:
Nut-Free Dairy-Free Soy-Free Vegan Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free
Jump to Nutrition Facts
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Directions

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus, salt and pepper; cook, stirring often, just until the asparagus is tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook, undisturbed, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest and lemon juice. Sprinkle with desired toppings (see Variations, below).

Variations:

1. Top with 2 Tbsp. each toasted whole-wheat panko and grated Parmesan cheese.

2. Top with 2 Tbsp. each toasted whole-wheat panko and chopped fresh herbs (chives, parsley, dill and/or oregano).

3. Top with 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese.

4. Add 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper with garlic; drizzle with 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil and sprinkle with 1 tsp. toasted sesame seeds before serving.

5. Top with 1/4 cup toasted chopped almonds or pecans.

6. Replace grated lemon zest and juice with grated orange zest and juice.

Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, January 2022

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

88 Calories
7g Fat
5g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size about 1/2 cup
Calories 88
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 3g 6%
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Vitamin A 859IU 17%
Sodium 148mg 6%
Potassium 237mg 5%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Related Articles

bowl of Smashed Cucumber Salad with Lemon & Cumin
Smashed Cucumber Salad with Lemon & Cumin
15 mins
5358785.jpg
Spiralized Beet Salad
15 mins
Air-Fryer Green Beans
Air-Fryer Green Beans
15 mins
7881931.jpg
Roasted Broccoli with Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette
35 mins
8097337.jpg
Chopped Cucumber & Tomato Salad with Lemon
1 hr 15 mins
Cream of Asparagus Soup
Cream of Asparagus Soup
35 mins
Roasted Eggplant with Lemon
Roasted Eggplant with Lemon
40 mins
7409608.jpg
Lemon-Roasted Mixed Vegetables
35 mins
3759417.jpg
Tomato, Watermelon & Avocado Salad
30 mins
5678281.jpg
Chard Stalks in Tarator (Dlou' Selee' Mtaballeh)
20 mins
8110890.jpg
Green Beans & Tomatoes with Sizzled Garlic
25 mins
Gat Kimchi (Mustard-Green Kimchi)
Gat Kimchi (Mustard-Green Kimchi)
5 days
3758692.jpg
Cucumber & Tomato Salad with Preserved Lemon
35 mins
Romaine Salad with Orange & Radish
Romaine Salad with Orange & Radish
15 mins
Sautéed Arugula
Sautéed Arugula
15 mins
6446283.jpg
Wilted Spinach with Garlic
10 mins