Easy Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Recipe

Asparagus is one of my favorite side dishes, but I stayed away from making them at home because I was afraid I’d mess them up. Little did I know sauteed asparagus was one of the easiest recipes you could make. This Easy Sauteed Asparagus recipe with lemon contains less than 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes to make. In this post, I share how to make asparagus in a pan and give tips for main dishes to have this keto-friendly side dish with.

How do you prepare asparagus for sauteeing?

Before you attempt to sautee or cook your asparagus, it’s important to trim off the hard ends. The hard ends are not edible.

There are two ways to trim your asparagus. The first method is to trim the hard ends off with cooking shears.

The second method is to trim your asparagus with your hands. I prefer this method.  

To trim your asparagus with your hands, you simply hold the top part of the asparagus with one hand and use the other hand to bend the hard end. The asparagus will snap naturally, leaving only the part that is edible. 

How do you sautee asparagus? 

Sauteeing asparagus is no different than sauteeing other vegetables like onions. You simply heat butter or another cooking fat in a skillet and add your asparagus.

I use tongs to mix them occasionally and stop cooking them when they are bright green and tender. After sauteeing, I remove them from the heat and add salt and pepper to taste. 

What are good add-ins to this recipe?

This sauteed asparagus recipe is meant to be super easy. In some ways, I’d describe it as a starter recipe of sorts.

If you want to add other things to the asparagus here are some variations and add-ins:

Add Bacon Fat & Bacon Crumbles

In place of sauteeing your asparagus in butter, you can cook them in bacon fat. Simply cook 3-4 slices of bacon in a pan then set the bacon aside. 

Sautee the asparagus in the bacon fat and top the finished asparagus with the bacon crumbles. 

Add Grated Parmesan

Another way to elevate this recipe is to finish the asparagus with grated parmesan. After sauteeing, you simply add 2-3 tbsp of grated parmesan and toss the cooked asparagus in the cheese. 

Since parmesan is slightly salty, you should toss the asparagus in the cheese then decide if you need to add extra salt and pepper. 

What are good main dishes to pair asparagus this with?

Every great keto side dish needs a main dish to go with it! Here are some drool-worthy options:

The Ultimate Surf and Turf Recipe (Keto)

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Easy Beef Top Sirloin Steak recipe with Ranch Dressing Mix

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Seared Scallops & Cauliflower Rice Risotto

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Keto Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops Recipe w/ Creamy Herb & Mushroom Sauce

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Easy Sauteed Asparagus Recipe with Lemon

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Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

An easy recipe for sauteed asparagus that can be adjusted to include lemon, parmesan, and bacon. 

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Indian Keto Recipes, Paleo, Quick, Vegetable, Whole30

Servings: 4

Calories: 105kcal

Author: Davinah S. Smith

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Ingredients

• 1 lb Asparagus trimmed
• 3 tbsp Salted Butter
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 Lemon
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

• Heat the salted butter in a skillet
• Add the garlic and asparagus. Sautee until the asparagus are bright green (~5 minutes). Remove from heat
• Add a squeeze of lemon juice
• Add salt and pepper to taste

Recipe Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts

Easy Sauteed Asparagus Recipe with Lemon

Amount Per Serving

Calories 105 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 5g25%

Cholesterol 22mg7%

Sodium 78mg3%

Potassium 247mg7%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 1125IU23%

Vitamin C 13.9mg17%

Calcium 36mg4%

Iron 2.5mg14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Nutritional DisclaimerThe nutritional information comes from Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. The nutritional information for any recipe will vary based on the exact product you use and the brand. I do not include erythritol or sugar alcohols in the final carb or net carb count as it does not have any impact on my blood glucose levels. Before starting keto or a low-carb eating plan, you should consult your doctor. I am sharing my personal experiences and none of the information included in my recipes or throughout the site should be taken as medical advice.